WO1994006264A1

WO1994006264A1 - Instrument

Info

Publication number: WO1994006264A1
Application number: PCT/FI1993/000341
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kai Markus Martesuo
Original assignee: Kai Markus Martesuo
Priority date: 1992-08-31
Filing date: 1993-08-31
Publication date: 1994-03-17
Also published as: FI91686B; FI91686C; FI923907A0; AU4960993A

Abstract

The invention relates to a diver's computer or the like instrument adapted for difficult conditions, said instrument being located inside an essentially sealed box-like casing. Inside said casing there is an electronic apparatus (23) and in the structure of said casing (1) there is arranged means (24) for receiving a mechanical shock impulse directed to said casing and for converting said impulse to a control command for the functions of said apparatus (23). Such functions may comprise switching said instrument on and off and selected the display mode so that information is displayed by a visual display (2, 4) and/or an acoustic signal means to the outside of said casing (1). Said control means (24) suitably comprises a piezocrystal (25) arranged inside a thin resilient wall portion (26) of said casing (1). Said casing (1) comprises a battery compartment (12) open to the outside, one portion (18) of a closing lid (13) for said battery compartment (12) being adapted for lateral movement, where inclined guiding surfaces (15) compress a second portion (19) of said lid and its sealing (16). A liquid crystal display window (2) is illuminated via a colored transparent layer located behind a display means (4), and said electronic apparatus (5, 23) is embedded in silica jelly (27). Said device includes integrally both an audio and a visual method for displaying information.

Description

Instrument

The present invention relates to an instrument adapted for difficult conditions of use. especially to a data processor means adapted for diving or the like, said instrument com¬ prising an essentially sealed box-like casing body and inside said body an electronic equipment or the like means which is sensitive to moisture, dust or the like, especially a micro processor.

Several instruments and their casing structures are prior known. Such instruments are generally intended for indicating one or more parameters, and the casing is intended for pro¬ tecting said instrument against external impact. Particularly in water diving the devices are subject to especially high demands, since the devices are exposed to the effects of mois¬ ture and pressure. The life and health of the user may be decisively dependent on the function of the device, and thus said device must function absolutely reliably even under extremely difficult conditions. The sealing properties, reliability and durability of the devices are also subject to very high demands in other moist conditions and for example at smoke diving in fire fighting. The same complex of problems prevails also under other circumstances, such as in heat, cold, rain and wind.

On one hand known devices have had problems with encapsulating functions and equipment, and especially replaceable components like batteries, into sealed casings, and also in separating them from the ambient conditions. The power supply, for instance, has often been located so that the replacement there¬ of must be done by an authorized service company, or an O-ring has been used for the sealing, said ring being compressed against the surrounding surfaces using e. g. a threaded cap. In devices adapted for use in superatmospheric pressure con- ditions said compressing first comprises a pre-compressing operation providing a closing pre-sealing, after which further compressing must be undertaken to ensure that the cap and/or the O-ring will remain sealed also in spite of the surrounding pressure. A problem with the known solutions has been their complexity and unsecurity. The success of said pre-compression may depend on the user' s skill, so that an inexperienced user cannot actually achieve a sufficient sealing, and thus said cap will leak and the infiltrating water may, in the worst case, prevent the device from functioning reliably, which may lead to the diver' s death when security limits are exceeded due to the lack of a warning. Known sealing solutions are further easily breakable. For said reasons, diver' s instru¬ ments are often arranged so that the device is construed to be essentially sealed, so that the user himself is not able to replace even batteries, which is rather unpractical with res¬ pect to the easy use of the device.

A further problem with known devices has been switching on the functions of the instrument, and selecting a desired function. In prior known solutions switches or the like extending through the casing usually have been used.

