Pressure instrument with depth/altitude and time display

• US 5,148,376 A
• Filed: 07/10/1990
• Issued: 09/15/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Sato, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lall, Parshotam S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pipala, Edward J.
• Application Number:
  US07/551,134
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 364/413.3, 364/413.31, 364/558, 364/561, 364/569, 364/550, 364/551.01, 368/10, 368/11, 368/89, 368/111, 368/327, 73/865.1, 73/384, 73/386, 73/387, 73/1 R, 73/709, 73/712, 73/290 R, 73/291
• US Class Current: 702/50
• 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: G04G 21/02 Detectors of external physical values, e.g. temperature

Abstract

In a pressure instrument with depth/altitude and time display, a measurement time period from a starting instant up to a stopping instant of the time measurement is measured by measurement-time counting means, and also another measurement data is acquired by detecting pressures from the starting instant up to the stopping instant of the pressure measurement. After the measurements are taken and when a measurement stop signal is outputted, a determination is made whether or not the measured time periods are longer than a predetermined time period. If the measured time period is longer than a predetermined time period, this dive is regarded as one for which it is required to store a record, and then the measurement data acquired between the starting instant and the stopping instant of the measurement are stored in a memory. If, however, the measured time period is shorter than a predetermined time period, this dive is regarded as one for which it is not required to store a record, and then no measurement data is stored. Thus, although the measurement data acquired by SCUBA (self-contained under water breathing apparatus) diving are stored in the memory, the measurement data acquired by non-SCUBA diving with a diving time of 2 to 3 minutes are not stored in this pressure instrument, so that the memory can be more effectively utilized.

Claims

1. A pressure instrument comprising:

pressure detecting means for detecting external pressure outside of the pressure instrument;

measured data generating means for generating measured data corresponding to the external pressure detected by said pressure detecting means;

start/stop signal generating means for generating a measurement start signal and a measurement stop signal;

measurement-time counting means for obtaining measurement-time data representative of a time period between the time when the measurement start signal is generated by said start/stop signal generating means and the time when the measurement stop signal is generated by said start/stop signal generating means;

time detecting means for detecting whether or not the measurement-time data obtained by said measurement-time counting means is longer than a predetermined time period;

memory means for storing the measured data which are generated by said measured data generating means during the time period between the time when the start signal is generated and the time when the stop signal is generated with such storing of the measured data occurring only when said start/stop signal generating means has generated the measurement stop signal and said time detecting means has detected that the measurement-time data is longer than said predetermined time period; and

measured data display means for displaying the measured data stored in said memory means.

2. A pressure instrument according to claim 1, wherein said memory means comprises a plurality of memory areas for storing said measured data.

3. A pressure instrument according to claim 2, further comprising:

memory control means for deleting oldest data stored in said memory means and for storing newly obtained measured data therein, when all of the plurality of memory areas of said memory means are full of stored measured data.

4. A pressure instrument according to claim 1, wherein said measured data generating means comprises:

water-depth data calculating means for calculating water-depth data from pressure detected by said pressure detecting means; and

water-depth data comparing means for comparing water-depth data calculated by said water-depth data calculating means to detect and output the maximum water-depth data.

5. A pressure instrument according to claim 1, wherein said measured data generating means comprises:

water-depth data calculating means for calculating water-depth data from pressure detected by said pressure detecting means; and

average water-depth data generating means for obtaining and outputting an average water-depth data of water-depth data calculated by said water-depth data calculating means.

6. A pressure instrument according to claim 1, wherein said measured data generating means comprises:

altitude data calculating means for calculating altitude data from pressure detected by said pressure detecting means; and

altitude data comparing means for comparing altitude data calculated by said altitude data calculating means to detect and output the maximum altitude data.

7. A pressure instrument according to claim 1, wherein said measured data generating means comprises:

altitude data calculating means for calculating altitude data from pressure detected by said pressure detecting means; and

average altitude data generating means for obtaining and outputting an average altitude data of altitude data calculated by said altitude data calculating means.

8. A pressure instrument according to claim 1, wherein said memory means comprises measurement-time data storing means for storing measurement-time data which are obtained by said measurement-time counting means during time period between the time when said measurement start signal is generated and the time when said measurement stop signal is generated.

9. A pressure instrument according to claim 1, further comprising time counting means for counting reference clock signal to obtain present time data and date data, and wherein said memory means comprises time-data storing means and date-data storing means for storing time data and date data respectively, both of which data have been counted by said time counting means.

10. A pressure instrument according to claim 1, further comprising time counting means for counting reference clock signal to obtain present time data and date data, and wherein said memory means comprises time-data storing means and date-data storing means for storing time data and date data respectively, both of which data have been counted by said time counting means at the time when said start/stop signal generating means generates at least one of the measurement start signal and measurement stop signal.

