Principle Of Operation - Interphase Color Twinscope Operation Manual

Principle of Operation

The Color Twinscope 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's phased array is a group of piezoelectric ceramic
elements that are precisely sized and spaced. Each element
can send and receive acoustic pulses. 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 COLOR TWINSCOPE is capable of steering
the acoustic beam in any of 60 different directions.
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.
During operation, the Color Twinscope converts a small
amount of electrical current from your battery into ultrasonic
sound pulses, which are then fed to the phased array
transducer. These acoustic pulses travel out from the
transducer in a cone shaped pattern, called the cone angle.
When the sound pulse strikes an underwater object, it is
reflected back (echo return), received by the transducer and
converted back into small electrical impulses. These impulses
are amplified, then displayed as an image on the LCD screen.
Award Winning
Technology
For its pioneering work in
developing Phased Array
Scanning Sonar,
Interphase Technologies
won the prestigious
IMTEC INNOVATION
AWARD.
The Color Twinscope is
based on this same award-
winning technology.
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