Patent ID: 11971478
Assignee: NAVICO, INC.
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G  B | IPC B  G

Claim 18:
19. A system for a watercraft, the system comprising:
one or more sonar transducer elements, wherein the one or more sonar transducer elements are configured to transmit one or more sonar beams into an underwater environment, wherein the one or more sonar transducer elements are configured to be attached to the watercraft such that the one or more sonar transducer elements move in a fixed relationship with the watercraft;
a steering assembly configured to cause independent rotation of the one or more sonar transducer elements relative to the watercraft when the one or more sonar transducer elements are attached to the watercraft, wherein the steering assembly is configured to reorient a facing direction of the one or more sonar transducer elements to change a direction of sonar coverage relative to the watercraft;
one or more processors; and
a memory including computer program code configured to, when executed, cause the one or more processors to:
cause the one or more sonar transducer elements to emit the one or more sonar beams into the underwater environment;
receive sonar return data from a coverage volume corresponding to the one or more sonar beams;
generate a sonar image of the coverage volume of the underwater environment based on the sonar return data;
receive input indicating a desire to lock the coverage volume of the sonar assembly on a position within the body of water or a current direction of the one or more sonar transducer elements;
determine, based on the input, a target position or direction corresponding to at least one of the position within the body of water or the current direction;
determine that a current coverage volume of the one or more sonar transducer elements has adjusted relative to the determined position within the body of water, wherein the adjustment is due to movement or reorientation of the watercraft or the trolling motor; and
cause, in response thereto, the steering assembly, while the one or more sonar transducer elements are attached to the watercraft, to reorient the facing direction of the one or more sonar transducer elements to cause a current direction of the sonar coverage to adjust so that the coverage volume of the one or more sonar transducer elements includes the determined target position or direction, such that such that the coverage volume of the one or more sonar transducer elements maintains the determined target position or direction therein regardless of the movement or reorientation of the watercraft in the body of water relative to the target position or direction.