RU125350U1 - HYDROACOUSTIC STATION DIVER - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to the management and safety of diving amateur divers (divers). Control of the diver and control of its location is carried out from the providing vessel. A diver receives commands and other signals using the proposed device, the device automatically emits signals that are received by the ship-provider, the diver determines the direction to the provider using the device. If necessary, the diver can give alarms (including the type of Morse code). The device consists of analog and digital equipment and is part of the diver equipment. The device can operate in the following modes: - mode of receiving and listening to voice messages and control commands from the provisioning vessel; - the mode of manual issuance of a receipt for receiving speech commands; - the mode of the beacon-answering machine (automatic, without the participation of the diver); - navigation mode (with the definition of the movement to the support vessel); - alarm mode. The modes of voice commands, beacon-answering machine and navigation function together and simultaneously. The utility model can be used not only by divers, but also when performing underwater-technical work by professional divers, when full face masks are not used and it can be limited only to sending messages (commands) to the diver. Technical results of the use of the proposed device: - the ability to determine the direction to the ship-provider on the signals sent by the provider, as well as the definition of the movement side (back and forth) in the direction to the provider; - ensuring the automatic issuance by the diver’s beacon of response signals to the requests of the providing vessel, which allows the diver’s trajectory to be constructed; - implementation of the manual sending of alarms.

Description

The utility model relates to the equipment of a diver and can be used as part of communications, management and control when diving amateur scuba divers, as well as professional divers.

In accordance with regulatory documents, when divers are professional or amateur divers (in the domestic literature, amateur divers are called divers), to ensure their safety, monitoring and control should be carried out from a supporting vessel equipped with appropriate communication equipment with divers. When a diver is in the aquatic environment at distances of tens and hundreds of meters from the supporting vessel, the only means of communication between them is the communication through the hydroacoustic channel.

For divers, who in many cases do not have the same diving experience as professional divers, safety concerns are particularly relevant. It should be borne in mind that the diver’s equipment usually does not include full-face masks, like professional divers, but cheaper half-masks with a mouthpiece [1], which, in practice, does not allow the diver to send voice messages to the providing vessel.

The tasks of safety of dives are solved in the presence of technical means of communication, providing:

- Reception by the diver of voice control commands from the supply vessel;

- control on the vessel providing the diver’s location by beacon signals present in the diver’s equipment;

- the possibility of spatial orientation of the diver when returning to the vessel-provider;

- the possibility of transfer by the diver to the vessel providing the alarm.

Known methods and devices that partially solve these problems, mainly for professional divers.

In the patent [2] proposed alarm transceiver, which makes it impossible to transmit control signals to the diver. In the patent [3] LCD moshpor is introduced into the diver's headset, but there is no possibility of direction finding of the security vessel and transmission of an alarm signal to it. According to the patent [5], it is proposed to use optical hydroacoustic receivers, which in principle cannot operate in the radiation mode. The utility model certificate [7] and the patent [4] deal only with direction finding devices, but there are no other means of communication between the diver and the provider through the hydroacoustic channel. In accordance with the certificate for a utility model [6], a telephone connection can be made between the diver and the provider, but for this, the diver’s headset must include a full-face mask.

Each of the proposed devices [2-7] provides only a partial solution to the problems of security and communication when diving divers.

Closest to the proposed device, the technical solution for technical and functional characteristics is the Receiver Transmitting Station of a Hydroacoustic Telephone Communication of a Diver, according to a utility model certificate [6]. This technical solution is taken as a prototype.

The prototype device consists of a receiving-emitting antenna, which, through a switch, receives / transmits in reception mode to a pre-amplifier and a headset, and in emission mode - to a power amplifier. The device prototype also has a telephone amplifier and two generators. The prototype device allows the diver to receive and transmit speech information through the sonar channel.

The device prototype [6] has several disadvantages:

- the device does not provide its own navigation diver, which requires two acoustic antennas [4, 7]; if it is necessary to move in any direction, including to the providing vessel, the diver may be guided only by commands from the providing vessel, which, in turn, must receive voice messages from the diver and adjust its movement;

- in the device prototype there is no means of automatically transmitting information to the vessel providing the position of the diver, which reduces the safety of the dive with such a device.

