Event Triggering Using Sonar Data

• US 20160170022A1
• Filed: 12/10/2014
• Published: 06/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Navico Incorporated (Brunswick Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Navico Holding A.S. (Brunswick Corporation)
• Inventors: Laster, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 10,451,732 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/66 Sonar tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/86 Combinations of sonar systems with lidar systems; Combinations of sonar systems with systems not using wave reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/6218 providing two-dimensional coordinated display of distance and direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/6281 Composite displays, e.g. split-screen, multiple images

Abstract

Various implementations described herein are directed to a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, may cause the computer to receive sonar data from a transducer after deployment of the transducer in a body of water. The computer may process the sonar data to detect a bottom of the body of water based on the sonar data received from the transducer. The computer may automatically trigger at least one event upon detecting the bottom of the body of water.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

receive sonar data from a transducer after deployment of the transducer in a body of water;

process the sonar data to detect a bottom of the body of water based on the sonar data received from the transducer; and

automatically trigger at least one event upon detecting the bottom of the body of water.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the at least one event includes automatically recording the sonar data received from the transducer.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the computer to:

record geographical positions related to geographical coordinate data received from a global positioning system (GPS) transceiver.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 3, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the computer to:

generate a trail map based on the geographical coordinate data received from the GPS transceiver; and

display images associated with the trail map.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 3, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the computer to:

generate a trail map based on a plot of previously recorded geographical positions related to the geographical coordinate data received from the GPS transceiver, and

display images associated with the trail map.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the computer to:

generate a trail map based on the sonar data and geographical coordinate data received from a global positioning system (GPS) transceiver; and

display images associated with the trail map.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the computer to:

track multiple navigated courses on the body of water based on geographical coordinate data received from a global positioning system (GPS) transceiver;

generate a trail map for each navigated course, each trail map having a start point and an end point for each navigated course; and

upload one or more of the sonar data, the geographical coordinate data, and each trail map to at least one database via a network.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the computer to:

sense removal of the transducer from the body of water based on failing to detect the bottom of the body of water;

trigger at least one other event upon sensing removal, the at least one other event including stop recording of the sonar data generated by the transducer; and

upload the recorded sonar data to at least one database via a network.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the computer to:

start generating a first trail map beginning at a first start point based on detecting the bottom of the body of water for a first time, wherein the first trail map is associated with tracking a first navigated course on the body of water based on the sonar data and geographical coordinate data received from a global positioning system (GPS) transceiver during the first time;

stop generating the first trail map terminating at a first end point based on failing to detect the bottom of the body of water; and

upload one or more of the sonar data recorded during the first time, the geographical coordinate data recorded during the first time, and the first trail map recorded during the first time to at least one database via a network.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the computer to:

start generating a second trail map different than the first trail map, the second trail map beginning at a second start point based on detecting the bottom of the body of water for a second time, wherein the second trail map is associated with tracking a second navigated course on the body of water based on the sonar data and geographical coordinate data received from a global positioning system (GPS) transceiver during the second time;

stop generating the second trail map terminating at a second end point based on failing to detect the bottom of the body of water; and

upload one or more of the sonar data recorded during the second time, the geographical coordinate data recorded during the second time, and the second trail map recorded during the second time to at least one database via a network.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the computer to:

generate a first sonar log that includes one or more of the sonar data recorded during the first time, the geographical coordinate data recorded during the first time, and the first trail map generated during the first time;

generate a second sonar log that includes one or more of the sonar data recorded during the second time, the geographical coordinate data recorded during the second time, and the second trail map generated during the second time; and

generate a third sonar log that links the first trail map to the second trail map by coupling the first end point of the first trail map to the second start point of the second trail map to thereby generate a third trail map beginning with the first start point of the first trail map and terminating with the second end point of the second trail map; and

upload one or more of the first sonar log, the second sonar log, and the third sonar log to at least one database via a network.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein:

the transducer is coupled or mounted to a vessel that is configured to at least partially float on a surface of the body of water, and

processing the sonar data received from the transducer occurs after launching the vessel in the body of water by a user.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein:

the transducer is part of a user castable device that is configured to at least partially float on a surface of the body of water, and

processing the sonar data received from the transducer occurs after casting the transducer in the body of water by a user.

14. A transducer, comprising:

a processor; and

memory including instructions that cause the processor to;

generate sonar data after deployment of the transducer in a body of water;

process the sonar data to detect a bottom of the body of water based on the sonar data; and

automatically trigger at least one event upon detecting the bottom of the body of water, the at least one event including automatically transmitting the sonar data to a computing device for recording by the computing device.

15. The transducer of claim 14, wherein:

the sonar transducer is coupled or mounted to a vessel that is configured to at least partially float on a surface of the body of water, and

automatically transmitting the sonar data to the computing device occurs after launching the vessel in the body of water.

16. The transducer of claim 14, wherein:

the transducer is part of a user castable device that is configured to at least partially float on a surface of the body of water, and

automatically transmitting the sonar data to the computing device occurs after casting the user castable device in the body of water.

17. The transducer of claim 14, wherein the memory further comprises instructions that cause the computer to:

sense removal of the transducer from the body of water based on failing to detect the bottom of the body of water; and

automatically trigger at least one other event upon sensing removal, the at least one other event including stop transmitting the sonar data to the computing device.

18. A castable device, comprising:

at least one sonar transducer element;

a processor; and

memory including instructions that cause the processor to;

receive sonar data from the at least one sonar transducer element after deployment of the castable device in a body of water;

process the sonar data to detect a bottom of the body of water based on the sonar data received from the at least one sonar transducer element; and

automatically trigger at least one event upon detecting the bottom of the body of water, the at least one event including automatically transmitting the sonar data to a computing device for recording by the computing device.

19. The castable device of claim 18, wherein:

the castable device is configured to at least partially float on a surface of the body of water; and

automatically transmitting the sonar data to the computing device occurs after casting the user castable device in the body of water.

20. The castable device of claim 18, wherein the memory further comprise instructions that cause the computer to:

sense removal of the castable device from the body of water based on failing to detect the bottom of the body of water; and

automatically trigger at least one other event upon sensing removal, the at least one other event including stop transmitting the sonar data to the computing device.