Patent ID: 11921200
Assignee: NAVICO, INC.
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 0:
1. A sonar system for generating live sonar images having an expanded coverage angle, the sonar system comprising:
two or more sonar transducer assemblies including:
a first sonar transducer assembly that has a first plurality of sonar transducer elements, wherein the first sonar transducer assembly defines a first facing direction, wherein the first plurality of sonar transducer elements are configured to transmit one or more first sonar beams into an underwater environment to form a first coverage volume within the underwater environment; and
a second sonar transducer assembly that has a second plurality of sonar transducer elements, wherein the second sonar transducer assembly defines a second facing direction, wherein the second plurality of sonar transducer elements are configured to transmit one or more second sonar beams into the underwater environment to form a second coverage volume within the underwater environment;

one or more alignment features, wherein the one or more alignment features are configured to position the first sonar transducer assembly and the second sonar transducer assembly so that the first facing direction and the second facing direction are different and relative to each other so as to create continuous coverage of the underwater environment, wherein the continuous coverage has an overall coverage volume that is greater than either of the first coverage volume or the second coverage volume individually;
at least one processor;
a memory including computer program code configured to, when executed, cause the at least one processor to:
receive first sonar return data from the first plurality of sonar transducer elements;
receive second sonar return data from the second plurality of sonar transducer elements;
receive first facing direction data regarding the first facing direction of the first sonar transducer assembly;
receive second facing direction data regarding the second facing direction of the second sonar transducer assembly;
position the first sonar return data based on the first facing direction data to form positioned first sonar return data;
position the second sonar return data based on the second facing direction data to form positioned second sonar return data; and
generate a live sonar image of the underwater environment using the positioned first sonar return data and the positioned second sonar return data;

wherein the first facing direction and the second facing direction are generally outward and downward of the watercraft such that the live sonar image is representative of the underwater environment underneath the watercraft.