Patent ID: 6226227
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: G01S,H04B

Abstract:
A method of providing a video frame display of an underwater area to a diver as the diver moves naturally within the underwater area, comprising the steps of:scanning the underwater area with a single narrow beam sonar signal emitted from a self contained sonar device;determining pitch and roll of the self contained sonar device;determining angle and angle rate of the self contained sonar device with a solid state angle sensor located within the self contained sonar device;determining compass bearing of the self contained sonar device with a solid state sensor bearing located within the self contained sonar device;storing and archiving displayed images with corresponding self contained sonar device, range, bearing, reference bearing and positioning data;displaying the pitch and roll, thereby allowing the diver to keep the self contained sonar device level while scanning the single narrow beam sonar;producing said video frame display of the underwater area, said video frame display corrected for non-uniform movement of the self contained sonar device by processing and combining the angle, angle rate, and compass bearing information with digitized sonar data using a microcomputer contained within the self contained sonar device.