Granted Patent B2

US 8,600,701 · App. 12/878,517 · Granted Dec 3, 2013

Inventors: Robert Hollis (San Leandro, CA); Michael S. Hollis (San Leandro, CA); Jack Calvin Holman (San Leandro, CA)

Assignee: American Underwater Products, Inc.

Abstract

Claims (50)

1. A diving apparatus comprising:

a dive computer having a free dive mode;

wherein the dive computer is configured to calculate a nitrogen loading in the free dive mode using a default value which is the fraction of oxygen in air; and

wherein the free dive mode is used when a diver makes a dive without a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus.

2. The diving apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the dive computer is configured to compare a threshold with the calculated nitrogen loading.

3. The diving apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the dive computer is configured to activate an alarm based on the comparison of the threshold and the calculated nitrogen loading.

4. The diving apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the dive computer is configured to calculate the nitrogen loading in the free dive mode using the default value and a residual nitrogen loading.

5. The diving apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the residual nitrogen loading is a sum of nitrogen loading calculations made over a prior time period.

6. The dive apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the dive computer comprises:

a processor;

a pressure transducer connected to the processor;

a display connected to the processor; and

clock circuitry connected to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to determine time using the clock circuitry;

wherein the processor is configured to determine depth of submersion using the pressure transducer; and

wherein the processor is configured to provide depth and time information using the display.

7. The diving apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the dive computer is configured to calculate at least one of air time remaining, dive time remaining and desaturation time, the calculation based on the nitrogen loading.

8. The diving apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the dive computer is configured to allow the diver to perform a second dive that is treated as a repetitive dive following a dive without a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus after thirty seconds.

9. The diving apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the dive computer is configured to allow the diver to perform a second dive that is treated as a repetitive dive following a dive without a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus after one minute.

10. The diving apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the dive computer is configured to allow the diver to perform a second dive that is treated as a repetitive dive following a dive without a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus after two minutes.

11. The diving apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the dive computer is configured to allow the diver to perform a second dive that is treated as a repetitive dive following a dive without a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus after five minutes.

12. The diving apparatus of claim 1 :

wherein the dive computer has a normal dive mode;

wherein the dive computer is configured to calculate nitrogen loading in the normal dive mode accounting for use of a self-contained breathing apparatus; and

wherein the dive computer is configured to allow a dive in the free dive mode following a dive in the normal dive mode.

13. The diving apparatus of claim 1 :

wherein the dive computer has a normal dive mode;

wherein the dive computer is configured to calculate nitrogen loading in the normal dive mode accounting for use of a self-contained breathing apparatus; and

wherein the dive computer is configured to allow a dive in the normal dive mode following a dive in the free dive mode.

14. A method of operating a dive computer comprising:

accepting an input specifying one or more modes of operation using a dive computer, wherein the one or more modes of operation comprises a free dive mode, wherein the free dive mode is used when a diver makes a dive without a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus; and

calculating a nitrogen loading in the free dive mode using the fraction of oxygen in air and the dive computer.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the nitrogen loading calculation is a function of a residual nitrogen loading.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising comparing the calculated nitrogen loading to a threshold using the dive computer.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising activating an alarm based on the comparison of the calculated nitrogen loading to the threshold using the dive computer.

18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising using the calculated nitrogen loading to calculate air time remaining, dive time remaining and/or desaturation time using the dive computer.

19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

determining a time using a clock circuitry;

determining a depth of submersion using a pressure transducer; and

displaying the depth and time using the dive computer.

20. The method of claim 14 , further comprising allowing a diver to perform a second dive that is treated as a repetitive dive following a dive without a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus after thirty seconds using the dive computer.

21. The method of claim 14 , further comprising allowing a diver to perform a second dive that is treated as a repetitive dive following a dive without a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus after one minute using the dive computer.

22. The method of claim 14 , further comprising allowing a diver to perform a second dive that is treated as a repetitive dive following a dive without a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus after two minutes using the dive computer.

23. The method of claim 14 , further comprising allowing a diver to perform a second dive that is treated as a repetitive dive following a dive without a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus after five minutes using the dive computer.

24. The method of claim 14 , where the one or more modes further comprise a normal dive mode, the method further comprising:

calculating a nitrogen loading in the normal dive mode using the dive computer, the calculation accounting for use of a self-contained breathing apparatus; and

allowing a dive in the free dive mode following a dive in the normal dive mode using the dive computer.

25. The method of claim 14 , where the one or more modes further comprise a normal dive mode, the method further comprising:

calculating a nitrogen loading in the normal dive mode using the dive computer, the calculation accounting for use of a self-contained breathing apparatus; and

allowing a dive in the normal dive mode following a dive in the free dive mode using the dive computer.

Assignments (8)

Continuity (2)