The switches are usually purely mechanical switches, or in some cases, magnetic switches like Reed-switches or the like. The main disadvantage with known mechanical switches has been their general vulnerability as well as the sealing problems. A further problem has been that a user often wears gloves, in which case the use of a switch lever or button has been diffi¬ cult. In order to avoid said problems EP-publication 107 318 suggests a piezoσeramic switching device, which, however, has a rather complicated structure, and its tightness cannot be guaranteed. DE-publication 38 12 635 further suggests another switch based on a piezoelectric element, said switch being located directly under a cover membrane. However, also the use of this switch under pressure or otherwise very difficult conditions is unsafe.

In water and darkness a further problem consists in forwarding the information given by the instrument to the user in a con¬ fident manner, so that the user gets all the information he needs, in a correct and accurate form, as well as, for alarm information given as warnings, at the correct time even when the user' s main attention is directed to another task. Known display devices may, of course, be used for this purpose, but their drawback is, on one hand, either a rather high energy consumption (e.g. LED-displays ) or, on the other hand, poor visibility in darkness (LCD-displays). As for the latter, the illumination of the display has always been problematic. Since an operating switch has caused tightness problems, this kind of instruments usually utilize a display, which must be illumi¬ nated with a separate illuminating device, e. g. the user' s hand lamp or another external illuminating unit. Finnish Patent Application No. 896040 shows an example of illuminating an LCD-display using a rather complex apparatus.

Especially in diving, it is important that the diver obtains exact information concerning those factors, which have an influence on his stay under water, where especially the diving depth and the used time as well as the climbing speed calcu¬ lated on the basis thereof must be monitored in order to guard the diver' s security. For this purpose different divers' instruments are known, the purpose of which is to supply dif¬ ferent information to the diver. The information may be a single depth information, as in US Patent 3, 857, 283, or a complex combination of information as shown in O-publication 86/01172.

The purpose of the present invention is to integrally solve the aforementioned field of problems in such a manner, that both individual partial solutions as well as the integral comprehensive structure fall within the scope of the in¬ vention.

The characteristic features of the invention are evident from the appended claims. Thus the invention is characterized by sealed unbroken casing comprising means for receiving a mechanical shock impulse directed to said casing and for con¬ verting said impulse into a control command for the the func¬ tions of an instrument. Preferably said functions comprise switching on and off an instrument means located within said casing, selecting the functional mode of said instrument and featuring the instrument' s visual display and/or sound signal to the outside of said casing. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the otherwise fully sealed whole casing comprises a battery compartment, which opens to the outside of said casing, in which case a closing lid and its sealing means cover the opening in said casing. Further the device suitably comprises display means, which preferably is a liquid crystal display.

The invention will now be described in more detail with refe¬ rence to the appended drawing, wherein

Fig 1 shows a device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, seen from the top,

Fig 2 shows the device according to Fig 1 from the back side,

Fig 3 shows the device according to Fig 1 from the side,

Fig 4 shows the device according with Fig 1 in side section, the lid of the battery compartment being removed,

Fig 5 shows the device according to Fig 1 from one end side, Fig 6 shows an end view of the device according to Fig 4 partially in section A-A, and

Fig 7 correspondingly shows a partial section B-B.

In accordance with Figure 1 the present device comprises a box like casing 1. Said casing has a display window 2, behind which preferably is an LCD-display 4 for displaying the output of a processor 5 or some other apparatus 23. Said casing further comprises a function controller impulse point 6, behind which is located an impulse reception means 7. Figure 2 shows the device as seen from behind, where can be seen a back lid 8 of a generally sealed construction, said lid not being intended to be opened in connection with routine use of the device. Preferably a loudspeaker or corresponding acoustic means 9 are located under said back lid 8, for giving, especially in control or alarm situations, an acoustic signal to the user of the device.

From Figures 2 and 3 it will further be evident that the device favourably comprises a fastening means 10 for attaching the device to a suitable place, e. g. to the diver' s wrist, the strap of the face mask or some other part of the diver' s equip¬ ment. The fastening means 10 is favourably adapted as the male or female portion of a quick release fastener, the correspond¬ ing portion of said quick release fastener being attached to a respective fastening point.

