Flasher sonar device with light guide

1. A flasher sonar device comprising:

a spinner assembly that includes a light guide;

a motor for rotating the spinner assembly;

a stationary light source for supplying light pulses to an inlet end of the light guide, the inlet end of the light guide being movable relative to the light source during operation wherein the light guide directs light from the inlet end to an outlet end in a beam; and

a controller that drives the light source as a function of sonar returns and angular position of the spinner assembly.

2. The flasher sonar device of claim 1 , and further comprising:

a window in front of the outlet end of the light guide; and

a scale adjacent to the window.

3. The flasher sonar device of claim 1 , wherein the light guide comprises one of a light pipe, a bundle of optical fibers; and a curved mirror.

4. The flasher sonar device of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises:

a multicolor light source; and

a light source driver for receiving a flasher signal from the controller and providing the flasher signal to the light source.

5. A flasher sonar device comprising:

a spinner assembly that includes a light guide;

a motor for rotating the spinner assembly;

a light source for supplying light pulses to an inlet end of the light guide, wherein the light guide directs light from the inlet end to an outlet end in a beam; and

a controller that drives the light source as a function of sonar returns and angular position of the spinner assembly; and

wherein the spinner assembly comprises:

a center cup;

an outer flange connected to the center cup; and

a light output area for receiving the outlet end of the light guide.

6. The flasher sonar device of claim 5 , wherein the spinner assembly further comprises:

an access slot shaped to allow insertion of the inlet end of the light guide into the center cup;

a cradle for holding the light guide in place; and

an inlet end holder for holding the inlet end aligned with a center aperture of a light guide cap.

7. A flasher sonar device comprising:

a stationary light source;

an annular window;

a light guide having an inlet end aligned with the light source and an outlet end aligned with the annular window, the inlet end being moveable relative to the light source during operation;

a motor for rotating the light guide; and

a controller for causing the light source to generate light signals based upon sonar depth information and angular position of the light guide so that light from the light source is emitted into the inlet end of the light guide, wherein the light guide directs light from the inlet end to the outlet end in a beam.

8. A sonar device comprising:

a stationary light source;

a rotatable element;

a motor for rotating the rotatable element;

a display; and

a light guide mounted on the rotatable element and having an inlet end aligned with the light source and an outlet end aligned with the display, so that light emitted from the light source enters the inlet end of the light guide, is directed from the inlet end to the outlet end in a beam, and is emitted out the outlet end of the light guide, the inlet end of the light guide being moveable relative to the stationary light source during operation.

9. The sonar device of claim 8 , wherein the light guide comprises a bundle of optical fibers.

10. A sonar device comprising:

a light source;

a rotatable element;

a motor for rotating the rotatable element;

a display;

a light guide mounted on the rotatable element and having an inlet end aligned with the light source and an outlet end aligned with the display, so that light emitted from the light source enters the inlet end of the light guide, is directed from the inlet end to the outlet end in a beam, and is emitted out the outlet end of the light guide;

wherein the light guide comprises a bundle of optical fibers; and

wherein the light guide includes:

a sleeve that surrounds the bundle of optical fibers;

an inlet end fitting that holds the bundle of optical fibers in a circular shape at the inlet end;

a light guide cap that fits over the inlet end fitting; and

an outlet end fitting that holds the bundle of optical fibers in a fan shaped arrangement at the outlet end.

11. A flasher sonar device comprising:

a sonar circuit;

a motor;

a rotatable element for rotation about an axis by the motor;

a light guide attached to the rotatable element and having an inlet end aligned with the axis and an outlet end spaced radially outward from the axis; and

a stationary light source for supplying light to the inlet end of the light guide based upon flasher signals from the sonar circuit; the inlet end of the light guide being moveable relative to the light source as the rotatable element rotates about the axis during operation.

12. The flasher sonar device of claim 11 , wherein the sonar circuit comprises:

a sonar transducer;

a sonar transmitter for driving the sonar transducer to generate sonar pulses;

a sonar receiver for receiving sonar returns from the sonar transducer; and

a controller for storing signal intensities of the sonar returns and providing flasher signals to the light source based upon the stored signal intensities in synchronization with rotation of the rotatable element.

13. The flasher sonar device of claim 12 , wherein the light source comprises:

a multicolor LED source; and

an LED driver for receiving flasher signals from the controller and providing drive signals to the light source based upon the flasher signals.

14. The flasher sonar device of claim 11 , wherein the light guide comprises a bundle of optical fibers.

15. The flasher sonar device of claim 14 , wherein the light guide includes a sleeve that surrounds the bundle of optical fibers.

16. The flasher sonar device of claim 14 , wherein the light guide includes an inlet end fitting that holds the bundle of optical fibers in a circular shape at the inlet end.

17. A flasher sonar device comprising:

a sonar circuit;

a motor;

a rotatable element for rotation about an axis by the motor;

a light guide attached to the rotatable element and having an inlet end aligned with the axis and an outlet end spaced radially outward from the axis;

a light source for supplying light to the inlet end of the light guide based upon flasher signals from the sonar circuit;

wherein the light guide comprises a bundle of optical fibers;

wherein the light guide includes an inlet end fitting that holds the bundle of optical fibers in a circular shape at the inlet end; and

a light guide cap that fits over the inlet end fitting.

18. A flasher sonar device comprising:

a sonar circuit;

a motor;

a rotatable element for rotation about an axis by the motor;

a light guide attached to the rotatable element and having an inlet end aligned with the axis and an outlet end spaced radially outward from the axis;

a light source for supplying light to the inlet end of the light guide based upon flasher signals from the sonar circuit;

wherein the light guide comprises a bundle of optical fibers; and

wherein the light guide includes an outlet end fitting that holds the bundle of optical fibers in a radially extending column at the outlet end.

19. The flasher sonar device of claim 11 , and further comprising:

a synchronization interrupter carried by the rotatable element; and

a sensor that generates a synchronization pulse when the synchronization interrupter passes the sensor.

20. The flasher sonar device of claim 11 , and further comprising:

an annular window wherein the outlet end of the light guide is aligned with the annular window and rotates in a circle behind the annular window.