Multi-factorial electronic shark repellant

Abstract

In abstract this invention is a pressure and water sealed unit small enough to be worn by a swimmer. It contains a rechargeable battery, control interface logic, digital signal generation, and amplification circuitry. It uses a ground balanced electrode system to produce electric fields in the very low impedance environment of water. These fields are organized into patterns called words. These words are presented in a hierarchal pseudo random manner to prevent target organisms from learning and adapting to them. The presentation of these words is controlled by upgradable programing stored within memory. The words evoke central nervous system (CNS) responses which result in sharks leaving the area of operation. These words represent stimuli of predators, navigation signals, noxious events, CNS interference patterns, and other sequences found to repel sharks from the protected area. Reprogrammability allows upgrades to newer sequences. The amplifier uses switching stages to multiply the battery voltage up to about one thousand times. An inversion unit provides for positive and negative signals. The switching circuit is logic level and pulse width modulation controlled. The switching typology permits micro miniaturization and efficient power consumption prolonging battery life. The unit has no user adjustable parameters except for go no-go control and shark alarm. Unit and battery status is indicated by flashing light signals. Electrode typology generates a spherical electric wave propagation pattern in water. A recharging cradle projects magnetic energy into the unit providing for automatic battery recharging and conditioning without electrical connections exposed to an aqueous environment.

1 : A pseudo random pattern electric field generator for repelling sharks. 
     
     
         2 : The electric field generator of claim one is controlled by programing. 
     
     
         3 : The programing of claim two is upgradable via reprograming. 
     
     
         4 : The electric field generator of claim one consists of a water and pressure resistant and sealed case containing electrical apparatus therein. 
     
     
         5 : The sealed case of claim four includes a water and pressure resistant access hatch opening into an enclosed chamber within the sealed case. 
     
     
         6 : The enclosed chamber of claim five contains: a replaceable rechargeable battery and connections for the input port of the digital circuitry contained within the sealed casing. 
     
     
         7 : The electrical apparatus of claim four includes: a digital logic circuit board; an amplifier board; a power management board; and ancillary electrical apparatus embedded within the casing. 
     
     
         8 : Digital logic circuit board of claim seven includes: a memory controller; read only memory; reprogrammable memory; an input and output controller; a clock; control logic, a central processing unit; an output register; an output buffer; and necessary connections. 
     
     
         9 : Amplifier board of claim seven includes a bipolar switching amplifier, an output filter network; a ground balance resistor; and necessary connections. 
     
     
         10 : Power management board of claim seven includes a power control unit; a battery recharging and conditioning unit; and necessary connections. 
     
     
         11 : Ancillary electrical apparatus of claim seven includes light emitting diodes; a light pipe; a momentary contact switch and its water and pressure proof actuator; a water sense switch; power transformer secondary; power transformer secondary magnetic circuit; ground balance electrode; output electrode; and necessary connections. 
     
     
         12 : Apparatus of digital logic circuit board of claim eight provides a means of: receiving control inputs from the user and the environment; indicating unit status via light emitting diodes flashing light patterns via the light pipe; receiving and storing program information including upgrades; generation of pulse width modulation and logic level control signals to control the operation of the amplifier board; management and monitoring of power control operations; and management and monitoring of battery recharging and conditioning operations. 
     
     
         13 : Apparatus of amplifier board of claim nine provides a means of: production of voltage pulsations at the system switching frequency; pulse width modulation controlled voltage output of up to about one thousand times the battery voltage; logic signal input control of output voltage polarity; integration and or differentiation of output pulsations into the final output waveform by the output filter network; and limitation of output current by ground balance resistor. 
     
     
         14 : An output electrode apparatus to produce an electric field of a predetermined pattern radiating outward from the unit in an aqueous environment. 
     
     
         15 : The output electrode apparatus of claim fourteen consists of: a disc shaped output electrode; a metal ring shaped ground balance electrode; ground balance pores; and output Application of James R. DeLuze for “Multi-Factorial Electronic electrode exposure slats. 
     
     
         16 : The output electrode of output electrode apparatus of claim fifteen is a flat spherical metal disc. 
     
     
         17 : The metal disc of claim fifteen is enclosed within the sealed water and pressure proof case. 
     
     
         18 : Output electrode exposure slats of claim fifteen are slats within the pressure proof case over the output electrode to provide for opening to and contact between the electrode and the aqueous environment. 
     
     
         19 : The ring shaped ground balance electrode of claim fifteen is in a concentric relationship with the centrally located output electrode disc. 
     
     
         20 : The ring shaped ground balance electrode and the disc shaped output electrode of claim fifteen are in a fixed and predetermined axial relationship to provide the optimal electric field pattern. 
     
     
         21 : Ground balance pores of claim fifteen are passages within the case to provide for opening to and contact between the ground balance electrode and the aqueous environment. 
     
     
         22 : Programming of claim two provides for hierarchical levels of pseudo random variation of electric field patterns. 
     
     
         23 : The hierarchical levels of pseudo random variation of claim twenty two include: word categories; individual words; and word characteristics. 
     
     
         24 : The word categories of claim twenty three include: predators; noxious stimuli; navigation sense interference; sensor overload; and interference with CNS functioning. 
     
     
         25 : Activation of shark alarm status, within the control logic of the pseudo random pattern electric field generator of claim one, triggered by a user operational switch or an automatic shark proximity detector as a means to change programing algorithms thereby: altering randomization patterns; changing the proportion of near and far field responses; changing the relative proportions of stimuli categories; changing word selection patterns; altering operational control parameters; altering output status signaling; changing program control algorithms in predetermined manners; and appropriately adapting the operation of the unit to given sets of temporal conditions. 
     
     
         26 : A pseudo random electric potential generator for the production of electric, magnetic, optical, or acoustic fields for a means of: repelling of sharks; having aquatic life safely leave the pathways of ships; clearing areas of ocean environments of aquatic life sensitive to naval and other industrial signals; clearing environments of rodents; clearing environments of insects; clearing environments of birds; clearing environments of dangerous organisms; protecting humans from dangerous organisms; and to bring complex randomization to repellant means for the clearing of areas of organisms responsive and sensitive to such pseudo randomly generated fields.