Systems and Methods for Tracking Diver Location

Abstract

Systems and methods for tracking diver location in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a dive computer includes a processor, a pressure transducer connected to the processor, and clock circuitry connected to the processor, wherein the processor obtains water speed information using a flow measurement device that measures water speed when below water, measures a first piece of position information using a global position system receiver (GPS) that generates position information, generates depth and time information using the pressure transducer and the clock circuitry when the dive computer is below water, combines the first piece of position information, depth information, water speed information, and time information into a dive log, stores the dive log using a memory, and estimates a position of a diver using the first piece of position information, time, depth, and water speed information from the dive log when submerged.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dive computer, comprising:
 a processor;   a pressure transducer connected to the processor; and   clock circuitry connected to the processor;   wherein the processor:
 obtains water speed information using a flow measurement device that measures water speed when below water; 
 measures a first piece of position information using a global position system receiver (GPS) that generates position information; 
 generates depth and time information using the pressure transducer and the clock circuitry when the dive computer is below water; 
 combines the first piece of position information, depth information, water speed information, and time information into a dive log; 
 stores the dive log using a memory; and 
 estimates a position of a diver using the first piece of position information, time, depth, and water speed information from the dive log when the dive computer is submerged. 
   
     
     
         2 . The dive computer of  claim 1 , wherein the dive computer further comprises the flow measurement device. 
     
     
         3 . The dive computer of  claim 1 , wherein the flow measurement device is located on the body of the diver and is connected to the dive computer. 
     
     
         4 . The dive computer of  claim 3 , wherein the flow measurement device is connected to the dive computer using a wireless connection. 
     
     
         5 . The dive computer of  claim 1 , wherein the dive computer further comprises the GPS receiver. 
     
     
         6 . The dive computer of  claim 1 , wherein the GPS receiver is located on the body of the diver and is connected to the dive computer. 
     
     
         7 . The dive computer of  claim 1 , wherein the GPS receiver obtains the first piece of position information when the dive computer is above water. 
     
     
         8 . The dive computer of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the GPS receiver is connected to a buoy above water;   the buoy comprises an antenna; and   the GPS receiver obtains position information using the antenna.   
     
     
         9 . The dive computer of  claim 8 , wherein the GPS receiver obtains position information when the dive computer is below water. 
     
     
         10 . The dive computer of  claim 1 , wherein the processor calculates the amount of time a diver can remain at a particular depth without the need for decompression stops. 
     
     
         11 . The dive computer of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the dive computer further comprises a temperature sensor; and   the processor determines water temperature using the temperature sensor.   
     
     
         12 . The dive computer of  claim 1 , wherein the processor calculates when a diver can safely board an airplane based on the dive log. 
     
     
         13 . The dive computer of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the memory comprises a plurality of memory units; and   at least one of the plurality of memory units is removable from the dive computer.   
     
     
         14 . The dive computer of  claim 1  wherein:
 the processor measures a second piece of position information using the GPS receiver after the dive computer is above water after being below water; and 
 the processor estimates a position of a diver using the combined time, depth, and position information from the dive log using the second piece of position information. 
 
     
     
         15 . The dive computer of  claim 14 , wherein the second piece of position information is included in the dive log. 
     
     
         16 . The dive computer of  claim 1 , wherein the processor further:
 determines a straight line distance between the start point of the dive and the position of the diver; and   calculates a speed of the dive computer based on the time information in the dive log and the determined straight line distance.   
     
     
         17 . The dive computer of  claim 1 , wherein the flow measurement device is connected to an air tank. 
     
     
         18 . The dive computer of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the dive computer further comprises a compass that determines the direction that the compass is moving; and   the processor obtains direction information from the compass.   
     
     
         19 . The dive computer of  claim 18 , wherein the processor combines the direction information into the dive log. 
     
     
         20 . The dive computer of  claim 1 , wherein the dive computer can be worn on the wrist of the diver.