Dive computer with global positioning system receiver

• US 8,847,818 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2012
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• 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): Deberadinis, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US13/647,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20130027541A1
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.07, 342/357.2, 702/139
• US Class Current: 342/357.2
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2213/02 using satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. the Global Positioning System GPS
• 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: G01L 19/00 Details of, or accessories for, apparatus for measuring steady or quasi-steady pressure of a fluent medium insofar as such details or accessories are not special to particular types of pressure gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03

Abstract

Dive computers in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment includes a mobile phone handset, including a microprocessor, a microphone connected to the microprocessor, a speaker connected to the microprocessor, a telephone transceiver connected to the microprocessor, memory, a display, and an external connector for communicating with external devices wherein the memory contains a software application, and a waterproof housing including a pressure transducer, where the mobile phone handset is located within the waterproof housing and connected to the pressure transducer via the external connector, and wherein the software application configures the mobile phone handset to create a dive log stored in memory, wherein the dive log comprises recorded information including depth of submersion information recorded from the pressure transducer and display the recorded information during the dive.

Claims

1. A dive computer, comprising:

a microprocessor;

a display connected to the microprocessor and configured to operate underwater;

a pressure transducer connected to the microprocessor;

a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver connected to the microprocessor;

a camera module connected to the microprocessor; and

memory connected to the microprocessor;

wherein the memory is configured to store a software application, a dive log, and video data;

wherein the GPS receiver is configured to obtain location data;

wherein the camera module is configured to capture video data; and

wherein the software application configures the processor to;

obtain location data using the GPS receiver when the dive computer is above water;

capture video data using the camera module; and

create a dive log stored in memory, wherein the dive log comprises recorded information including depth of submersion information recorded from the pressure transducer and multiple position measurements based on the recorded depth of submersion information and the obtained location data.

2. The dive computer of claim 1, wherein the dive computer further comprises:

a keypad connected to the microprocessor;

wherein the microprocessor and keypad are configured to enable the entry of text data; and

wherein the dive log further comprises the entered text data.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a network interface connected to the microprocessor;

wherein the software application further configures the dive computer to upload the dive log to a remote server using the network interface.

4. The dive computer of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor module connected to the microprocessor; and

wherein the recorded information includes sensor information obtained from the sensor module.

5. The dive computer of claim 4, wherein the sensor information is selected from the group consisting of tank air pressure, water pressure, time elapsed, and temperature.

6. The dive computer of claim 1, where:

the camera module is configured to capture still image data;

wherein the recorded information includes still image data obtained from the camera module.

7. The dive computer of claim 6;

wherein the recorded information includes video obtained from the camera module.

8. The dive computer of claim 1, further comprising:

a microphone connected to microprocessor;

wherein the recorded information includes audio data obtained using the microphone.

9. The dive computer of claim 1, wherein the dive computer further comprises:

a compass connected to the microprocessor; and

wherein the recorded information includes heading information obtained from the compass.

10. The dive computer of claim 1, further comprising:

a second pressure transducer;

wherein the second pressure transducer is packaged separately from the dive computer and the packaging of the second pressure transducer includes a connector configured to create a connection between the second pressure transducer and the dive computer.

11. The dive computer of claim 1, further comprising:

a speaker;

wherein the memory is configured to store audio data; and

wherein the software application further configures the dive computer to play the audio data using the speaker.

12. The dive computer of claim 1, wherein:

the memory is configured to store information about a dive site;

the dive site information is selected from the group consisting of marine life common to the dive site, points of interest in the dive site, and maps of the dive site; and

the software application further configures the processor to display the dive site information using the display.

13. The dive computer of claim 1, wherein the software application further configures the processor to display the recorded information and the captured video data using the display.

14. A dive computer, comprising:

a microprocessor;

a display connected to the microprocessor and configured to operate underwater;

a pressure transducer connected to the microprocessor;

a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver connected to the microprocessor;

a camera module connected to the microprocessor; and

memory connected to the microprocessor;

wherein the memory is configured to store a software application, a dive log, and video data;

wherein the GPS receiver is configured to obtain location data;

wherein the camera module is configured to capture video data; and

wherein the software application configures the processor to;

capture video data using the camera module during the dive;

obtain location data using the GPS receiver when the dive computer is above water;

create a dive log stored in memory, wherein the dive log comprises recorded information including depth of submersion information recorded from the pressure transducer, multiple position measurements based on the recorded depth of submersion information and the obtained location data, and video captured during the dive; and

display the recorded information and the captured video data during the dive using the display.

15. A method for performing a dive, comprising:

capturing video data during a dive using a dive computer, where the dive computer comprises a display configured to operate underwater;

obtaining location data via a Global Positioning System using the dive computer;

measuring depth of submersion information using the dive computer; and

creating a dive log using the dive computer, where the dive log comprises recorded information including depth of submersion information and multiple position measurements based on the recorded depth of submersion information and the obtained location data.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising entering text data using the dive computer.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising uploading the dive log to a remote server using the dive computer.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising capturing still image data using the dive computer.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising capturing audio data using the dive computer.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining heading information using the dive computer.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising playing audio data using the dive computer.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying dive site information using the dive computer.

23. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying the recorded information and the captured video data using the dive computer.