Abstract: A sonar array system comprises a plurality of sonar arrays and a sonar signal processor. Each sonar array is configured to receive transmit electronic signals and transmit corresponding sonar beams in a forward direction and a downward direction. Each sonar array includes a plurality of groups of sonar transducer elements, with each group including at least a first sonar transducer element and a second sonar transducer element. The sonar signal processor is configured to communicate a plurality of transmit electronic signals to the sonar arrays. The transmit electronic signals include a first transmit electronic signal including a periodic waveform having a first phase and a second transmit electronic signal including a periodic waveform having a second phase. A distribution of power between the sonar beams transmitted in the forward direction and in the downward direction varies according to a difference in the first phase and the second phase.

Abstract: A sonar display comprises a processing element and a display. The processing element is configured to receive a first sonar electronic signal from a first sonar transducer, receive a second sonar electronic signal from a second sonar transducer, generate data for a first underwater image stream from the first sonar electronic signal and a second underwater image stream from the second sonar electronic signal. The display is configured to show at least one of the first underwater image stream having a first view derived from reflections of a first sonar beam, the second underwater image stream having a second view derived from reflections of a second sonar beam, and an indication of a position of the first sonar beam relative to the second sonar beam.

Abstract: A sonar display comprises a processing element and a display. The processing element is configured to receive a first sonar electronic signal from a first sonar transducer, receive a second sonar electronic signal from a second sonar transducer, generate data for a first underwater image stream from the first sonar electronic signal and a second underwater image stream from the second sonar electronic signal. The display is configured to show at least one of the first underwater image stream having a first view derived from reflections of a first sonar beam, the second underwater image stream having a second view derived from reflections of a second sonar beam, and an indication of a position of the first sonar beam relative to the second sonar beam.

Abstract: A sonar array system comprises a plurality of sonar arrays and a sonar signal processor. Each sonar array is configured to receive transmit electronic signals and transmit corresponding sonar beams in a forward direction and a downward direction. Each sonar array includes a plurality of groups of sonar transducer elements, with each group including at least a first sonar transducer element and a second sonar transducer element. The sonar signal processor is configured to communicate a plurality of transmit electronic signals to the sonar arrays. The transmit electronic signals include a first transmit electronic signal including a periodic waveform having a first phase and a second transmit electronic signal including a periodic waveform having a second phase. A distribution of power between the sonar beams transmitted in the forward direction and in the downward direction varies according to a difference in the first phase and the second phase.

Abstract: A marine multibeam sonar device comprises a processing element and a transmitter. The processing element generates a plurality of transmit transducer electronic signals and inverts a polarity of a first portion of the transmit transducer electronic signals. The transmitter is in communication with the processing element and includes a plurality of transmit electronic circuits and a plurality of transmit transducers. Each transmit electronic circuit receives and processes one of the transmit transducer electronic signals, wherein a first portion of the circuits re-inverts the polarity of the first portion of the transmit transducer electronic signals. The transmit transducers receive the processed transmit transducer electronic signals from the transmit electronic circuits and generate a sonar beam.

Abstract: A marine multibeam sonar device comprises a processing element and a transmitter. The processing element generates a plurality of transmit transducer electronic signals and inverts a polarity of a first portion of the transmit transducer electronic signals. The transmitter is in communication with the processing element and includes a plurality of transmit electronic circuits and a plurality of transmit transducers. Each transmit electronic circuit receives and processes one of the transmit transducer electronic signals, wherein a first portion of the circuits re-inverts the polarity of the first portion of the transmit transducer electronic signals. The transmit transducers receive the processed transmit transducer electronic signals from the transmit electronic circuits and generate a sonar beam.

Abstract: A marine sonar display device comprises a display, a sonar element, a memory element, and a processing element. The display presents sonar images. The sonar element generates a sonar beam and presents transducer signals. The processing element is in communication with the display, the sonar element, and the memory element and receives the transducer signals, calculates sonar data from the transducer signals and generates a three-dimensional view of a portion of the body of water, wherein the view includes a plurality of sonar images. Each sonar image is generated from sonar data derived from a previously-generated sonar beam and includes representations of underwater objects and a water bed. The processing element also generates a cursor plane and a cursor positioned thereon, both of which appear on the three-dimensional view. The processing element further controls the display to present the three-dimensional view, the sonar images, the cursor plane, and the cursor.

