Forward Scanning Sonar System and Method with Angled Fan Beams

摘要

A forward scanning sonar system including at least a sonar transducer and a support structure having the at least a sonar transducer mounted thereto, the at least a sonar transducer being configured such that, while during scanning operation the sonar transducer is moved along a forward moving direction, a fan-shaped beam of the sonar transducer is forming a plane oriented forwardly downwardly such that the fan-shaped beam forms a scan line oriented at a scan angle to the forward moving direction with the scan angle being greater than 0 and smaller than π/2 and such that the scan line intersects the forward direction at a point ahead of the sonar transducer.

主权项

1. A forward scanning sonar system comprising:
a support structure; and, at least a sonar transducer mounted to the support structure, the at least a sonar transducer being configured such that, while during scanning operation the sonar transducer is moved along a forward moving direction, a fan-shaped beam of the sonar transducer is forming a plane oriented forwardly downwardly such that the fan-shaped beam forms a scan line oriented at a scan angle to the forward moving direction with the scan angle being greater than 0 and smaller than π/2 and such that the scan line intersects the forward direction at a point ahead of the transducer.