Suitably a battery 11 or a miniature storage battery is used as power supply for the device, said battery being located in a casing cavity or compartment 12 adapted therefore, as will be evident in greater detail from Figure 7. Said compartment is covered by a closing lid 13, the construction of which will be discussed later. Favourably said fastening means 10 is attached to said closing lid 13, so that the device cannot be attached to the diver' s equipment if said lid 13 is removed. The basic casing of the device is generally sealed. As dis¬ tinct from this, an embodiment adapted for a diver' s computer is favourably arranged so that water pressure may impact upon a pressure sensor located inside said casing. According to a favourable embodiment this is arranged so that said back lid 8 comprises one or several openings 29, through which the sur¬ rounding water pressure will affect a silica jelly or the like medium 27 located inside said casing, which medium will for¬ ward said pressure along to said pressure sensor.

For service and replacement reasons the battery 11 of the device is suitably arranged in its own battery space to be sealed separately, i. e. in said casing compartment 12. Since the device e.g. in water diving will be subject to the pres¬ sure of the surrounding water, it is essentially important, that the battery compartment also will remain dry. To this end said closing lid 13 for said battery compartment is con¬ structed, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, so that a lateral closing movement of said lid 13 in a two- step manner simultaneously closes an O-ring type seal as¬ sociated with said lid. Thus easily broken screws and threaded caps can be avoided.

According to the invention said two-step sealing is arranged so that said closing lid 13 and/or the edge portions 14 of the said battery compartment 12 of said device 1 comprise inclined guiding surfaces 15, due to which a pre-compression of said seal 16 is primarily achieved. When said lateral closing move¬ ment of said lid 13 continues, a final compression will take place, and thus said seal 16, having a round cross section, will be pressed closely against the side surfaces 17 of said edge portions 14.

In practice said inclined guiding surfaces 15 are favourably so arranged that said closing lid 13 itself constitutes a two part construction. Then said lid 13 is formed of a primary cover lid 18 and an intermediate lid 19 located thereunder. Said inclined guiding surfaces will then be located between said lids 18 and 19, favourably so, that a contact surface or e. g. a contact shoulder on at least one of said lids 18, 19 is slightly inclined and is pressed against the other lid 19, 18. Thus, a lateral movement of the top lid 18 will bring about a wedge effect, due to which said intermediate lid 19 will sink inwards into said battery compartment 12 and press said sealing 16 inwards.

Said top lid 18 is arranged to slide in channels 20 or the like, preferably having a V-εhape, arranged in said edge portions of said casing 12, as best may be seen from Figure 6. Favourably said top lid 18 further comprises locking buttons 21 or the like, which, when pressed into recesses 22 or the like located in said casing 1, will prevent any unintentional opening, which in underwater conditions could be fatal.

The above described closing and sealing arrangement of said battery compartment is suitable for use in any such devices, where an absolutely sealed but still easily opened passage to the interior of a device casing should be arranged. Apart from diver' s computers such uses may include any other instruments for use in underwater or otherwise moist conditions, e. g. hand lamps, watches, measuring instruments or the like devices.

For an apparatus 4, 5, 9, 23 closely sealed into a casing there still remains the problem, that switching said apparatus 4, 5, 9, 23 on and off, as well as e. g. controlling various functions, using prior art, requires in the apparatus casing a lead-through for a switch, connector or the like. Such a lead- through will form a point, which will become untight at least in the long run, and then a surrounding fluid, e. g. water especially under pressure will tend to penetrate into the casing and ruin the apparatus 4, 5, 9, 23 located there. In order to solve this problem one embodiment of the present invention is realized so, that for controlling the function said device comprises a switching means 24, suitably an impulse reception means 7, which gets its functional stimulus from an impulse directed against said casing 1 from its outside.

