DIVE COMPUTER WITH GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM RECEIVER

• US 20090135022A1
• Filed: 10/06/2008
• Published: 05/28/2009
• 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 8,174,436 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/850
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2213/02 using satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. the Global Positioning System GPS
• 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: G01L 19/00 Details of, or accessories for, apparatus for measuring steady or quasi-steady pressure of a fluent medium insofar as such details or accessories are not special to particular types of pressure gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03

Abstract

Dive computers in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment includes a microprocessor, a pressure transducer connected to the microprocessor, a microphone connected to the microprocessor, a speaker connected to the microprocessor, a telephone transceiver connected to the microprocessor, a GPS receiver connected to the microprocessor and a display. In addition, the microprocessor, pressure transducer and display are configured to display information concerning the dive computer'"'"'s depth of submersion, the microprocessor, microphone, speaker and telephone transceiver are configured to enable the dive computer to be used as a telephone handset, and the microprocessor is configured to obtain GPS coordinates from the GPS receiver. In a further embodiment, the microprocessor, the microphone, the speaker, the telephone transceiver, the display, and the GPS receiver are components of a mobile phone handset including an external connector for communicating with external devices, the pressure transducer is packaged separately from the mobile phone handset and the pressure transducer packaging includes a connector configured to mate with the external connector of the mobile phone handset creating a connection between the pressure transducer and the microprocessor, and the mobile phone handset and the pressure transducer are contained within a waterproof housing. In addition, a software application installed on the mobile phone handset configures the microprocessor to record information concerning the dive computer'"'"'s depth and time of submersion in a dive log.

Claims

1. A dive computer comprising:

a processor;

a light connected to the processor, where the light is configured to act as a flashlight;

a global positioning system receiver connected to the processor;

the display connected to the processor;

a pressure transducer connected to the processor; and

clock circuitry connected to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to determine time using the clock circuitry;

wherein the processor is configured to determine depth of submersion using the pressure transducer;

wherein the processor is configured to generate position information using the global positioning system receiver;

wherein the processor is configured to provide depth and time information using the display; and

wherein the processor is configured to combine the time, depth and position information into a dive log.

2. The dive computer of claim 1, wherein the light includes at least one light emitting diode and the processor is configured to activate the light in response to input received via the keypad.

3. An underwater audio system comprising:

a dive computer comprising;

a processor;

a display connected to the processor;

a memory connected to the processor;

a pressure transducer connected to the processor;

wherein the dive computer is contained within a waterproof casing;

an audio device;

a communication channel connected to the processor and the audio device;

wherein the processor is configured to generate a warning alarm using the audio device in response to a predetermined set of conditions.

4. An underwater multimedia system comprising:

a dive computer comprising;

a processor;

a display connected to the processor; and

a waterproof casing;

wherein the dive computer is contained within the waterproof casing;

a dive mask incorporating an LED display configured to be visible to a diver when the dive mask is worn and the LED display is illuminated; and

a wireless communication channel between the processor and the LED display; and

wherein the dive computer is configured to display visual warnings via the LED display related to decompression.

5. A dive computer comprising:

a processor;

a display connected to the processor;

a pressure transducer connected to the processor;

clock circuitry connected to the processor;

a keypad connected to the processor; and

a removable memory connected to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to determine time using the clock circuitry;

wherein the processor is configured to determine depth of submersion using the pressure transducer; and

wherein the processor is configured to provide depth and time information using the display.

6. The dive computer of claim 5, wherein the removable memory contains audio and/or video content.

7. The dive computer of claim 5, wherein the removable memory contains information concerning a dive site.

8. A dive computer, comprising:

a microprocessor;

a pressure transducer connected to the microprocessor;

a microphone connected to the microprocessor;

a speaker connected to the microprocessor;

a telephone transceiver connected to the microprocessor; and

a display;

wherein the microprocessor, pressure transducer and display are configured to display information concerning the dive computer'"'"'s depth of submersion; and

wherein the microprocessor, microphone, speaker and telephone transceiver are configured to enable the dive computer to be used as a telephone handset.

9. The dive computer of claim 8, further comprising:

a keypad connected to the microprocessor;

wherein the microprocessor, telephone transceiver and keypad are configured to enable the entry of text messages for transmission via the telephone transceiver.

10. The dive computer of claim 8, wherein the telephone transceiver is a cell phone transceiver.

11. The dive computer of claim 8, wherein the telephone transceiver is a satellite phone transceiver.

12. The dive computer of claim 8, further comprising:

a GPS receiver connected to the microprocessor; and

wherein the microprocessor is configured to obtain GPS coordinates from the GPS receiver.

13. The dive computer of claim 12, wherein the microprocessor is configured to transmit a message containing the GPS coordinates via the telephone transceiver.

14. The dive computer of claim 12, wherein:

the microprocessor, the microphone, the speaker, the telephone transceiver, the display, and the GPS receiver are components of a mobile phone handset including an external connector for communicating with external devices;

the pressure transducer is packaged separately from the mobile phone handset and the pressure transducer packaging includes a connector configured to mate with the external connector of the mobile phone handset creating a connection between the pressure transducer and the microprocessor;

the mobile phone handset and the pressure transducer are contained within a waterproof housing; and

a software application installed on the mobile phone handset configures the microprocessor to record information concerning the dive computer'"'"'s depth and time of submersion in a dive log.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the software application configures the mobile handset to upload the dive log to a remote server via the telephone transceiver.