Field of view underwater dive computer system

• US 6,360,182 B1
• Filed: 10/27/1999
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lynn B. Hales
• Original Assignee: Lynn B. Hales
• Inventors: Hales, Lynn B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wachsman, Hal
• Application Number:
  US09/427,863
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 702/79, 702/92, 702/98, 702/99, 702/130, 702/131, 702/132, 702/136, 702/138-140, 702/166, 702/176-178, 702/179, 702/182, 702/183, 702/187, 702/189, 702/FOR.103, 702/FOR.104, 702/FOR.135, 702/FOR.139, 702/FOR.142, 702/FOR.143, 702/FOR.147, 702/FOR.170, 702/FOR.171, 377/19, 377/20, 377/24.2, 377/25, 345/7-9, 345/40, 359/857, 359/630, 359/632, 359/815, 349/11, 349/13, 968/885, 968/886, 340/525, 340/870.16, 242/8, 128/200.24, 128/201.27, 128/204.26, 128/205.22, 128/205.23, 128/205.25, 732/91, 732/90.R, 732/92, 733/01, 374/109, 374/111, 374/112, 374/136, 374/142, 374/143
• US Class Current: 702/139
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/08 Component parts for gas-masks or gas-helmets, e.g. windows, straps, speech transmitters, signal-devices eye-pieces for protective goggles A61F9/02; composition of materials for the windows or other transparent parts A62D7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/12 Diving masks
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/32 Decompression arrangements; Exercise 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
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 2011/121 comprising integrated optical signalling means or displays for data or images
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0141 characterised by the informative content of the display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0185 Displaying image at variable distance
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/063 by using visual displays

Abstract

A system for conveying information to an underwater diver wearing a mask. The information is conveyed via a field of view display system which either superimposes the information onto the field of view of the diver or places the information within a glance of the diver. Included are sensors for measuring the pressure in the dive tanks, for sensing the depth of the diver, and for sensing the ambient temperature of the surrounding environment. A microcomputer interprets the information to provide advice such as safe assent rates. The display desirably includes a visual array for providing a visually perceptible representation of the information conveyed by the display signal as well as an optical arrangement for placing an image of the visual array at a long focus distance in relation to the eye of the diver and for magnifying the actual image of the visual array.

Claims

1. A system for conveying information to an underwater diver wearing a mask which includes a viewing window through which the diver is provided a field of view of the surrounding environment, the system comprising:

means for sensing the depth under the surface of the water the diver is submerged and for generating a depth signal;

means for processing the depth signal and generating a display signal;

means for displaying the information conveyed by the display signal within the diver'"'"'s field of view such that the diver is able to visually perceive the information shown on the means for displaying, without any movement of an eye, within the diver'"'"'s field of view; and

means for holding the means for displaying in a position adjacent to the mask;

wherein the means for displaying comprises a display device, the display device comprising;

means for displaying the temperature of the water surrounding the diver;

means for displaying the minimum temperature of the water encountered on the most recent dive;

means for displaying the current depth under the surface of the water of the diver;

means for displaying the maximum depth under the surface of the water encountered on the most recent dive;

means for displaying the current pressure found within a tank; and

means for displaying the elapsed time since the beginning of the most recent dive.

2. A system for conveying information to an underwater diver wearing a mask which includes a viewing window through which the diver is provided a field of view of the surrounding environment, the system comprising:

means for sensing the depth under the surface of the water the diver is submerged and for generating a depth signal;

means for processing the depth signal and generating a display signal;

means for displaying the information conveyed by the display signal within the diver'"'"'s field of view such that the diver is able to visually perceive the information shown on the means for displaying, without any movement of an eye, within the diver'"'"'s field of view; and

means for holding the means for displaying in a position adjacent to the mask;

wherein the means for displaying comprises a display device, the display device comprising;

means for displaying the time remaining before a diver must ascend;

means for displaying to the diver a plurality of ascent stop levels needed to avoid decompression sickness; and

means for displaying the diver'"'"'s ascent rate;

wherein the display device further comprises;

means for displaying the temperature of the water surrounding the diver;

means for displaying the minimum temperature of the water encountered on the most recent dive;

means for displaying the current depth under the surface of the water of the diver;

means for displaying the maximum depth under the surface of the water encountered on the most recent dive;

means for displaying the current pressure found within a tank; and

means for displaying the elapsed time since the beginning of the most recent dive.