11. A pressure instrument according to claim 1, wherein said start/stop signal generating means comprises:

means for generating a start signal when pressure detected by said pressure detecting means exceeds a predetermined value; and

means for generating a stop signal when pressure detected by said pressure detecting means decreases to a predetermined value and less.

12. A pressure instrument comprising:

pressure detecting means for detecting external pressure outside of the pressure instrument;

switch means for providing a drive-start instruction and a drive-stop instruction for actuation of said pressure detecting means;

water-depth data generating means for generating water-depth data corresponding to the external pressure detected by said pressure detecting means, when said pressure detecting means is being driven under control of said drive-start instruction of said switch means;

detecting means for detecting the water-depth data generated by said water-depth data generating means being equal to, or smaller than a predetermined water-depth value;

time counting means for counting time data while said detection means detects said water-depth data being equal to or smaller than said predetermined water-depth value;

time detecting means responsive to said time data counted by said time counting means;

memory means for storing water-depth data generated by said water-depth data generating means during a time period between the drive-start and drive-stop instructions only when the time detecting means detects that said time data has reached said predetermined time period;

means for stopping driving of said pressure detecting means when the time detecting means has detected said time data which reaches said predetermined time period; and

water-depth data display means for displaying the water-depth data stored in said memory means.

13. A pressure instrument according to claim 12, wherein said memory means comprises a plurality of memory areas for storing said water-depth data.

14. A pressure instrument according to claim 13, further comprising:

memory control means for deleting oldest data stored in said memory means and for storing newly obtained water-depth data therein, when all of the plurality of memory areas of said memory means are full of stored water-depth data.

15. A pressure instrument according to claim 12, wherein said water-depth data generating means comprises:

maximum water-depth data outputting means for detecting and outputting a maximum water-depth data.

16. A pressure instrument according to claim 12, wherein said water-depth data generating means comprises:

average water-depth data outputting means for obtaining and outputting an average water-depth data.

17. A pressure instrument according to claim 12, further comprising time counting means for counting reference clock signal to obtain present time data and date data, and start/stop signal generating means for generating measurement-start signal and measurement-stop signal, and wherein said memory means comprises memory for storing time data and date data which have been obtained by said time counting means at the time when said start/stop signal generating means generates at least one of the measurement-start signal and measurement-stop signal.

18. A pressure instrument comprising:

pressure detecting means for detecting external pressure outside of the pressure instrument;

water-depth data generating means for generating water-depth data corresponding to the external pressure detected by said pressure detecting means;

water-depth data display means for displaying water-depth data generated by said water-depth data generating means;

diving operation detecting means for detecting both dive-start and dive-stop operations;

diving time data counting means for counting diving time data, with a counting operation by the diving time data counting means being commenced when the dive-start operation is detected by said diving operation detecting means, and the counting operation by the diving time data counting means being stopped when the dive-stop operation is detected by said diving operation detecting means;

long time diving detecting means to carry out an operation for detecting whether or not the diving time data counted by said diving time data counting means exceed a predetermined time period, such operation being carried out every time when said diving operation detecting means detects the dive-stop operation;

rest time counting means for counting rest time data, with a counting operation by said rest time data counting means being commenced from 0 when said long time detecting means detects that said diving time data is longer than said predetermined time period upon detection of the dive-stop operation by said diving operation detecting means, with the counting operation by said rest time data counting means being commenced from a value held in said rest time data counting means when said long time detecting means detects that the diving time data is not longer than said predetermined time period, and also the counting operation by said rest time counting means is stopped to produce the rest time data when said diving operation detecting means detects said dive-stop operation; and

rest time data display means for displaying the rest time data counted by said rest time counting means.

19. A pressure instrument according to claim 18, wherein said rest time counting means is a 12-hour timer.

20. A pressure instrument according to claim 18, wherein said diving operation detecting means comprises judging means for judging whether or not water-depth data generated by said water-depth data generating means exceeds a predetermined value so as to detect dive-start and dive-stop operations.

21. A pressure instrument according to claim 18, further comprising time counting means for counting a reference clock signal to obtain present time data and date data, and memory means for storing said water-depth data, time data and date data which have been obtained by said time counting means when said diving operation detecting means has detected at least one of the dive-start and dive-stop operations.

