Trying to link Sonar Ducer to PC

Hi all, i am trying to connect this transducer via USB to my PC so i can write a program to basicall use my transducer withmy laptop to replicate a fish finder head unit.

this is the schematic for the transducer.
https://www.electro-tech-online.com/custompdfs/2011/10/91_849.pdf

i am wondering if anyone could give me some direction on getting the connection.

From my understanding, i am going to have to put a microcontroller between the PC and the transducer, then program sentances into the microcontroller, then get the display out on my PC.

Somewhere along the line i am going to have to be able to change settings from the PC such as, Ping Speed, Sensitivity, Possible Depth Range. These settings will need to be changed on the PC, my question is... are settings like these programed into the microcontroller then changed by the PC?

anyone have any recommendations on a microcontroller if this is correct? i was looking at some of the Parralax Basic controllers. would any of those work? prefereably somethign that is connectable via USB.

Also i was wondering if i even need a microcontroller or if it is possible to program my PC to give the sentances to the transducer.

My main goal is to replicate how a commercial fish finder works on a PC.

sorry if i seem a bit all over the place, i love learning new things. I can handle the programming part on the computer... i am just trying to get a better understanding on the electronics/connection part. i have been researching into sonar for a couple weeks now so i think i have a basic understanding.

any information would help! thanks

hi,
That transducer requires to be driven at the frequency and power of that particular model, its a Depth sounder with a built in Temperature probe and Hall effect for ground speed measurement.
Also an important point is that in water the velocity of sound is approx 1480m/sec, depends upon salinity and temperature, in air its around 330m/sec.

https://www.societyofrobots.com/axon/

Would this be a suitable MCU to use with the ducer?
A little expensive but comes with alot of support.
Can also connect it directly to pc via usb

i have never programmed a MCU before. Is there certain sentances that will change the frequency output on the transducer?

hi,
Please post a link for the technical datasheet of your transducer, not just the connector diagram

You cannot drive a transducer with a MCU, it requires a power driver and sensitive receiver

ericgibbs said:

hi,
Please post a link for the technical datasheet of your transducer, not just the connector diagram

You cannot drive a transducer with a MCU, it requires a power driver and sensitive receiver

Click to expand...

This is the only other info i have. Would have to email the manufacturer for anything else i beleive.
**broken link removed**

I would have thought the ducer would have been 12v but there is no 12v leads for it according to the diagram.

I dont neccessarily need to use this transducer. I was only going to use this one because the manufacturer gives datasheets and diagrams. I am definately open to using another transducer/ reciever combo if anyone could inform me of one.

To get any useful resolution and sensitivity you are probably going to need a lot of signal conditioning in the analogue domain, and fast A/D conversion, all before trying to route data via USB to a PC. So the PC will be useful mainly for relatively slow housekeeping and display tasks, and will have to off-load rapid low-level tasks to the MCU.

alec_t said:

To get any useful resolution and sensitivity you are probably going to need a lot of signal conditioning in the analogue domain, and fast A/D conversion, all before trying to route data via USB to a PC. So the PC will be useful mainly for relatively slow housekeeping and display tasks, and will have to off-load rapid low-level tasks to the MCU..

Click to expand...

Can you please elaborate on signal conditioning the anologue domain? Meaning i am going to have to amplify the anolog signal? any recomondations on an amplifier??

I am assuming i am also going to have to add a anolog to digital converter before the microcontroller.


So a microcontroller controls a transducer more than the computer would. I am under the impression now that basically... All the sentances and commands are programmed to the microcontroller and the microcontroller will be doing most of the proccessing. The computer will only tell the microcontroller when to change the sentances or commands to function differently ie. change frequencies, depth range, etc. and also act as a display.

Am i understanding things correctly?

Thanks again for the help guys