Inter-diver signaling device and process

A method of communication between a first underwater signaling device worn by a first diver and a second underwater signaling device worn by a second diver, comprising the steps of:

• said first diver tapping a beam-interrupt button on said first underwater signaling device,
• said first underwater signaling device interpreting said tapping and sending out a first compression wave communication signal corresponding to said tapping,
• said second underwater signaling device receiving and interpreting said first compression wave communication signal, emitting an audible signal to said second diver corresponding to said tapping, and sending out a compression wave confirmation signal for said first underwater signaling device,
• said first underwater signaling device receiving and interpreting said compression wave confirmation signal, and flashing a confirmation light signal visible to said first diver signifying reception of said confirmation signal, and
• said first underwater signaling device determining a separation distance between said first underwater signaling device and said second underwater signaling device based on an intensity of said compression wave confirmation signal.

A method of communication between a first underwater signaling device worn by a first diver and a second underwater signaling device worn by a second diver, comprising the steps of:

• said first diver tapping a beam-interrupt button on said first underwater signaling device,
• said first underwater signaling device interpreting said tapping and sending out a first compression wave communication signal at an initial time corresponding to said tapping,
• said second underwater signaling device receiving and interpreting said first compression wave communication signal, flashing a reception light signal visible to said second diver corresponding to said tapping, and sending out a compression wave confirmation signal for said first underwater signaling device,
• said first underwater signaling device receiving at a final time and interpreting said compression wave confirmation signal, and flashing a confirmation light signal visible to said first diver signifying reception of said confirmation signal, and
• said first underwater signaling device determining a round-trip communication time being based on a round-trip elapsed time between said initial time and said final time.

A method of communication between a first underwater signaling device worn by a first diver and a second underwater signaling device worn by a second diver, comprising the steps of:

• said first diver tapping a beam-interrupt button on said first underwater signaling device,
• said first underwater signaling device interpreting said tapping and sending out a first compression wave communication signal corresponding to said tapping,
• said second underwater signaling device receiving and interpreting said first compression wave communication signal, producing an audible tone for said second diver corresponding to said tapping, and sending out a compression wave confirmation signal for said first underwater signaling device, and
• said first underwater signaling device receiving and interpreting said compression wave confirmation signal.

A method of communication between a first underwater signaling device worn by a first diver and a second underwater signaling device worn by a second diver, comprising the steps of:

• said first diver tapping a beam-interrupt button on said first underwater signaling device,
• said first underwater signaling device interpreting said tapping and sending out a first compression wave communication signal corresponding to said tapping,
• said second underwater signaling device receiving and interpreting said first compression wave communication signal, flashing a reception light signal visible to said second diver corresponding to said tapping, and sending out a compression wave confirmation signal for said first underwater signaling device,
• said first underwater signaling device receiving and interpreting said compression wave confirmation signal, and flashing a confirmation light signal visible to said first diver signifying reception of said confirmation signal,
• said first underwater signaling device sending out a first compression wave ranging signal at an initial time,
• said second underwater signaling device detecting said first ranging signal and sending out a return compression wave ranging signal, and
• said first underwater signaling device detecting said return ranging signal at a final time, a round-trip communication time being based on a round-trip elapsed time between said initial time and said final time.

A method of communication between a first underwater signaling device worn by a first diver and a second underwater signaling device worn by a second diver, comprising the steps of:

• said first underwater signaling device determining whether it is submerged by measuring a first impedance across first electrical leads exposed to the environment,
• said second underwater signaling device determining whether it is submerged by measuring a second impedance across second electrical leads exposed to the environment,
• while said first underwater signaling device is submerged, said first diver tapping a beam-interrupt button on said first underwater signaling device, said first underwater signaling device interpreting said tapping and sending out a first compression wave signal corresponding to said tapping,
• while said second underwater signaling device is submerged, said second underwater signaling device receiving and interpreting said first compression wave signal, flashing a reception light signal visible to said second diver corresponding to said tapping, and sending out a compression wave confirmation signal for said first underwater signaling device,
• while said first underwater signaling device is submerged, said first underwater signaling device receiving and interpreting said compression wave confirmation signal, and flashing a confirmation light signal visible to said first diver signifying reception of said confirmation signal,
• while said first underwater signaling device is not submerged, said first underwater signaling device flashing a power-level light signal indicating a level of charge of a first battery in said first underwater signaling device, and
• while said second underwater signaling device is not submerged, said second underwater signaling device flashing a power-level light signal indicating a level of charge of a second battery in said second underwater signaling device.

