Here is an update on the development progress of the Liquivision F1 freediving/scuba-diving computer. As stated previously, this is the first dive computer in the world to use an organic LED display matrix (128x64 with yellow pixels on black background). It is also the first to display velocity and salinity during the dive.
As the release date approaches, timelines are becoming more clear:
- First in-water test of larger-than-life prototype: Feb 10, 2005
- First in-water test of final version: March 29, 2005
- 25 gauges ready to ship w/programmer cradles: April 20, 2005
- Second batch of gauges (probably qty 50) ready to ship: June 20, 2005
Price:
Gauge only: Euro $295
Programmer cradle: Euro $95
Initial manufacturing capability: up to 2000 gauges per year
I can also confirm a successful test of the salinity detection circuit. So the F1 will display water salinity if desired. Not only that, but it can record salinity as a function of depth, as well as temperature as a function of depth, since the temperature sensor reaches equilibrium in only 10 SECONDS, due to a heatsink on the base plate. The salinity response is instantaneous. Compensating depth for salinity & temperature will allow unprecendented accuracy of depth measurement (in 0-30m, accuracy could be a few centimeters). Accuracy in the 0-160m range will be amazing. From 160m - 300m accuracy will be somewhat less. It is possible that the F1 will be able to show depth to 500m. It could possibly even survive 1000m. I just need to find water that deep to test it!
So far, all circuits have been successfully tested except for the battery charge circuits which will be tested in the next few days.
The F1 itself has no buttons. To select modes, select language, program alarms, review dive logs, etc., the gauge is put into the cradle (optional accessory for Euro$95), a small contraption which contains rechargeable batteries. The cradle has a bunch of buttons which allow easy selection of modes and so on. The cradle itself is not waterproof. The cradle can also be plugged into a PC, and the cradle has the appropriate circuitry to re-program the entire software on the F1. The cradle can be used to recharge the F1 up to three times, before the cradle itself needs to be recharged. The rechargeable battery life of the F1 is 2-4 weeks, depending on how much diving is done, and depending on whether or not it is used as a watch (clock) 24 hours a day.
Memory has been increased to 2MB (2048KB). This means sampling rate could (in theory) be set to 10 samples per second or more, for more accurate stroke/velocity information.
The alarm is rated for 98dB @ 5cm. It is about 10-20 times louder than the D3 alarm, but still not as deafening as I had hoped. However a buzzer chip which would produce a deafening alarm is simply too big to fit in such a tiny package.
The real-time clock allows for setting of 2 time of day alarms. Clock function can be disabled to conserve battery life.
The huge electric current capacity of the rechargeable battery in the F1 means that the computer will not suffer strange malfunctions in cold water. It should function properly in supercooled seawater of -6C or colder. The battery can provide 80 times more electric current than the CR2032 in the D3. Because the battery never needs to be changed, there will never be any problems with o-rings or other unreliable components.
The F1 displays the % of battery power remaining, and the estimated time until battery failure.
The PC interface software will be released in late 2005. This allows downloading of dive data and so on. You can always review your dive on the gauge itself, like the D3/stinger etc... even without doing a download.
The PC software development kit which will allow full reprogramming of the gauge will be released in the 2nd half of 2006. This will allow programming of ANY type of gas model for trimix or tech decompression, etc... with an open-source community, I'm sure some tech diver will come up with a marvelous display/interface/software for tech divers. The programming interface will be in high-level C language, quite simple to learn. For liability reasons, there will likely not be any official deco software released for the gauge. Users will need to load open-source programmed software into their own gauge using the PC interface.
I also plan on releasing a head-mounted version, which would 'float' the computer on the left or right side of your face. I'm open to suggestions on how to design the headmount. The headmounted version would allow a diver to view his/her sinking speed in real time, to know exactly when to stop kicking etc... and/or improve streamlining.
Alarm Function
There are 20 programmable alarms.
For each alarm, you select the following:
- Depth > x, depth < x, depth = x
- Velocity > x, velocity < x, velocity = x
- Time < x, time > x, time = x
- How many times should this alarm beep (1-10 beeps, or continuous)
For example, you could set an alarm on the descent (i.e. time > 0, time < 60 sec), to go off in the range of 30m - 80m, when velocity is less than 1.2 m/s. So, once you reach 30m, and you want to sink at 1.2m/s, the watch will beep as long as you are travelling at less than 1.2 m/s. This is just one example of the flexibility of the alarms.
You could set alarms on the descent, as follows:
1 beep at 10m
2 beeps at 20m
3 beeps at 30m
...
8 beeps at 80m
then again on the ascent
7 beeps at 70m
6 beeps at 60m
.....
