Underwater recognition system including speech output signal

• US 7,646,675 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2007
• Issued: 01/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ralph Mcgonegal
• Original Assignee: Ralph Mcgonegal
• Inventors: McGonegal, Ralph
• Primary Examiner(s): Lobo; Ian J
• Application Number:
  US11/903,198
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 367/107, 367/115, 367/116
• US Class Current: 367/116
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/96 for locating fish
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/539 using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/56 Display arrangements short-range imaging G01S7/52053

Abstract

An underwater recognition device, system and method is provided. The system includes an underwater information collection sub-system for collecting sensor signals for underwater recognition. An underwater information processing sub-system is also provided, having at least one input port coupled to the underwater information collection sub-system and creating numerical or graphical representations of underwater information. In order to facilitate presentation of the information to a user, a speech signal processing sub-system integrated with the underwater information processing sub-system or coupled to an output port of the underwater information processing sub-system is provided. The speech signal sub-system processes numerical or graphical representations of underwater information into speech output signals.

Claims

1. A system for providing audio feedback from an underwater information processing sub-system and associated display comprising:

an optical recognition sub-system including a video capture device removably attachable to a display of an underwater information processing sub-system to capture graphical representations of underwater information; and

a speech signal processing sub-system for converting video signals captured by the video capture device to speech including pattern recognition functionality and/or an optical character recognition functionality.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the video capture device is removably attachable to a display with a clip, suction cup or temporary adhesive device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the video device is a charge-coupled device camera or a CMOS camera.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the speech signal processing sub-system includes a database containing representations of symbols displayed on a display of a underwater information processing sub-system and associated speech representations for audio output.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the speech signal processing sub-system translates numerical representations upon a display of an underwater information processing sub-system to digital form, and converts the digital form to a speech representation for audio output.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the underwater information presented on a display of an underwater information processing sub-system includes a combination of symbols including contour lines, bottom depth, depth of underwater obstacles, shape of underwater obstacles, size of underwater obstacles, quantity of fish or other aquatic animals, depth of fish or other aquatic animals, shape of fish or other aquatic animals, density of fish or other aquatic animals, or size of fish or other aquatic animals, and

the speech signal processing sub-system includes a database containing representations of symbols displayed and associated speech representations for audio output.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the speech output is synthesized by a voice generator.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the speech output includes recorded voice indicators selected based upon a certain type of underwater information.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the speech output is provided at predetermined maximum intervals of time, and further wherein the predetermined maximum interval of time varies based on the rate of change of certain underwater parameters including bottom depth information.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the speech signal processing sub-system includes computer-readable medium storing a program for providing optical pattern recognition or optical character recognition for converting text information and graphical representations into speech output.