Solid state depth locator having liquid crystal display
First Claim
1. A solid state depth locator for mounting in a boat to provide a real time display of targets in a body of water, the solid state depth locator comprising:
- an LCD display having a plurality of LCD segments for providing a real time output indicative of the depth of targets in a body of water;
drive means for simultaneously driving each segment of the plurality of LCD segments;
data signal means for providing a real time data signal to the drive means for driving each segment of the plurality of LCD segments the real time data signal having a time period and being representative of the presence of targets in the body of water, the data signal means comprising;
electromechanical transducer means for transmitting sound waves into the body of water, for receiving corresponding echoes from targets in the path of the sound waves, and for providing a first electrical signal in accordance with the received echoes;
electrical transmitter means connected to the transducer means for controlling transmission of the sound waves by the transducer means;
electrical receiver means connected to the transducer means for receiving and processing the first electrical signal produced by the transducer means and for providing a receiver output signal;
detector means for receiving and comparing the receiver output signal to an activation threshold and for producing a detector output signal; and
integrator means for receiving and integrating the detector output signal to provide the real time data signal, wherein the real time data comprises a digital signal having pulses of variable width, wherein each pulse corresponds to a target in the body of water, and wherein the width of each pulse corresponds to the strength of the corresponding target, the drive means activating selected LCD segments in proportion to the strength of each target; and
clock means for providing a clock signal to the drive means for clocking the real time data signal serially into the LCD drivers, the clock signal having a plurality of clock pulses within the time period of the real time data signal corresponding to the number of LCD segments.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A solid state depth locator comprises an LCD display having a plurality of LCD segments for providing a real time output indicative of the depth of targets in a body of water. A drive circuit drives each segment of the plurality of LCD segments. A transducer, transmitter and receiver operate together to provide a real time data signal to the drive circuit for driving each segment of the plurality of LCD segments, the real time data signal having a time period and being representative of the presence of targets in the body of water. A clock provides a clock signal to the drive circuit for clocking the real time data signal serially into the LCD drivers. The clock signal has a plurality of clock pulses within the time period of the real time data signal corresponding to the number of LCD segments. A grey scale circuit is provided for varying the intensity of each segment of the LCD display in relation to the strength of the real time data signal.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A solid state depth locator for mounting in a boat to provide a real time display of targets in a body of water, the solid state depth locator comprising:
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an LCD display having a plurality of LCD segments for providing a real time output indicative of the depth of targets in a body of water; drive means for simultaneously driving each segment of the plurality of LCD segments; data signal means for providing a real time data signal to the drive means for driving each segment of the plurality of LCD segments the real time data signal having a time period and being representative of the presence of targets in the body of water, the data signal means comprising; electromechanical transducer means for transmitting sound waves into the body of water, for receiving corresponding echoes from targets in the path of the sound waves, and for providing a first electrical signal in accordance with the received echoes; electrical transmitter means connected to the transducer means for controlling transmission of the sound waves by the transducer means; electrical receiver means connected to the transducer means for receiving and processing the first electrical signal produced by the transducer means and for providing a receiver output signal; detector means for receiving and comparing the receiver output signal to an activation threshold and for producing a detector output signal; and integrator means for receiving and integrating the detector output signal to provide the real time data signal, wherein the real time data comprises a digital signal having pulses of variable width, wherein each pulse corresponds to a target in the body of water, and wherein the width of each pulse corresponds to the strength of the corresponding target, the drive means activating selected LCD segments in proportion to the strength of each target; and clock means for providing a clock signal to the drive means for clocking the real time data signal serially into the LCD drivers, the clock signal having a plurality of clock pulses within the time period of the real time data signal corresponding to the number of LCD segments. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A solid state depth locator for reporting a depth of each target of a set of targets located in a body of water, the solid state depth locator comprising:
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electromechanical transducer means for transmitting sound waves into the body of water, for receiving corresponding echoes from targets in the path of the sound waves, and for providing a return signal in accordance with the received echoes; electrical transmitter means connected to the transducer means for controlling transmission of the sound waves by the transducer means; electrical receiver means connected to the transducer means for receiving and amplifying the return signal produced by the transducer means; detector means for comparing the amplified return signal to an activation threshold and for producing an output signal; an LCD display having a plurality of LCD segments for providing an output indicative of the depth of targets in a body of water; drive means for driving each segment of the plurality of LCD segments; integrator means for receiving and integrating the output signal to provide a digital signal having pulses of variable width to the drive means, wherein each pulse corresponds to a target in the body of water, and wherein the width of each pulse corresponds to the strength of the corresponding target, the drive means activating selected LCD segments in proportion to the strength of each target; dithering means for providing a dithering signal for varying the pulse width for each target over time such that a longer average pulse width indicates a stronger target and a shorter average pulse width indicates a weaker target. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification