Principle Of Operation - Interphase Outlook Operation Manual

Principle of Operation

The Outlook Forward Scanning Sonar uses a proprietary
and patented phased array acoustic technology first developed
for marine use by Interphase Technologies. Known as
"phased array ultrasound technology", its capabilities have
been proven in the military and medical industries for many
years. The amazing video images provided by medical
ultrasound equipment are familiar to most people and clearly
demonstrate the technology's ability to show highly defined
images in a "real time" or "live action" mode. Interphase has
taken this same technology and modified it for use in the
marine market.
Most present day fish finders/ depth sounders all work on a
principle developed during W.W. II, called SONAR, where
acoustic pulses are used to detect the presence and range or
distance to an underwater object. During the 1950's, several
devices which used sonar principles were developed and
marketed to fishing and boating enthusiasts to detect the
distance to the bottom (depth) and to indicate the presence of
any intervening submerged objects - such as fish.
An acoustic array is a group of piezoelectric ceramic elements
that are precisely sized and spaced. Each element will send
and receive acoustic pulses, as when used in more
conventional single element depth sounders. However, when
all elements in the array are sending or receiving acoustic
energy at the same time, the entire array behaves like a single
larger element with one important difference: the ability of the
array to concentrate its acoustic energy in different directions,
depending on the different "phasing" of the signals applied or
received by each element. Depending on the signal phasing of
the array, acoustic beams can be directed in an almost
unlimited number of directions. For example, using an 8
element phased array transducer, the Outlook is capable of
steering the acoustic beam in any of 60 different directions.
Conventional fixed-beam technology would require the use of
60 different elements to duplicate this capability. The
resulting transducer would be much too large and costly to be
of any practical use.
Since the acoustic beam in the phased array is steered
electronically, requiring no moving parts, it can be quickly and
reliably scanned and re-scanned over a large area. When
displayed, the changing information between subsequent scans
takes on an almost animated quality - for example, showing
movement of underwater targets such as fish or rapidly
changing bottom conditions.
Award Winning
Technology
For its pioneering work in
developing Phased Array
Scanning Sonar,
Interphase Technologies
won the prestigious
IMTEC INNOVATION
AWARD.
The Outlook's Forward
Looking Scanning Sonar is
based on this same award-
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