Patents Assigned to Navico Holding AS
  • Patent number: 10094918
    Abstract: Various implementations directed to alert zones for a marine environment. In one implementation, a marine electronics device may include a memory having a plurality of program instructions which, when executed by the sonar signal processor, cause the processor to determine one or more alert zones for a marine environment proximate to a vessel, and to receive sonar data from a transducer array disposed on the vessel, where the sonar data corresponds to the marine environment. The memory may further have program instructions which, when executed by the sonar signal processor, cause the processor to analyze the received sonar data to determine a depth line, where the depth line is a representation of one or more depths of an underwater floor of the marine environment, and to provide one or more alerts if at least a portion of the depth line is positioned within the one or more alert zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventors: Frank S. Nickel, Alan Proctor, Tracy Brown, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10061025
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for producing a 3D image of an underwater environment. 2D sonar return data that defines an angle and distance value may be taken from a theoretical 2D slice of the underwater environment. Multiple sets of 2D sonar return data are taken from corresponding 2D slices of the underwater environment during travel. The multiple sets of 2D sonar return data can be inputted into a 3D point cloud/matrix based on the distance value and angle and the corresponding 2D slice associated with each sonar return. The 3D point cloud/matrix can then be processed to determine a cluster of sonar returns that correspond to the bottom surface. Additional filtering may be performed and the bottom surface can be reconstructed to form a 3D image for display to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventor: Shahzad F. Kirmani
  • Patent number: 10054684
    Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to a castable sonar device that may include a housing. The housing may include a buoyant component and a sonar transducer element configured to produce compressed high intensity radar pulse (CHIRP) sonar. The housing may include a wireless data communication module for communicating with one or more wireless computing devices enabled to display sonar images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventor: Matthew Laster
  • Patent number: 10054670
    Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to adaptive frequency correction for pulse compression radar. In one implementation, a method may include generating a first transmission signal using a first direct digital synthesizer of a pulse compression radar system based on frequency sweep coefficients. The method may also include comparing a frequency of the first transmission signal at a feedback loop of a phase locked loop circuit and a frequency of an ideal waveform signal. The method may further include generating adaptive frequency coefficients based on the comparison, where the adaptive frequency coefficients are configured to compensate for a difference between the frequency of the first transmission signal at the feedback loop and the frequency of the ideal waveform signal. The method may additionally include generating a compensated transmission signal using the pulse compression radar system based on the adaptive frequency coefficients and the frequency sweep coefficients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventors: Roger Phillips, Gregor Storz, Lindsay Lilburn
  • Patent number: 10037701
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and computer-readable medium for navigation safety and collision prevention are described herein. The apparatus may cause the collection of marine electronic data from marine data sources. Marine data sources may include a radar system, a sonar system, a position system, a tracking system, and/or a chart system. The apparatus may further determine, based upon the marine electronic data, the presence of a hazard in the projected path of the watercraft. The apparatus may determine if the hazard is within a threshold distance and, in response, may cause the watercraft to stop before reaching the hazard. In some instances, the apparatus may transmit a warning alert to the watercraft operator, and after a predetermined period of time without response by the operator, the apparatus may cause the watercraft to stop to prevent collision with the hazard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventor: Mark Harnett
  • Patent number: 10024957
    Abstract: Provided are method, system, and computer program product for imaging an underwater environment. The method may include receiving sonar returns and converting the sound energy of the sonar returns into sonar return data, and generating first beam data associated with a first beam having at least one first main lobe oriented in a first direction. Generating the first beam data may include: forming the sonar return data in the first direction; applying a first predetermined window to the sonar return data to define a first weighted return data; applying a second predetermined window to the sonar return data to define a second weighted return data; comparing a first power of the first weighted return data to a second power of the second weighted return data; and defining, when the first power is less than the second power, the first beam data based upon the first weighted return data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventor: Ronald Joe Horner
  • Patent number: 10025312
    Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, may cause the computer to display buttons or icons corresponding to a plurality of autopilots. The computer may receive a selection of one of the autopilots. The computer may display autopilot commands corresponding to the selected autopilot. The computer may receive a selection of one of the commands. The computer may also transmit a message corresponding to the selected command to the selected autopilot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventor: Robert Langford-Wood
  • Patent number: 10024961
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program product are provided herein for generating an image that includes sonar data indicative of an object from a first transducer element, such as a circular transducer element, with sonar data indicative of an underwater environment from a second transducer element, such as a linear transducer element. Example sonar data indicative of a fish includes a fish arch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventors: Aaron Coleman, Jeffrey W. Hanoch, Brian Maguire
  • Patent number: 10019002
    Abstract: Many different types of systems are utilized or tasks are performed in a marine environment. The present invention provides various configurations of unmanned vehicles, or drones, that can be operated and/or controlled for such systems or tasks. One or more unmanned vehicles can be integrated with a dedicated marine electronic device of a marine vessel for autonomous control and operation. Additionally or alternatively, the unmanned vehicle can be manually remote operated during use in the marine environment. Such unmanned vehicles can be utilized in many different marine environment systems or tasks, including, for example, navigation, sonar, radar, search and rescue, video streaming, alert functionality, among many others. However, as contemplated by the present invention, the marine environment provides many unique challenges that may be accounted for with operation and control of an unmanned vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventors: Mark N. Harnett, Geoffrey Morrish, Paul Butterworth, Alan Peter Davis, Thomas E. H. Isaacson, Jake Hawkins, Mark Griffith, David M. Simons
