Dive computer with global positioning system receiver

• US 20040196180A1
• Filed: 07/08/2003
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pelagic Pressure Systems Corp.
• Original Assignee: American Underwater Products
• Inventors: Hollis, Robert R., Lewis, John E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,972,715 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.57
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/26 Communication means, e.g. means for signalling the presence of diverselectric communication in general H04
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 2011/021 Diving computers, i.e. portable computers specially adapted for divers, e.g. wrist worn, watertight electronic devices for detecting or calculating scuba diving parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/35 Constructional details or hardware or software details of the signal processing chain
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/36 relating to the receiver frond end
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/45 by combining measurements of signals from the satellite radio beacon positioning system with a supplementary measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/51 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt

Abstract

Dive computers and methods of logging information including position, audio and video information are disclosed. In one embodiment, the invention includes a processor, a global positioning system receiver connected to the processor and a pressure transducer connected to the processor.

Claims

1. A position location device comprising:

a processor;

a global positioning system receiver connected to the processor; and

a pressure transducer connected to the processor.

2. The position location device of claim 1, wherein the processor and global positioning system are contained within a waterproof casing.

3. The position location device of claim 1, further comprising:

clock circuitry connected to the processor; and

memory connected to the processor; and

at least one input/output device connected to the processor.

4. The position location device of claim 3, wherein one of the input/output devices is a microphone.

5. The position location device of claim 3, wherein one of the input/output devices is a keypad including at least one button.

6. The position location device of claim 1, further comprising:

a flow meter connected to the processor; and

a compass connected to the processor.

7. The position location device of claim 6, wherein flow meter is an impeller.

8. The position location device of claim 6, further comprising a buoy including a G.P.S. antenna connected to the processor via a communication cable.

9. The position location device of claim 6, further comprising:

a pressure transducer connected the processor; and

wherein the pressure transducer is configured to generate a signal indicative of air pressure within an air tank.

10. The position location device of claim 1, further comprising a digital camera connected to the processor.

11. A position location device comprising:

means for measuring latitude, longitude;

means for measuring depth underwater;

means for measuring time; and

means for recording measurements of latitude, longitude, depth and time.

12. The position location device of claim 11, further comprising means for annotating recorded measurements of latitude, longitude, depth or time.

13. The position location device of claim 11, further comprising means for identifying a particular measurement of latitude, longitude, depth or time as being associated with a particular point of interest.

14. The position location device of claim 11, wherein the time includes information concerning day, month and year.

15. The position location device of claim 11, further comprising:

means for measuring water speed; and

means for measuring bearing.

16. The position location device of claim 15, further comprising means for measuring air time remaining.

17. A dive computer comprising:

a processor;

memory connected to the processor for storing data;

a microphone connected to the processor; and

a pressure transducer connected to the processor.

18. The dive computer of claim 17, wherein:

the microphone is configured to generate a signal indicative of sound; and

the processor is configured to store a digital representation of the signal generated by the microphone in memory.

19. The dive computer of claim 18, wherein the processor is configured to convert the signal indicative of sound into signals indicative of the particular word or words that were spoken to generate the sound.

20. The dive computer of claim 18, wherein:

the signal generated by the microphone is analog; and

the connection between the microphone and the processor includes an analog-to-digital converter.

21. A dive computer, comprising:

means for measuring depth;

means for detecting sound; and

means for selecting one of a plurality of options in response to the detected sound.

22. The dive computer of claim 21, wherein selection of one of a plurality of options involves the selection of a word from a vocabulary of words.

23. A dive computer, comprising:

means for measuring depth; and

means for capturing digital images.

24. A method of recording data, comprising:

performing a first measurement of latitude, longitude and time;

descending underwater; and

measuring depth and time.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

resurfacing; and

performing a second measurement of latitude, longitude and time.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

recording the first measurement of latitude, longitude and time in a memory;

recording the measurement of depth and time in the memory; and

recording the second measurement of latitude, longitude and time in the memory.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of identifying a particular measurement of latitude, longitude and time or measurement of depth and time as being associated with a particular point of interest.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of recording descriptive information that is associated with the identified measurement of latitude, longitude and time or measurement of depth and time.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein recording descriptive information involves recording signals indicative of speech.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the time includes information concerning day, month and year.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein:

the measurements of latitude, longitude and time are made using a global positioning system receiver adapted to be taken below the surface of the water; and

the measurements of depth are made using a pressure transducer.

32. The method of claim 24, further comprising periodically measuring water speed and bearing.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

measuring average speed;

measure air time remaining; and

estimate range based on average speed and air time remaining calculations.

34. A dive computer, comprising:

a processor;

a speaker connected to the processor; and

a pressure transducer connected to the processor.