Homing device for underwater divers

• US 5,666,326 A
• Filed: 04/17/1996
• Issued: 09/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Neptune Technology Group Incorporated (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Neptune Technology Group Incorporated (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Holzschuh, Jack E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lobo, Ian J.
• Application Number:
  US08/633,569
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 367/118, 367/120, 367/910
• US Class Current: 367/120
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/26 Communication means, e.g. means for signalling the presence of diverselectric communication in general H04
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/801 Details G01S3/82, G01S3/84, G01S3/86 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/802 Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction

Abstract

This invention is in the field of underwater ultrasonic communications systems, more particularly, underwater acoustic homing devices suitable for diver direction finding. This invention utilizes a single omnidirectional sound source and a simple receiver, located in close proximity to a scuba diver'"'"'s torso and equipment. The acoustic discontinuity of the diver'"'"'s torso and equipment provides the required directional sensitivity, thus allowing the device to incorporate the desirable characteristics of flexibility in range in combination with a simple receiver housing.

Claims

1. An underwater acoustic homing device for a diver with scuba equipment comprising:

an omnidirectional pulsed underwater sound source;

an underwater sound receiver consisting of a single omnidirectional transducer, an amplifying means connected to said transducer, a band-pass filter connected to said amplifying means, and an amplitude detector means connected to the filter, said transducer being positioned in close proximity to the diver'"'"'s torso and equipment whereby the acoustic discontinuity of the diver'"'"'s torso and equipment causes the strength of the sound to be attenuated at the transducer when the diver'"'"'s torso and equipment are in the sound path between the source and the transducer;

an indicating means connected to the receiver, whereby reception of the unattenuated sound is indicated.

2. An underwater acoustic homing device as in claim 1 wherein said omnidirectional sound source emits sonic energy in the frequency range from 20 kHz to 80 kHz.

3. An underwater acoustic homing device as in claim 2 further comprising:

a frequency and sonic energy level control means for said omnidirectional sound source, whereby the frequency and level of emitted sonic energy can be controlled manually, automatically, or programmed in from an internal or external programming means.

4. An underwater homing device as in claim 1 wherein said underwater sound receiver transducer is attached to the back of the diver'"'"'s torso and equipment.

5. An underwater homing device as in claim 1 wherein said underwater sound transducer is fixed in close proximity to the front of the diver.

6. An underwater homing device as in claim 1 wherein said underwater sound receiver is integrated with another item of diving equipment.

7. An underwater homing device as in claim 1 wherein said indicator means is a single Light Emitting Diode.

8. An underwater homing device as in claim 1 wherein said indicator means is a plurality of Light Emitting Diodes configured such that the number of Light Emitting Diodes illuminated is proportional to the amplitude of the received sound.

9. An underwater homing device as in claim 1 wherein said indicator means is a Liquid Crystal Display.

10. An underwater acoustic homing device for divers with scuba equipment comprising:

an omnidirectional continuous wave underwater sound source;

an underwater sound receiver consisting of a single omnidirectional transducer, an amplifying means connected to said transducer, a band-pass filter connected to said amplifying means, and an amplitude detector means connected to the filter, said transducer being positioned in close proximity to the diver'"'"'s torso and equipment whereby the acoustic discontinuity of the diver'"'"'s torso and equipment causes the strength of the sound to be attenuated at the transducer when the diver'"'"'s torso and equipment are in the sound path between the source and the transducer;

an indicating means connected to the receiver, whereby reception of the unattenuated sound is indicated.

11. An underwater acoustic homing device as in claim 10 wherein said continuous sound source emits sonic energy in the frequency range from 20 kHz to 80 kHz.

12. An underwater acoustic homing device as in claim 11 further comprising:

a frequency and sonic energy level control means for said continuous sound source, whereby the frequency and level of emitted sonic energy can be controlled manually, automatically, or programmed in from an internal or external programming means.

13. An underwater acoustic homing device for a diver with scuba equipment comprising:

a spread spectrum underwater sound source;

an underwater matched spread spectrum sound receiver consisting of a single omnidirectional transducer, an amplifying means connected to said transducer, a band-pass filter connected to said amplifying means, and an amplitude detector means connected to the filter, said transducer being positioned in close proximity to the diver'"'"'s torso and equipment whereby the acoustic discontinuity of the diver'"'"'s torso and equipment causes the strength of the sound to be attenuated at the transducer when the diver'"'"'s torso and equipment are in the sound path between the source and the transducer;

an indicating means connected to the receiver, whereby reception of the unattenuated sound is indicated.

14. An underwater acoustic homing device as in claim 13 wherein said spread spectrum sound source emits sonic energy in the frequency range from 20 kHz to 80 kHz.

15. An underwater acoustic homing device as in claim 14 further comprising:

a spectrum and sonic energy level control means for said spread spectrum sound source, whereby the spectrum and level of emitted sonic energy can be controlled manually, automatically, or programmed in from an internal or external programming means.