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

Claim 14:
15. A sonar system for a watercraft, the sonar 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 or a trolling motor of 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 (i) the watercraft when the one or more sonar transducer elements are attached to the watercraft or (ii) the watercraft and the trolling motor when the one or more sonar transducer elements are attached to the trolling motor, 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; and
a marine electronic device comprising:
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;
receive input indicating a desire to lock the coverage volume of the sonar assembly on a target within the body of water;
determine a position of the target within the body of water;
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 or the trolling motor attached to the watercraft, to steer the one or more sonar transducer elements 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 position, such that the coverage volume of the one or more sonar transducer elements maintains the determined position therein regardless of movement or reorientation relative to the target by (i) the watercraft when the one or more sonar transducer elements are attached to the watercraft or (ii) the watercraft or the trolling motor when the one or more sonar transducer elements are attached to the trolling motor.