How The Echosounder Works - Simrad CX34 Manual

Chapter 5-10

5.8 How the echosounder works

Fig. 1 Transmi ed 'ping'
from the transmi er/receiver.
Fig. 2 The up arrow indicates:
Echo returning to the receiver.
The down arrow indicates:
Transmi ed pulse.
When the CX34/44/54 is turned on, a transmitter
begins to send electrical pulses to the transducer.
The ceramic resonators in the transducer has a spe-
cial property which enables it to change dimensions
slightly when a varying voltage is applied.
The voltage is thus converted to mechanical vibra-
tions (sound waves) which are then transmitted down
through the water.
See Fig. 1.
The sound waves move through the water until they
encounter a change in density, such as a fish or the
bottom. This causes the sound waves to 'echo' back
up through the water. When the reflected sound
waves (echoes) hit the transducer, the ceramic disk
vibrates at the same frequency. This generates a
varying voltage between the disk surfaces. This volt-
age goes back up through the cable to the receiver.
The CX34/44/54 amplifies and processes the signals
and presents them on the display screen.
See Fig. 2.
CX34/44/54 Operator manual
Echo menu