US4563758A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Underwater communicator
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1982-09-29
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Granted: 1986-01-07
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Expires: 2002-09-29
Abstract
Abstract An underwater communicator device (10) is disclosed which permits acoustic communication with another diver by use of a voice synthesizer (42) cooperating with an acoustic transducer (40). A display (34A) is also provided to visually communicate the message. The keyboard (18) of the device (10) permits the diver to communicate stored messages by activating a single key 54 or to enter a complete arbitrary message by keying in the actual message. In other forms, the device (10) can include an air pressure transducer (60) for monitoring air tank pressure with a warning of low pressure. A depth pressure transducer (64) can be incorporated into the device (10) to monitor the depth of the device and diver. A bottom timer can be incorporated within the device for measuring the time of the depth. These functions can be continuously displayed to the diver on display screen 34B. The microprocessor (46) within the device (10) can be provided with a mathematical representation of a dive table to calculate the decomposition needs of the diver based on the depth and bottom time measured.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles J. Paternostro
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 15:33
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B11/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
An apparatus for underwater communication between divers, comprising: a waterproof case for carrying by a diver; a keyboard mounted on said case for entry of a message to be communicated by the diver; a speech synthesizer within said case for acoustically transmitting the message to be communicated to another diver, the transmitted message being aurally comprehensible to the other diver; and a visual display mounted in said case for visual display of the message to be communicated.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
77 words
An apparatus for underwater communication between divers, comprising: a waterproof case for carrying by a diver; a keyboard mounted on said case for entry of a message to be communicated by the diver; a speech synthesizer within said case for acoustically transmitting the message to be communicated to another diver, the transmitted message being aurally comprehensible to the other diver; and a visual display mounted in said case for visual display of the message to be communicated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus includes a memory means for storing a predetermined message in operable communication with said keyboard so that the diver can cause the predetermined message to be communicated by a single key command entered into the keyboard.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising pressure sensor means for sensing the air pressure in the air tank of the diver and warning means for acoustically warning the diver when the air pressure in the tank decreases below a predetermined level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising depth pressure sensing means for sensing the pressure in the water around the apparatus and displaying the depth on the visual display.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising timer means for timing the bottom time of the diver and displaying the elapsed time on the visual display.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for generating a tone activatable by a key on the keyboard for underwater communication to another diver.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: timer means for measuring the time elapsed from the beginning of a dive; depth sensing means for sensing the depth of the apparatus within the water; and means for calculating the decompression stops for the diver based on the elapsed time measured by said timer means and depth measured by said depth sensing means and displaying the calculated decompression stops on the visual display.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
197 words
An apparatus for underwater communication between divers, comprising: a waterproof case for carrying by a diver; a keyboard mounted on said case and having keys thereon, said keyboard including an alpha numeric key group, an emergency key group, and a memory key group, the keys for entry by the diver of a message to be communicated to another diver; a speech synthesizer within said case for producing an analog signal representing the message entered by the diver on the keyboard; an acoustic transducer for transforming the analog signal from the speech synthesizer to acoustic energy for communication to the other diver, the communicated message being aurally comprehensible to the other diver; a visual display mounted in said case for visual display of the message entered by the diver; and microprocessor control means for responding to key input by the diver on the keyboard and controlling the speech synthesizer and visual display to communicate the message entered to the other diver, the alpha numeric group of keys permitting entry of an arbitrary message for communication, the emergency key group being for communication of an emergency message by activating a single key on the keyboard to communicate the message.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
197 words
An apparatus for underwater communication between divers, comprising: a waterproof case for carrying by a diver; a keyboard mounted on said case and having keys thereon, said keyboard including an alpha numeric key group, an emergency key group, and a memory key group, the keys for entry by the diver of a message to be communicated to another diver; a speech synthesizer within said case for producing an analog signal representing the message entered by the diver on the keyboard; an acoustic transducer for transforming the analog signal from the speech synthesizer to acoustic energy for communication to the other diver, the communicated message being aurally comprehensible to the other diver; a visual display mounted in said case for visual display of the message entered by the diver; and microprocessor control means for responding to key input by the diver on the keyboard and controlling the speech synthesizer and visual display to communicate the message entered to the other diver, the alpha numeric group of keys permitting entry of an arbitrary message for communication, the emergency key group being for communication of an emergency message by activating a single key on the keyboard to communicate the message.