Patents by Inventor Brian T. Maguire
Brian T. Maguire has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11885918Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2021Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: Garmin International, Inc.Inventors: Aaron R. Coleman, Brian T. Maguire
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Publication number: 20230251375Abstract: A transducer assembly comprises a housing and a plurality of frequency steered transducer array elements. Each of the transducer array elements includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements. The frequency steered transducer array elements are configured to receive a transmit electronic signal including a plurality of frequency components and to transmit an array of sonar beams into a body of water. Each sonar beam is transmitted in an angular direction that varies according to one of the frequency components of the transmit electronic signal. The frequency steered transducer array elements are positioned within the housing in a fan-shaped configuration where an end section of at least two of the frequency steered transducer array elements are within an intersection range of each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2023Publication date: August 10, 2023Inventors: Jeffrey B. Wigh, Brian T. Maguire, Thomas G. Behrendt, David F. Lammers-Meis, Samuel T. Pirtle
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Publication number: 20220120882Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2021Publication date: April 21, 2022Inventors: Aaron R. Coleman, Brian T. Maguire
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Patent number: 11204416Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2017Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Inventors: John A. Matson, Brian T. maguire, Aaron R. Coleman, Jeffrey W. Hanoch
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Publication number: 20210096244Abstract: A transducer assembly comprises a housing and a plurality of frequency steered transducer array elements. Each of the transducer array elements includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements. The frequency steered transducer array elements are configured to receive a transmit electronic signal including a plurality of frequency components and to transmit an array of sonar beams into a body of water. Each sonar beam is transmitted in an angular direction that varies according to one of the frequency components of the transmit electronic signal. The frequency steered transducer array elements are positioned within the housing in a fan-shaped configuration where an end section of at least two of the frequency steered transducer array elements are within an intersection range of each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2020Publication date: April 1, 2021Inventors: Jeffrey B. Wigh, Brian T. Maguire, Thomas G. Behrendt, David F. Lammers-Meis, Samuel T. Pirtle
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Patent number: 10890660Abstract: A transducer assembly comprises a housing and a plurality of frequency steered transducer array elements. Each of the transducer array elements includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements. The frequency steered transducer array elements are configured to receive a transmit electronic signal including a plurality of frequency components and to transmit an array of sonar beams into a body of water. Each sonar beam is transmitted in an angular direction that varies according to one of the frequency components of the transmit electronic signal. The frequency steered transducer array elements are positioned within the housing in a fan-shaped configuration where an end section of at least two of the frequency steered transducer array elements are within an intersection range of each other.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2017Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Inventors: Jeffrey B. Wigh, Brian T. Maguire, Thomas G. Behrendt, David F. Lammers-Meis, Samuel T. Pirtle
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Publication number: 20200300994Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2017Publication date: September 24, 2020Inventors: John A. Matson, Brian T. Maguire, Aaron R. Coleman, Jeffrey W. Hanoch
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Patent number: 10605913Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2015Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbHInventors: Aaron R. Coleman, Jeffrey W. Hanoch, Brian T. Maguire
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Publication number: 20200072953Abstract: A transducer assembly comprises a housing, a frequency steered transducer array element positioned within the housing, a conical transducer element positioned within the housing, and a scanning transducer element positioned within the housing. The frequency steered transducer array element includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements and is configured to receive a transmit electronic signal including a plurality of frequency components and to transmit an array of sonar beams into a body of water, each sonar beam transmitted in an angular direction that varies according to one of the frequency components of the transmit electronic signal. The conical transducer element is configured to transmit a conically-shaped sonar beam into the body of water. The scanning transducer element is configured to transmit a fan-shaped sonar beam into the body of water.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2018Publication date: March 5, 2020Inventors: Jeffrey B. Wigh, Scott A. Suurmeyer, Brian T. Maguire, Thomas G. Behrendt, Samuel T. Pirtle
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Patent number: 10310062Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2016Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbHInventors: Aaron R. Coleman, Brian T. Maguire, Brandon M. Black, Jeffrey B. Wigh
