Scuba driver communication and tracking device
First Claim
1. A communication device for use underwater by a scuba diver for communicating with and tracking relative direction of one or more other divers, comprising:
- a transmitter and receiver assembly transmitting distance signals to and receiving distance signals from an other one of the communication devices, wherein the distance signals are transmitted and received on a frequency defined by a communication channel;
a data processor processing the received distance signals to determine a separation distance between the communication device and the other device and for comparing the separation distance to a safety distance, wherein the separation distance determination comprises timing the received distance signals; and
a display and control assembly including a display for indicating the communication channel and the safety distance of the communication device and for indicating when the data processor determines the separation distance exceeds the safety distance.
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Abstract
A multi-functional underwater device for use by scuba divers for communicating with and tracking the relative direction of one or more other divers. The device is configured to monitor and communicate with multiple other devices simultaneously and includes a transmitter and receiver assembly for transmitting location signals to and receiving location signals from other communication devices on frequencies defined by a communication channel setting for the device. A processor processes signals to determine separation distance between the devices and to compare separation distances to a safety distance. A display assembly indicates communication channel and safety distance for the communication device and indicates when the separation distance is exceeded. The display assembly includes an input portion operable to set the safety distance and/or the communication channel. The transmitter and receiver assembly transmits and receives communication signals, such as check diver and emergency signals, at frequencies defined by the communication channel.
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Citations
52 Claims
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1. A communication device for use underwater by a scuba diver for communicating with and tracking relative direction of one or more other divers, comprising:
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a transmitter and receiver assembly transmitting distance signals to and receiving distance signals from an other one of the communication devices, wherein the distance signals are transmitted and received on a frequency defined by a communication channel;
a data processor processing the received distance signals to determine a separation distance between the communication device and the other device and for comparing the separation distance to a safety distance, wherein the separation distance determination comprises timing the received distance signals; and
a display and control assembly including a display for indicating the communication channel and the safety distance of the communication device and for indicating when the data processor determines the separation distance exceeds the safety distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
transmitting from the transmitter and receiver assembly a first one of the distance signals;
substantially concurrently with the transmitting, starting a timer;
receiving with the transmitter and receiver assembly a second one of the distance signals from the other one of the communication devices; and
substantially concurrently with the receiving, stopping the timer; and
determining an elapsed time since the transmitting of the first one of the distance signals.
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16. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the distance signals comprise sound waves.
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17. A method for providing an alert when a distance between two devices exceeds a distance, the method comprising:
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first and second devices each discovering a distance between the first and second devices;
the first device comparing the discovered distance to a first distance condition and alarming when the first distance condition is met by the discovered distance; and
the second device comparing the discovered distance to a second distance condition and alarming when the second distance condition is met by the discovered distance;
wherein the discovering the distance includes;
the first device generating a first signal having an initial signal strength and the second device generating a second signal having an initial signal strength, the signal strength of the first and second signals diminishing as the first and second signals travel between the first device and the second device;
the second device receiving the first signal and the first device receiving the second signal;
the second device measuring the signal strength of the received first signal and the first device measuring the signal strength of the received second signal; and
the second device discovering the distance from the measured first signal strength and the first device discovering the distance from the measured second signal strength. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for providing an alert when a distance between two devices exceeds a distance, the system comprising a first device and a second device, each device having:
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means for discovering a distance between the first and the second device;
means for comparing the distance to a distance condition; and
means for alarming when the distance condition is met by the discovered distance;
wherein the means for discovering the distance includes;
the first device having means for discovering the location of the first device;
the second device having means for discovering the location of the second device;
the first device having means for transmitting the location of the first device to the second device and the second device having means for transmitting the location of the second device to the first device; and
the first and second devices each having means for comparing the location of the first device to the location of the second device to discover the distance between the first device and the second device. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A system for providing an alert when a distance between two devices exceeds a distance, the system comprising a first device and a second device, each device having:
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a signal generator;
a signal receiver for receiving a signal from the other of the first and second devices;
means for discovering, from a signal received from the other of the first and second devices, a distance between the first and second devices;
means for comparing the distance to a distance condition; and
an alarm for alarming when the distance condition is met by the discovered distance;
wherein the signal generator includes means for generating a signal having an initial signal strength, the signal strength diminishing as the signal travels between the first device and the second device and wherein the means for discovering the distance includes means for measuring the signal strength of the received signal and means for discovering the distance from the measured signal strength. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
a table having values indicative of signal strength cross-referenced with values indicative of distance; and
means for comparing the measured signal strength to values in the table to discover the distance.