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said apparatus further comprises a pressure transducer for measuring the pressure in the air tank of the diver, said microprocessor control means processing the information from the pressure transducer to display the instantaneous air pressure on the visual display, said microprocessor control means activating an acoustic alarm transmitted by the acoustic transducer when the air pressure falls below a predetermined level.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said apparatus further comprises a water pressure transducer for sensing the pressure of the water about the apparatus, said microprocessor control means for causing the depth to be displayed on said visual display.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said keyboard further comprises a tone key, said microprocessor control means reacting to activation of said tone key to cause generation of a tone by the acoustic transducer for communication to another diver.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
91 words
The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising: timer means for measuring the elapsed time of the dive, the elapsed time being stored in a memory contained in said microprocessor control means; depth measurement means for measuring the depth of the apparatus, the memory in the microprocessor control means recording the depth as a function of time from the beginning of the dive; and said microprocessor control means calculating the decompression necessary by the diver as an instantaneous function of the elapsed time and depth of the dive recorded in the memory.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
190 words
An apparatus for underwater communication between divers, comprising: a waterproof case for carrying by a diver; a keyboard mounted on said case for entry by the diver of a message to be communicated, the keyboard including keys organized in an alpha numeric key group, a shift key group for selecting particular alpha numeric characters in the alpha numeric key group, an emergency key group, and a memory key group; microprocessor control means including a memory for converting key action from the keyboard into electronic signals representing the message to be communicated; a speech synthesizer within said case for converting the signal from said microprocessor control means to an analog electric signal representing an acoustic message; an acoustic transducer mounted on the case for acoustically transmitting the message to another diver, the analog electrical signals from the speech synthesizer being transduced within the acoustic transducer to acoustic energy, the transmitted message being aurally comprehensible to the other diver; and a visual display mounted on said case for visual display of the message entered, the message being visually displayed before acoustic transmittal to permit diver confirmation of the message to be communicated.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
190 words
An apparatus for underwater communication between divers, comprising: a waterproof case for carrying by a diver; a keyboard mounted on said case for entry by the diver of a message to be communicated, the keyboard including keys organized in an alpha numeric key group, a shift key group for selecting particular alpha numeric characters in the alpha numeric key group, an emergency key group, and a memory key group; microprocessor control means including a memory for converting key action from the keyboard into electronic signals representing the message to be communicated; a speech synthesizer within said case for converting the signal from said microprocessor control means to an analog electric signal representing an acoustic message; an acoustic transducer mounted on the case for acoustically transmitting the message to another diver, the analog electrical signals from the speech synthesizer being transduced within the acoustic transducer to acoustic energy, the transmitted message being aurally comprehensible to the other diver; and a visual display mounted on said case for visual display of the message entered, the message being visually displayed before acoustic transmittal to permit diver confirmation of the message to be communicated.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the diver can input a message to the memory of said microprocessor control means by keyboard action, said message being communicated by activating a single key in the memory key group on the keyboard, the speech synthesizer permitting the message to be transmitted acoustically.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein activation of an emergency key in the emergency key group communicates an emergency message on a continuous basis by activation of the single emergency key.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said keyboard further includes a tone key for generating an acoustic tone with the acoustic transducer, selective activation of the key permitting transmittal of a message.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 13 further including: a water depth pressure transducer mounted on said case for measuring the water pressure, said microprocessor control means converting the signal from the transducer to a visual indication of water depth on the visual display.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 13 further including: an air pressure transducer mounted on the air tank of the diver in electrical communication with the microprocessor control means in said case, said microprocessor control means converting the signal from the transducer to a visual readout of air pressure on the visual display.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said microprocessor control means energizes the acoustic transducer to signal an emergency signal when the air pressure measured decreases below a predetermined limit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 13 further including: a depth pressure transducer for measuring the water pressure; a timer for timing the elapsed time from an initial event; and said microprocessor control means for processing the information from the timer and depth pressure transducer to determine the decompression requirements of the diver.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-01-06 | 1989-07-08 | 1990-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-01-06 | 1993-07-08 | 1994-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-01-06 | 1997-07-08 | 1998-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |