US 2002/0176323 A1 · Underwater alert system

Abstract

In a first preferred embodiment, an underwater alert system (10) comprises a transmitter assembly (12), a receiver assembly (16) and a mask (18). The transmitter assembly (12), carried by a first diver (14), has a waterproof transmitter housing (38) for carrying an alert switch (68), a transmitter (66) and a transmitting element (80). The alert switch (68) generates an electrical alert actuation signal (86) responsive to the alert switch (68) being actuated, either manually by the first diver (14) or automatically by the first diver's equipment. The transmitter (66) generates a predetermined electrical transmit signal (98) responsive to receiving the electrical alert actuation signal (86). The transmitting element (80) generates a predetermined wireless signal (36) responsive to receiving the predetermined electrical transmit signal (98). The receiver assembly (16), carried by a second diver (20), has a waterproof receiver housing (48) for carrying a receiving element (126), a receiver (108) and an alert device (110). The receiving element (126) generates an electrical receive signal (152) responsive to receiving the predetermined wireless signal (36). The receiver (108) generates a predetermined electrical alert attention signal (154) responsive to receiving the electrical receive signal (152). The alert device (110), such as a visual (112), an audible (114) or a tactile (116) alert device, generates a predetermined alert (161), such as light (162), sound (164) or vibration (166), respectively, responsive to receiving the predetermined electrical alert attention signal (154). The mask (18) carries the first receiver assembly (16), either separate from or integral with the first mask (18), in a way that permits the predetermined alert (161) to gain the attention of the second diver (20) when the mask (18) is worn on the second diver's head. Preferably, the transmitter assembly (12) and the receiver assembly (16) share a common electrical identity (77, 125), such as a frequency channel, an address or a code, to provide discreet communications between divers. In a second preferred embodiment, the underwater alert system (10) includes a first transceiver assembly (232), carried by, integrally to or attached to, the first diver's mask, and a second transceiver assembly (254), carried by, integrally to or attached to, the second diver's mask. In a third preferred embodiment, the underwater alert system (10) includes, the transmitter assembly (12) or the first transceiver assembly (232) electrically coupled to the first diver's dive computer (252) to permit dive computer data, associated with the first diver (14), or an alarm associated with the dive computer data to be transmitted to and received by the receiver assembly (16) or the second transceiver assembly (254), respectively, carried by the second diver (20).

Claims78

Dependent claims

An underwater alert system comprising:

a first transmitter assembly, adapted to be carried by a first diver, including:
at least a first alert switch adapted to generate at least a first electrical alert actuation signal responsive to the at least the first alert switch being actuated;
a first transmitter electrically coupled to the at least the first alert switch and adapted to generate at least a first predetermined electrical transmit signal responsive to receiving the at least the first electrical alert actuation signal, respectively;
a first transmitting element electrically coupled to the first transmitter and adapted to generate at least a first predetermined wireless signal responsive to receiving the at least the first predetermined electrical transmit signal, respectively;
and
a first waterproof transmitter housing adapted to carry at least one of the at least the first alert switch, the first transmitter and the first transmitting element;
and
a first receiver assembly, adapted to be carried by a second diver having a first mask adapted to be worn on the second diver's head, including:
a first receiving element adapted to generate at least a first electrical receive signal responsive to receiving the at least the first predetermined wireless signal, respectively;
a first receiver electrically coupled to the first receiving element and adapted to generate at least a first predetermined electrical alert attention signal responsive to receiving the at least the first electrical receive signal, respectively;
at least a first alert device electrically coupled to the first receiver and adapted to generate at least a first predetermined alert responsive to receiving the at least the first predetermined electrical alert attention signal;
and
a first waterproof receiver housing adapted to carry at least one of the first receiving element, the first receiver and the at least the first alert device;
wherein the first mask is adapted to carry at least the at least the first alert device of the first receiver assembly in a way that permits the at least the first predetermined alert to gain the attention of the second diver when the first mask is worn on the second diver's head.

