Abstract: Sonar imagery captured during a trip on a body of water can be played back to users, forming a trip replay. However, since the depth of the body of water varies drastically over the course of the trip, the resulting sonar image captured and played over the trip replay may result in loss of detail near shallow depths (even though such detail was captured and is available). Embodiments of the present invention seek to provide the ability to zoom in on portions of the sonar image during trip replay. Additionally, further zoom features, such as bottom lock and canopy lock, provide additional functionality.

Abstract: Overlaying a sonar image over a chart at a corresponding location can provide a beneficial and easy to understand view of the underwater environment for a user. However, in some cases, the watercraft may be close to a boundary of the body of water when the sonar data is gathered. In such a scenario, inaccurate sonar returns or preset display distances of the sonar image can cause the resulting sonar image to be displayed over the boundary and covering land. This can be confusing and can be difficult to decipher. Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for cropping the sonar image for presentation over the chart such that no portion of the image extends beyond the boundary line of the body of water. This creates a smooth and easy to read sonar image/chart display.

Abstract: Sonar imagery captured during a trip on a body of water can be played back to users, forming a trip replay. However, since the depth of the body of water varies drastically over the course of the trip, the resulting sonar image captured and played over the trip replay may result in loss of detail near shallow depths (even though such detail was captured and is available). Embodiments of the present invention seek to provide the ability to zoom in on portions of the sonar image during trip replay. Additionally, further zoom features, such as bottom lock and canopy lock, provide additional functionality.

Abstract: Overlaying a sonar image over a chart at a corresponding location can provide a beneficial and easy to understand view of the underwater environment for a user. However, in some cases, the watercraft may be close to a boundary of the body of water when the sonar data is gathered. In such a scenario, inaccurate sonar returns or preset display distances of the sonar image can cause the resulting sonar image to be displayed over the boundary and covering land. This can be confusing and can be difficult to decipher. Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for cropping the sonar image for presentation over the chart such that no portion of the image extends beyond the boundary line of the body of water. This creates a smooth and easy to read sonar image/chart display.

Abstract: A method of replaying measured data points includes receiving positions of a watercraft from a monitoring system, receiving sonar pings of a water body from the monitoring system at the positions of the watercraft, and aligning each of the sonar pings to each of the watercraft positions at which each of the sonar pings was taken. The method also includes generating a sonar image using the of sonar pings, providing a map of the water body, displaying the map including a pathway with an indicating point with the pathway representing the watercraft positions, and displaying the sonar image including an indicating line alongside of the contour map wherein the indicating line on the sonar image corresponds to the indicating point on the pathway.

Abstract: A method of processing geo-statistical data includes piloting a watercraft with a monitoring system on a water body, taking measurements of a depth of the water body and the position of the watercraft using the monitoring system, and aligning the depth measurements with the position measurements. The method also includes creating a contour map from the depth and position measurements, creating a polygon on the contour map, and analyzing at least one of the depth and position measurements within the polygon.

Abstract: A method of reporting geo-statistical data includes piloting a watercraft with a monitoring system on a water body and taking measurements of a water body parameter and of the position of the watercraft. The measurements of the water body parameter and of the position are aligned and a contour map of the water body having a depth ranges is provided. The first water body parameter is correlated to at least one of the depth ranges to create a report.

Abstract: A method of processing geo-statistical data includes piloting a watercraft with a monitoring system on a water body, measuring depths of the water body, elevations of the watercraft, and positions of the watercraft using the monitoring system. The method also includes aligning the depths and the elevations with the positions, creating an average elevation using the elevations, and creating a contour map from the depths, positions, and the first average elevation.

Abstract: A method of processing geo-statistical data includes piloting a watercraft with a monitoring system on a water body, taking measurements of a depth of the water body using the monitoring system, and taking measurements of the position of the watercraft using the monitoring system. The method also includes aligning the depth measurements with the position measurements, creating a first contour map with a first set of depth ranges from the depth and position measurements wherein each of the first set of depth ranges are separated by a first interval; and creating a second contour map with a second set of depth ranges from depth and position measurements wherein each of the second set of depth ranges are separated by a second interval that is different from the first interval.

Abstract: Devices and systems for noninvasively and nondestructively sensing a signal in an electrical outdoor device, such a fishing transponder, are described. The device can include a first electrical connection to connect to a port on a main unit of an echo-location device, a second electrical connection to connect to a port on a transponder, the second electrical connection being in bi-directional electrical communication with the first connection to send a power signal from the main unit to the transponder and return an echoed signal to the main unit, and a third electrical connection to sense the signals between the first electrical connection and the second electrical connection. Positioning data is also created and stored with the signal data. The positioning data can be used to control acquisition of data. Systems and methods for processing the sensed data are described. Reports can be generated using the data and, in some reports with the positioning data.

