Hand-held LCD fish finder

• US 5,926,438 A
• Filed: 05/11/1998
• Issued: 07/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tose Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Tose Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Saito, Shigeru
• Primary Examiner(s): Lobo, Ian J.
• Application Number:
  US09/075,337
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 367/111, 367/107, 273/148 B, 463/43-44, 463/47
• US Class Current: 367/111
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/86 Combinations of sonar systems with lidar systems; Combinations of sonar systems with systems not using wave reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/96 for locating fish
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/521 Constructional features
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/64 Luminous indications G01S7/62 takes precedence ; short-range imaging G01S7/52076

Abstract

A hand-held LCD game machine is used as a hand-held LCD fish finder, in addition to its original game functions. Instead of a typical ROM game cassette, another device, which includes a cassette portion, a main body, and a float sensor having an ultrasonic transmitter, is inserted into the LCD game machine, so that the topography of the water bottom and the fish in water are displayed on a LCD panel by means of a program ROM having a memory to display the same based on an echo signal issued and received through the ultrasonic transmitter.

Claims

1. A LCD fish finder comprising in combination:

a hand-held LCD game machine which receives game cassette cartridges, which is equipped with a memory cell of program data inserted, and which develops a game on a LCD display panel, and which has a cassette connector;

a fitting device adapted to be inserted into said cassette connector;

a fish float equipped with an ultrasonic transmitter;

the fitting device comprising a fitting portion composed of a cassette portion and a main body;

a memory cell is built in the fitting portion; and

the memory cell having a program to display topography of water bottom and fish in water on the LCD panel based on a sonar signal issued by the ultrasonic transmitter and transferred to the fitting portion.

2. An LCD fish finder according to claim 1, wherein the fitting portion and a fish float equipped with an ultrasonic transmitter are connected by a cable which is covered with foamed plastic for floating over water.

3. An LCD fish finder according to claim 1, wherein said fish finder is hand held.