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Impedance Measurement Service

Health Check for EM Echo Sounders

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The Impedance Measurement Service provides a deeper diagnostic check for KONGSBERG EM echo sounders (EM712, EM304 MKII and EM124), helping ensure optimal performance and data quality. This service complements the Built-In System Test (BIST) by evaluating transducer health and identifying potential degradation.

Why use Impedance Measurement?

While BIST checks software and basic hardware status, impedance measurement analyzes the electrical characteristics of each transducer element. This helps detect issues that may affect sonar performance, such as increased sidelobes or uneven sensitivity.

Key Parameters Assessed

The RX tests look for sensitivity across staves. Uniform sensitivity is ideal, whereas stray staves may indicate degradation. 
The RX channels are measured for impedance magnitude and any channels outside the product specification will be identified.
The TX channels are measured for phase angle impedance and any channels outside the product specification will be identified.

How to perform the test

The test is conducted using K-Controller software and requires no specialized equipment. Data can be collected by a KONGSBERG Field Service Engineer or by the customer with remote support.

Benefits of Impedance Measurement

  • Detects early signs of transducer degradation
  • Improves sonar data quality
  • Enables proactive maintenance
  • Supports long-term system health tracking

Example Results

Illustration of a transducer array showing uniform and stray staves, indicating potential degradation.

Figure 1: Graph of stave data highlighting stray staves

Line graph displaying impedance magnitude for each RX channel, highlighting values outside the acceptable range.

Figure 2: Graph of impedance magnitude across RX channels

Line graph displaying the phase angle impedance for each TX channel, highlighting values outside the acceptable range.

Figure 3: Graph displaying the phase data from the TX

The customer will receive a report detailing the findings and drawing comparisons between historical data to identify any patterns or trends in the health of the system.

Key features

  • Creates a record of system health throughout the life of your hardware
  • Indicates element-level degradation
  • Supplements data quality analysis
  • Available by request
  • Data collection can be done by the customer
  • No service trip required

Downloads

Data sheet

How can we help?

If you are experiencing any issues or have technical questions regarding your equipment, please don't hesitate to reach out. Our dedicated hydrographic support team is here to assist you with any challenges you may encounter.

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