  • Patent number: 10018348
    Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to providing lighting in an underwater transducer mounted to a boat. The transducer assembly includes a housing. The housing includes a transducer. The housing includes one or more lighting devices. The housing also includes an element integrated with an outer edge of the housing in a waterproof configuration. The element allows light from the one or more lighting devices to emanate outward from the outer edge of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventor: Jeremy Schroeder
  • Patent number: 10018719
    Abstract: Provided are a sonar system and transducer assembly for producing a 3D image of an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing having a transmit transducer that may transmit sonar pulses into the water. The system may include at least one transducer array in the housing that receives first, second, and third sonar returns with first, second, and third transducer elements and converts the first, second, and third returns into first, second, and third sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may then generate a first and second set of 2D sonar data based on the sonar return data, generate a third set of 2D sonar data based on a correlation of the first and second set of 2D sonar data, and generate a 3D mesh data based on the third set of 2D sonar data. An associated method of using the sonar system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventors: Alan Lee Proctor, David Austin Parks, Ronald Joe Horner
  • Patent number: 10001548
    Abstract: A system that has a chirp generator for emitting signals and an amplitude modulator for shaping the signals emitted by the chirp generator. The signals are shaped using a calibration ramp. The system further includes a Radio Frequency (RF) power amplifier for amplifying the signals shaped by the amplitude modulator, an RF power detector for measuring power levels of the signals amplified by the RF power amplifier, and a pre-distortion coefficient generator for adjusting the measured power levels using power detector calibration coefficients that correspond to the RF power detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventors: Roger Phillips, Gregor Storz, Lindsay Lilburn
  • Patent number: 9992987
    Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, may cause the computer to automatically receiving fishing data recorded during a fishing trip. The computer may receive a selection of a first group of subscribers that can access the fishing data. The computer may grant permissions to the first group of subscribers to access the fishing data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventor: Paul Robert Bailey
  • Patent number: 9986197
    Abstract: Whether for enjoyment, research, or other reasons, operators and occupants of marine vessels often want to re-live their experience. Embodiments of the present invention seek to utilize data captured during a trip to generate a trip replay experience that provides a re-creation experience for the viewer. In this regard, data from the systems and sensors of the marine vessel during the trip may be gathered and provided to a remote server. The data may be correlated as a function of time and intermingled to create a first-person type view from a “dashboard” to give the viewer a more realistic re-creation experience of the trip. Such a trip replay experience allows the operator, owner, or anyone else to relive a trip taken in the marine vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventor: Phillip King Gaynor
  • Patent number: 9972110
    Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to a device having a display and a computer configured to receive data from one or more sensors. The data may include positional data and thermocline data. The computer may be configured to display a first image associated with a chart map of a body of water that identifies areas having a thermocline layer based on the positional data and the thermocline data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventor: Lucas Dale Steward
  • Patent number: 9952312
    Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to a method for mitigating radar interference. The method may include receiving time domain signals from a radar device and transforming the time domain signals to time-frequency domain signals. The method may include comparing each time-frequency domain signal with one or more surrounding time-frequency domain signals to determine which of the time-frequency domain signals have interference. The method may include repairing the time-frequency domain signals having interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventor: Andrew Corbett
  • Patent number: 9928611
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention seek to provide an accurate way to measure the length of a fish. Some embodiments of the present invention propose utilizing a known length of a marker within a camera view or picture to determine the length of the fish also shown in the same camera view or picture. This determination could be performed in real-time or later remotely. Further, the measurement of the length of the fish is reliable because it is not dependent on a zoom value or angle of the camera and there is no required measurement device. Further, the technique is easy to use and can be performed with a camera phone or tablet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventor: Paul Butterworth
  • Patent number: 9909891
    Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to a method for displaying a route to be travelled by a marine vessel on a computer screen. In one implementation, the method may include receiving a command to display a predetermined navigation pattern corresponding to the route, receiving a request to place a center of turn on a first geographical location, and displaying the predetermined navigation pattern based on the center of turn on the computer screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventor: Robert Langford-Wood
  • Patent number: 9905214
    Abstract: An aluminum transducer chassis prepared by a process having the following steps: performing an extrusion using a die and an aluminum billet to create an extruded chassis, wherein the die has a cross sectional shape of the transducer chassis; and cutting the extruded chassis to a plurality of predetermined lengths, each length corresponding to the length of a transducer chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventors: Jeremy Schroeder, Blessing Anna Williams
  • Patent number: 9886938
    Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to a transducer array. The transducer array may include a first receiver having a first aperture width. The transducer array may include a second receiver having a second aperture width that is substantially equal to the first aperture width. The transducer array may also include a transceiver having a third aperture width that is larger than the first aperture width and the second aperture width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventor: David Parks