According to a favourable embodiment of the invention said switching means 24 thus comprises a piezocrystal means 25, where a ceramic or the like crystal acts as a receptor 7 for a shock impact, and utilizing the electric impulse emanating from said shock, gives any necessary control impulses to said apparatus 4, 5, 23 located inside said casing. In the embodi¬ ment shown in detail in Figure 4, a plate-like piezocrystal 25 is arranged behind an impact window 26 which is somewhat thin¬ ner than the rest of the casing structure and suitably slight¬ ly resilient, said window 26 itself suitably being structural¬ ly integral with the casing' s other walls and favourably made of the same material. In order to eliminate the influence of pressure said piezocrystal 25, and suitably any other appara¬ tus 4, 5, 9, 23 located inside said casing, is embedded in silicone jelly or the like known medium 27 so that said medium 27 essentially totally fills the interior space of said casing.

In practice said switch works so that the user flips a finger against the casing surface adjacent to said piezocrystal, and then said piezocrystal 25 in conjunction with a slight tempo¬ rary deformation of the crystal structure emits a minor electric impulse, which in connecting wires 28 will be for¬ warded to the electronic apparatus 23 itself, where a suitable switch circuit effects the desired function to be switched on. In a diver' s computer this could comprise switching the appa¬ ratus on and off, switching said display 4 and/or said sound source 9 on and off, switching the illumination of said dis¬ play, setting the desired functional mode and the like control- ling of the functions. According to a favourable embodiment of the invention said sound source 9 as such, is a piezocrystal, whereby the sound source function and the switching function of the piezocrystal may be combined either so that they are always combined or combined if desired. Also in other cases said impulse switching means 7, 24 suitably consists of a normal piezocrystal, or the like, used as a source of sound.

The switching arrangement described above is especially favourable for controlling diving computers, and in particular for controlling the illumination of the apparatus' liquid crystal display 2 e. g. under water or in other difficult con¬ ditions and without removing one' s gloves. Since the shock impact guided switch 7, 24 according to the invention is especially durable and leak-proof, in comparison to mechanical switches, the switching arrangement according to the invention may also be used in other applications mentioned above.

The leak-proof and simple switching arrangement according to the invention is a necessity for the effective use of a liquid crystal display 4 in diver' s computer or the like devices used in darkness and especially under pressure. A liquid crystal or LCD display is i. a. favourable with respect to its power con¬ sumption, but the display demands illumination for showing the liquid crystal indication in situations where the visibility is poor, as when diving deep, at night, in caves or the like situations. Then the security of the diver demands that the diver be able to observe the information given by the instru¬ ment. According to one embodiment of the invention the illumi¬ nation of said LCD display 4 is arranged so, that light pro¬ duced by a LED component is distributed using a suitably colored resin sheet arranged under said liquid crystal dis¬ play. In the shown display arrangement the effect of pressure is favourably eliminated by surrounding the separate compo¬ nents with silicone jelly or the like pressure distributing medium 27. The illumination itself is switched on with the aid of a switching arrangement described above and/or e. g. automatical¬ ly, so that a processor 23 automatically switches the illumi¬ nation on when said display shows alarming information, and then the illumination favourably is of a color different from the normal illumination of the display. Accordingly said infor¬ mation may trigger the function a sound signal apparatus 9 to be discussed below.

In the development of the device according to the invention the prime aim has been forwarding information to a diver securely and efficiently also under difficult conditions and so that the apparatus due to its absolutely sealed structure always will remain capable of operation. Further, the simplici¬ ty and easy use of the device has been one goal, so that the usability in different situations and for different user groups has been seen as an important feature.

Diver' s instruments presently in use give either visual infor¬ mation or information based on the sense of hearing. Devices giving visual information are difficult in situations, where the user will not always be able to observe the information displayed, due to bad visibility conditions, work or e. g. a bodily injure. Correspondingly a diver' s aid means on the market and working exclusively on a basis of the sense of hearing has only a limited use if one wishes more detailed information, or under circumstances where the user for other reasons wants visual information. Said known device is further difficult to use, besides which a separately arranged source of sound and its wiring constitutes a security risk.