11 more elements

An underwater alert system comprising:

a first transmitter assembly, adapted to be carried by a first diver, including:
at least a first alert switch adapted to generate at least a first electrical alert actuation signal responsive to the at least the first alert switch being actuated, wherein the at least the first alert switch further comprises:
at least a first pushbutton switch adapted to generate the at least the first electrical alert actuation signal responsive to the at least the first pushbutton switch being manually actuated by the first diver;
a first transmitter electrically coupled to the at least the first alert switch and adapted to generate at least a first predetermined electrical transmit signal responsive to receiving the at least the first electrical alert actuation signal, respectively;
a first transmitting element electrically coupled to the first transmitter and adapted to generate at least a first predetermined wireless signal responsive to receiving the at least the first predetermined electrical transmit signal, respectively;
a first power supply adapted to provide a first supply of electrical power;
a first power switch adapted to electrically couple the first supply of electrical power to at least one of the at least the first alert switch, the first transmitter and the first transmitting element responsive to the first power switch being actuated;
and
a first waterproof transmitter housing adapted to carry at least one of the at least the first alert switch, the first transmitter, the first transmitting element, the first power supply and the first power switch;
and
a first receiver assembly, adapted to be carried by a second diver having a first mask adapted to be worn on the second diver's head, including:
a first receiving element adapted to generate at least a first electrical receive signal responsive to receiving the at least the first predetermined wireless signal, respectively;
a first receiver electrically coupled to the first receiving element and adapted to generate at least a first predetermined electrical alert attention signal responsive to receiving the at least the first electrical receive signal, respectively;
at least a first alert device electrically coupled to the first receiver and adapted to generate at least a first predetermined alert responsive to receiving the at least the first predetermined electrical alert attention signal, wherein the at least the first alert device further comprises:
a first visual alert device adapted to generate a first predetermined visual alert, as the at least the first predetermined alert, that the second diver can see when wearing the first mask, wherein the first visual alert device further comprises:
a first light source adapted to generate a first predetermined visible light signal, as the first predetermined visual alert;
a second power supply adapted to provide a second supply of electrical power;
a second power switch adapted to electrically couple the second supply of electrical power to at least one of the first receiving element, the first receiver and the at least the first alert device responsive to the second power switch being actuated;
and
a first waterproof receiver housing adapted to carry at least one of the first receiving element, the first receiver, the at least the first alert device, the second power supply and the second power switch;
wherein the first mask is adapted to carry at least the at least the first alert device of the first receiver assembly in a way that permits the at least the first predetermined alert to gain the attention of the second diver when the first mask is worn on the second diver's head;
and
a first attachment mechanism adapted to permit the first waterproof receiver housing to be mechanically coupled to the first mask.

20 more elements

An underwater alert system comprising:

a first transmitter assembly, adapted to be carried by a first diver, including:
at least a first alert switch adapted to generate at least a first electrical alert actuation signal responsive to the at least the first alert switch being actuated;
a first transmitter electrically coupled to the at least the first alert switch and adapted to generate at least a first predetermined electrical transmit signal responsive to receiving the at least the first electrical alert actuation signal, respectively;
a first transmitting element electrically coupled to the first transmitter and adapted to generate at least a first predetermined wireless signal responsive to receiving the at least the first predetermined electrical transmit signal, respectively;
a first waterproof transmitter housing adapted to carry at least one of the at least the first alert switch, the first transmitter and the first transmitting element;
a first receiver assembly, adapted to be carried by a second diver, including:
a first receiving element adapted to generate at least a first electrical receive signal responsive to receiving the at least the first predetermined wireless signal, respectively;
a first receiver electrically coupled to the first receiving element and adapted to generate at least a first predetermined electrical alert attention signal responsive to receiving the at least the first electrical receive signal, respectively;
at least a first alert device electrically coupled to the first receiver and adapted to generate at least a first predetermined alert responsive to receiving the at least the first predetermined electrical alert attention signal;
a first waterproof receiver housing adapted to carry at least one of the first receiving element, the first receiver and the at least the first alert device;
and
a first mask adapted to be worn on the second diver's head and adapted to carry at least the at least the first alert device of the first receiver assembly in a way that permits the at least the first predetermined alert to gain the attention of the second diver when the first mask is worn on the second diver's head, wherein the first waterproof receiver housing is integrally formed with the first mask.

