Abstract:
A fishing rod is electronically enhanced to improve sensitivity and transmit to the user information related to conditions below the water surface in at or near real time.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    I. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to fishing rods. More particularly, the present invention provides a sensor, an amplifier, logic circuit and a vibrating mechanism for increasing the sensitivity of a fishing rod to provide the user with an indication of conditions at the end of a submerged fishing line used with the fishing rod. 
         [0003]    II. Related Art 
         [0004]    For centuries the sport of fishing has been performed using a pole with a line attached to it. Typically tied to the end of the line is a lure or bait to attract the fish and a hook to catch a fish attracted by the bait or lure. 
         [0005]    In recent years, fishing rod manufacturers have adopted a variety of rod designs using a variety of composite materials such as graphite to provide rods that are strong, durable, comfortable to use, and sensitive. Many rods currently being manufactured are sensitive enough to permit the user to detect when a fish strikes the bait in most conditions. However, fishing enthusiasts continue to crave a rod that is even more sensitive, a rod that will permit the user to detect when a strike or nibble has occurred even in the most adverse conditions. Fishing enthusiasts have other interests related to sensitivity as well. They want to be able to sense underwater current conditions or when the lure or bait comes in contact with the bottom, vegetation, or other underwater structures. Even the most sensitive rods are only modestly successful in sensing and transmitting such information to the user. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention increases the sensitivity of a fishing rod electronically. Specifically, the present invention provides a sensor attached to the rod itself near the handle. This sensor can be a strain gauge, a bend sensor, a piezo-electric sensor providing a voltage output proportional to strain when the sensor is bent, or virtually any other type of sensor that senses strain or bend (referred to herein collectively as deflection) of the rod. The sensor is electronically coupled to a control circuit in the handle. The control circuit receives signals from the sensor, processes those signals, and responds to those signals in accordance with a predetermined set of instructions and pre-selected thresholds. The control circuit sends control signals to a vibrating motor or solenoid also located in the handle which causes the handle to vibrate based upon the signals received from the strain sensor and the programmed set of instructions and the pre-selected thresholds. The user can interpret such vibration. Certain vibrations tell the user whether there has been a nibble or strike at the end of the line. Other vibrations convey information regarding current conditions or whether the bottom or other submerged structures have been contacted by the bait, lure or hook used with the fishing rod. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  shows a fishing rod coupled to the electronic circuit of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of an electronic circuit made in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a simplified schematic diagram of an electronic circuit made in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  shows the embodiment of  FIG. 3  which has been supplemented to include a summing circuit. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]      FIG. 1  generally shows a fishing rod  1 . The rod includes a blank  2 , a guide  3 , a handle  4 , a reel seat  5  and associated clamp  6  coupling a reel  7  to the rod  1 .  FIG. 1  also shows a sensor  10  coupled to the blank  2  adjacent the handle  4  and an electrical connection  13  between the sensor  10  and a control board  16  located within the handle. 
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing the sensor  10 , a battery  12 , and a vibrating motor or solenoid  14  all electrically coupled to a control board  16 . In one form, the control board includes an amplifier array  20  for amplifying signals generated by the strain sensor  10  and transmitting the amplified signals to a logic circuit (e.g., a microprocessor or other digital processor)  22 . The logic circuit  22  processes these amplified signals in accordance with a predetermined set of instructions which may be stored in the programmable memory of the logic circuit  22  itself or in a separate memory (not shown) coupled to and controlled by the logic circuit  22 . Certain advantages are achieved by filtering the signals transmitted by the amplifier array  20  to the logic circuit  22 . This filtering can be performed by the amplifier array  20 , the logic circuit  22  or a separate filter (not shown) between the amplifier array  20  and the logic circuit  22 . 
         [0013]    The vibrating motor or solenoid  14  is controlled by the logic circuit  22  and causes the handle  4  to vibrate in various ways in real time (or near real time) in response to what is sensed by the sensor  10 . The battery  12  is used to supply electrical power as needed to the other components of the invention. 
         [0014]    While in its simplest form, there is no need for the user to adjust the thresholds used by the logic circuit  22  in carrying out the predetermined set of instructions, the invention can also provide a mechanism for reprogramming or adjusting the parameters for these thresholds. For example, one or more input switches or potentiometers  30  could be embedded into the handle  4  and electrically coupled to the logic circuit  22 , the battery  12  or the amplifier  20 . Such switches or potentiometers could be used to turn the power on and off, adjust the gain of the amplifier  20  or adjust the characteristics of the output signals to the motor/solenoid  14 . 
