SYSTEMS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS FOR PRODUCING SONAR IMAGE OVERLAY

• US 20170242113A1
• Filed: 02/23/2016
• Published: 08/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Navico Incorporated (Brunswick Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Navico Holding A.S. (Brunswick Corporation)
• Inventors: LAUENSTEIN, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,151,829 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 15/8902 Side-looking sonar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/96 for locating fish
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/6272 producing cursor lines and indicia by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/6281 Composite displays, e.g. split-screen, multiple images

Abstract

Overlaying a sonar image over a chart at a corresponding location can provide a beneficial and easy to understand view of the underwater environment for a user. However, in some cases, the watercraft may be close to a boundary of the body of water when the sonar data is gathered. In such a scenario, inaccurate sonar returns or preset display distances of the sonar image can cause the resulting sonar image to be displayed over the boundary and covering land. This can be confusing and can be difficult to decipher. Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for cropping the sonar image for presentation over the chart such that no portion of the image extends beyond the boundary line of the body of water. This creates a smooth and easy to read sonar image/chart display.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive sonar data associated with an underwater environment relative to a watercraft at a location of a body of water;

determine the location;

determine a boundary of the body of water proximate the location, wherein the boundary corresponds to an edge of the body of water;

generate an image based on the sonar data such that no portion of the image extends beyond the boundary; and

cause display of the image over a chart at the location such that the image does not extend beyond the boundary as indicated by the chart.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to generate the image by:

determining a portion of the image that extends beyond the boundary; and

removing the portion of the image prior to causing display of the image over the chart at the location.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to generate the image by:

comparing sonar image data based on the sonar data with one of a polyline or a polygon associated with the boundary; and

generating the image without sonar image data that extends past the one of the polyline or the polygon.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

determine a preset distance that corresponds to a desired distance from the watercraft that a user would like the image to span; and

determine that the preset distance extends beyond the boundary.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to filter the sonar data to remove sonar data that extends beyond the boundary.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the sonar data includes a plurality of sonar returns that each define a distance component in a plane defined leading from the watercraft to the boundary, wherein the memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

determine a boundary threshold distance in the plane leading from the watercraft to the boundary that corresponds to the distance from the watercraft to the boundary; and

filter the sonar data by removing each sonar return that defines a distance in the plane defined leading from the watercraft to the boundary that is greater than the boundary threshold distance.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sonar data is current sonar data and the location is the current location, and wherein the memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

determine the boundary of the body of water proximate the current location in substantially real-time; and

generate the image based on the current sonar data such that no portion of the image extends beyond the boundary in substantially real-time.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to determine the boundary by determining one or more locations of the body of water that define a zero depth such that the boundary is determined based on current depth data.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to determine the boundary by determining a pre-stored boundary of the body of water.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sonar data is 3D sonar data.

11. A system with the apparatus of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises:

a transducer assembly configured to emit one or more sonar beams, receive return echoes of the one or more sonar beams, and convert the return echoes into the sonar data, wherein the transducer assembly is configured to be affixed to the watercraft and is electrically connected to the apparatus; and

a display device electrically connected to the apparatus and configured to display the image over the chart.

12. A method comprising:

receiving sonar data associated with an underwater environment relative to a watercraft at a location of a body of water;

determining, by a processor, the location;

determining a boundary of the body of water proximate the location, wherein the boundary corresponds to an edge of the body of water;

generating an image based on the sonar data such that no portion of the image extends beyond the boundary; and

causing display of the image over a chart at the location such that the image does not extend beyond the boundary as indicated by the chart.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein generating the image comprises:

determining a portion of the image that extends beyond the boundary; and

removing the portion of the image prior to causing display of the image over the chart at the location.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein generating the image comprises:

comparing sonar image data based on the sonar data with one of a polyline or a polygon associated with the boundary; and

generating the image without sonar image data that extends past the one of the polyline or the polygon.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

determining a preset distance that corresponds to a desired distance from the watercraft that a user would like the image to span; and

determining that the preset distance extends beyond the boundary.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising filtering the sonar data to remove sonar data that extends beyond the boundary.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprised of at least one memory device having computer program instructions stored thereon, the computer program instructions being configured, when run by a processor, to:

receive sonar data associated with an underwater environment relative to a watercraft at a location of a body of water;

determine the location;

determine a boundary of the body of water proximate the location, wherein the boundary corresponds to an edge of the body of water;

generate an image based on the sonar data such that no portion of the image extends beyond the boundary; and

cause display of the image over a chart at the location such that the image does not extend beyond the boundary as indicated by the chart.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the computer program instructions are further configured, when run by the processor, to generate the image by:

determining a portion of the image that extends beyond the boundary; and

removing the portion of the image prior to causing display of the image over the chart at the location.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the computer program instructions are further configured, when run by the processor, to generate the image by:

comparing sonar image data based on the sonar data with one of a polyline or a polygon associated with the boundary; and

generating the image without sonar image data that extends past the one of the polyline or the polygon.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the computer program instructions are further configured, when run by the processor, to filter the sonar data to remove sonar data that extends beyond the boundary.