Abstract: A method of processing geo-statistical data includes preparing a data log, extracting acoustic data and coordinate data from the data log, and aligning the acoustic data and the coordinate data. The method also includes cleaning and aggregating the coordinate data, validating the coordinate data geospatially, and creating an output.

Abstract: A method of replaying measured data points includes receiving positions of a watercraft from a monitoring system, receiving sonar pings of a water body from the monitoring system at the positions of the watercraft, and aligning each of the sonar pings to each of the watercraft positions at which each of the sonar pings was taken. The method also includes generating a sonar image using the of sonar pings, providing a map of the water body, displaying the map including a pathway with an indicating point with the pathway representing the watercraft positions, and displaying the sonar image including an indicating line alongside of the contour map wherein the indicating line on the sonar image corresponds to the indicating point on the pathway.

Abstract: A method of processing geo-statistical data includes piloting a watercraft with a monitoring system on a water body, measuring depths of the water body, elevations of the watercraft, and positions of the watercraft using the monitoring system. The method also includes aligning the depths and the elevations with the positions, creating an average elevation using the elevations, and creating a contour map from the depths, positions, and the first average elevation.

Abstract: A method of processing geo-statistical data includes piloting a watercraft with a monitoring system on a water body, taking measurements of a depth of the water body using the monitoring system, and taking measurements of the position of the watercraft using the monitoring system. The method also includes aligning the depth measurements with the position measurements, creating a first contour map with a first set of depth ranges from the depth and position measurements wherein each of the first set of depth ranges are separated by a first interval; and creating a second contour map with a second set of depth ranges from depth and position measurements wherein each of the second set of depth ranges are separated by a second interval that is different from the first interval.

Abstract: A method of processing geo-statistical data includes piloting a watercraft with a monitoring system on a water body, taking measurements of a depth of the water body and the position of the watercraft using the monitoring system, and aligning the depth measurements with the position measurements. The method also includes creating a contour map from the depth and position measurements, creating a polygon on the contour map, and analyzing at least one of the depth and position measurements within the polygon.

Abstract: A method of reporting geo-statistical data includes piloting a watercraft with a monitoring system on a water body and taking measurements of a water body parameter and of the position of the watercraft. The measurements of the water body parameter and of the position are aligned and a contour map of the water body having a depth ranges is provided. The first water body parameter is correlated to at least one of the depth ranges to create a report.

Abstract: A method of processing geo-statistical data includes preparing a data log, extracting acoustic data and coordinate data from the data log, and aligning the acoustic data and the coordinate data. The method also includes cleaning and aggregating the coordinate data, validating the coordinate data geospatially, and creating an output.

Abstract: The invention relates to a filter (10) for tobacco products with a first terminal filter element (12), a second terminal filter element (14), a middle filter element (16) which is located between first and second terminal filter element and contains a granular filter material, and a casing (20), one part of one of the terminal filter elements (12) being displaceable vis-à-vis the casing (20). The invention furthermore relates to smoking articles with such filters, filter strands with two or more of the filters, and processes and devices for the production of such filters and tobacco products.

Abstract: The apparatus and method for delaminating tobacco in the form of slices from a layered parcel comprise conveyor means for delivering a parcel of tobacco to a separating location and a rotatable tine assembly mounted on an axis extending at right angle to the conveyor means and parallel the layering of the parcel. The rotatable tine assembly includes a plurality of tines which are pointed and profiled to extend in the direction of rotation of the tine assembly and are driven at a speed greater than that of the conveyor means. The tines are adapted to enter the parcel at an entering location in a direction substantially parallel to the layering of the parcel and to accelerate a layer away from the parcel for effecting separation of the layer of tobacco from the parcel.

Abstract: The apparatus and method for delaminating tobacco in the form of slices from a layered parcel comprise conveyor means for delivering a parcel of tobacco to a separating location and a rotatable tine assembly mounted on an axis extending at right angle to the conveyor means and parallel the layering of the parcel. The rotatable tine assembly includes a plurality of tines which are pointed and profiled to extend in the direction of rotation of the tine assembly and are driven at a speed greater than that of the conveyor means. The tines are adapted to enter the parcel at an entering location in a direction substantially parallel to the layering of the parcel and to accelerate a layer away from the parcel for effecting separation of the layer of tobacco from the parcel.