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;   a plurality of frequency steered transducer array elements positioned within the housing, each of the transducer array elements including a plurality of piezoelectric elements, 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; and   a motor assembly coupled to the housing, the motor assembly configured to reorient the housing from a first position to a second position, wherein—
 in the first position, the frequency steered transducer array elements provide a first field of view, and 
 in the second position, the frequency steered transducer array elements provide a second field of view, wherein the second field of view is oriented ninety degrees perpendicular from the first field of view. 
   
     
     
         2 . The transducer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the motor assembly is configured to reorient the housing about a first axis. 
     
     
         3 . The transducer assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the motor assembly is configured to reorient the housing about the first axis and a second axis. 
     
     
         4 . The transducer assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the motor assembly reorients the housing about the first axis and second axis to change the housing from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         5 . The transducer assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the motor assembly is configured to reorient the housing about the first axis, the second axis, and a third axis. 
     
     
         6 . The transducer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each field of view is at least 60 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The transducer assembly of  claim 6 , wherein each field of view is at least 90 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The transducer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the transducer assembly is configured to be affixed to a boat and the first field of view is in a downward direction with respect to the boat. 
     
     
         9 . The transducer of  claim 8 , wherein the second field of view includes port and starboard directions with respect to the boat. 
     
     
         10 . A transducer assembly configured to be affixed to a boat, the assembly comprising:
 a housing;   a plurality of frequency steered transducer array elements positioned within the housing, each of the transducer array elements including a plurality of piezoelectric elements, 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; and   a motor assembly coupled to the housing, the motor assembly configured to reorient the housing from a first position to a second position by rotating the housing about a first axis and a second axis, wherein—
 in the first position, the frequency steered transducer array elements provide a first field of view, the first field of view being in a downward direction with respect to the boat, and 
 in the second position, the frequency steered transducer array elements provide a second field of view, wherein the second field of view is oriented ninety degrees perpendicular from the first field of view. 
   
     
     
         11 . The transducer assembly of  claim 10 , wherein each field of view is at least 60 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The transducer assembly of  claim 11 , wherein each field of view is at least 90 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The transducer of  claim 10 , wherein the second field of view includes port and starboard directions with respect to the boat.