Since man' s receptivity to information is different for diffe¬ rent senses, the use of several senses for receiving infor¬ mation is more efficient. E. g. in context with diving it has been noticed, that a stepwise ascent is more secure using visual information. Further, visual information may be shown essentially more versatile and in more detail.

In order to overcome said deficiencies, an instrument ac¬ cording to the invention and based on a micro processor has been developed for use in water or smoke diving or for the like high standard use. A favourable embodiment of the in¬ vention thus comprises an integrated liquid crystal display for visual information, and further a source of sound for information given through the sense of hearing. The device thus gives the user the possibility to choose the mode of information in accordance with the environment of use, the information to be given and other conditions. With the switching means according to the invention said choice may be made before the use as well as during use. In the shown prefer¬ red embodiment this is arranged so that an integral source of sound 9 is arranged at the back cover of the integral instru¬ ment, said source of sound favourably being a piezocrystal or the like. In order to bring the device into an operation en¬ vironment being the most favourable with respect to the chosen information method said device comprises, in a manner described above, suitably a quick release fastener, so that counter pieces for said quick release fastener may be arranged at the wrist (especially for visual information transmission) as well as e. g. fastened to the strap of the diver' s mask so that the device will be located in the vicinity of the ear (for acoustic signals). Due to the quick release fastener the device may easily be moved from the wrist to a location near the ear and vice versa. The first piece of said quick release fastener is favourably integrated with the sealing mechanism of said battery compartment, as is discussed above in more detail.

The acoustic signal given by the device may be any sound, but one favourable embodiment of the invention comprises the use of synthesized speech either alone or in combination with other acoustic signals. E. g. in dangerous work there will be no unclearity concerning the contents of the information given by the acoustic signal. This is especially important in under¬ water work, where the attention simultaneously will be directed to many matters of importance to the diver' s sur¬ vival, in which case spoken information will suppresses the risk of misunderstandings. The information transmission is suitably arranged so that the device mainly will give in¬ formation as acoustic signals and in voice mode when the device is attached in the vicinity of the ear. On the other hand, when the information will be more in the visual mode when the device is e. g. at the diver' s wrist. Accordingly to an improved embodiment the device further comprises a source of sound to be attached separately from the device, to which source the device will send signals to be forwarded as acoustic signals separately along wiring to the diver' s acoustic apparatus, which will always be arranged in the vicinity of the ear.

Above some of the characteristics of the invention have been described, which together form a unity which may be used especially in connection with diver' s computers or the like. Especially, a favourable embodiment of the invention comprises a diver' s computer into which there is integrated both an audio as well as a visual way for producing information, which is forwarded to the diver both as information indicated on a display and as a acoustic signal. As the most simple infor¬ mation a simple depth information may be indicated so that the display will show a depth reading and the acoustic indication comprises a continuous or intermittent acoustic signal, the variation of which indicates the change in depth e. g. as a variation in the acoustic frequency. Correspondingly, a cal¬ culator favourably indicates the diving time still remaining, as well as factors connected with the ascent. Thus the apparatus favourably comprises a calculator, which according to a favourable embodiment further is capable of calculating the ascent speed for the diver, according to two alternative mathematical models. Thus, the ascent speed cal¬ culation may take into consideration such security related external factors like chill and weather conditions, as well as diver related factors like condition, age or inexperience. In this respect the device according to the invention differs from known diver' s computers, which mainly are adapted for warm diving conditions, and which in the ascent calculations only are capable of considering a diving profile where one moves from the deep slowly ascending along the bottom to shallower water, and this in relatively warm water. On the other hand, in the norther areas one often dives directly to a given depth and therafter returns directly to the surface, which is more stressing and dangerous for the diver. Thus the model used in known devices gives too long relative diving periods for northern or cold conditions, which constitutes a clear security risk. Since the use and control of the func¬ tions in accordance with the invention is easily done at any time, in the favourable embodiment of the invention allows the diver to easily select the calculation model to be used in accordance with the circumstances.