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30. The system of claim 27 wherein:
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the first device further includes means for discovering the location of the first device;
the second device further includes means for discovering the location of the second device;
the signal generator of the first device includes means for generating a signal indicative of the location of the first device and the signal generator of the second device includes means for generating a signal indicative of the location of the second device; and
the means for discovering the distance includes means for comparing the location of the first device to the location of the second device to discover the distance between the first device and the second device.
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31. The system of claim 27 wherein the means for alarming includes means for generating a visible signal indication.
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32. The system of claim 27 wherein the means for alarming includes means for generating an audible indication.
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33. The system of claim 27 wherein the first device has means for transmitting an alarm signal to the second device and the second device has means for alarming in response to the alarm signal.
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34. The system of claim 33 wherein the first device further includes a user selection device for activating the means for transmitting the alarm signal to the second device.
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35. A device for use by a scuba diver in communicating underwater with two or more other scuba divers, comprising:
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a first receiver receiving a location signal from a second one of the devices spaced apart a first distance from the device;
a second receiver receiving a location signal from a third one of the devices spaced apart a second distance from the device;
a data processor for processing the location signals to determine the first and second distances, for determining when the first and second distances exceed first and second safety distances respectively, and when either of the determined first and second distances exceeds the safety distances, initiating an alarm; and
a display assembly operable by the data processor for indicating the alarm. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A dive master communication device for use by a dive master in communicating underwater with two or more other scuba divers in one or more dive groups, comprising:
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a receiver receiving a distance signal from a first communication device, associated with a first dive group, spaced apart a first distance from the dive master communication device and receiving a distance signal from a second communication device associated with the first dive group spaced apart a second distance from the dive master communication device; and
a data processor for processing the distance signals to determine the first and second distances, for determining when the first and second distances exceed a first safety distance, and when either of the determined first and second distances exceeds the first safety distance, initiating an alarm. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
receiving a distance signal from a third communication device, associated with a second dive group, spaced apart a third distance from the dive master communication device; and
receiving a distance signal from a fourth communication device associated with the second dive group spaced apart a fourth distance from the dive master communication device; and
wherein the data processor processes the distance signals to determine the third and fourth distances, for determining when the third and fourth distances exceed a second safety distance, and when either of the determined third and fourth distances exceeds the second safety distance, initiating an alarm.
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43. The device of claim 42, wherein the first safety distance differs from the second safety distance.
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44. The device of claim 41, further comprising a display and control assembly displaying the alarm, wherein the display and control assembly includes a setting input device operable by the dive master to set the safety distance.
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45. The device of claim 44, wherein the display and control assembly includes a text message display and wherein the data processor operates the display and control assembly to display a text message based on the received distance signals.
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46. The device of claim 44, wherein the first and second receiver are adapted for receiving communication signals including a panic signal from the communication devices, wherein the text message indicates the received message was a panic signal.
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47. The device of claim 46, wherein the received communication signals include a check diver signal and the text message displayed indicates the received message was a check diver signal.
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48. The device of claim 41, wherein the data processor is calibrated to determine the distances in water of a particular salinity or of a particular depth.
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49. The device of claim 41, wherein the distance signals are received substantially concurrently.
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50. The device of claim 41, wherein the data processor includes memory for storing the distance signals and sequentially displaying a text message based signals on a display.
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51. A dive communication system, comprising:
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a first diver communication device;
a second diver communication device, wherein each of the first and second communication devices comprises;
a transmitter and receiver assembly transmitting distance signals to and receiving distance signals from the other one of the diver communication devices;
a data processor processing the received distance signals to determine a first separation distance between the communication device and the other device and for comparing the first separation distance to a first safety distance; and
a display and control assembly including a display for indicating the safety distance of the communication device and for indicating when the data processor determines the separation distance exceeds the first safety distance; and
a dive master communication device, comprising;
a receiver receiving a distance signal from the first diver communication device spaced apart a second distance from the dive master communication device and receiving a distance signal from the second diver communication device spaced apart a third distance from the dive master communication device; and
a data processor for processing the distance signals to determine the second and third distances, for determining when the second and third distances exceed a second safety distance, and when either of the determined second and third distances exceeds the second safety distance, initiating an alarm. - View Dependent Claims (52)
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Specification