Scuba diver communication and tracking device

• US 20020109601A1
• Filed: 04/24/2002
• Published: 08/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Susanne Arens
• Original Assignee: Susanne Arens
• Inventors: Arens, Susanne
• Granted Patent: US 6,762,678 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/26 Communication means, e.g. means for signalling the presence of diverselectric communication in general H04
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0216 Alarm cancellation after generation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0247 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0263 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the direction in which child or item is located
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0294 Display details on parent unit

Abstract

A multi-functional underwater device for use by scuba divers for communicating with and tracking the relative direction of one or more other divers. The device is configured to monitor and communicate with multiple other devices simultaneously and includes a transmitter and receiver assembly for transmitting location signals to and receiving location signals from other communication devices on frequencies defined by a communication channel setting for the device. A processor processes signals to determine separation distance between the devices and to compare separation distances to a safety distance. A display assembly indicates communication channel and safety distance for the communication device and indicates when the separation distance is exceeded. The display assembly includes an input portion operable to set the safety distance and/or the communication channel. The transmitter and receiver assembly transmits and receives communication signals, such as check diver and emergency signals, at frequencies defined by the communication channel.

Claims

1. A communication device for use underwater by a scuba diver for communicating with and tracking relative direction of one or more other divers, comprising:

a transmitter and receiver assembly transmitting distance signals to and receiving distance signals from an other one of the communication devices, wherein the distance signals are transmitted and received on a frequency defined by a communication channel;

a data processor processing the received distance signals to determine a separation distance between the communication device and the other device and for comparing the separation distance to a safety distance; and

a display and control assembly including a display for indicating the communication channel and the safety distance of the communication device and for indicating when the data processor determines the separation distance exceeds the safety distance.

2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the display and control assembly includes a setting input device operable by the diver to set the safety distance or the communication channel.

3. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter and receiver assembly is further adapted for transmitting to and receiving from the other device communication signals on frequencies defined by the communication channel and wherein the data processor is adapted to process the received communication signals and operate the display and control assembly to indicate receipt of the received communication signals.

4. The communication device of claim 3, wherein display and control assembly includes a light for indicating receipt of the communication signals.

5. The communication device of claim 3, wherein the display and control assembly includes a text message display and wherein the data processor operates the display and control assembly to display a text message based on the received communication signals.

6. The communication device of claim 3, wherein the communication signals include a panic signal and the text message indicates the received message was a panic signal and wherein the display and control assembly includes a transmit panic signal device operable by the diver to cause the transmitter and receiver assembly to generate and transmit one of the panic signals.

7. The communication device of claim 3, wherein the communication signals include a check diver signal and the text message displayed indicates the received message was a check diver signal and wherein the display and control assembly includes a transmit check diver signal device operable by the diver to cause the transmitter and receiver assembly to generate and transmit one of the check diver signals.

8. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter and receiver assembly are further configured for transmitting a location beacon and for receiving location beacons from the other device and wherein the data processor is adapted for processing received location beacons to determine a direction of the other device relative to a location of the communication device.

9. The communication device of claim 8, wherein the display and control assembly includes a diver location display operable by the data processor to indicate the relative direction of the other device.

10. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the date processor is calibrated to determine the separation distance in water of a particular salinity.

11. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter and receiver assembly operates to receive distance signals from a master one of the communication devices on a frequency defined by a communication channel differing from the communication channel of the communication device.

12. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the transmitter and receiver assembly are operable to transmit communication signals to the other device and to the master communication device.

13. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the communication signals are transmitted concurrently.

14. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the data processor includes memory for storing the communication signals and sequentially displaying a text message based on the stored communication signals on the display.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein discovering the distance from the measured signal strength includes calculating the distance from the measured signal strength and wherein the calculating is performed based on a salinity value for water in which the two devices are used.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein discovering the distance from the measured signal strength includes comparing the measured signal strength to values in a table to discover the distance.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein alarming includes generating a visible indication.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein alarming includes generating an audible indication.