The technical results of the proposed device are:

- the ability to determine the direction to the ship-provider on the signals sent by the provider, as well as the definition of the direction of movement (back and forth) in the direction to the provider;

- ensuring the automatic issuance by the diver’s beacon of response signals to the requests of the providing vessel, which allows the diver’s trajectory to be constructed;

- implementation of the manual sending of alarms.

To achieve the claimed technical result in hydroacoustic station diver, containing the first receiving-emitting sonar antenna (A1) connected to the input / output of the first switch receiving / transmitting (KPP1), the output of which is connected to the input of the first pre-amplifier (PU1), power amplifier ( UM), whose input is connected to the output of the first generator (G1), and the output to the input of the KPP1, as well as the second generator (G2), telephone amplifier (TU), first head phone (T1) and power supply unit, introduced new features:

additionally introduced

- the second receiving-emitting hydroacoustic antenna (A2), while the antennas A1 and A2 are placed symmetrically - right and left relative to the diver's head, and each of them forms a radiation pattern in one hemisphere - right and left relative to the diver's head;

- the second switch reception / transmission (KPP2), pre-amplifier (PU2), head phone (T2), the input / output of KPP2 is connected to the input A2, the output of KPP2 - to the input of PU2, and the first input of the KPP2 - with the output of the MIND;

- the first, second and third adders (C1, C2, C3), the first input C1 is connected to the first output PU1, the second input C1 is connected to the first output PU2, the output C2 is connected to the input T1, the output C3 to the input T2, and the first inputs C2 and C3 are connected to the output of the technical conditions;

- the first and second keys (K1, K2), with the first inputs K1 and K2 connected to the output G2, the output K1 connected to the second input C2, the output K2 to the second input C3;

- control button (CU), the first output of which is connected to the first input of G1, and the second output - to the third inputs of KPP1 and KPP2;

- a processing and control unit (BOU) containing a signal decoder (D), a signal level meter (IUS), first and second filters (F1, F2), an automatic channel selection module (AVK), first and second threshold circuits (PS1, PS2 ) scheme "OR" (OR).

At the same time, the output C1 through the IUS is serially connected to the first input G2, the second input of which is connected to the output OR; the second output PU1 is connected to the input F1, the second output PU2 is connected to the input F2, the first outputs F1 and F2 are connected to the first and second AVK inputs, respectively, the first AVK output is connected to the second input K1, and the second AVK output to the second input K2; the second output F1 through PS1 is connected to the first input of the OR circuit, the second output F2 is connected via PS2 to the second input of the OR circuit; output C1 is additionally connected to the first input of the DUT and input D, and output D is connected to the first input of D1 and the second inputs of KPP1 and KPP2, and output G1 is additionally connected to the second input of DUT.

The introduction of new blocks and links provides the stated technical results.

The essence of the utility model is illustrated by figure 1, which presents a generalized functional of the claimed device.

The proposed device consists of well-known analogue hardware-software (digital) means of operation. The analogue includes receiving-emitting acoustic antennas 1 and 9 (A1, A2 are shown in figure 1), power amplifier 4 (PA), headphones 8 and 12 (T1, T2), control button 27 (CU). Blocks and modules related to digital tools include the composition of the processing and control unit 18 (BOU); BOU includes a telephone amplifier 5 (TU), a decoder 19 (D), a signal level meter 20 (IUS), filters 21 and 22 (F1, F2), an automatic channel selection module 23 (AVK), threshold circuits 24 and 25 ( PS1, PS2), the scheme "OR" 26 (OR). The remaining blocks of the device switches receive / transmit 2 and 10 (KPP1, KPP2), preamplifiers 3 and 11 (PU1, PU2), adders 13, 14 and 15 (C1, C2, C3), generators 6 and 7 (G1, G2 ), keys 16 and 17 (К1, К2) - depending on the design, can be analog or digital. Necessary for converting analog information into digital analog-to-digital converters (ADC), as well as converters of digital information into analog (digital-analog converters - DACs are part of the corresponding blocks and not shown in the diagram of Fig. 1. The power supply in Fig.1 also omitted

