Integrated dive flag/float and GPS navigation system for scuba divers

• US 20020140599A1
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joseph David King
• Original Assignee: Joseph David King
• Inventors: King, Joseph David
• Granted Patent: US 6,791,490 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.06
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/26 Communication means, e.g. means for signalling the presence of diverselectric communication in general H04
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/36 relating to the receiver frond end
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/485 whereby the further system is an optical system or imaging system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/49 whereby the further system is an inertial position system, e.g. loosely-coupled
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/51 Relative positioning

Abstract

A SCUBA diving flag/float assembly is used to support a GPS antenna on the surface of the water for use by divers in performing underwater navigation. An associated GPS receiver is integrated with a dive flag line take-up mechanism such as a spool or SCUBA diving line reel. The dive flag line and cable interconnecting the GPS receiver to the GPS antenna is integrated within a single assembly, or in an alternate embodiment, braided together forming a single tether. Alternate embodiments include optional sensors such as a flowmeter, compass, tiltmeter, depth gauge and diver techniques to compensate for navigational errors due to a water current pushing a dive flag/float away from a diver. Alternatively, a GPS receiver may be mounted on or in the dive flag/float assembly and navigational information relayed to the diver under the water.

Claims

1. A system for navigating underwater comprising:

an antenna operative to receive at least one GPS signal;

a dive flag apparatus operative to support said antenna on or above a surface of water, said dive flag apparatus comprising;

a SCUBA diving flag;

a float having positive buoyancy relative to said water; and

a support pole having at least a portion thereof embedded in, or attached to, said float, said support pole operative to support at least a portion of said SCUBA diving flag;

a receiver, said receiver operative to process said at least one GPS signal;

a signal conducting tether cable for towing and controlling said dive flag apparatus under the control of a diver; and

means for determining a correction vector between a diver location and a location of said dive flag apparatus, and wherein a navigation solution presented to said diver is compensated using said correction vector.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a means for determining an angle between said signal conducting tether cable and said dive flag apparatus, said angle used for determining a correction vector between said diver and said dive flag apparatus.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising a means for determining a geographic direction between said diver and said dive flag apparatus, said geographic direction used for determining a correction vector between said diver and said dive flag apparatus.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said means for determining a geographic direction is a compass.

5. The system of claim 3 further comprising a means for determining a length of said signal conducting tether cable deployed between said diver and said dive flag apparatus, said length used for determining a correction vector between said diver and said dive flag apparatus.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a ballast, said ballast located such that said ballast is operative to stabilize said dive flag apparatus such that said antenna and said dive flag are positioned upright and above said surface of said water.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said ballast is a inner tube filled with air.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said antenna is enclosed in a hydrophobic material that is transparent to said GPS signals.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said signal conducting tether cable is coupled at a first end to said antenna, and coupled to said receiver at a second end, said receiver mounted on or to a line reel.

10. A dive flag apparatus operative to support an antenna on or above a surface of water, said dive flag apparatus comprising;

a SCUBA diving flag;

a non-inflatable float having positive buoyancy relative to said water;

a support pole having at least a portion thereof embedded in, or attached to, said float, said support pole operative to support at least a portion of said SCUBA diving flag;

an antenna operative to receive at least one GPS signal, said antenna mounted to, on, or in said support pole, or on, to, or in said float; and

a signal conducting tether cable having a first end coupled to said antenna.

11. A method of underwater navigation by a SCUBA diver comprising the steps of:

determining and storing an first geographic location in computer memory;

deploying a float assembly containing a GPS antenna on the surface of a body of water;

determining a length of a line/cable deployed from a diver to the float on the surface;

determining an angle of the line/cable formed between the reel or float assembly;

determining and storing a second geographic location in said computer memory;

correcting said second geographic position using cable length and cable angle information;

determining and presenting the direction to proceed as calculated from said first geographic location and said corrected second geographic location to a SCUBA diver to return to said initial location or other stored waypoint or other manually entered location.

12. A method of underwater navigation by a SCUBA diver comprising the steps of:

determining and storing an first initial geographic location in computer memory;

deploying a float assembly containing a GPS antenna on the surface of a body of water;

determining the length of line/cable that is deployed from a diver to the float on the surface;

determining a depth of a diver;

determining the compass direction water current is flowing;

determining and storing a second geographic location in said computer memory;

correcting said second geographic position using said cable length, and said depth information and a compass direction of said water current;

determining and presenting the direction to proceed as calculated from said first geographic location and said corrected second geographic location to a SCUBA diver to return to said initial geographic location or other stored waypoint or other manually entered location.