System and method for extending GPS to divers and underwater vehicles
First Claim
1. An underwater navigation system comprising:
- a surface unit adapted to float on the surface when deployed, said surface unit including;
a receiver to receive navigation signals from earth-orbiting satellites,a sonar transceiver to communicate with to sub-surface beacon units and to transmit location information to said sub-surface beacon units;
processing circuits to determine a location of the surface unit based on said navigation signals and to generate a control signal for sinking or destroying said surface unit after transmitting location information to one or more beacon units;
a plurality of beacon units adapted to sink to the sea floor when deployed, each said beacon unit including;
processing circuits to determine the location of the beacon unit based on location information received from the surface unit; and
a sonar transceiver to receive said location information from said surface unit while the surface unit is floating on the surface; and
to transmit location information to a diver unit to provide navigation assistance to the diver unit.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A navigation system extends satellite navigation to divers. The navigation system comprises a surface unit and a plurality of sub-surface beacon units. The surface unit includes a receiver to receive navigation signals from earth-orbiting satellites, processing circuits to communicate with to sub-surface beacon units and to transmit location information to said sub-surface beacon units, and a sonar transmitter to transmit location information to the sub-surface beacon units. The beacon units include a processing circuits to determine the location of the beacon unit based on location information received from the surface unit, and a sonar transceiver to receive location information from the surface unit while the surface unit is floating on the surface; and to transmit location information to a diver unit to provide navigation assistance to the diver unit.
79 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An underwater navigation system comprising:
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a surface unit adapted to float on the surface when deployed, said surface unit including; a receiver to receive navigation signals from earth-orbiting satellites, a sonar transceiver to communicate with to sub-surface beacon units and to transmit location information to said sub-surface beacon units; processing circuits to determine a location of the surface unit based on said navigation signals and to generate a control signal for sinking or destroying said surface unit after transmitting location information to one or more beacon units; a plurality of beacon units adapted to sink to the sea floor when deployed, each said beacon unit including; processing circuits to determine the location of the beacon unit based on location information received from the surface unit; and a sonar transceiver to receive said location information from said surface unit while the surface unit is floating on the surface; and
to transmit location information to a diver unit to provide navigation assistance to the diver unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of underwater navigation comprising:
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receiving navigation signals from earth-orbiting satellites by a surface unit floating on the surface of a body of water; determining location of the surface unit by an on board processing circuit in said surface unit; transmitting location information from said surface unit to a sub-surface beacon unit; and sinking or destroying said surface unit after transmitting location information to said sub-surface beacon unit. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification