Dive computer with global positioning system receiver

• US 6,972,715 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2003
• Issued: 12/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pelagic Pressure Systems Corp.
• Original Assignee: American Underwater Products
• Inventors: Hollis, Robert R., Lewis, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Issing, Gregory C.
• Application Number:
  US10/615,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20040196180A1
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.06, 342/357.07, 342/357.08, 367/910, 367/132, 367/13
• 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: 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: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/35 Constructional details or hardware or software details of the signal processing chain
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/36 relating to the receiver frond end
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/45 by combining measurements of signals from the satellite radio beacon positioning system with a supplementary measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/51 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt

Abstract

Dive computers and methods of logging information including position, audio and video information are disclosed. In one embodiment, the invention includes a processor, a global positioning system receiver connected to the processor and a pressure transducer connected to the processor.

Claims

1. A position location device comprising:

a waterproof housing;

a processor enclosed within the waterproof housing;

a global positioning system receiver enclosed within the waterproof housing and connected to the processor; and

a pressure transducer connected to the processor;

clock circuitry connected to the processor and enclosed within the waterproof housing;

wherein the global positioning system receiver includes an antenna enclosed within the waterproof housing; and

wherein the pressure transducer is configured to measure depth under water;

wherein the processor is configured to obtain at least one measurement of position using the global positioning system when the position location device is above water;

wherein the processor is configured to obtain at least one measurement of depth and time using the pressure transducer and the clock circuitry when the location device is submerged;

wherein the processor is configured to record a profile of the dive including measurements of multiple positions and multiple depths and times.

2. The position location device of claim 1, further comprising:

memory connected to the processor and enclosed within the waterproof housing; and

at least one input/output device connected to the processor.

3. The position location device of claim 2, wherein one of the input/output devices is a microphone.

4. The position location device of claim 2, wherein one of the input/output devices is a keypad including at least one button.

5. The position location device of claim 1, further comprising:

a flow meter connected to the processor; and

a compass connected to the processor.

6. The position location device of claim 5, wherein the flow meter is an impeller.

7. The position location device of claim 5, further comprising:

a second pressure transducer in communication with the processor; and

wherein the pressure transducer is configured to generate a signal indicative of air pressure within an air tank.

8. The position location device of claim 1, further comprising a digital camera connected to the processor.

9. The position location device of claim 8, wherein the digital camera includes an electronic flash.

10. The position location device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to create a dive log including the recorded dive profile.

11. The position location device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to include audio recordings in the dive log.

12. The position location device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to include digital photographs in the dive log.

13. The position location device of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor connected to the processor;

wherein the sensor and processor are configured to measure speed through water.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising including audio recordings in the dive log.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising including at least one digital photograph in the dive log.

16. The position location device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to recognize speech captured using the microphone.

17. A position location device comprising:

means for measuring latitude and longitude;

means for measuring depth underwater;

means for measuring time;

means for recording multiple measurements of latitude, longitude and time when the position location device is above water;

means for recording multiple measurements of death and time when the position location device is submerged;

means for generating a dive profile using the recorded measurements; and

wherein the means for measuring latitude and longitude, the means for measuring time and the means for recording measurements are enclosed within a waterproof housing.

18. The position location device of claim 17, further comprising means for annotating recorded measurements of latitude, longitude, depth or time.

19. The position location device of claim 17, further comprising means for identifying a particular measurement of latitude, longitude, depth or time as being associated with a particular point of interest.

20. The position location device of claim 17, wherein the time includes information concerning day, month and year.

21. The position location device of claim 17, further comprising:

means for measuring water speed; and

means for measuring bearing.

22. The position location device of claim 17, further comprising means for measuring air time remaining.

23. A method of recording data, comprising:

performing a first measurement of latitude, longitude and time;

recording information indicative of the first measurement of latitude, longitude and time in a memory;

descending underwater;

measuring depth and time;

recording information indicative of the depth and time measurements in the memory;

resurfacing;

performing a second measurement of latitude, longitude and time;

recording information indicative of the second measurement of latitude, longitude and time in the memory; and

constructing a dive profile using information including the latitude, longitude and time recordings obtained when the diver is at the surface and the depth and time measurements obtained when the diver is underwater.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising identifying a particular measurement of latitude, longitude and time or measurement of depth and time as being associated with a particular point of interest.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising recording descriptive information that is associated with the identified measurement of latitude, longitude and time or measurement of depth and time.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein recording descriptive information involves recording signals indicative of speech.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the time includes information concerning day, month and year.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein:

the measurements of latitude, longitude and time are made using a global positioning system receiver adapted to be taken below the surface of the water; and

the measurements of depth are made using a pressure transducer.

29. The method of claim 23, further comprising periodically measuring water speed and bearing.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

measuring average speed;

measuring air time remaining; and

estimating range based on average speed and air time remaining calculations.

31. The method of claim 23, further comprising constructing a dive log including the dive profile.

32. The method of claim 23, wherein the memory is located within a portable device that includes a waterproof casing.