Above different characteristics related to the invention and its different embodiments ar described. It should be observed that although several characteristics in the shown embodiment will be at their best cooperation in forming a most efficient and functional entirety, it is obvious that many of the indi¬ vidual features of the invention or a combination based there¬ upon, may be used also individually, especially in connection with the objects of use described earlier, and in particular in those cases, where one aims at a simple, efficient and above all sealed instrument design independent of the sur¬ rounding pressure. In this connectionalso other actual instru¬ ments 23 or other devices may come into consideration.

Claims

1. An instrument, especially a data processor means, adapted for difficult conditions and comprising an essentially sealed box-like casing (1) inside which there is an electronic or the like means, which means is sensitive to moisture, dust or the like, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that means (7, 24) are arranged inside the essentially sealed unbroken structure of said casing (1) for receiving a mechanical shock impulse di¬ rected against said casing (1) and for converting said impulse into a control command for functions of an instrument (23).

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d in that said functions to be controlled comprise switching on and off said instrument means (23) closed into said box and/or featuring a visual display (2, 4) and/or a acoustic signal (9), suitably speech information, to the out¬ side of said casing (1).

3. An apparatus according to claim l or 2 c h a r a c t e - r i z e d in that a piezocrystal (25) or the like means for converting kinetic energy to a voltage serves as control means (24) for said functions, said piezocrystal (25) or the like means being integrally associated to said casing (1) and suitably arranged inside a thin resilient wall portion (26) of said casing (1).

4. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i z e d in that said piezocrystal (25) serving as said control means (24) for said functions also serves as a source of sound (9) for said apparatus.

5. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i z e d in that said casing (1) further comprises a space (12) open to the outside through an aperture and having a cover lid (13) with sealing means (16) for said aper- ture, said space being intended for some partial function of said instrument (5, 23).

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d in that at least one portion (18) of said closing lid (13) is adapted for lateral movement with respect to one side of said casing (1), said lid (13) and/or parts (18, 19) thereof and/or said casing (1) comprising respectively co¬ operating inclined guiding surfaces (15), said surfaces (15) pressing, upon a lateral movement of said lid (13) or a part (18) thereof, a second part (19) of said lid and/or a sealing (16) attached to said lid (13) in an essentially transverse direction with respect to the movement of said closing lid (13) between said lid (13) and said casing (1) and/or an edge portion thereof.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d in that said closing lid (13) is a two-part struc¬ ture, where the cover lid proper (18) is arranged for movement in channels (20) arranged in edgings of said casing, and under said cover lid there is arranged an intermediate lid (19), and where said inclined guiding surfaces (15) are arranged at contact surfaces between said lids (18 and 19).

8. An apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i z e d in that said lid (13) or a portion (18) thereof comprises locking means (21, 22) to be snapped closed when said lid (13) or said portion (18) thereof is in a closed position, said lid (13) or said portion (18) thereof suitably comprising means (10), suitably one part of a two-part quick release fastener, for attaching said device e. g. to a belt or to the strap of a diver' s mask, where the other part of said two-part quick release fastener favourably is located.

9. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 having a display means based on liquid crystal technology, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d in that a liquid crystal display window (2) is illuminated by a colored transparent layer arranged behind said display means (4), one or several LED components suitably serving as illuminating means.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d in that said display means (2, 4), in connection with giving a certain information, e. g. an alarm, automati¬ cally is illuminated with a color which suitably differs from its normal color.

11. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said display means (2, 4) and/or piezo transducer means (7, 24, 25) and/or said elec¬ tronic equipment (5, 23) is embedded in silica jelly (27) for compensating the pressure present outside the device.

12. An apparatus according to any one of the above claims 1 to 11, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said instrument is a device adapted for water and/or smoke diving, especially a diver's computer, the functions of said instrument (5, 23) comprising at least a diving period calculator, where favorably both audio as well as visual means for displaying information are integrated in said device.