Fishfinder device with integrated controller

• US 6,628,569 B1
• Filed: 01/09/2002
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Techsonic Industries, Inc. (Johnson Outdoors, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Techsonic Industries, Inc. (Johnson Outdoors, Inc.)
• Inventors: Convault, Nicole Dermikaelian, Steiner, Mark, Watt, Darrell
• Primary Examiner(s): PIHULIC, DANIEL T
• Application Number:
  US10/042,501
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 367/111, 345/719
• US Class Current: 367/111
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/96 for locating fish

Abstract

A fishfinder device (10) with an integrated controller (11) for simplified operation, in which a control switch (20) causes a display (14) to present in a looping sequence an identifier (64) associated with each of a plurality of operational features (74) for selecting operational features to enable, disable or modify by operating a selection button (22, 24) during presentation of the identifier associated with the operational feature, the fishfinder device (10) including a transducer (62) for periodically transmitting an acoustic wave beam (63) and for receiving return signals of the acoustic wave beam reflected from detected underwater articles (65) and a display (14) for displaying images representative of the detected underwater articles (65, 67, 69) based on the return signals from the transmissions of acoustic wave beams, while the controller (18) provides the plurality of operational features (74) for the fishfinder device (10). A method of operating the fishfinder device (10) is disclosed.

Claims

1. A fishfinder device with an integrated controller for simplified operation, comprising:

a transducer for periodically transmitting an acoustic wave beam and for receiving return signals of the acoustic wave beam reflected from detected underwater articles;

a display for displaying images representative of the detected underwater articles based on the return signals from the transmissions of acoustic wave beams;

a controller providing a plurality of operational features for the fishfinder device;

a control switch operatively associated with the controller for activating the operation of the fishfinder device, for selecting one of the plurality of operational features of the fishfinder device to activate or modify settings thereof by a looping sequential presentation on the display of an identifier associated with each one of said operational features in response to operating said control switch, and for deactivating the operation of the fishfinder device; and

at least one selection button operable to selectively set an option for one or more of the operational features,

whereby the control switch, being operated, activates the fishfinder device, causes a display of identifiers for the operational features of the fishfinder device in the looping sequence of said identifiers and with use of the selection button sets a selected option for the displayed one of the operational features, and deactivates the operation of the fishfinder device.

2. The fishfinder device with the integrated controller as recited in claim 1, wherein the control switch deactivates the operation of the fishfinder device upon holding the control switch for a predetermined period.

3. The fishfinder device with the integrated controller as recited in claim 1, wherein the display of the identifiers automatically terminates after a predetermined period without operating either the control switch or the selection button.

4. The fishfinder device with the integrated controller as recited in claim 1, further comprising a light source activated for a predetermined period upon activation of the control switch to initiate a looping sequence of identifiers for the operational features.

5. A method of operating a fishfinder device, comprising the steps of:

(a) operating a control switch of a controller to activate a fishfinder device,

(b) providing periodic transmission of an acoustic wave beam from a transducer and receipt of return signals of the acoustic wave beam reflected from detected underwater articles;

(c) providing presentation on a display images representative of the detected underwater articles based on the return signals from the transmissions of acoustic wave beams;

(d) enabling the control switch to provide a plurality of operational features for the fishfinder device, each operational feature having an associated identifier, the control switch being activated to present on the display the identifier associated with one of said operational features whereby the operational feature associated with the displayed identifier can be selected;

(e) allowing for modification of the operational feature by operating a selection button to set an option for the operational feature associated with the displayed identifier, and

(f) operating the control switch to deactivate the operation of the fishfinder device;

whereby the control switch, being operated periodically, causes the activation oft he fishfinder device, the display of identifiers for the operational features of the fishfinder device in a looping sequence of said identifiers and with use oft he selection button the setting of a selected option for the displayed one of the operational features, and the deactivation of said fishfinder device.

6. The method of operating a fishfinder device as recited in claim 5, further comprising the step of enabling the deactivating the operation of the fishfinder device upon holding the control switch for a predetermined not momentary period.

7. The method of operating a fishfinder device as recited in claim 5, wherein step (b) provides for automatic termination of the display of the identifier after a predetermined period without operating either the control switch or the selection button.

8. The method of operating a fishfinder device as recited in claim 5, further comprising the step of providing for illumination of a light source upon activation of the control switch in the display of the identifiers.