Patents by Inventor Will Bates

Will Bates 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).

  • System and method for maintaining sonar imaging of a structure regardless of boat orientation
    Patent number: 12314050
    Abstract: A sonar target locking system to position a sonar assembly to maintain the sonar array of the sonar assembly pointing at a position of a user-set (desired) target even when the watercraft is rotating or moving in various motions. The sonar target locking system includes electro-mechanical assembly that can be steered electrically to maintain the sonar array pointing at the position of the desired target. The system may be activated using at least one of a foot pedal, handheld remote control, or a display of a fish finder head unit. The system may use GPS and IMU inputs to generate control signals to steer the electro-mechanical assembly to maintain the sonar array pointing at the position of the desired target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: Johnson Outdoors Inc.
    Inventors: Taylor Clark, Will Bates, Patrick Snellings, Justin Freeman