22. A pressure instrument comprising:

pressure detecting means for detecting external pressure outside of the pressure instrument;

externally operated switch means operated to set a reference pressure;

pressure judging means for judging whether or not an initial external pressure is higher than a predetermined value, which pressure is detected by said pressure detecting means when said externally operated switch is operated;

reference pressure selecting means for (a) selecting as the reference pressure said initial external pressure detected by said pressure detecting means, when said pressure judging means judges that said initial external pressure is lower than the predetermined value, and (b) selecting as the reference pressure a pre-set particular pressure, when said pressure judging means judges that said initial external pressure is higher than the predetermined value;

water-depth data generating means for generating water-depth data corresponding to a difference between the external pressure detected by said pressure detecting means and pressure selected by said reference pressure selecting means, after the reference pressure has been selected by said reference pressure selecting means; and

water-depth data displaying means for displaying water-depth data generated by said water-depth data generating means.

23. A pressure instrument according to claim 22, wherein said particular pressure is a standard air pressure.

24. A pressure instrument according to claim 22, further comprising:

time counting means for counting a reference clock signal to obtain present time data and date data;

start/stop signal generating means for generating dive-start signal and dive-stop signal;

memory means for storing said water-depth data and time data and date data which are obtained by said time counting means when said start/stop signal generating means generates at least one of the dive-start signal and dive-stop signal; and

data display means for displaying the time data, date data and water-depth data stored in said memory means.

25. A pressure instrument comprising:

pressure detecting means for detecting external pressure outside of the pressure instrument;

externally operated switch means for setting a reference pressure;

reference pressure storing means for storing the reference pressure which is detected by said pressure detecting means when said switch means is operated;

water-depth data generating means for generating water-depth data corresponding to a difference between the external pressure detected by said pressure detecting means and said reference pressure;

abnormal water-depth data judging means for judging whether or not water-depth data generated by said water-depth data generating means falls into a predetermined range; and

reference pressure changing means for changing the reference pressure on the basis of pressure detected by said pressure detecting means when said abnormal water-depth data judging means judges that the water-depth data does not fall into the predetermined range.

26. A pressure instrument according to claim 25, wherein said reference pressure changing means comprises:

pressure judging means for judging whether or not pressure detected by said pressure detecting means is higher than a predetermined value; and

reference pressure re-setting means for changing the reference pressure to pressure detected by said pressure detecting means when said pressure judging means judges that pressure detected by said pressure detecting means is lower than the predetermined value and changing the reference pressure to the pre-set particular value when said pressure judging means judges that said detected pressure higher than the predetermined value.

27. A pressure instrument according to claim 25, further comprising abnormal operation display means for displaying abnormal operation when said abnormal water-depth data detecting means has judged that water-depth data does not fall into the predetermined range.

28. A pressure instrument according to claim 26, wherein said particular pressure is a standard air pressure.

29. A pressure instrument according to claim 25, further comprising:

time counting means for counting a reference clock signal to obtain present time data and date data;

start/stop signal generating means for generating dive-start signal and dive-stop signal;

memory means for storing said water-depth data, and time data and date data which have been obtained by said time counting means when said start/stop signal generating means generates at least one of the dive-start signal and dive-stop signal; and

data display means for displaying said water-depth data, time data and date data stored in said memory means.

30. A pressure instrument comprising:

pressure detecting means for detecting external pressure outside of the pressure instrument;

switch means for providing drive-start and drive-stop instructions for actuation of said pressure detecting means;

altitude data generating means for generating altitude data corresponding to the external pressure detected by said pressure detecting means, when said pressure detecting means is being driven by said drive-start instruction of said switch means;

detection means for detecting the altitude data generated by said altitude data generating means being equal to, or smaller than a predetermined altitude value;

time counting means for counting time data while said detection means detects said altitude data equal to, or smaller than said predetermined altitude value;

time detecting means responsive to said time data counted by said time counting means;

memory means for storing altitude data generated by said altitude data generating means during a time period between the drive-start and drive-stop instructions only when the time detecting means detects that said time data has reached said predetermined time period;

means for stopping driving of said pressure detecting means when the time detecting means detects that said time data has reached said predetermined time period; and

altitude data display means for displaying the altitude data stored in said memory means.

31. A pressure instrument according to claim 30, wherein said memory means comprises a plurality of memory areas for storing said altitude data.

32. A pressure instrument according to claim 30, further comprising memory control means for deleting oldest data stored in said memory means and for storing newly obtained altitude data therein, when all of the plurality of memory areas of said memory means are full of stored altitude data.

33. A pressure instrument according to claim 30, wherein said altitude data generating means comprises maximum altitude data outputting means for detecting and outputting a maximum altitude data.

34. A pressure instrument according to claim 30, wherein said altitude data generating means comprises average data outputting means for obtaining and outputting an average altitude data of said altitude data.

35. A pressure instrument according to claim 30, further comprising time counting means for counting a reference clock signal to obtain present time data and date data, and start/stop signal generating means for generating a measurement-start signal and a measurement-stop signal, and wherein said memory means stores time data and date data which have been obtained by said time counting means when said start/stop signal generating means generates at least one of the measurement-start signal and measurement-stop signal.