Receiving and transmitting acoustic antennas 1, 9 are designed to convert acoustic energy into electrical energy and back and are used to receive signals from the aquatic environment or to transmit signals to the aquatic environment. The purpose of the phones 8, 12 is generally accepted - this is the conversion of electrical signals into acoustic. Antennas and telephones are the terminal parts of the device. Switches receive / transmit 2, 10 are designed to switch the device from receive to transmit mode (and vice versa). The generators 6, 7 are designed to generate signals that are amplified by power amplifier 4. Pre-amplifiers 3, 11 are designed to amplify and primary filter the received signals. In the adders 13, 14, 15 is the summation of the signals coming from different inputs of the adder. The keys 16, 17 are opened if they receive a control signal from the automatic channel selection module 23. In the processing and control unit 18, information from the external, in relation to block 18, device systems is processed, and control signals from external systems are generated.

The device can operate in the following modes:

- the mode of receiving and listening to voice messages and control commands from the providing vessel;

- the mode of manual issuance of a receipt for receiving speech commands;

- mode beacon answering machine;

- navigation mode;

- alarm mode.

The modes of voice commands, beacon-answering machine and navigation function together and simultaneously. In the mode of receiving voice commands, the diver perceives voice commands from the supply vessel and must transmit a receipt to the support vessel — to report the receipt or rejection of the received message. In the answering machine beacon mode, the diver’s equipment automatically emits response signals to requests from the providing vessel so that the diver’s location can be monitored using these signals. In the navigation mode, the diver is oriented in the direction of the signals from the providing vessel according to the ratio of signal levels in the headphones. In alarm mode, the diver manually sends alarms.

Consider the operation of the device in each of the listed modes.

In the mode of receiving speech signals, amplitude modulated signals are transmitted from the providing vessel — one sideband with suppressed carrier. Signals are received by acoustic antennas 1.9, through switches 2 and 10, transmit / receive, included by default in receive mode, arrive at preamplifiers 3 and 11, where they are amplified and limited in band to reduce the level of interference. Next, the signals are summed at the adder 13, which, taking into account the radiation patterns of antennas 1 and 9, provides the ability to receive from any direction. The total signal is fed to the telephone amplifier 5, which operates as a receiver of a single sideband with suppressed carrier, in which the low-frequency (LF) information component of the speech signal is allocated, and through the adders 14 and 15, the speech signal goes to the headphones 8 and 12. If the diver thinks that the speech signal is received, it issues a receipt, for which it presses, for example, once the control button 27. In the depressed state, the button 27 generates control signals for starting the first generator 6 and switching switches 2 and 10 to the mode before achi The first generator 6 generates a tone signal at a frequency separated from the carrier, for example, at 1000 Hz. Formed in the first generator 7, the signal is amplified in the power amplifier 4, through the switches receive / transmit 2 and 10 is fed into the receiving-emitting antennas 1, 9 and is radiated into the aquatic environment. If the diver believes that they do not understand the speech signal, he presses the control button 27, for example, twice, and two tones are transmitted to the vessel-provider. After that, the speech command can be repeated from the providing vessel. The signal generated by the first generator 6, in addition to the power amplifier 4, is fed to a telephone amplifier 5, in which signals are generated at a frequency of 1000 Hz - the difference frequency between the signal frequency from the first generator 6 and the carrier, and further to phones 8 and 12 to inform the diver that “ receipt ”sent.

In accordance with the Rules of the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping [8], vessels that provide diving operations must be equipped with beacon systems to control the location of divers. The characteristics of the request signal of the beacon systems of providing vessels are regulated by the “Rules ...” [8]. The request signal of the beacon, which is a radio pulse with monochromatic filling of the non-carrier frequency, is received by the diver as well as the speech signal, and after the preamplifiers 3 and 11 goes to the adder 13. After the adder 13, the request signal comes in a decoder 19, the telephone amplifier 5 measures the signal level 20 Since there is no low-frequency component in the request signal, such a signal is not processed in the telephone amplifier 5 and is not received by phones 8 and 12, but is recognized in the decoder 19 as a request signal. The speech signal, also arriving at the input of the decoder 19, does not contain a spectral component at the carrier frequency and is not processed in the decoder 19. The decoder 19 generates a control signal similar to the signal generated by the control button 27 when it is pressed, which starts the first generator 6 and switches 2 and 10 are transferred to the transfer mode. Thus, the response signal generated by the first generator 6 through the power amplifier 4, switches 2 , 10, antennas 1, 9 are automatically radiated into the water, which allows the means available on the support vessel to determine the distance to the driver and the direction to it, i.e. have information about the location of the driver and track its movement.

The signals from the output of the signal level meter 20, to the input of which both voice and interrogative signals are received, are used in the navigation mode. In this mode, two problems are solved: determining the direction to the vessel providing, and when the diver moves, the task of moving away / approaching the vessel providing. When solving the problem of determining the direction, the beacon signal from the provisioning vessel is fed to two identical reception channels: antenna 1, receive / transmit switch 2, preamplifier 3, filter 21, threshold circuit 24 — channel 1; antenna 9, receive / transmit switch 10, preamplifier 11, filter 22, threshold circuit 25 — channel 2. When the threshold is exceeded, threshold circuits 24, 25 generate a control signal which, via the OR circuit 26, starts the second generator 7. Thanks to the “ OR ”26 the launch of the second generator 7 occurs when at least one of the threshold circuits 24, 25 is triggered. The second generator 7 generates an audio signal in the range of 1500-3000 Hz. This signal is sent to keys 16 and 17 and further, if the keys are open, respectively via adders 14 and 15, to headphones 8 and 12. The control signals for opening keys 16, 17 are generated in the automatic channel selection block 23, to the inputs of which signals are received filter outputs 21 and 22. As antennas 1 and 9 form radiation patterns, each in its hemisphere relative to the head

the diver, the signal levels from the filter outputs 21, 22 will be the same only if the direction to the signal source is perpendicular to the line connecting the phase centers of the antennas 1 and 9. In the automatic channel selection unit 23, the signals from the filter outputs 21, 22 are compared in level. If the level difference exceeds the set value, which occurs when the source is located on the right or left of the diver, the automatic channel selection unit 23 generates a control signal for that key 16 or 17, which corresponds to the filter with a higher signal level. This ensures that the signal generated by the second generator 7 only feeds into one corresponding telephone 8 or 12, the diver’s listening to this signal with only one, right or left ear, and thus determines the half-space in which the signal source is located. Turning the head towards the source, the diver achieves a situation where the levels of the signals from the outputs of the filters 21, 22 are aligned, as a result of which the automatic channel selection unit 23 generates control signals for both keys 15 and 17, and the signal generated by the second generator 7 is heard in both phones 8 , 12.

The described principle of determining the direction to the signal source does not allow the diver to assess whether the source is in front of him or behind him, and in which direction - forward or backward - he should move to get closer to the supporting vessel. The elimination of this ambiguity is achieved by one of the following actions.

1) The diver estimates the pitch (frequency) of the signal generated by the second generator 7. The second generator 7 is controlled by the first input, and the frequency of the signal generated by the second generator 7 is determined by the signal level at the output of the signal level meter 20 connected to the controlled input of the second generator 7. The closer the diver to the provider, the greater the level of the received signal (due to lower absorption), the greater the level of the signal supplied from the signal level meter 20 to the controlled input of the second generator 7 and the higher signal frequency, a second generator 7 generated.

2) If there are signals in both phones 8 and 12, the diver turns his head, for example, to the right. If at the same time the signal will be heard only in the left handset, then the source of the signal is in front, if only in the right phone, in the back.

3) The diver moves in accordance with the voice commands from the provider who tracks his movement.

All of these options are provided in the proposed device.

The alarm mode is implemented similarly to the transmission of a “receipt” signal using, for example, manually pressing the control buttons 27 for multiple short presses. Accordingly, the first generator 6 generates successive radio pulses that are amplified by the power amplifier 4 and are emitted through the switches 2, 10 and antennas 1, 9.