Abstract: A marine sonar device comprises a display, a sonar element, and a processing element. The display displays sonar images. The sonar element generates a sonar beam during a ping and presents transducer signals. The processing element is configured to instruct the sonar element to generate the sonar beam at a first frequency during a first ping, receive a first transducer signal resulting from received reflections of the sonar beam at the first frequency, filter the first transducer signal to exclude frequencies other than the first frequency, instruct the sonar element to generate the sonar beam at a second frequency during a second ping, the second frequency being different from the first frequency, receive a second transducer signal resulting from received reflections of the sonar beam at the second frequency, and filter the second transducer signal to exclude frequencies other than the second frequency.

Abstract: A marine sonar display device comprises a display, a sonar element, a memory element, and a processing element. The display presents sonar images. The sonar element generates a sonar beam and presents transducer signals. The processing element is in communication with the display, the sonar element, and the memory element and receives the transducer signals, calculates sonar data from the transducer signals and generates a three-dimensional view of a portion of the body of water, wherein the view includes a plurality of sonar images. Each sonar image is generated from sonar data derived from a previously-generated sonar beam and includes representations of underwater objects and a water bed. The processing element also generates a cursor plane and a cursor positioned thereon, both of which appear on the three-dimensional view. The processing element further controls the display to present the three-dimensional view, the sonar images, the cursor plane, and the cursor.

Abstract: A frequency steered sonar element comprises a transducer element and a grating element. The transducer element presents a longitudinal axis and is configured to receive a transmit electronic signal and generate an acoustic wave with a frequency component corresponding to a frequency component of the transmit electronic signal. The grating element presents a longitudinal axis and is oriented such that a longitudinal axis of the grating element and a longitudinal axis of the transducer element form an acute angle. The grating element includes a first surface and an opposing second surface. One or more of the surfaces includes one or more grooves distributed thereon, the one or more grooves including first and second facets. The grating element is configured to emit a sonar beam in an angular direction which varies according to the frequency component of the acoustic wave.

Abstract: A marine sonar display device comprises a display, a sonar element, a memory element, and a processing element. The display presents sonar images. The sonar element generates a sonar beam and presents transducer signals. The processing element is in communication with the display, the sonar element, and the memory element and receives the transducer signals, calculates sonar data from the transducer signals and generates a three-dimensional view of a portion of the body of water, wherein the view includes a plurality of sonar images. Each sonar image is generated from sonar data derived from a previously-generated sonar beam and includes representations of underwater objects and a water bed. The processing element also generates a cursor plane and a cursor positioned thereon, both of which appear on the three-dimensional view. The processing element further controls the display to present the three-dimensional view, the sonar images, the cursor plane, and the cursor.

Abstract: A frequency steered sonar element comprises a transducer element and a grating element. The transducer element presents a longitudinal axis and is configured to receive a transmit electronic signal and generate an acoustic wave with a frequency component corresponding to a frequency component of the transmit electronic signal. The grating element presents a longitudinal axis and is oriented such that a longitudinal axis of the grating element and a longitudinal axis of the transducer element form an acute angle. The grating element includes a first surface and an opposing second surface. One or more of the surfaces includes one or more grooves distributed thereon, the one or more grooves including first and second facets. The grating element is configured to emit a sonar beam in an angular direction which varies according to the frequency component of the acoustic wave.

Abstract: A marine multibeam sonar device comprises a transmitter, a memory element, and a processing element. The transmitter includes a plurality of transmit channel circuits, each connected to one of a plurality of transmit transducers. Each transmit channel circuit is configured to receive a transmit transducer electronic signal. The transmit transducers are oriented in a linear array that is configured to form a transmit acoustic beam. The processing element is in communication with the transmitter and the memory element and is configured to generate the transmit transducer electronic signals, each including a serial binary bitstream.

