Dive computer with global positioning system receiver

• US 9,013,349 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2012
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aqualung Corporate
• Original Assignee: Pelagic Pressure Systems
• Inventors: Hollis, Robert R., Lewis, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deberadinis, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US13/465,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20120220317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.2, 342/357.07
• 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 mobile phone handset, comprising;

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.

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

a keypad connected to the microprocessor;

wherein the microprocessor, telephone transceiver and keypad are configured to enable the entry of text messages for transmission via the telephone transceiver.

3. The dive computer of claim 1, wherein the mobile phone handset further comprises:

a GPS receiver connected to the microprocessor;

wherein the recorded information includes location information obtained from the GPS receiver.

4. The dive computer of claim 3, wherein the mobile phone handset is configured to transmit a message containing the location information via the telephone transceiver.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the software application configures the mobile handset to upload the dive log to a remote server.

6. 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.

7. The dive computer of claim 6, wherein the sensor information is selected from the group consisting of tank air pressure, water pressure, time elapsed, and temperature.

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

a camera module connected to the microprocessor;

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

9. The dive computer of claim 8;

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

10. The dive computer of claim 1, wherein the recorded information includes audio data obtained using the microphone.

11. The dive computer of claim 1, wherein the mobile phone handset further comprises:

a compass connected to the microprocessor; and

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

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

a second pressure transducer;

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

13. The dive computer of claim 1, wherein:

the memory is configured to store audio data; and

the software application configures the mobile phone handset to play the audio data using the speaker.

14. The dive computer of claim 1, wherein:

the memory is configured to store video data; and

the software application configures the mobile phone handset to play the video data using the display.

15. 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 configures the mobile phone handset to display the dive site information using the display.