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

Claim 0:
1. A system for a watercraft, the system comprising:
a trolling motor, wherein the trolling motor is configured to be attached to the watercraft and to propel the watercraft on a body of water;
a sonar assembly comprising one or more sonar transducer elements, wherein the sonar assembly is configured to be attached to the watercraft or the trolling motor that is attached to the watercraft such that the sonar assembly moves in a fixed relationship with the watercraft, wherein the one or more sonar transducer elements are configured to transmit one or more sonar beams into an underwater environment;
a steering assembly configured to cause independent rotation of the sonar assembly relative to the watercraft and the trolling motor regardless of whether the sonar assembly is attached to the watercraft or to the trolling motor that is attached to the watercraft, wherein the steering assembly is configured to reorient a facing direction of the sonar assembly 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 corresponding to either an actual position within the body of water or a theoretical position corresponding to a current direction that the sonar assembly is facing;
determine the position within the body of water;
determine that a current coverage volume of the sonar assembly 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 sonar assembly is attached to the watercraft or the trolling motor attached to the watercraft, to steer the sonar assembly independently of the watercraft and the trolling motor to reorient the facing direction of the sonar assembly to cause a current direction of the sonar coverage to adjust so that the coverage volume of the sonar assembly includes the determined position, such that the coverage volume of the sonar assembly maintains the determined position therein regardless of movement or reorientation by the watercraft or the trolling motor relative to the determined position.