15. A method for providing an alert when a distance between two devices exceeds a distance, the method comprising:

first and second devices each discovering a distance between the first and second devices;

the first device comparing the discovered distance to a first distance condition and alarming when the first distance condition is met by the discovered distance; and

the second device comparing the discovered distance to a second distance condition and alarming when the second distance condition is met by the discovered distance;

wherein the discovering the distance includes;

the first device generating a first signal having an initial signal strength and the second device generating a second signal having an initial signal strength, the signal strength of the first and second signals diminishing as the first and second signals travel between the first device and the second device;

the second device receiving the first signal and the first device receiving the second signal;

the second device measuring the signal strength of the received first signal and the first device measuring the signal strength of the received second signal; and

the second device discovering the distance from the measured first signal strength and the first device discovering the distance from the measured second signal strength.

20. A system for providing an alert when a distance between two devices exceeds a distance, the system comprising a first device and a second device, each device having:

means for discovering a distance between the first and the second device;

means for comparing the distance to a distance condition; and

means for alarming when the distance condition is met by the discovered distance;

wherein the means for discovering the distance includes;

the first device having means for discovering the location of the first device;

the second device having means for discovering the location of the second device;

the first device having means for transmitting the location of the first device to the second device and the second device having means for transmitting the location of the second device to the first device; and

the first and second devices each having means for comparing the location of the first device to the location of the second device to discover the distance between the first device and the second device.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the means for alarming includes means for generating a visible indication.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the means for alarming includes means for generating an audible indication.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the first device has means for transmitting an alarm signal to the second device and the second device has means for alarming in response to the alarm signal.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the first device further includes a user selection device for activating the means for transmitting the alarm signal to the second device.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the means for discovering the distance from the measured signal strength includes means for calculating the distance from the measured signal strength.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein the means for discovering the distance from the measured signal strength includes:

a table having values indicative of signal strength cross-referenced with values indicative of distance; and

means for comparing the measured signal strength to values in the table to discover the distance.

28. The system of claim 25 wherein:

the first device further includes means for discovering the location of the first device;

the second device further includes means for discovering the location of the second device;

the signal generator of the first device includes means for generating a signal indicative of the location of the first device and the signal generator of the second device includes means for generating a signal indicative of the location of the second device; and

the means for discovering the distance includes means for comparing the location of the first device to the location of the second device to discover the distance between the first device and the second device.

29. The system of claim 25 wherein the means for alarming includes means for generating a visible signal indication.

30. The system of claim 25 wherein the means for alarming includes means for generating an audible indication.

31. The system of claim 25 wherein the first device has means for transmitting an alarm signal to the second device and the second device has means for alarming in response to the alarm signal.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the first device further includes a user selection device for activating the means for transmitting the alarm signal to the second device.

25. A system for providing an alert when a distance between two devices exceeds a distance, the system comprising a first device and a second device, each device having:

a signal generator;

a signal receiver for receiving a signal from the other of the first and second devices;

means for discovering, from a signal received from the other of the first and second devices, a distance between the first and second devices;

means for comparing the distance to a distance condition; and

an alarm for alarming when the distance condition is met by the discovered distance;

wherein the signal generator includes means for generating a signal having an initial signal strength, the signal strength diminishing as the signal travels between the first device and the second device and wherein the means for discovering the distance includes means for measuring the signal strength of the received signal and means for discovering the distance from the measured signal strength.

33. A device for use by a scuba diver in communicating underwater with two or more other scuba divers, comprising:

a first receiver receiving a location signal from a second one of the devices spaced apart a first distance from the device;

a second receiver receiving a location signal from a third one of the devices spaced apart a second distance from the device;

a data processor for processing the location signals to determine the first and second distances, for determining when the first and second distances exceed first and second safety distances respectively, and when either of the determined first and second distances exceeds the safety distances, initiating an alarm; and

a display assembly operable by the data processor for indicating the alarm.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein the first and second receiver operate substantially concurrently to receive the location signals.

35. The device of claim 33, wherein the first and second location signals are received on a first and a second frequency, respectively and wherein the first and the second frequencies differ.

36. The device of claim 33, further including a transmitter assembly for transmitting a communication signal to the second one of the devices and for transmitting a communication signal to the third one of the devices.

37. The device of claim 36, wherein the communication signals are transmitted concurrently using a first and a second communication channel frequency, the first communication channel frequency being different from the second communication channel frequency.

38. The device of claim 33, wherein the display assembly includes a separation distance display for displaying at least one of the determined first and second distances.