GB2323253A - Underwater communication systems - Google Patents

Abstract

A communication system suitable for use by divers, comprises: a source of breathable gas 10, one or more flow passages leading from the source 20, 22, at least one regulator 24, 26 connected to a flow passage to supply breathable gas to a user, a transceiver 32 adapted to transmit and receive signals, at least one microphone connected to the transceiver and disposed within at least one of the regulators and at least one earpiece 40, 42 connected to the transceiver. The microphone, which may be located in the mouthpiece 24, 26, detects sounds enunciated by the user. Radio frequency signals are preferred for communication between transceivers. The transceiver may be located within the enclosure of a pressure gauge 18 associated with the source of gas.

Description

UNDERWATER COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS The present invention relates to a communication system for use underwater. It is intended to allow divers to communicate with each other and with a boat on the surface.

To date, divers have been required to communicate using hand signals oniy. Whiist a range of hand signals have evolved to communicate many of the more important messages that need to be passed between divers, this system is inevitably inflexible and is of no use whatsoever if one diver is not looking in the direction of the other. Such systems are also ineffective if the divers are out of visual range or if there is no clear view between the divers.

The present invention therefore provides a personal communication system for underwater use, comprising a source of breathable gas, one or more flow passages leading from the source, a regulator connected to a flow passage thereby to supply breathable gas to a user, a transceiver adapted to transmit and receive signals, a microphone connected to the transceiver and disposed within the regulator so as to detect sounds enunciated by the user, and an earpiece connected to the transceiver.

Thus, the present invention allows an integrated package to be constructed which will allow a diver to operate unencumbered by bulky apparatus.

It has been found that RF signals will propagate adequately under water, provided that the frequency chosen is suitably low with regard to the distance over which the signals are intended to be transmitted. Normally, divers working within a single group are not more than a few hundred metres apart and therefore it is not necessary to select ultra low frequencies which might be unsuitable for voice transmission.

Alternatively, other means for transmitting signals could be employed.

In that case, the transceiver is preferably an appropriate transducer effective to receive such signals. An example of an alternative form of signal is a pressure wave.

Preferably, there are at least two flow passages each of which leads to one of a pair of regulators each of which contains a microphone.

More preferably, a further flow passage is provided leading to a pressure gauge substantially within an enclosure, the enclosure containing the transceiver.

in a further preferred form, a further flow passage leads to a valve connectable to a buoyancy jacket, with an aerial or suitable transducer for the transceiver being disposed along the length of that flow passage. Thus, an RF aerial is tidy and unlikely to snag. The aerial can instead be made extremely flexible and allowed to trail behind the user.

Ideally, the power feed and signal cables for the device will be entirely alongside flow passages. One or more of the conductors for the aforementioned can be in the form of a braided sheath around a flow passage. Clearly, if more than one braided sheath is provided then a form of insulating material will be required between each layer of braiding.

The microphones provided are preferably voice activated microphones which place the transceiver in "transmit" mode whilst the diver is speaking and return to "receive" mode when the diver is not speaking.

The regulator as defined above can be either a mouthpiece, a face mask with a demand valve, or a bubble with demand valve.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying Figure which is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the present invention.

In the attached sole Figure 1, a compressed air cylinder 10 is a source of breathable gas. The cylinder 10 has a high pressure outlet 12 onto which is fixed a first stage regulator 14. The first stage regulator 1 4 delivers air at cylinder pressure to a flow passage 16 leading to a pressure gauge 18. The pressure gauge 18 has two read-outs, one showing the pressure of air in the cylinder (and hence the diving time remaining), and the second showing the external water pressure, i.e. the current depth.

The first stage regulator also delivers air at a reduced pressure to a pair of flow passages 20, 22 which each deliver air to a second stage regulator 24, 26 respectively. These second stage regulators are adapted to deliver air at a suitable pressure for breathing and, in this embodiment, comprise a suitable mouthpiece.

A third flow passage 28 delivers air at reduced pressure to a valve 30.

The valve 30 is connectable to a buoyancy jacket and can be used to inflate or deflate the jacket (not shown).

An RF transceiver 32 is formed integrally with the pressure gauge 18 and contains a low frequency RF transmitter/receiver, together with a rechargeable power pack therefor. An aerial, microphone and earpiece cable each emanate from the pressure gauge 1 8/RF transceiver 32 and are attached to the flow passage 16. At the first stage regulator 14, the aerial 34 is attached lightly to the flow passage 28 whilst the earpiece and microphone cables are duplicated and each continue on each of the flow passages 20, 22.

The microphone cables continue along the flow passage 20/22 until the mouthpiece 24/26, where they are connected to a microphone within the mouthpiece. The earpiece cables 36, 38 eventually separate from the flow passages 20, 22 respectively and lead to an earpiece 40, 42 respectively which are free floating with respect to the mouthpieces 24, 26.

A diver carrying the equipment will place the primary mouthpiece 24 in his or her mouth and the associated earpiece 40 in his or her ear. The microphone is voice activated and hence as the diver speaks the RF transceiver 32 switches to transmit mode and transmits via the aerial 24 an RF signal corresponding to the diver's speech.

It is normal for the spare mouthpiece 26 to dangle behind the diver or be clipped to the buoyancy jacket and hence there is no difficulty in the spare earpiece 42 also doing so.

In a variation of the above embodiment, the earpiece cables 38, 40 are not attached to the flow passages 22, 20 but emanate from the regulator 14. They are thus free to float behind the diver concerned, releasing more slack.

In a further modification, the aerial 34 extends along all the flow passages, thus extending its effective length. It may also be folded, further increasing its length.

It will of course be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many variations can be made to the above described embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The RF transceiver 32 can of course be replaced with a transceiver appropriate to another form of underwater signal transmission, e.g. a pressure wave. In that case, the transducer is a more compact item than the aerial 34 and can be incorporated into the casing of the transceiver 32.

Claims (11)

1. A personal communication system for underwater use, comprising a source of breathable gas, one or more flow passages leading from the source, a regulator connected to a flow passage thereby to supply breathable gas to a user, a transceiver adapted to transmit and receive signals, a microphone connected to the transceiver and disposed within the regulator so as to detect sounds enunciated by the user, and an earpiece connected to the transceiver.

2. A personal communication system according to Claim 1 wherein the transceiver is a radio frequency transceiver adapted to transmit and receive radio frequency signals.

3. A personal communication system according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein there are at least two flow passages each of which leads to one of a pair of regulators each of which contains a microphone.

4. A personal communication system according to any preceding Claim wherein a further flow passage is provided leading to a pressure gauge substantially within an enclosure, the enclosure containing the transceiver.

5. A personal communication system according to any preceding Claim incorporating a second further flow passage leading to a valve connectable to a buoyancy jacket, and an aerial or appropriate transducer for the transceiver being disposed along the length of that flow passage.

6. A personal communication system according to any one of Claims 2 to 4 incorporating an aerial for the RF transceiver, the aerial being flexible and adapted in use to trail behind a user.

7. A personal communication system according to any preceding Claim including power feed and signal cables which are entirely alongside flow passages.

8. A personal communication system according to Claim 7 in which one or more conductors are in the form of a braided sheath around a flow passage.

9. A personal communication system according to any preceding Claim wherein the or each microphone is voice activated, thereby to place a transceiver in "transmit" mode whilst the diver is speaking and return to "receive" mode when the diver is not speaking.

10. A personal communication system according to any preceding Claim wherein the regulator is one of a mouthpiece, a face mask with a demand valve or a bubble with demand valve.

11. A personal communication system for underwater use substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying Figure.