3. A system for conveying information to an underwater diver wearing a mask as defined in claim 2 wherein the means for displaying further comprises:

visual array means for providing a visually perceptible representation of the information conveyed by the display signal;

means for placing an image of the visual array means at a focus distance in the range from about six inches to about infinity in relation to the eye of the diver; and

means for magnifying the actual image of the visual array means such that the diver can readily observe the image of the visual array means.

4. A system for conveying information to an underwater diver wearing a mask which includes a viewing window through which the diver is provided a field of view of the surrounding environment, the system comprising:

means for sensing the depth under the surface of the water the diver is submerged and for generating a depth signal;

means for processing the depth signal and generating a display signal;

means for displaying the information conveyed by the display signal within the diver'"'"'s field of view such that the diver is able to visually perceive the information shown on the means for displaying, without any movement of an eye, within the diver'"'"'s field of view; and

means for holding the means for displaying in a position adjacent to the mask;

wherein the means for displaying comprises;

a first display device;

a first holographic optical element;

a first lens and wherein the first display device, the first holographic optical element and the first lens provide an image of the output of the first display device superimposed upon the diver'"'"'s field of view through a first eye of the diver;

a reflecting surface;

a second holographic optical element positioned in front of at least one of the diver'"'"'s eyes;

a second display device;

a second holographic optical element; and

a second lens and wherein the second display device, the second holographic optical element and the second lens provide an image of the output of the second display device superimposed upon the diver'"'"'s field of view through a second eye of the diver.

5. A system for conveying information to an underwater diver wearing a mask which includes a viewing window through which the diver is provided a field of view of the surrounding environment, the system comprising:

means for sensing the pressure in at least one tank holding a breathable gas supplied to the diver and for generating a tank pressure signal;

means for processing the tank pressure signal and generating a display signal;

means for displaying the information conveyed by the display signal within the diver'"'"'s field of view such that the information conveyed by the display signal is transparently superimposed onto the diver'"'"'s field of view through at least a first eye of the diver and the diver is able to visually perceive the information conveyed by the display signal without any substantial movement of the first eye;

means for holding the means for displaying in a position adjacent to the mask; and

means for sensing the ambient temperature of the surrounding environment and for generating a temperature signal and

wherein the means for processing comprises means for processing the temperature signal and wherein the means for displaying comprises a display device, the display device comprising;

means for displaying the temperature of the water surrounding the diver;

means for displaying the minimum temperature of the water encountered on the most recent dive;

means for displaying the current depth under the surface of the water of the diver;

means for displaying the maximum depth under the surface of the water encountered on the most recent dive;

means for displaying the current pressure found within the at least one tank; and

means for displaying the elapsed time since the beginning of the most recent dive.

6. A system for conveying information to an underwater diver wearing a mask which includes a viewing window through which the diver is provided a field of view of the surrounding environment, the system comprising:

means for sensing the pressure in at least one tank holding a breathable gas supplied to the diver and for generating a tank pressure signal;

means for sensing the depth under the surface of the water the diver is submerged and for generating a depth signal;

means for detecting changes in the relative orientation of the earth'"'"'s magnetic field and generating a compass signal with respect to the relative orientation in the earth'"'"'s magnetic field;

means for sensing the ambient temperature of the surrounding environment and for generating a temperature signal;

means for processing the tank pressure signal, the compass signal, the temperature signal, and the depth signal and generating a display signal;

means for displaying the information conveyed by the display signal within the diver'"'"'s field of view such that the information shown on the means for displaying is superimposed upon the diver'"'"'s field of view, the means for displaying further comprising;

first visual array means for providing a visually perceptible representation of the information conveyed by the display signal;

a first holographic optical element; and

a first reflecting surface, the first holographic optical element and the first reflecting surface cooperating to project the visually perceptible representation of the information conveyed by the display signal onto a lens of the mask and thus into the diver'"'"'s field of view provided to at least a first eye of the diver; and

means for holding the means for displaying in a position on the mask;

wherein the means for displaying further comprises;

a second display device;

a second holographic optical element; and

a second lens and wherein the second display device, the second holographic optical element and the second lens provide an image of the output of the second display device superimposed upon the diver'"'"'s field of view through a second eye of the diver.