Patents Assigned to Ascend Corporation
  • Patent number: 5570323
    Abstract: A navigational device (10) for assisting a scuba diver in determining a direction toward and a distance from a dive boat (12) or to a buoy near the shore at which point the dive originated. The navigational device (10) includes a transponder unit (16) carried by a boat (12) and an interrogator unit (34) carried by a diver. The interrogator unit (34) includes at least one transducer (68) positioned for detecting signals from the transponder unit (16). Direction and distance indicators (46,50) are carried on the surface of the interrogator unit (34) for visual indication to the diver. The transponder unit (16) repeatedly pulses an identification signal to be received by the interrogator unit (34). When a valid identification signal is received by the interrogator unit (34), the direction from which the signal was received is determined and displayed. When the distance to the boat (12) is required, a signal is emitted from the interrogator unit (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: Ascend Corporation
    Inventors: D. Wayne Prichard, Joe C. Guthrie