SurfNSonar Labs Confidential Provisional Patent Application By Josquin S Corrales July 18, 2003 19249 US PTO 60/488287 Apparatus

For Acoustical Imaging and Navigation of Water Environment Appended or Integrated into a Surfboard or Floating Sea Board I have invented an apparatus that appends to or integrates into a surfboard or floating sea board. The apparatus uses acoustical sonar imaging and signal processing techniques to display in real-time a representative visual image of solid sea objects, depth readings, acoustic propagation signal characteristics, and other data on a flat panel display screen. It provides an instantaneous visual map and data readings representative of the natural surroundings, including solid sea life within a local beam scan pattern area. It provides real-time visual data that can be used to assess dangerous or potentially harmful sea life (i.e. sharks and other solid sea life) that are within a close proximity to the user. The apparatus may be used in a variety of water environments including sea, ocean, pool, and lakes. Surfboard users rely heavily on visual perceptions. Due to the typically murky sea environments, visual range underwater is limited to about four or five feet. Acoustical sonar, imaging, and signal processing techniques are well established fields that provides methods to create visual images representative of the solid objects in the sea environment. The apparatus described herein provides visual image and measurement data that was previously unavailable to the user as an enhancement of the surfboard. I have included four figures. Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 4 Side View of Surfboard and Integrated Sonar Apparatus Top View of Surfboard and Apparatus Bottom View of Surfboard and Apparatus Control Unit Apparatus The components of my invention are: 1 2 3 4 5 6 6a CU 8 9 10a 10b 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Dipole Spherical Acoustical Transducers Fin Surfboard/Floating Sea Board Battery Assembly Data Port Power Port Solar Cells Panel Control Unit Flat Panel Display Unit Control Unit Panel Top Control Unit Circuit Board Control Unit Panel Bottom Sonar Interface Circuit Signal Processing Circuit Video Interface Circuit Battery Interface Circuit Data Port Interface Circuit Power Port and Solar Cell Interface Circuit On/Off Control Ping/Update Control

Apparatus For Acoustical Imaging and Navigation of Water Environment Appended or Integrated into a Surfboard or Floating Sea Board. By Josquin S Corrales. March 11, 2005 Page 1/4

SurfNSonar Labs Confidential 19 20 Options Control Control Unit Interface Circuit

The apparatus can be assembled as follows. The dipole acoustical transducer assembly unit (sonar unit) 1 attaches to the surfboard fin 2. The surfboard 3 connects the sonar transducer unit 1 to the control unit CU via embedded or affixed wire. The embedded or attached battery assembly 4 connects via wire to the control unit CU battery interface circuit 14. The battery assembly 4 is embedded or attached to the surfboard 3. The data port 5 connects to the control unit CU data port interface circuitry 15. The data port 5 connects to an external data source. The power port 6 connects via wire to the control unit CU power port and solar cell interface circuitry 16. The power port 6 connects to an external power source. The flat panel display unit 8 connects to the control unit CU video interface circuitry 13. The solar cell panel unit 6a connects to the control unit CU power interface and solar cell circuitry 16. The control unit CU is embedded or attached to the surfboard 3 in a water tight housing assembly 9 and 10b. The control unit CU contains the control unit circuit board 10a, sonar interface circuit 11, signal processing circuit 12, video interface circuit 13, battery interface circuit 14, data port interface circuit 15, power port and solar cell interface circuit 16, and control unit interface circuit 20. The control unit panel top 9 exposes the on/off control 17, ping/update control 18, and options control 19. The control unit panel top 9 seals together with the control unit panel bottom 10b. The apparatus can be controlled as follows by user A. User A floats on the surfboard in water (sea, ocean, pool, lake) with the integrated or attached apparatus. User A activates apparatus device using the On/Off toggle button located on the control unit panel top. Acoustical sonar signal processing and imaging techniques produces a still image along with other data readings on the flat panel display. The representative image of the instantaneous measurements solid objects within the scanning area is displayed. After time delay T, another image is captured and represented on screen. User A may request an instantaneous reading using the Ping button located on the control unit panel top. User A may adjust ping delay, sonar calibration, and image data representations using the Options control located in the control unit panel top. User A may connect surfboard apparatus to an external data port in order to update algorithm binaries, download, upload data readings, and execute computer operating system process that access or control the control unit and its functions. User A may connect surfboard apparatus to an external power supply to recharge batteries and/or power unit. Energy from the Sun is collected via the solar array and used to help power the unit in order to minimize power drain of the embedded battery assembly. The apparatus can achieve the same results using the following assembly alterations. The apparatus may be attached externally to an existing surfboard without requiring structural modifications. The apparatus may substitute non essential wires with wireless connection technologies. The control interface circuitry may be assembled or integrated into an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). The apparatus may be attached, integrated, or embedded into a wind surfing board, or other type of floating sea board. The solar array may be left out as an optional unit.

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SurfNSonar Labs Confidential

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