US 12,287,416 B2
Live sonar systems and methods
Jeremiah D. Clark, Tulsa, OK (US); and Dustyn P. Pendergraft, Claremore, OK (US)
Assigned to Navico, Inc., Tulsa, OK (US)
Filed by NAVICO, INC., Tulsa, OK (US)
Filed on Aug. 19, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/891,354.
Application 17/891,354 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/174,415, filed on Feb. 12, 2021, granted, now 11,500,054.
Application 17/174,415 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/123,189, filed on Dec. 16, 2020, granted, now 11,435,427.
Application 17/123,189 is a continuation of application No. 15/982,362, filed on May 17, 2018, granted, now 10,914,810, issued on Feb. 9, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0390542 A1, Dec. 8, 2022
Int. Cl. G01S 3/801 (2006.01); G01S 3/802 (2006.01); G06F 3/041 (2006.01); G06F 3/04845 (2022.01); G06F 3/0488 (2022.01); G09B 29/00 (2006.01); H04N 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC G01S 3/801 (2013.01) [G01S 3/802 (2013.01); G06F 3/0412 (2013.01); G06F 3/04845 (2013.01); G06F 3/0488 (2013.01); G09B 29/003 (2013.01); H04N 1/00411 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for generating live sonar images, the system comprising:
a first sonar transducer assembly having a first plurality of sonar transducer elements, wherein the first sonar transducer assembly defines a first facing direction, wherein the first plurality of sonar transducer elements are configured to transmit one or more first sonar beams into an underwater environment to form a first coverage volume within the underwater environment;
a second sonar transducer assembly having a second plurality of sonar transducer elements, wherein the second sonar transducer assembly defines a second facing direction, wherein the second plurality of sonar transducer elements are configured to transmit one or more second sonar beams into the underwater environment to form a second coverage volume within the underwater environment, wherein the first sonar transducer assembly is distinct from the second sonar transducer assembly; and
a first bracket having one or more alignment features, wherein the first bracket is configured to mount both the first sonar transducer assembly and the second transducer assembly to a watercraft, wherein the one or more alignment features are configured to position the first sonar transducer assembly and the second sonar transducer assembly so that the first facing direction and the second facing direction are different and relative to each other so as to create continuous coverage of the underwater environment, wherein the continuous coverage has an overall coverage volume that is greater than either of the first coverage volume or the second coverage volume individually;
wherein the first facing direction and the second facing direction are generally outward of the watercraft, wherein sonar return data from the first plurality of sonar transducer elements and the second plurality of sonar transducer elements is used to form a live sonar image representative of sonar returns received from the overall coverage volume.