Fish sizing sonar system

Details Fish sizing sonar system Fish sizing sonar system

1999-10-28

2001-12-04

Swiatek, Robert P. (Department: 3643)

Animal husbandry

Aquatic animal culturing

Fish culturing

C119S223000, C043S017100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06325020

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Fin fish are commonly raised in an aquaculture setting, which may include a cage floating in a river or open ocean, or a water-filled tank. There is a need for the fish farmer to estimate the size of the fish being raised, to help determine whether they are growing properly, are ready for harvest, etc. It is usually desirable to provide an objective determination of fish size, to avoid variations caused by different persons making the estimate or a person being influenced by extraneous factors. A simple system that objectively indicates the size of fish within a limited environment such as within a cage, would be of value.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a fish sizing apparatus is provided for use with fish in a water-filled region, which provides an objective assessment of fish size in a noninvasive manner. The apparatus includes a sonic transducer apparatus which generates sonic pulses in the water along a narrow beam path, and which detects echos from fish that swim into the beam. An analyzing circuit coupled to the transducer output, detects the duration of each echo representing a transmitted sonic pulse, and generates a signal indicating the size of a fish dependent upon the duration of the echo. That is, there are echo portions from the front and rear of the fish and from regions in between, with the echo lasting longer for a thick fish than a thin one. The size of the fish can also be indicated by the peak amplitude of the echo, since a larger fish will produce reflections from its body that will be larger due to the larger area where reflections occur. The integral of echo amplitude (adjusted for distance) also indicates size.
Computer software is provided that analyzes an echo, to determine the leading and trailing edges of the echo. The leading edge of the echo produces a sudden increase in amplitude over noise, while the trailing edge of the echo produces a sudden decrease. Ringing following the trailing edge, and representing ringing of the transmitted pulse, can be identified to more accurately indicate the exit point of the echo. This enables a more accurate determination of the thickness of the fish, and therefore its size.
The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will be best understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3123798 (1964-03-01), Holloway et al.
patent: 3174127 (1965-03-01), Haslett
patent: 4932007 (1990-06-01), Suomala

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