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Publication number: 20180217244Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2016Publication date: August 2, 2018Inventors: Aaron R. Coleman, Brian T. Maguire, Brandon M. Black, Jeffrey B. Wigh
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Publication number: 20180100922Abstract: A transducer assembly comprises a housing and a plurality of frequency steered transducer array elements. Each of the transducer array elements includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements. The frequency steered transducer array elements are configured to receive a transmit electronic signal including a plurality of frequency components and to transmit an array of sonar beams into a body of water. Each sonar beam is transmitted in an angular direction that varies according to one of the frequency components of the transmit electronic signal. The frequency steered transducer array elements are positioned within the housing in a fan-shaped configuration where an end section of at least two of the frequency steered transducer array elements are within an intersection range of each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2017Publication date: April 12, 2018Inventors: Jeffrey B. Wigh, Brian T. Maguire, Thomas G. Behrendt, David F. Lammers-Meis, Samuel T. Pirtle
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Patent number: 9812118Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2015Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbHInventors: John A. Matson, Brian T. Maguire, Aaron R. Coleman, Jeffrey W. Hanoch
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Patent number: 9784826Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2015Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbHInventors: John A. Matson, Brian T. Maguire, Aaron R. Coleman, Jeffrey W. Hanoch
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Patent number: 9766328Abstract: A sonar transducer array assembly comprises a first flexible circuit, a second flexible circuit, and a plurality of transducer elements. The first and second flexible circuits each include a first side, a second side, and a plurality of adhesive areas spaced apart and positioned in a line along one edge of the first side. The transducer elements each include a first surface attached to one of the adhesive areas of the first flexible circuit, an opposing second surface attached to one of the adhesive areas of the second flexible circuit, and a third surface positioned between the first and second surfaces. The transducer elements form a linear array with the third surface of each transducer element in alignment and configured to transmit and receive an acoustic pressure wave.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2015Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbHInventors: Brandon M. Black, Brian T. Maguire, John A. Matson
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Publication number: 20170123062Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2015Publication date: May 4, 2017Inventors: Aaron R. Coleman, Jeffrey W. Hanouch, Brian T. Maguire
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Publication number: 20170115389Abstract: A downscan imaging sonar utilizes a linear transducer element to provide improved images of the sea floor and other objects in the water column beneath a vessel. A transducer array may include a plurality of transducer elements and each one of the plurality of transducer elements may include a substantially rectangular shape configured to produce a sonar beam having a beamwidth in a direction parallel to longitudinal length of the transducer elements that is significantly less than a beamwidth of the sonar beam in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the transducer elements. The plurality of transducer elements may be positioned such that longitudinal lengths of at least two of the plurality of transducer elements are parallel to each other. The plurality of transducer elements may also include at least a first linear transducer element, a second linear transducer element and a third linear transducer element.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2016Publication date: April 27, 2017Inventor: Brian T. Maguire
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Patent number: 9541643Abstract: A downscan imaging sonar utilizes a linear transducer element to provide improved images of the sea floor and other objects in the water column beneath a vessel. A transducer array may include a plurality of transducer elements and each one of the plurality of transducer elements may include a substantially rectangular shape configured to produce a sonar beam having a beamwidth in a direction parallel to longitudinal length of the transducer elements that is significantly less than a beamwidth of the sonar beam in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the transducer elements. The plurality of transducer elements may be positioned such that longitudinal lengths of at least two of the plurality of transducer elements are parallel to each other. The plurality of transducer elements may also include at least a first linear transducer element, a second linear transducer element and a third linear transducer element.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2013Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING ASInventor: Brian T. Maguire
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Publication number: 20160049143Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2015Publication date: February 18, 2016Inventors: John A. Matson, Brian T. Maguire, Aaron R. Coleman, Jeffrey W. Hanoch
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Publication number: 20160047906Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2015Publication date: February 18, 2016Inventors: John A. Matson, Brian T. Maguire, Aaron R. Coleman, Jeffrey W. Hanoch