Programmable dive computer

• US 6,321,177 B1
• Filed: 01/12/1999
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dacor Incorporated (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Dacor Incorporated (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Stella, Joseph B., Martesuo, Kai M., Ferrero, Jaime, Ahlback, Joran, Raivio, Esa T., Bowden, William A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grimley, Arthur T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Charioui, Mohamed
• Application Number:
  US09/229,107
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 702/166, 702/176, 702/177, 702/178
• US Class Current: 702/166
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/02 Divers' equipment
• 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

Abstract

An interactive dive apparatus for use by a scuba diver to determine a maximum dive duration, including an input interface for inputting dive specific parameters including a J-factor for adjusting a no-stop time calculation to compensate for various environmental and physiological parameters, a clock for determining an elapsed dive time, and a depth sensor for detecting a present depth and a maximum depth. The depth sensor tracks diver dwell time in each of plural predetermined depth ranges, and a CPU determines a no-stop time in accordance with the user inputted dive specific parameters and the detected dwell time. The interactive dive apparatus further includes a display screen for displaying at least the no-stop time, elapsed dive time duration and the current depth.

Claims

1. An interactive apparatus for use by a scuba diver to determine a maximum dive duration, said apparatus comprising:

input means for setting dive specific parameters including a J-factor parameter for adjusting a no-stop time calculation to compensate for various environmental and physiological parameters;

clock means for determining an elapsed dive time duration;

depth sensor means for detecting a present depth and a maximum depth, said depth sensor means tracking a dwell time in each of plural predetermined depth ranges;

processor means communicating with said input means, said clock means and said depth sensor means, said processor means determining a remaining no-stop time in accordance with said J-factor and said detected dwell time,

wherein said display means for displaying at least one of said maximum depth, said current depth, said elapsed dive time duration and said remaining no-decompression dive time.

2. An interactive apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

hierarchical warning means for alerting the scuba diver of an alert condition, whereby if multiple alert conditions exist only a highest priority warning is displayed.

3. An interactive apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

said display means displays a first color to designate a normal non-alert condition,

said display means displays a second color to designate an intermediate alert condition, and

said display means displays flashes said second color to designate an advanced alert condition.

4. An interactive apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said processor means instructs said display means to display said second color when said no-decompression dive time has expired, and instructs said display means to display a decompression warning message in a warning field of said display.

5. An interactive apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:

said processor means includes an ascent detection function which determines a rate of ascent by monitoring said detected depth values over a predetermine time interval, said processor means comparing said rate of ascent with a predetermined maximum safe rate of ascent and instructs said display means to display and flash said second color when said rate of ascent exceeds said maximum safe rate of ascent, and instructs said display means to display an ascent warning message in a warning field of said display, said ascent warning message having a higher priority than said decompression warning message.

6. An interactive apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

battery monitoring means for alerting said processor when a low battery condition exists;

said processor means, in response to said low battery alert, instructing said display means to display said second color and display a battery warning message in a warning field of said display, said battery warning message having a lower priority than said decompression warning message.

7. An interactive apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said display means includes a predetermined number of customizable display fields in which the scuba diver selects the information to be displayed.

8. An interactive apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

software reset means for clearing said dive specific parameters without the use of mechanical switches; and

a safety mechanism which assuredly prevents activation of said software reset means once a dive has commenced.

9. An interactive apparatus for use by a scuba diver to determine a maximum no-decompression dive duration, said apparatus comprising:

input means for setting dive specific parameters including a J-factor for adjusting a no-stop time calculation to compensate for various environmental and physiological parameters;

clock means for determining an elapsed dive time duration;

depth sensor means for detecting a present depth and a maximum depth, said depth sensor means tracking a dwell time in each of plural predetermined depth ranges;

processor means communicating with said input means, said clock means and said depth sensor means, said processor means determining a remaining no-stop time in accordance with said J-factor and said detected dwell time,

LCD display means for displaying at least said elapsed dive time duration, said detected present depth and said no-stop time;

a multi-color backlight illumination means for illuminating at least

a first color designating a normal non-alert condition,

a second color designating an intermediate alert condition, and for

flashing said second color to designate an advanced alert condition.

10. An interactive apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said multi-color backlight illumination means is one of

at least one LED capable of illuminating at least two different colors, and

at least two LED'"'"'s a first LED being capable of illuminating a different color than a second LED.

11. An interactive apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

software reset means for clearing said dive specific parameters without the use of mechanical switches; and

a safety mechanism which assuredly prevents activation of said software reset means once a dive has commenced.