Imagenex YellowFin (Network) - 27

Description

This driver is used to interface the Imagenex YellowFin sidescan system. It is used to control the operation parameters of the sidescan fish and also for the decoding of the data. No additional Imagenex software is necessary.
Note that the driver doesn't contain any user interface but instead can be controlled from the Qinsy Controller through the Echosounder Settings dialog.

For more information refer to the Imagenex Website: http://www.imagenex.com/

Driver Information

Driver	Imagenex YellowFin (Network)	Interface Type	TCP-IP	Driver Class Type	Terminated
UTC Driver	No	Input / Output	Input	Executable	DrvImagenexTcp.exe YELLOW
Related Systems	Imagenex YellowFin (Network) - 27 Sidescan Sonar
Related Pages

Decoding Notes

In order to decode correctly the returned data string should start with ASCII "IGX" and finish with a termination character represented by hexadecimal 0xFE.

The driver assumes that all samples are acquired with a fixed sound velocity of 1500 m/s.

YellowFin delivers data with a resolution of one byte per sample. This is converted to 2 bytes per sample [Qinsy standard] inside the driver by multiplying every sample by 16.

Qinsy actively interrogates the YellowFin for new data. The internal Qinsy time of the moment a new switch command is issued to the YellowFin is assumed to be the ping time.

Interfacing Notes

A standard network cable should be used between Qinsy and the Imagenex Topside processing unit (so NOT a cross over cable as may have been expected).
The Imagenex topside operates on 10MBit Ethernet. The IP number of the Imagenex topside is by default fixed to 192.168.0.2.

Set up the address of your network card to a fixed IP of 192.168.0.3 and a mask of 255.255.255.0.

Database Setup

Add new system of type 'Sidescan Sonar' and select driver 'Imagenex Yellow'.

Enter IP Number of YellowFin, 192.168.0.2 and port 4040.

Make sure to add two sidescan channels: the first channel should have port orientation, the second starboard orientation.

The YellowFin works internally with a fixed value of 1500 m/s. If you select the sound velocity from the unit then 1500m/s will be used. For better accuracy it is wise to enter the user defined sound velocity. Note that ranges reported in the Sidescan Display will be slightly different from what is set up in the driver. This is because the driver assumes 1500 m/s while the display uses the user defined sound velocity, so this affects the calculated slant range of the sonar.

Online

System Control

Sidescan can be controlled from Echosounder settings dialog. Open the dialog. Select the Sidescan system, find the "Control" tab. On this tab page the operational parameters can be set. As soon as Qinsy starts the driver will connect to the Sidescan system. It will never start pinging automatically on startup. For safety reason you need to startup the pinging every time you go online.

The following operational parameters can be controlled:

• Pinging (on/off)
• Range  (10,20,30,40,50,60,80,100,125,150,200) [m]
• Frequency mode (low/medium/high)
• Data Gain (Overal gain 0-100)
• Balanced Gain 0-60) [This can be used to make the intensity of port and starboard identical, 0 = more prot gain, 30 – equal gain, 60 – More starboard gain.

When the apply button is pressed the settings are transmitted to the sidescan sonar. Per ping interrogation only one parameter can be transmitted across, hence it can take a few pings before all new settings are applied by the fish. When switching from a high range (e.g. 100m) to a low range (e.g. 10 m) the system can take a while to follow up on the settings (a few seconds).

Drivers IO Notes