Low air warning system for scuba divers

• US 5,191,317 A
• Filed: 09/09/1991
• Issued: 03/02/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Johnson Outdoors, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Undersea Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Brooks, Eric R., Toth, Douglas J., Shankle, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Application Number:
  US07/756,526
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 340/626, 340/691, 340/531, 340/815.1, 340/815.01, 137/81.2, 137/557, 128/201.22, 128/205.23
• US Class Current: 340/626
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/12 Diving masks
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/18 Air supply for diving masks B63C11/14, B63C11/16; respiratory apparatus in general A62B
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/22 carried by diver
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 2011/121 comprising integrated optical signalling means or displays for data or images
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/12 Alarms or signals
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2036 Underwater

Abstract

A low air warning system for scuba divers in which a pressure switch and an electromagnetic transmitter are positioned at or near the high pressure air supply tank of the scuba diver and a corresponding electromagnetic receiver is positioned on the diver'"'"'s mask. A plenum extending from the receiver, provides a pair of LED light indicators of two different colors which also oscillate at different frequencies, depending upon the condition of the pressure switch in response to the supply of air in the diver'"'"'s air supply tank. A unique electromagnetic transmission and receiving system is disclosed which relies upon magnetic induction between a high Q transmitting antenna and a high Q receiving antenna in the form of LC tank circuits. One of the novelties of the present invention is the use of frequency modulation and the use of distinct modulating tone frequencies which produce one or the other of two signals to activate one or the other of two LEDs of different colors and at different activation frequencies. Changes in both the color and frequency of the flashing light virtually assure that the diver cannot ignore a change in the status of his air supply when it has been reduced sufficiently to fall below a threshold that is sensed by a pressure attached to a valve on the tank.

Claims

1. A low air warning system for use by scuba divers;

the system comprising;

an air pressure sensor adapted for connection to an air supply tank and responsive to the reduction of air in said tank below a predetermined threshold to produce an electrical manifestation thereof;

an electromagnetic energy transmitter connected to said sensor for generating a first signal indicative of air supply in said tank above said threshold and a second signal indicative of air supply in said tank below said threshold; and

an electromagnetic energy receiver adapted for being positioned adjacent a diving mask and having a circuit for receiving said first and second signals when said mask is mounted on a diver'"'"'s face, said circuit having at least one visual display device within the field of view of said mask, the circuit producing a first visual manifestation in said display device in response to said first signal and a second visual manifestation in said display device in response to said second signal, said first and second visual manifestations being readily distinguishable from one another.

2. The system recited in claim 1 wherein said transmitter and said receiver each comprises a narrow-band tuned circuit including an inductor for respective transmission and reception of a preselected frequency signal under water.

3. The system recited in claim 1 wherein said first signal comprises a carrier signal frequency modulated by a first tone signal and said second signal comprises said carrier signal frequency modulated by a second tone signal, said first and second tone signals having different frequencies and different duty cycles.

4. The system recited in claim 1 wherein said display device comprises a pair of light-emitting diodes of different colors.

5. The system recited in claim 1 wherein said first visual manifestation comprises a first color light having a first flashing frequency and said second visual manifestation comprises a second color light having a second flashing frequency, said second flashing frequency being at least twice said first flashing frequency.

6. An improved scuba diving system of the type having an air supply tank, a primary air regulator connected to the tank and a diving mask having a face plate;

the improvement comprising;

an air pressure sensor connected to said primary air regulator for responding to the air pressure within said tank by generating a first switch activation when said air pressure is below a predetermined threshold and a second switch activation when said air pressure is above said threshold;

a transmitter electrically connected to said sensor for radiating first and second electromagnetic signals corresponding to said first and second switch activations, respectively;

a receiver in wireless communication with said transmitter for receiving said first and second electromagnetic signals and producing corresponding first and second light flashing displays, respectively;

said receiver being positioned adjacent said diving mask and producing said displays at said face plate.

7. The improvement recited in claim 6 wherein said first signal comprises a carrier signal frequency modulated by a first tone signal and said second signal comprises said carrier signal frequency modulated by a second tone signal, said first and second tone signals having different frequencies and different duty cycles.

8. The system recited in claim 6 wherein said flashing displays have different respective colors.

9. The system recited in claim 6 wherein said flashing displays have different on and off periods.

10. The improvement recited in claim 6 wherein each of said electromagnetic signals comprises a frequency-modulated carrier having one of at least two respective modulating tone signals and wherein said transmitter comprises a tone selector for selecting a modulating tone signal corresponding to said switch activation and wherein said receiver comprises a pair of tone signal decoder circuits for flashing a corresponding one of said first and second displays depending upon the tone signal modulating said carrier.

11. A visual alarm system for warning a diver of a potentially dangerous condition while under water;

the system comprising;

a condition sensor responsive to a dangerous condition to produce an electrical effect;

a transmitter and a receiver;

said transmitter being in electrical communication with said sensor for generating either of at least two distinct electromagnetic radiations depending upon the status of said sensor;

said receiver being positioned relative to said transmitter for receiving said radiations and for controlling a display in accordance with the radiation received from said transmitter;

a display in electrical communication with said receiver and having at least one source for generating different forms of light signals depending upon which of said radiations is received by said receiver, said light-generating source being positioned in the diver'"'"'s field of view adjacent the face of the diver to assure diver recognition of said light signals and of said potentially dangerous condition; and

water-activated switches for activating said transmitter and said receiver automatically when said system is under water.

12. The visual alarm system recited in claim 11 wherein said receiver and said display are mounted on a diving mask.

13. The visual alarm system recited in claim 11 wherein said receiver and said transmitter each has a magnetic coil and a capacitor tank circuit tuned to a preselected matching frequency for electromagnetic transmission from said transmitter to said receiver by means of signals imposed on a time-varying magnetic field.

14. The visual alarm system recited in claim 13 wherein each of said receiver and transmitter comprises an inductive-capacitive tank circuit including said magnetic coil and having a Q of at least 40.

15. The visual alarm system recited in claim 13 wherein said frequency is about 250 kHz.

16. An alarm system for a scuba diver comprising:

a sensor for sensing the status of a critical parameter;

an alarm device mounted adjacent the diver'"'"'s head for gaining the diver'"'"'s attention; and

a wireless transmitter and receiver combination responsive to said sensor for generating an alarm indication adjacent the diver'"'"'s head as warranted by the status of said critical parameter;

said transmitter and receiver combination having frequency-matched inductive coils for electromagnetic transmission from said transmitter to said receiver by means of a time-varying magnetic field.