Of course, with the headmounted version, there are fewer reasons to use alarms, you can just look at the gauge to see what depth you're at, how fast you're going, and so on. The salinity & fast temp display will even tell you if you hit a halocline or thermocline.
As the release date approaches, timelines are becoming more clear:
- First in-water test of larger-than-life prototype: Feb 10, 2005
- First in-water test of final version: March 29, 2005
- 25 gauges ready to ship w/programmer cradles: April 20, 2005
- Second batch of gauges (probably qty 50) ready to ship: June 20, 2005
Price:
Gauge only: Euro $295
Programmer cradle: Euro $95
Initial manufacturing capability: up to 2000 gauges per year
I can also confirm a successful test of the salinity detection circuit. So the F1 will display water salinity if desired. Not only that, but it can record salinity as a function of depth, as well as temperature as a function of depth, since the temperature sensor reaches equilibrium in only 10 SECONDS, due to a heatsink on the base plate. The salinity response is instantaneous. Compensating depth for salinity & temperature will allow unprecendented accuracy of depth measurement (in 0-30m, accuracy could be a few centimeters). Accuracy in the 0-160m range will be amazing. From 160m - 300m accuracy will be somewhat less. It is possible that the F1 will be able to show depth to 500m. It could possibly even survive 1000m. I just need to find water that deep to test it!
So far, all circuits have been successfully tested except for the battery charge circuits which will be tested in the next few days.
The F1 itself has no buttons. To select modes, select language, program alarms, review dive logs, etc., the gauge is put into the cradle (optional accessory for Euro$95), a small contraption which contains rechargeable batteries. The cradle has a bunch of buttons which allow easy selection of modes and so on. The cradle itself is not waterproof. The cradle can also be plugged into a PC, and the cradle has the appropriate circuitry to re-program the entire software on the F1. The cradle can be used to recharge the F1 up to three times, before the cradle itself needs to be recharged. The rechargeable battery life of the F1 is 2-4 weeks, depending on how much diving is done, and depending on whether or not it is used as a watch (clock) 24 hours a day.
Memory has been increased to 2MB (2048KB). This means sampling rate could (in theory) be set to 10 samples per second or more, for more accurate stroke/velocity information.
The alarm is rated for 98dB @ 5cm. It is about 10-20 times louder than the D3 alarm, but still not as deafening as I had hoped. However a buzzer chip which would produce a deafening alarm is simply too big to fit in such a tiny package.
The real-time clock allows for setting of 2 time of day alarms. Clock function can be disabled to conserve battery life.
The huge electric current capacity of the rechargeable battery in the F1 means that the computer will not suffer strange malfunctions in cold water. It should function properly in supercooled seawater of -6C or colder. The battery can provide 80 times more electric current than the CR2032 in the D3. Because the battery never needs to be changed, there will never be any problems with o-rings or other unreliable components.
The F1 displays the % of battery power remaining, and the estimated time until battery failure.
The PC interface software will be released in late 2005. This allows downloading of dive data and so on. You can always review your dive on the gauge itself, like the D3/stinger etc... even without doing a download.
The PC software development kit which will allow full reprogramming of the gauge will be released in the 2nd half of 2006. This will allow programming of ANY type of gas model for trimix or tech decompression, etc... with an open-source community, I'm sure some tech diver will come up with a marvelous display/interface/software for tech divers. The programming interface will be in high-level C language, quite simple to learn. For liability reasons, there will likely not be any official deco software released for the gauge. Users will need to load open-source programmed software into their own gauge using the PC interface.
I also plan on releasing a head-mounted version, which would 'float' the computer on the left or right side of your face. I'm open to suggestions on how to design the headmount. The headmounted version would allow a diver to view his/her sinking speed in real time, to know exactly when to stop kicking etc... and/or improve streamlining.
Alarm Function
There are 20 programmable alarms.
For each alarm, you select the following:
- Depth > x, depth < x, depth = x
- Velocity > x, velocity < x, velocity = x
- Time < x, time > x, time = x
- How many times should this alarm beep (1-10 beeps, or continuous)
For example, you could set an alarm on the descent (i.e. time > 0, time < 60 sec), to go off in the range of 30m - 80m, when velocity is less than 1.2 m/s. So, once you reach 30m, and you want to sink at 1.2m/s, the watch will beep as long as you are travelling at less than 1.2 m/s. This is just one example of the flexibility of the alarms.
You could set alarms on the descent, as follows:
1 beep at 10m
2 beeps at 20m
3 beeps at 30m
...
8 beeps at 80m
then again on the ascent
7 beeps at 70m
6 beeps at 60m
.....
Of course, with the headmounted version, there are fewer reasons to use alarms, you can just look at the gauge to see what depth you're at, how fast you're going, and so on. The salinity & fast temp display will even tell you if you hit a halocline or thermocline.
