US5077703A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Underwater guidance system
Assignee: D'APPLICATION DES FERRITES MUSORB SA Ste
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Filing: 1991-01-08
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Granted: 1991-12-31
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Expires: 2011-01-08
Abstract
Abstract An underwater guidance system includes a transmitter located at a home base and generating a signal having a prescribed frequency. A diver wears a receiver on his wrist. The receiver includes a plurality of direction indicating elements and an out-of-range indicating element. The diver views the receiver to determine his position relative to the transmitter.
Inventors
- 👤 David Strauss
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 23:45
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/02; G01S3/04; G01S3/046; G01S3/14; G01S3/28; G01S3/30; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S367/00; Y10S367/91
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
292 words
An underwater guidance system comprising: (A) a transmitter unit which includes a circuit means which generates a guidance signal; (B) a receiver unit which includes (1) a wrist strap for attaching said receiver unit to a diver's wrist, (2) a watertight housing having a face, (3) a plurality of position indicating elements mounted on said face, each position indicating element including a green LED and a red LED, (4) a plurality of direction-finding antennas mounted in said housing at spaced apart locations about said housing, each direction-finding antenna including a loop and generating a signal that varies in strength according to an angle between said loop and said guidance signal, each of said plurality of direction-finding antennas being associated with one of said plurality of position indicating elements, (5) a signal-to-voltage converter mounted in said housing and connected to each direction-finding antenna and having an output voltage associated therewith when said each direction-finding antenna generates an antenna signal above a preset strength level, (6) a dual limit comparator connected to said signal-to-voltage converter and generating a positive voltage output when said signal-to-voltage converter output voltage exceeds a predetermined value, (7) an out-of-range indicator element mounted on said face and connected to said dual limit comparator and being activated when said dual limit comparator output voltage is positive, (8) an undervoltage/overvoltage comparator associated with each position indicating element, each undervoltage/overvoltage comparator being mounted in said housing, each undervoltage/ overvoltage comparator being connected to said signal-to-voltage converter and to said each position indicating element and activating said each position indicating element green LED if said signal-to-voltage converter output voltage is above a preset value and activating said each position indicating element red LED if said signal-to-voltage converter output voltage is below said preset value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
292 words
An underwater guidance system comprising: (A) a transmitter unit which includes a circuit means which generates a guidance signal; (B) a receiver unit which includes (1) a wrist strap for attaching said receiver unit to a diver's wrist, (2) a watertight housing having a face, (3) a plurality of position indicating elements mounted on said face, each position indicating element including a green LED and a red LED, (4) a plurality of direction-finding antennas mounted in said housing at spaced apart locations about said housing, each direction-finding antenna including a loop and generating a signal that varies in strength according to an angle between said loop and said guidance signal, each of said plurality of direction-finding antennas being associated with one of said plurality of position indicating elements, (5) a signal-to-voltage converter mounted in said housing and connected to each direction-finding antenna and having an output voltage associated therewith when said each direction-finding antenna generates an antenna signal above a preset strength level, (6) a dual limit comparator connected to said signal-to-voltage converter and generating a positive voltage output when said signal-to-voltage converter output voltage exceeds a predetermined value, (7) an out-of-range indicator element mounted on said face and connected to said dual limit comparator and being activated when said dual limit comparator output voltage is positive, (8) an undervoltage/overvoltage comparator associated with each position indicating element, each undervoltage/overvoltage comparator being mounted in said housing, each undervoltage/ overvoltage comparator being connected to said signal-to-voltage converter and to said each position indicating element and activating said each position indicating element green LED if said signal-to-voltage converter output voltage is above a preset value and activating said each position indicating element red LED if said signal-to-voltage converter output voltage is below said preset value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The guidance system defined in claim 1 further including a sense antenna connected to said direction-finding antenna.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The guidance system defined in claim 2 wherein said out-of-range indicator element further including a visible alarm element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The guidance system defined in claim 3 wherein said out-of-range indicator element further including an audible alarm element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The guidance system defined in claim 4 wherein each of said position indicator elements further includes an arrow element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The guidance system defined in claim 5 wherein said signal-to-voltage converter element includes a monostable multivibrator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The guidance system defined in claim 6 wherein said signal-to-voltage converter element includes a comparator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The guidance system defined in claim 5 wherein said signal-to-voltage converter element includes an amplifier that acts as a dc filter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The guidance system defined in claim 8 wherein said dual limit comparator includes a plurality of resistors, and the positive output is determined by a ratio between two of said resistors.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The guidance system defined in claim 9 wherein said undervoltage/overvoltage comparator includes two zener diodes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2962697A
Cited
US3587038A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-12-30 | 1995-07-01 | 1995-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-12-30 | 1999-07-01 | 1999-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-12-30 | 2003-07-01 | 2003-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |