Fishing pole accessory
A fish detection accessory to be installed on the end of a fishing pole or which alternately can be incorporated into a fishing pole during manufacture of the pole. The unit employs a miniature dual axis accelerometer integrated circuit that can detect angular rotation of the unit relative to the earth's surface, allowing the unit to detect a fish bite based on vibration method, i.e. rotation of the pole per unit time, or on a rotation method, i.e. rotation of the pole independent of time. Bite detection sensitivity levels and alarm methods can be selected by the user using the power switch and two setting switches. The unit can also be used as a mini flashlight.
1. A fishing pole accessory for use with a fishing pole, the accessory comprising:
a dual axis accelerometer integrated circuit detecting vibrations of the accessory and rotational angle of the accessory relative to a surface of the earth;
a user input device;
an alarm device; and
a microcontroller in data communication with the accelerometer, the user input device, and the alarm device; the microcontroller having programming that:
(a) computes tilt of the accessory independent of time using data from the accelerometer;
(b) computes tilt of the accessory per unit time using data from the accelerometer;
(c) activates the alarm device when a computed time-independent tilt value determined by the micrcontroller exceeds a selected time-independent tilt value input through the user input device; and
(d) activates the alarm device when a computed time-dependent tilt value determined by the microcontroller exceeds a selected time-dependent tilt value input through the user input device.
2. The fishing pole accessory of claim 1 , wherein:
the alarm device comprises an audible alarm and a visual alarm; and
the microcontroller programming uses data input through the user input device to select between:
(a) activating the audible alarm and not activating the visual alarm;
(b) activating the visual alarm and not activating the audible alarm; and
(c) activating both the audible alarm and the visual alarm.
3. The fishing pole accessory of claim 1 , further comprising a port in data communication with the microcontroller to allow the microcontroller to communicate with an external device.