Patents by Inventor David J Howells

David J Howells 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).

  • Patent number: 7755974
    Abstract: A system for use with a boat to provide underwater sonar images, includes a left side scan sonar transducer for transmitting left side scan sonar pulses and for receiving left side scan sonar return signals, a right side scan sonar transducer for transmitting right side scan sonar pulses and for receiving right side scan sonar return signals, and signal processing circuitry for processing the left and right side scan sonar return signals to produce side scan image data. The system further includes a user interface including user inputs and a display and a digital processor for providing signals to the display to show an underwater image based upon the side scan image data, wherein the digital processor, in response to a user command, performs an image enhancement algorithm to enhance the underwater image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Johnson Outdoors Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Betts, Robert W. Derrow, David J. Howells
  • Patent number: 7729203
    Abstract: A system for use with a boat to provide underwater sonar images includes a GPS receiver for providing GPS position data, a left side scan sonar transducer for transmitting left side scan sonar pulses and for receiving left side scan sonar return signals, and a right side scan sonar transducer for transmitting right side scan sonar pulses and for receiving right side scan sonar return signals. The system further includes signal processing circuitry for processing the left and right side scan sonar return signals to produce side scan image data and a digital processor for causing a display to display an underwater image based upon the side scan image data, wherein the digital processor associates GPS position and side scan image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Johnson Outdoors Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Betts, Robert W. Derrow, David J. Howells
  • Patent number: 7710825
    Abstract: A system for use with a boat to provide underwater sonar images includes a left side scan sonar transducer for transmitting left side scan sonar pulses and for receiving left side scan sonar return signals and a right side scan sonar transducer for transmitting right side scan sonar pulses and for receiving right side scan sonar return signals. The system further includes signal processing circuitry for processing the left and right side scan sonar return signals to produce side scan image data and a digital processor for providing signals to a display based upon the side scan image data to produce a display image on the display showing boat location, a water column between the boat and bottom, and an underwater image comprising at least one of a left side underwater image and a right side underwater image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Johnson Outdoors Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Betts, Robert W. Derrow, David J. Howells
  • Publication number: 20100103775
    Abstract: A system for use with a boat to provide underwater sonar images includes a GPS receiver for providing GPS position data, a left side scan sonar transducer for transmitting left side scan sonar pulses and for receiving left side scan sonar return signals, and a right side scan sonar transducer for transmitting right side scan sonar pulses and for receiving right side scan sonar return signals. The system further includes signal processing circuitry for processing the left and right side scan sonar return signals to produce side scan image data and a digital processor for causing a display to display an underwater image based upon the side scan image data, wherein the digital processor associates GPS position and side scan image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: JOHNSON OUTDOORS INC.
    Inventors: David A. Betts, Robert W. Derrow, David J. Howells
  • Publication number: 20100080082
    Abstract: A system for use with a boat to provide underwater sonar images includes a GPS receiver for providing GPS position data, a left side scan sonar transducer for transmitting left side scan sonar pulses and for receiving left side scan sonar return signals, and a right side scan sonar transducer for transmitting right side scan sonar pulses and for receiving right side scan sonar return signals. The system further includes signal processing circuitry for processing the left and right side scan sonar return signals to produce side scan image data and a digital processor for causing a display to display an underwater image based upon the side scan image data, wherein the digital processor associates GPS position and side scan image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: JOHNSON OUTDOORS INC.
    Inventors: David A. Betts, Robert W. Derrow, David J. Howells
  • Patent number: 7652952
    Abstract: A sonar imaging system for a watercraft is disclosed. The sonar imaging system comprises a transducer coupled to the watercraft and having at least one side scanning element and at least one bottom scanning element, an electronic control head unit coupled to the transducer and configured to display sonar images. The downward acoustic elements may be circular and the side scan acoustic elements may be rectangular. A software filter may be provided to remove noise generated by a spark plug or other operation of a motor for the watercraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Johnson Outdoors Inc.
    Inventors: David A Betts, Robert W Derrow, David J Howells
  • Publication number: 20090147622
    Abstract: A system for use with a boat to provide underwater sonar images, includes a left side scan sonar transducer for transmitting left side scan sonar pulses and for receiving left side scan sonar return signals, a right side scan sonar transducer for transmitting right side scan sonar pulses and for receiving right side scan sonar return signals, and signal processing circuitry for processing the left and right side scan sonar return signals to produce side scan image data. The system further includes a user interface including user inputs and a display and a digital processor for providing signals to the display to show an underwater image based upon the side scan image data, wherein the digital processor, in response to a user command, performs an image enhancement algorithm to enhance the underwater image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: Johnson Outdoors Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Betts, Robert W. Derrow, David J. Howells
  • Publication number: 20090147623
    Abstract: A system for use with a boat to provide underwater sonar images includes a GPS receiver for providing GPS position data, a left side scan sonar transducer for transmitting left side scan sonar pulses and for receiving left side scan sonar return signals, and a right side scan sonar transducer for transmitting right side scan sonar pulses and for receiving right side scan sonar return signals. The system further includes signal processing circuitry for processing the left and right side scan sonar return signals to produce side scan image data and a digital processor for causing a display to display an underwater image based upon the side scan image data, wherein the digital processor associates GPS position and side scan image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: Johnson Outdoors Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Betts, Robert W. Derrow, David J. Howells
  • Publication number: 20090122647
    Abstract: A system for use with a boat to provide underwater sonar images includes a left side scan sonar transducer for transmitting left side scan sonar pulses and for receiving left side scan sonar return signals and a right side scan sonar transducer for transmitting right side scan sonar pulses and for receiving right side scan sonar return signals. The system further includes signal processing circuitry for processing the left and right side scan sonar return signals to produce side scan image data and a digital processor for providing signals to a display based upon the side scan image data to produce a display image on the display showing boat location, a water column between the boat and bottom, and an underwater image comprising at least one of a left side underwater image and a right side underwater image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: Johnson Outdoors Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Betts, Robert W. Derrow, David J. Howells