Integrated dive flag/float and GPS navigation system for scuba divers

• US 6,791,490 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph David King
• Original Assignee: Joseph David King
• Inventors: King, Joseph David
• Primary Examiner(s): Issing, Gregory C.
• Application Number:
  US10/113,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20020140599A1
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.02, 342/357.03, 342/357.06, 342/357.17, 342/357.08, 441/33, 441/11, 441/23, 441/24, 441/26, 367/910, 405/185-191, 405/194
• US Class Current: 342/357.57
• 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 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/36 relating to the receiver frond end
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/485 whereby the further system is an optical system or imaging system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/49 whereby the further system is an inertial position system, e.g. loosely-coupled
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/51 Relative positioning

Abstract

A SCUBA diving flag/float assembly is used to support a GPS antenna on the surface of the water for use by divers in performing underwater navigation. An associated GPS receiver is integrated with a dive flag line take-up mechanism such as a spool or SCUBA diving line reel. The dive flag line and cable interconnecting the GPS receiver to the GPS antenna is integrated within a single assembly, or in an alternate embodiment, braided together forming a single tether. Alternate embodiments include optional sensors such as a flowmeter, compass, tiltmeter, depth gauge and diver techniques to compensate for navigational errors due to a water current pushing a dive flag/float away from a diver. Alternatively, a GPS receiver may be mounted on or in the dive flag/float assembly and navigational information relayed to the diver under the water.

Claims

1. A system for navigating underwater comprising:

an antenna operative to receive at least one GPS signal;

a dive flag apparatus operative to support said antenna on or above a surface of water, said dive flag apparatus comprising;

a SCUBA diving flag;

a float having positive buoyancy relative to said water;

a receiver, said receiver operative to process said at least one GPS signal;

a signal conducting tether cable having a first end couples to said dive flag apparatus, a second end coupled to a reel or spool for collecting and dispensing said signal conducting tether cable, said signal conducting tether cable for towing and controlling said dive flag apparatus under the control of a diver; and

an angle sensor mounted on or in said dive flag apparatus, said angle sensor for determining an angle between said signal conducting tether cable and said dive flag apparatus, said angle used to calculate a correction vector between a diver location and a location of said dive flag apparatus, and wherein a navigation solution presented to said diver is compensated using said correction vector.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a means for determining a geographic direction between said diver and said dive flag apparatus, said geographic direction used for determining said correction vector between said diver and said dive flag apparatus.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said means for determining a geographic direction is a compass or a multiaxis magnetic field sensor.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising a means for determining a length of said signal conducting tether cable deployed between said diver and said dive flag apparatus, said length used for determining said correction vector between said diver and said dive flag apparatus.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a ballast, said ballast located such that said ballast is operative to stabilize said dive flag apparatus such that said antenna and said dive flag are positioned upright and above said surface of said water.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said ballast is an inner tube filled with air.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said antenna is enclosed in a hydrophobic material that is transparent to said GPS signals.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said second end of said signal conducting tether cable is operatively coupled to said receiver, said receiver mounted on or to said reel.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said angle sensor comprises a resistive or optic component.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said resistive component is a rheostat or potentiometer.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said angle sensor comprises a tiltmeter.

9. A dive flag apparatus operative to support an antenna on or above a surface of water, said dive flag apparatus comprising;

a SCUBA diving flag;

a float having positive buoyancy relative to said water;

a support pole having at least a portion thereof embedded in;

or attached to, said float, said support pole operative to support at least a portion of said SCUBA diving flag;

an antenna operative to receive at least one GPS signal, said antenna mounted to, on, or in said support pole, or on, to, or in said float;

a signal conducting tether cable having a first end coupled to said antenna, a second end coupled to a diver operated reel or spool for collecting and dispensing said signal conducting tether cable;

a receiver operatively coupled to said antenna for receiving GPS signals; and

an angle sensor coupled to said diver operated reel or spool, said angle sensor operative to determine an angle between said cable and a horizontal plane, said angle used to calculate a correction vector between a diver location and a location of said float, and wherein a navigation solution presented to said diver is compensated using said correction vector.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising means for determining an azimuth heading a water current pushes said dive flag apparatus away from said diver location.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said means for determining an azimuth heading comprises a flux valve or a compass.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising means for determining a length of said signal conducting tether cable, said length for determining said correction vector between said diver location and said location of said dive flag apparatus.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a single flowmeter operative for aiding in determining an azimuth heading indicative of a direction of a flow of water current.

10. A method of underwater navigation by a SCUBA diver comprising the steps of:

determining and storing an first geographic location in computer memory;

deploying a float assembly containing a GPS antenna and a SCUBA dive flag apparatus on a surface of a body of water;

determining a length of a signal conducting tether cable deployed from a SCUBA diver to the float;

providing an angle sensor mounted on said SCUBA dive flag apparatus or a SCUBA diver operated reel or spool;

determining an angle of the signal conducting tether cable with respect to a horizontal plane using said;

determining and storing a second geographic location in said computer memory;

correcting said second geographic position using said cable length and said cable angle information; and

determining and presenting a direction to proceed as calculated using said first geographic location and said correction second geographic location to said SCUBA diver.

11. A method of underwater navigation by a SCUBA diver comprising the steps of:

providing a signal conducting tether cable having a first end operatively coupled to a GPS antenna supported on a surface of water, a second end operatively coupled to a SCUBA diver operated reel or spool for collecting and dispensing said signal conducting tether cable, said reel or spool including a means for displaying navigation data to a SCUBA diver having possession of said reel or spool;

determining and storing an first geographic location in computer memory;

deploying a float assembly containing said GPS antenna on the surface of said water;

determining a length of line/cable deployed from SCUBA diver to the float;

determining a depth of said SCUBA diver;

determining an azimuth direction a water current is flowing;

determining and storing a second geographic location in said computer memory;

correcting said second geographic position using said cable length, and said depth information and azimuth direction of said water current;

determining and presenting the direction to proceed as calculated using said first geographic location and said correction second geographic location to said SCUBA diver to navigate to said first geographic location or other stored waypoint or a manually entered location.