A method of communication between a first underwater signaling device worn by a first diver and companion underwater signaling devices worn by companion divers, comprising the steps of:

• said first diver tapping a beam-interrupt button on said first underwater signaling device,
• said first underwater signaling device interpreting said tapping and sending out a first compression wave signal corresponding to said tapping,
• said companion underwater signaling devices receiving and interpreting said first compression wave signal, flashing a first light signal corresponding to said tapping visible to said companion divers, and said companion underwater signaling devices sending out compression wave confirmation signals for said first underwater signaling device, and
• said first underwater signaling device receiving and interpreting said compression wave confirmation signals and flashing a second light signal visible to said first diver.

A method of communication between a first underwater signaling device worn by a first diver and a second underwater signaling device worn by a second diver, comprising the steps of:

• said first underwater signaling device determining whether it is submerged by measuring a first impedance across first electrical leads exposed to their environment,
• said second underwater signaling device determining whether it is submerged by measuring a second impedance across second electrical leads exposed to their environment,
• while said first and second underwater signaling devices are not submerged, said first underwater signaling device sending out a mating initiation signal,
• while said first and second underwater signaling devices are not submerged, said first underwater signaling device sending out a channel-specification signal which specifies a channel decode for subsequent communications between said first and second underwater signaling devices,
• while said first underwater signaling device is submerged, said first diver tapping a beam-interrupt button on said first underwater signaling device, said first underwater signaling device interpreting said tapping and sending out a first compression wave communication signal corresponding to said tapping,
• while said second underwater signaling device is submerged, said second underwater signaling device receiving and interpreting said first compression wave communication signal, flashing a reception light signal visible to said second diver corresponding to said tapping, and sending out a compression wave confirmation signal for said first underwater signaling device, and
• while said first underwater signaling device is submerged, said first underwater signaling device receiving and interpreting said compression wave confirmation signal, and flashing a confirmation light signal visible to said first diver signifying reception of said confirmation signal by said second underwater signaling device.

A method of communication between a first underwater signaling device worn by a first diver and a second underwater signaling device worn by a second diver over a first communication channel, and between a third underwater signaling device worn by a third diver and a fourth underwater signaling device worn by a fourth diver over a second communication channel, comprising the steps of:

• said first underwater signaling device determining whether it is submerged by measuring a first impedance across first electrical leads exposed to their environment,
• said second underwater signaling device determining whether it is submerged by measuring a second impedance across second electrical leads exposed to their environment,
• said third underwater signaling device determining whether it is submerged by measuring a third impedance across third electrical leads exposed to their environment,
• said fourth underwater signaling device determining whether it is submerged by measuring a fourth impedance across fourth electrical leads exposed to their environment,
• while said first and second underwater signaling devices are not submerged, said first underwater signaling device sending out a first mating initiation signal,
• while said first and second underwater signaling devices are not submerged, said first underwater signaling device sending out a first channel-specification signal which specifies a first channel decode for subsequent communications between said first and second underwater signaling devices over said first communication channel which utilizes said first channel decode,
• while said third and fourth underwater signaling devices are not submerged, said third underwater signaling device sending out a second mating initiation signal,
• while said third and fourth underwater signaling devices are not submerged, said third underwater signaling device sending out a second channel-specification signal which specifies a second channel decode for subsequent communications between said third and fourth underwater signaling devices over said second communication channel which utilizes said second channel decode,
• while said first, second, third and fourth underwater signaling devices are submerged, said first diver tapping a first beam-interrupt button on said first underwater signaling device, said first underwater signaling device interpreting said tapping and sending out a first compression wave communication signal over said first communication channel corresponding to said tapping,
• while said first, second, third and fourth underwater signaling devices are submerged, said second underwater signaling device receiving and interpreting said first compression wave communication signal, flashing a reception light signal visible to said second diver corresponding to said tapping, and sending out a first compression wave confirmation signal for said first underwater signaling device over said first communication channel, said first compression wave communication signal not being interpreted by said third and fourth underwater signaling devices,
• while said first, second, third and fourth underwater signaling devices are submerged, said first underwater signaling device receiving and interpreting said compression wave confirmation signal, and flashing a confirmation light signal visible to said first diver signifying reception of said confirmation signal by said second underwater signaling device, said compression wave confirmation signal not being interpreted by said third and fourth underwater signaling devices.