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

Claim 27:
28. A method for adjusting a coverage volume of a sonar system for a watercraft, the method comprising:
providing the sonar system, wherein the sonar system includes one or more sonar transducer elements, wherein the sonar system is configured to attach to the watercraft such that the sonar system moves in a fixed relationship with the watercraft;
providing a steering assembly, wherein the steering assembly is configured to cause independent rotation of the one or more sonar transducer elements relative to the watercraft when the sonar system is 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;
causing the one or more sonar transducer elements to emit one or more sonar beams into the underwater environment;
receiving sonar return data from a coverage volume of the one or more sonar transducer elements;
generating a sonar image of the coverage volume of the underwater environment based on the sonar return data;
receiving an input from a user indicating a desire to lock the coverage volume on a position within the body of water corresponding to an actual position within the body of water or a theoretical position corresponding to a current direction of the one or more sonar transducer elements;
determining, based on the input, the position within the body of water;
determining 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; and
causing, in response thereto, the steering assembly, while the sonar system is 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 within the coverage volume regardless of movement or reorientation of the watercraft in the body of water relative to the determined position.