It should be noted that the presence of operating modes in the proposed station using the control button 27 allows, in principle, the diver to transmit various messages to the provider using conditional signals, in particular, Morse code.

Thus, the claimed technical effect is achieved, which consists, firstly, in providing the vessel-provider to control the diver’s location, control his actions and transmit messages to the diver, secondly, to allow the diver to determine the unique direction to the beacon of the supplying vessel and alarm signal.

The utility model consists of well-known blocks and can be used not only by divers, but also when performing underwater-technical work by professional divers, when full-face masks are not used and can only be limited to sending messages (commands) to the diver.

INFORMATION SOURCES

1. Zanin V.Yu., Malyuchenko N.N., Chebykin OD Diving gear. St. Petersburg: Layout, 1997

2. Patent of France No. 2740426. Ultrasonic communication and alarm mechanism for underwater diver. Publ. 04/30/1997

3. US patent No. 6,220,273. Underwater location and communication device. Publ. 08/07/2001

4. RF patent №2439602. Device and method for determining diver direction to the sound source. Claims 02.24.2010, publ. 01/10/2012

5. RF patent №2233458. Portable sonar navigation system. Claims 10/24/2002, Public 27.04.2004

6. The certificate of the Russian Federation for useful model №50737. Receiving and transmitting station hydroacoustic telephone communications diver. Claims 04/22/2005, publ. 01.20.2006 - the prototype

7. Certificate of the Russian Federation for utility model №43370. Diver direction finder. Claims 09/10/2004, publ. 01/10/2005

8. Rules for the classification and construction of habitable underwater vehicles, ship diving complexes and passenger underwater vehicles. Ed. Russian Maritime Register of Shipping, 2003

Claims (1)

Hydroacoustic station diver, containing the first receiving-emitting sonar antenna (A1) connected to the input / output of the first key transmit / receive (KPP1), the output of which is connected to the input of the first pre-amplifier (PU1), power amplifier (PA) which is connected with the output of the first generator (G1), and the output with the input of the KPP1, as well as the second generator (G2), telephone amplifier (TU), the first head phone (T1) and the power supply unit, characterized in that the second receiving and radiating sonar additionally introduced but antenna (A2), while the antennas A1 and A2 are made with the possibility of forming a radiation pattern in the same hemisphere; the second receive / transmit switch (КПП2), the pre-amplifier (ПУ2), the head phone (Т2), the input / output of КПП2 is connected to the input А2, the output of КПП2 to the input ПУ2, and the first input of КПП2 - to the output of the MIND; the first, second and third adders (C1, C2, C3), the first input C1 is connected to the first output PU1, and the second input C1 is connected to the first output PU2, the output C2 is connected to the input T1, the output C3 to the input T2, and the first inputs C2 and C3 are connected to the output of the technical conditions; the first and second keys (K1, K2), with the first inputs K1 and K2 connected to the output G2, the output K1 connected to the second input C2, the output K2 - to the second input C3; processing and control unit (BOW) containing a signal decoder (D), a signal level meter (ICS), first and second filters (F1, F2), automatic channel selection module (AVK), first and second threshold circuits (PS1, PS2) the scheme "OR"(OR); a control button (CU), the first output of which is connected to the first input G1, and the second output - to the third inputs of the KPP1 and KPP2, the output C1 through the IUS being connected in series with the first input G2, the second input of which is connected to the output OR; The second output PU1 is connected to the input F1, the second output PU2 is connected to the input F2, while the first outputs F1 and F2 are connected to the first and second AVK inputs, respectively, the first AVK output is connected to the second input K1, and the second AVK output to the second input K2; the second output F1 through PS1 is connected to the first input of the OR circuit, the second output F2 is connected via PS2 to the second input of the OR circuit; output C1 is additionally connected to the first input of the specifications and input D, output D is connected to the first input of G1 and the second inputs of КПП1 and КПП2, and output Г1 is additionally connected to the second input of ТУ.