US 12,306,327 B2
Multiplexed phased array multibeam sonar
Jesus Carmona-Valdes, Eufaula, AL (US); Gavin William Slay, Eufaula, AL (US); William Mark Gibson, Eufaula, AL (US); and Per Oskar Pelin, Torslanda (SE)
Assigned to Johnson Outdoors Inc., Racine, WI (US)
Filed by Johnson Outdoors Inc., Racine, WI (US)
Filed on Feb. 1, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/429,736.
Application 18/429,736 is a continuation of application No. 17/182,672, filed on Feb. 23, 2021, granted, now 11,914,066.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/985,609, filed on Mar. 5, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0241213 A1, Jul. 18, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01S 7/00 (2006.01); G01S 7/521 (2006.01); G01S 7/534 (2006.01); G01S 7/536 (2006.01); G01S 7/62 (2006.01); G01S 15/96 (2006.01)
CPC G01S 7/003 (2013.01) [G01S 7/521 (2013.01); G01S 7/534 (2013.01); G01S 7/536 (2013.01); G01S 7/6218 (2013.01); G01S 15/96 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A transducer unit for use in a multiplexed phased array multibeam sonar system, comprising:
a transmit (TX) element configured to generate a sonar ping to ensonify an ensonification cone of water;
a receive (RX) array configured to receive sonar echoes resulting from the sonar ping contacting targets in the ensonification cone;
wherein generation of the sonar ping by the TX element and receipt by the RX array of the sonar echoes resulting from the sonar ping defines a transmit-receive cycle;
a digital signal processor (DSP) configured to process the sonar echoes into sonar display information;
a plurality of multiplexers (MUXs) coupled between the RX array and the DSP, each of the MUXs configured to selectively couple a respective a first portion of the RX array to the DSP during a first time and a respective second portion of the RX array during a second time such that the plurality of MUXs couple an entirety of the RX array to the DSP during each transmit-receive cycle.