         [0015]    The circuit can include a display  34 . This display can be used to indicate different modes of operation, sensitivity settings, threshold settings, battery levels and other relevant information. 
         [0016]    In some situations, the user may prefer to receive audible signals related to the operation of the active rod. Thus,  FIG. 2  shows a speaker  36  coupled to and controlled by the logic circuit  22 . 
         [0017]    When in use, the sensor  10  continuously monitors deflection (i.e., strain or bend). The sensor  10  supplies a signal to the amplifier  20  indicative of any change in the amount of deflection of the blank  2  of the fishing rod  1 . The amplifier array  20  amplifies these signals and forwards them to the logic circuit  22 . The logic circuit  22  processes the signals it receives from the amplifier array pursuant to a programmed set of instructions and established parameters. The logic circuit  22  then sends output signals to the vibrating motor or solenoid  26  which in turn causes the handle to vibrate with varying degrees of intensity. Changes in the intensity of such vibrations indicate or signal to one holding the handle of the rod when a fish has struck or is nibbling on the bait or when objects in the water or the bottom are contacted by the bait or lure. The programming of the logic circuit  22  may also be designed to cancel the effect that the vibrating motor or solenoid  26  has on the sensor  10 . 
         [0018]    As indicated above, signals from the logic circuit  22  can also control a display  34  to provide various visual queues and information to the user. An audible alarm  36  could also be coupled to the logic circuit and sounded when a fish is nibbling on or has struck the bait. 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a simple schematic diagram of a circuit made in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, two sensors are shown. Each sensor is coupled to the battery  12  and a common ground. As shown, there are two fixed resistors  50  and  52  and two sensors  54  and  56  associated with two separate channels  55  and  57 . The sensor  54  senses rod deflection along the up/down axis. The sensor  56  senses deflection along the left/right axis. Additional sensors and channels could be added to sense deflection along other axes or for improved accuracy. As shown, the first channel  55  carries signals generated by the sensor  54  via a capacitor  60 , an amplifier  61  and another capacitor  62  to a microprocessor  22 . The second channel  57  likewise carries signals generated by the sensor  56  via a capacitor  63 , and amplifier  64  and another capacitor  65  to the microprocessor  22 . The microprocessor  22  compares the signals received from the first channel  55  and second channel  57  in calculating the deflection (i.e., strain and bending) of the blank  2  of the fishing rod. 
         [0020]    As mentioned above, other types of sensors can be used. In the case of piezo-electric sensors, the sensor serves as a voltage source providing a voltage proportional to deflection of the rod. This voltage can be supplied to a suitable amplifier or to the logic circuit directly depending upon the voltage generated. A separate piezo-electric sensor and channel will generally be used for each axis of possible deflection of interest. 
         [0021]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , a sensitivity control switch  70  and a mode control switch  72  are provided. Also provided are a speaker  74  and a vibration motor  76 . The mode control switch can be used to set whether the microprocessor will sound the speaker  74 , run the vibration motor  76 , or both if the microprocessor  22  determines from the signals it receives that a predetermined parameter has been met. The sensitivity control switch  70  permits the user to adjust the parameter used by the microprocessor  22  to determine whether the speaker  74  and/or vibration motor  76  should be activated. 
         [0022]    When the vibrating motor  76  is activated by the microprocessor  22 , the handle of the fishing rod vibrates. This vibration of the handle emulates the movement of the rod tip in an accentuated fashion. It also serves to signal the person holding the handle. The vibrating motor  76  can, of course, be replaced with any number of devices capable of providing a mechanical or electrical indication through the handle to the user gripping the handle. 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  shows an alternative embodiment. In this alternative embodiment, a summing circuit is provided. As shown, the summing circuit includes resistors  100  and  102 , an amplifier  104  and capacitor  106  have been added to what is shown in  FIG. 3 . This summing circuit adds the output of the first (up/down) and second (right/left) channels  55  and  57 . This provides the microprocessor with a signal representative of overall deflection in any given direction. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the microprocessor, itself, could serve as the summing circuit such that summing could be performed under software controlled by the microprocessor  22 . 
         [0024]    The foregoing describes various embodiments of the present invention to comply with the disclosure requirements of the patent act. This discussion is not intended to be limiting. Instead it is intended to describe the best mode in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention. The scope of the invention is limited only by the following claims.