Granted Patent B2

US 12,287,402 · App. 17/837,262 · Granted Apr 29, 2025

Inventors: Adam C. Stryker (Broken Arrow, OK); Ryan W. McCarter (Broken Arrow, OK)

Assignee: Navico, Inc.

G01S15/89G01S7/521G01S15/93

Abstract

Claims (56)

1. A system for synchronizing sonar ping transmissions from multiple sonar transducer elements or arrays, the system comprising:

a first sonar module that is configured to control a first time of transmission of a first sonar ping from a first sonar transducer, the first sonar module having:

a first processing circuitry;

a first memory including a first computer program code;

a second sonar module that is configured to control a second time of transmission of a second sonar ping from a second sonar transducer, the second sonar module having:

a second processing circuitry;

a second memory including a second computer program code; and

a synchronization wire connecting the first sonar module and the second sonar module,

wherein the first computer program code is configured to, when executed, cause the first processing circuitry to:

cause a first voltage level to be output from the first sonar module to the synchronization wire when the first sonar module is ready to transmit the first sonar ping;

cause a second voltage level to be output from the first sonar module to the synchronization wire when the first sonar module is not ready to transmit the first sonar ping;

receive a synchronization voltage value from the synchronization wire;

determine whether the synchronization voltage value meets predefined criteria; and

send a first signal to the first sonar transducer upon determining that the synchronization voltage value meets the predefined criteria, wherein the first signal is configured to cause transmission of the first sonar ping,

wherein the second computer program code is configured to, when executed, cause the second processing circuitry to:

cause a third voltage level to be output from the second sonar module to the synchronization wire when the second sonar module is ready to transmit the second sonar ping;

cause a fourth voltage level to be output from the second sonar module to the synchronization wire when the second sonar module is not ready to transmit the second sonar ping;

receive the synchronization voltage value from the synchronization wire;

determine whether the synchronization voltage value meets the predefined criteria; and

send a second signal to the second sonar transducer upon determining that the synchronization voltage value meets the predefined criteria, wherein the second signal is configured to cause transmission of the second sonar ping such that the transmission of the second sonar ping occurs at a same time as the transmission of the first sonar ping.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first sonar ping and the second sonar ping provide continuous sonar beam coverage of an underwater environment, wherein the first sonar ping has a first beam angle, wherein the second sonar ping has a second beam angle, and wherein the continuous sonar beam coverage has an increased effective beam angle relative to each of the first beam angle and the second beam angle.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first sonar ping and the second sonar ping have overlapping coverage volumes to provide improved image quality.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first computer program code is configured to, when executed, cause the first processing circuitry to:

determine whether the synchronization voltage value exceeds a specified value; and

cause transmission of the first sonar ping at a synchronized time upon determining that the synchronization voltage value exceeds the specified value.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first computer program code is configured to, when executed, cause the first processing circuitry to:

determine whether the synchronization voltage value is equal to a specified value; and

cause transmission of the first sonar ping at a synchronized time upon determining that the synchronization voltage value is equal to the specified value.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first sonar module further comprises:

a first control pin; and

a first sync circuit,

wherein the first computer program code is configured to, when executed, cause the first processing circuitry to:

cause the first voltage level to be output to the synchronization wire when the first sonar module is ready to transmit the first sonar ping by causing the first control pin to contact a portion of the first sync circuit to close the first sync circuit; and

cause the second voltage level to be output to the synchronization wire when the second sonar module is not ready to transmit the first sonar ping by causing the first control pin to avoid contact with the first sync circuit so that the first sync circuit remains open.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the first sonar module further comprises a first sense pin that is configured to transfer electrical current between the synchronization wire and the first processing circuitry.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the first sync circuit includes a voltage source, wherein causing the first control pin to avoid contact with the first sync circuit causes electrical current to flow to ground.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the second sonar module further comprises:

a second control pin; and

a second sync circuit,

wherein the second computer program code is configured to, when executed, cause the second processing circuitry to:

cause the third voltage level to be output to the synchronization wire when the second sonar module is ready to transmit the second sonar ping by causing the second control pin to contact a portion of the second sync circuit to close the second sync circuit; and

cause the fourth voltage level to be output to the synchronization wire when the second sonar module is not ready to transmit the second sonar ping by causing the second control pin to avoid contact with the second sync circuit so that the second sync circuit remains open.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first sync circuit operates through open drain topology.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first sync circuit includes a pull-up resistor.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first voltage level is a non-zero voltage, wherein the second voltage level is zero.

13. The system of claim 1 , comprising three or more sonar modules, wherein the synchronization wire connects each of the three or more sonar modules.

14. A method for synchronizing sonar ping transmissions from multiple sonar transducer elements or arrays, the method comprising:

determining, at a first sonar module for a first sonar transducer, whether the first sonar module is ready to transmit a first sonar ping;

causing a first voltage level to be output from the first sonar module to a synchronization wire when the first sonar module is ready to transmit a first sonar ping;

causing a second voltage level to be output from the first sonar module to the synchronization wire when the first sonar module is not ready to transmit the first sonar ping, wherein the synchronization wire is configured to receive electrical voltages from a second sonar module;

receiving, at the first sonar module, a synchronization voltage value from the synchronization wire;

determining, at the first sonar module, whether the synchronization voltage value meets predefined criteria; and

sending a signal from the first sonar module to the first sonar transducer upon determining that the synchronization voltage value meets the predefined criteria, wherein the second sonar module is configured to cause transmission of a second sonar ping, wherein the signal is configured to cause transmission of the first sonar ping such that the transmission of the first sonar ping occurs at a same time as the transmission of the second sonar ping.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first sonar ping and the second sonar ping provide continuous sonar beam coverage of an underwater environment, wherein the first sonar ping has a first beam angle, wherein the second sonar ping has a second beam angle, and wherein the continuous sonar beam coverage has an increased effective beam angle relative to each of the first beam angle and the second beam angle.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first sonar ping and the second sonar ping have overlapping coverage volumes to provide improved image quality.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the signal is configured to cause transmission of the first sonar ping such that the transmission of the first sonar ping occurs simultaneously with transmission of at least two other sonar pings.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (133)