Sonar systems and methods using interferometry and/or beamforming for 3D imaging

US10114119B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Navico Holding AS · NO

Inventors

• Ronald Joe Horner · Collinsville, US
• Alan Lee Proctor · Owasso, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 20, 2015
• Grant date: Oct 30, 2018
• Expiry date: Jan 3, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01S15/89
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Provided are a sonar system, transducer assembly, and method for imaging an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing having a transducer array defining first and second rows of transducer elements positioned at a predetermined distance. The first row of transducer elements may include at least first and second transducer elements configured to convert sound energy into first and second sonar return data. The second row of transducer elements may include at least third and fourth transducer elements configured to convert sound energy into third and fourth sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may be configured to process the first and second sonar return data and third and fourth sonar return data to generate respective first and second array sonar return data corresponding to a plurality of first and second receive beams and generate 3D sonar return data by correlating the angles associated with the receive beams.