Frequency steered sonar array orientation

Abstract

A transducer assembly comprises a housing and a plurality of frequency steered transducer array elements. Each of the transducer array elements includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements. The frequency steered transducer array elements are configured to receive a transmit electronic signal including a plurality of frequency components and to transmit an array of sonar beams into a body of water. Each sonar beam is transmitted in an angular direction that varies according to one of the frequency components of the transmit electronic signal. The frequency steered transducer array elements are positioned within the housing in a fan-shaped configuration where an end section of at least two of the frequency steered transducer array elements are within an intersection range of each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A transducer assembly comprising:
 a housing including first, second, and third housing sections; and   a plurality of frequency steered transducer array elements positioned within the housing, each of the transducer array elements including a plurality of piezoelectric elements, the ends of the frequency steered transducer array elements aligned in an end-to-end configuration, the plurality of frequency steered transducer array elements including a first element positioned with the first housing section, a second element positioned within the second housing section, and a third element positioned with the third housing section, wherein each of the housing sections are sized to the dimensions of the respective frequency steered transducer array elements housed therein,   wherein each frequency steered transducer array element is configured to receive a transmit electronic signal including a plurality of frequency components and to transmit an array of sonar beams into a body of water, each sonar beam transmitted in an angular direction that varies according to one of the frequency components of the transmit electronic signal.   
     
     
         2 . The transducer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal axes of at least two of the frequency steered transducer array elements are not parallel. 
     
     
         3 . The transducer assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the longitudinal axes of the three frequency steered transducer array elements are not parallel. 
     
     
         4 . The transducer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the frequency steered transducer array elements are configured to transmit an array of sonar beams in angular directions that form a sonar wedge. 
     
     
         5 . The transducer assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the sonar wedges generated by the frequency steered transducer array elements generate a field-of-view of at least 60 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The transducer assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the field-of-view is at least 90 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The transducer assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the field-of-view is at least 130 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The transducer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured to be affixed to a transom of a boat. 
     
     
         9 . A transducer assembly comprising:
 a housing including first, second, and third housing sections; and   a plurality of frequency steered transducer array elements positioned within the housing, each of the transducer array elements including a plurality of piezoelectric elements, the ends of the frequency steered transducer array elements aligned in an end-to-end configuration, the plurality of frequency steered transducer array elements including a first element positioned with the first housing section, a second element positioned within the second housing section, and a third element positioned with the third housing section, wherein each of the housing sections are sized to the dimensions of the respective frequency steered transducer array elements housed therein,   wherein each frequency steered transducer array element is configured to receive a transmit electronic signal including a plurality of frequency components and to transmit an array of sonar beams into a body of water, each sonar beam transmitted in an angular direction that varies according to one of the frequency components of the transmit electronic signal,   wherein the longitudinal axes of at least two of the frequency steered transducer array elements are not parallel.   
     
     
         10 . The transducer assembly of  claim 9  wherein the longitudinal axes of the three frequency steered transducer array elements are not parallel. 
     
     
         11 . The transducer assembly of  claim 9 , wherein each of the frequency steered transducer array elements are configured to transmit an array of sonar beams in angular directions that form a sonar wedge. 
     
     
         12 . The transducer assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the sonar wedges generated by the frequency steered transducer array elements generate a field-of-view of at least 60 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The transducer assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the field-of-view is at least 90 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The transducer assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the field-of-view is at least 130 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The transducer assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the housing is configured to be affixed to a transom of a boat.