SYSTEMS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS FOR PRODUCING A 3D SONAR IMAGE

摘要

Provided are a sonar system and transducer assembly for producing a 3D image of an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing having a transmit transducer that may transmit sonar pulses into the water. The system may include at least one sidescan transducer array in the housing that receives first and second sonar returns with first and second transducer elements and converts the first and second returns into first and second sonar return data. The first sidescan element may also transmit second sonar pulses, and at least one of the sidescan elements may receive the second sonar pulses to generate sidescan sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may then generate a 3D mesh data and sidescan image data and generate a 3D image data based on the 3D mesh data and sidescan image data. An associated method of using the sonar system is also provided.

主权项

1. A sonar system comprising:
a housing mountable to a watercraft capable of traversing a body of water; a transmit transducer element positioned within the housing and configured to transmit first sonar pulses into the water; at least one sidescan transducer array positioned within the housing and at least downwardly from the watercraft,
wherein the sidescan transducer array comprises a first sidescan transducer element and a second sidescan transducer element,wherein the first sidescan transducer element is configured to transmit second sonar pulses into the water, receive first sonar returns from the first sonar pulses produced by the transmit transducer element and convert sound energy of the first sonar returns into first sonar return data,wherein the second sidescan transducer element is configured to receive second sonar returns from the first sonar pulses produced by the transmit transducer element and convert sound energy of the second sonar returns into second sonar return data,wherein at least one of the first sidescan transducer element or the second sidescan transducer element is configured to receive sidescan sonar returns from the second sonar pulses produced by the first sidescan transducer element and convert sound energy of the sidescan sonar returns into sidescan sonar return data, andwherein the first sidescan transducer element is positioned within the housing at a predetermined distance from the second sidescan transducer element; and a sonar signal processor configured to:
process the first sonar return data and the second sonar return data to generate 3D mesh data based on at least the predetermined distance between the first sidescan transducer element and the second sidescan transducer element;process the sidescan sonar return data to generate sidescan image data; andgenerate 3D image data representing a 3D image based on the 3D mesh data and the sidescan image data.