Abstract: A marine sonar display device comprises a display, a sonar element, a memory element, and a processing element. The display presents sonar images. The sonar element generates a sonar beam and presents transducer signals. The processing element is in communication with the display, the sonar element, and the memory element and receives the transducer signals, calculates sonar data from the transducer signals and generates a three-dimensional view of a portion of the body of water, wherein the view includes a plurality of sonar images. Each sonar image is generated from sonar data derived from a previously-generated sonar beam and includes representations of underwater objects and a water bed. The processing element also generates a cursor plane and a cursor positioned thereon, both of which appear on the three-dimensional view. The processing element further controls the display to present the three-dimensional view, the sonar images, the cursor plane, and the cursor.

Abstract: A marine multibeam sonar device comprises a processing element and a transmitter. The processing element generates a plurality of transmit transducer electronic signals and inverts a polarity of a first portion of the transmit transducer electronic signals. The transmitter is in communication with the processing element and includes a plurality of transmit electronic circuits and a plurality of transmit transducers. Each transmit electronic circuit receives and processes one of the transmit transducer electronic signals, wherein a first portion of the circuits re-inverts the polarity of the first portion of the transmit transducer electronic signals. The transmit transducers receive the processed transmit transducer electronic signals from the transmit electronic circuits and generate a sonar beam.

Abstract: A marine sonar display device comprises a display, a sonar element, a multi axis sensor, a memory element, and a processing element. The display presents sonar images. The sonar element generates a sonar beam. The multi axis sensor determines an orientation and a tilt of the sonar element and present a sensor signal indicating the orientation and the tilt. The processing element is in communication with the display, the sonar element, the multi axis sensor, and the memory element. The processing element further determines an operating mode of the marine sonar display device, wherein the operating mode varying according to the orientation and the tilt of the sonar element.

Abstract: A marine sonar device comprises a display, a sonar element, and a processing element. The display displays sonar images. The sonar element generates a sonar beam during a ping and presents transducer signals. The processing element is configured to instruct the sonar element to generate the sonar beam at a first frequency during a first ping, receive a first transducer signal resulting from received reflections of the sonar beam at the first frequency, filter the first transducer signal to exclude frequencies other than the first frequency, instruct the sonar element to generate the sonar beam at a second frequency during a second ping, the second frequency being different from the first frequency, receive a second transducer signal resulting from received reflections of the sonar beam at the second frequency, and filter the second transducer signal to exclude frequencies other than the second frequency.

Abstract: A marine multibeam sonar device comprises a transmitter, a memory element, and a processing element. The transmitter includes a plurality of transmit channel circuits, each connected to one of a plurality of transmit transducers. Each transmit channel circuit is configured to receive a transmit transducer electronic signal. The transmit transducers are oriented in a linear array that is configured to form a transmit acoustic beam. The processing element is in communication with the transmitter and the memory element and is configured to generate the transmit transducer electronic signals, each including a serial binary bitstream.

Abstract: A marine multibeam sonar device comprises a processing element and a transmitter. The processing element generates a plurality of transmit transducer electronic signals and inverts a polarity of a first portion of the transmit transducer electronic signals. The transmitter is in communication with the processing element and includes a plurality of transmit electronic circuits and a plurality of transmit transducers. Each transmit electronic circuit receives and processes one of the transmit transducer electronic signals, wherein a first portion of the circuits re-inverts the polarity of the first portion of the transmit transducer electronic signals. The transmit transducers receive the processed transmit transducer electronic signals from the transmit electronic circuits and generate a sonar beam.

Abstract: A marine sonar display device comprises a display, a sonar element, a multi axis sensor, a memory element, and a processing element. The display presents sonar images. The sonar element generates a sonar beam. The multi axis sensor determines an orientation and a tilt of the sonar element and present a sensor signal indicating the orientation and the tilt. The processing element is in communication with the display, the sonar element, the multi axis sensor, and the memory element. The processing element further determines an operating mode of the marine sonar display device, wherein the operating mode varying according to the orientation and the tilt of the sonar element.