Sonar beam shape controlling horn

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12085644-B2
Application number	US-202318311684-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 3, 2023
Priority date	Jun 21, 2021
Publication date	Sep 10, 2024
Grant date	Sep 10, 2024

Abstract

A system for reforming sonar emissions from a sonar transducer element or an array of sonar transducer elements is provided. The system comprises the sonar transducer element or the array of sonar transducer elements. The sonar transducer element or the array of sonar transducer elements define an emitting face and are configured to transmit sonar signals along path(s). The system also comprises a horn comprising surface(s). Surface(s) are positioned adjacent to or in a spaced apart manner from the emitting face of the sonar transducer element or the array of sonar transducer elements so that the surface(s) are positioned at least partially in path(s) such that at least some of the sonar signals transmitted from the sonar transducer element or the array of sonar transducer elements are redirected based on interaction of the at least some of the sonar signals and surface(s).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for reforming sonar emissions from a sonar transducer element or an array of sonar transducer elements, the system comprising:
the sonar transducer element or the array of sonar transducer elements, wherein the sonar transducer element or the array of sonar transducer elements define an emitting face, and wherein the sonar transducer element or the array of sonar transducer elements are configured to transmit sonar signals along one or more paths; and
a horn comprising at least one surface, wherein the at least one surface is positioned adjacent to or in a spaced apart manner from the emitting face of the sonar transducer element or the array of sonar transducer elements and extends into the one or more paths so that the at least one surface is positioned at least partially in the one or more paths such that at least some of the sonar signals transmitted from the sonar transducer element or the array of sonar transducer elements are redirected based on interaction of the at least some of the sonar signals and the at least one surface.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the horn is configured to expand the field of view of the sonar transducer element or the array of sonar transducer elements in at least one dimension.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the sonar signals are emitted from the sonar transducer element or the array of sonar transducer elements with a transverse beam width and a longitudinal beam width, and wherein the horn is configured to expand the transverse beam width.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the horn is configured to provide an intensity of over −20 dB for a field of view of 60 degrees.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the horn is configured to provide an intensity of over −20 dB for a field of view of 60 degrees when the sonar transducer element or the array of sonar transducer elements are operating at a frequency of 950 kHz.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the sonar transducer element or the array of sonar transducer elements are secured to a watercraft and are configured to provide sonar return data corresponding to a side-scan image.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sonar transducer element or the array of sonar transducer elements are configured to operate at a frequency between 400 kHz and 1300 kHz.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one surface comprises at least two diffraction surfaces, wherein the at least two diffraction surfaces are each curved, convex surfaces that are positioned opposite each other, and wherein each of the curved, convex surfaces are configured to protrude toward each other and into the path of the at least some of the sonar signals.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the horn is configured to be secured adjacent to the emitting face so that the horn abuts the emitting face.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the horn is configured to be secured at a distance away from the emitting face.

11. The system of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of horns, wherein each horn of the plurality of horns is configured to rest within a respective path of the one or more paths.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sonar transducer element or the array of sonar transducer elements comprise a first sonar transducer array with a corresponding first horn, wherein the system further comprises a second sonar transducer array with a corresponding second horn, wherein the first sonar transducer array has a first emitting face and the second sonar transducer array has a second emitting face, and wherein the first emitting face of the first sonar transducer array and the second emitting face of the second sonar transducer array are oriented in different directions.

13. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a processor configured to:
receive first sonar return data from the first sonar transducer array and second sonar return data from the second sonar transducer array, wherein the first sonar return data is formed utilizing frequency steering, and wherein the second sonar return data is formed utilizing frequency steering; and
generate a sonar image comprising:
a first portion that is formed based on the first sonar return data from the first sonar transducer, wherein the first portion comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the first sonar return data varies in frequency leading from the first end to the second end, and wherein a first frequency of the first sonar return data proximate the first end is lower than a second frequency proximate the second end; and
a second portion that is formed based on the second sonar return data from the second sonar transducer, wherein the second portion comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the second sonar return data varies in frequency leading from the first end to the second end, wherein a first frequency of the second sonar return data proximate the first end is lower than a second frequency proximate the second end,
wherein the first portion is adjacent to the second portion such that the first end of the first portion is adjacent to the second end of the second portion, wherein the first frequency of the first sonar return data is different than the second frequency of the second sonar return data such that there is a frequency disparity between the first end of the first portion and the second end of the second portion,

wherein the first horn is configured to redirect at least some of the sonar signals corresponding to at least the first frequency of the first sonar return data and wherein the second horn is configured to redirect at least some of the sonar signals corresponding to at least the second frequency of the second sonar return data to cause a smooth transition in the sonar image between the first end of the first portion and the second end of the second portion.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one surface is positioned relative to the emitting face of the sonar transducer element or the array of sonar transducer elements such that the at least one surface at least partially redirects the at least some of the sonar signals emitted from the sonar transducer element or the array of sonar transducer elements before any other surface.

15. A horn for controlling sonar beam shapes, comprising:
at least one surface,
wherein the at least one surface of the horn is configured to be positioned to extend at least partially into a path of a sonar beam generated by a sonar transducer element or an array of sonar transducer elements so as to at least partially reform at least some sonar signals transmitted from the sonar transducer element or the array of sonar transducer elements based on interaction of the at least some of the sonar signals and the at least one surface.

16. The horn of claim 15 , wherein the horn comprises rubber material.

17. The horn of claim 15 , wherein the horn comprises a soft closed-cell foam rubber sheet.

18. The horn of claim 15 , wherein the at least one surface is a curved surface.

19. The horn of claim 15 , wherein the horn is configured to expand a field of view of the sonar transducer element or the array of sonar transducer elements in at least one dimension.

20. A method for operating a sonar system, the method comprising:
providing a sonar transducer element or an array of sonar transducer elements, wherein the sonar transducer element or the array of sonar transducer elements define an emitting face, and wherein the sonar transducer element or the array of sonar transducer elements are configured to transmit s

Assignees

• Navico Inc

Inventors

• Caspall Jayme J
• Gao Bin
• Chambers Andrew

Classifications

• G10K11/346

  using phase variation · CPC title

• G10K11/025

  horns for impedance matching (see provisionally also G10K11/28) · CPC title

• G01S7/52003

  Techniques for enhancing spatial resolution of targets (G01S7/52046 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01S15/89 Primary

  for mapping or imaging · CPC title

• G01S7/521 Primary

  Constructional features · CPC title