Sonar transducer with acoustic speaker

• US 10,412,948 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2017
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Navico Incorporated (Brunswick Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Navico Holding A.S. (Brunswick Corporation)
• Inventors: Burton, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Wiest, Anthony D
• Application Number:
  US15/479,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20180279596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 97/02 Devices for laying ground-bait, e.g. chum dispensers , e.g. also for throwing ground-bait
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 97/125 using electronic components
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 20/007 Trolling propulsion units trolling plates for slowing down B63H25/50; dynamo-electric machines of trolling units H02K
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/96 for locating fish
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/006 Transducer mounting in underwater equipment, e.g. sonobuoys
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/346 using phase variation
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/352 by moving the transducer

Abstract

Various implementations described herein are directed to a marine device including a waterproof housing including a mounting element. The housing is configured to be at least partially submerged in the underwater environment and the mounting element is configured to attach to at least one of a vessel or a trolling motor. The marine device also includes at least one transducer and an acoustic speaker positioned within the housing. The at least one transducer is positioned and oriented within the housing such that the at least one transducer is configured to transmit one or more sonar beams into a portion of the underwater environment when the housing is at least partially submerged. The acoustic speaker is positioned and oriented within the housing such that the acoustic speaker is configured to emit the fish attraction sound into the underwater environment when the housing is at least partially submerged.

Claims

1. A marine device comprising:

a waterproof housing including a mounting element, wherein the housing is configured to be at least partially submerged in an underwater environment, wherein the mounting element is configured to attach to at least one of a vessel or a trolling motor;

at least one transducer configured to transmit one or more sonar beams into the underwater environment, wherein the at least one transducer is positioned and oriented within the housing such that the at least one transducer is configured to transmit one or more sonar beams into a portion of the underwater environment when the housing is at least partially submerged;

an acoustic speaker configured to emit a fish attraction sound into the underwater environment, wherein the acoustic speaker is positioned within the housing with the at least one transducer, wherein the acoustic speaker is positioned and oriented within the housing such that the acoustic speaker is configured to emit the fish attraction sound into the underwater environment when the housing is at least partially submerged; and

processing circuitry configured to control operations of both the acoustic speaker and the at least one transducer, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to;

determine fish activity based on sonar data received by the at least one transducer; and

cause the speaker to emit the fish attraction sound in response to the determination of fish activity.

2. The marine device of claim 1, wherein the marine device is configured to be operably coupled to a trolling motor.

3. The marine device of claim 1, wherein the marine device is configured to be operably coupled to a hull of a vessel.

4. The marine device of claim 1, wherein the fish attraction sound comprises a bait fish attraction sound.

5. The marine device of claim 1, wherein the fish attraction sound comprises a fish distress sound or a feeding frenzy sound.

6. The marine device of claim 1 further comprising:

insulation material disposed between the at least one transducer and the acoustic speaker.

7. The marine device of claim 6, wherein the insulation material is magnetic or acoustic insulation.

8. The marine device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is disposed within the housing.

9. The marine device of claim 1, wherein the at least one transducer and the acoustic speaker are disposed on the same printed circuit board.

10. The marine device of claim 1, wherein the housing defines an emitting surface designed to enable transmission of the sound emitted from the acoustic speaker into the underwater environment, wherein the emitting surface defines at least one of a different material or different thickness as compared to at least some of the housing, and wherein the speaker is oriented within the housing to align with the emitting surface.

11. The marine device of claim 10, wherein the housing further comprises:

a flow baffle configured to direct the flow of water around the emitting surface.

12. The marine device of claim 1, wherein the housing is streamlined.

13. The marine device of claim 1, wherein the at least one transducer and the acoustic speaker are configured to operate in different frequencies.

14. The marine device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the speaker to emit the fish attraction sound in response to a determination that a predetermined number of fish are present based on the sonar data.

15. The marine device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

determine an acoustic target depth based on the sonar data; and

adjust operating parameters of the speaker to maximize output of the fish attraction sound at the acoustic target depth.

16. A marine device comprising:

a motor;

a propeller coupled to the motor;

a shaft configured to couple the motor to the vessel, wherein the shaft is configured to rotate relative to the vessel;

a waterproof housing configured to encapsulate the motor and be at least partially submerged in an underwater environment,

at least one transducer configured to transmit one or more sonar beams into the underwater environment, wherein the at least one transducer is positioned and oriented within the housing such that the at least one transducer is configured to transmit one or more sonar beams into a portion of the underwater environment when the housing is at least partially submerged;

an acoustic speaker configured to emit a fish attraction sound into the underwater environment, wherein the acoustic speaker is positioned within the housing with the at least one transducer, wherein the acoustic speaker is positioned and oriented within the housing such that the acoustic speaker is configured to emit the fish attraction sound into the underwater environment when the housing is at least partially submerged; and

processing circuitry configured to control operations of both the acoustic speaker and the at least one transducer, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to;

determine fish activity based on sonar data received by the at least one transducer; and

cause the speaker to emit the fish attraction sound in response to the determination of fish activity.

17. The marine device of claim 16, wherein the fish attraction sound comprises a bait fish attraction sound, a fish distress sound, or a feeding frenzy sound.

18. The marine device of claim 16, wherein the shaft defines an internal passage, and the marine device further comprises:

at least one electrical cable that leads from the at least one transducer or the acoustic speaker through the internal passage of the shaft to enable electrical signals to be transmitted between the at least one transducer or the acoustic speaker and a computing device, wherein the electrical cable is contained within the internal passage of the shaft so as to protect the electrical cable while still enabling rotation of the shaft and housing.

19. The marine device of claim 16 further comprising:

insulation material disposed between the at least one transducer and the acoustic speaker, wherein the insulation material is magnetic or acoustic insulation.

20. The marine device of claim 16, wherein the processing circuitry is disposed within the housing.