9 more elements

In an underwater alert system including a first transmitter assembly adapted to be carried by a first diver and a first receiver assembly adapted to be carried by a second diver having a first mask adapted to be worn on the second diver's head, the first transmitter assembly comprising:

at least a first alert switch adapted to generate at least a first electrical alert actuation signal responsive to the at least the first alert switch being actuated;
a first transmitter electrically coupled to the at least the first alert switch and adapted to generate at least a first predetermined electrical transmit signal responsive to receiving the at least the first electrical alert actuation signal, respectively;
a first transmitting element electrically coupled to the first transmitter and adapted to generate at least a first predetermined wireless signal responsive to receiving the at least the first predetermined electrical transmit signal, respectively;
and
a first waterproof transmitter housing adapted to carry at least one of the at least the first alert switch, the first transmitter and the first transmitting element;
wherein the first receiver assembly includes:
a first receiving element adapted to generate at least a first electrical receive signal responsive to receiving the at least the first predetermined wireless signal, respectively;
a first receiver electrically coupled to the first receiving element and adapted to generate at least a first predetermined electrical alert attention signal responsive to receiving the at least the first electrical receive signal, respectively;
at least a first alert device electrically coupled to the first receiver and adapted to generate at least a first predetermined alert responsive to receiving the at least the first predetermined electrical alert attention signal;
and
a first waterproof receiver housing adapted to carry at least one of the first receiving element, the first receiver and the at least the first alert device;
wherein the first mask is adapted to carry at least the at least the first alert device of the first receiver assembly in a way that permits the at least the first predetermined alert to gain the attention of the second diver when the first mask is worn on the second diver's head.

9 more elements

a first receiving element adapted to generate at least a first electrical receive signal responsive to receiving at least a first predetermined wireless signal, respectively, generated by the first transmitter assembly;
a first receiver electrically coupled to the first receiving element and adapted to generate at least a first predetermined electrical alert attention signal responsive to receiving the at least the first electrical receive signal, respectively;
at least a first alert device electrically coupled to the first receiver and adapted to generate at least a first predetermined alert responsive to receiving the at least the first predetermined electrical alert attention signal;
and
a first waterproof receiver housing adapted to carry at least one of the first receiving element, the first receiver and the at least the first alert device,
wherein the first mask is adapted to carry at least the at least the first alert device of the first receiver assembly in a way that permits the at least the first predetermined alert to gain the attention of the second diver when the first mask is worn on the second diver's head.

3 more elements

An underwater alert system comprising:

means for providing a transmitter assembly, adapted to be carried by a first diver, including:
means for generating at least a first electrical alert actuation signal;
means for generating at least a first predetermined electrical transmit signal responsive to receiving the at least the first electrical alert actuation signal, respectively;
means for generating at least a first predetermined wireless signal responsive to receiving the at least the first predetermined electrical transmit signal, respectively;
and
means for carrying at least one of the means for generating the at least a first electrical alert actuation signal, the means for generating the at least the first predetermined electrical transmit signal, and the means for generating the at least the first predetermined wireless signal;
and
means for providing a receiver assembly, adapted to be carried by a second diver having an mask adapted to be worn on the second diver's head, including:
means for generating at least a first electrical receive signal responsive to receiving the at least the first predetermined wireless signal, respectively;
means for generating at least a first predetermined electrical alert attention signal responsive to receiving the at least the first electrical receive signal, respectively;
means for generating at least a first predetermined alert responsive to receiving the at least the first predetermined electrical alert attention signal;
and
means for carrying at least one of the means for generating the at least the first electrical receive signal, the means for generating the at least the first predetermined electrical alert attention signal, and the means for generating the at least the first predetermined alert;
wherein the first mask is adapted to carry at least the at least the means for generating the at least the first predetermined alert in a way that permits the at least the first predetermined alert to gain the attention of the second diver when the first mask is worn on the second diver's head.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Underwater alert system

Life of this patent

Underwater alert system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims78