Bite alarm with dynamic audio engine

Abstract

Electronic bite indicator comprising a sensor device for detecting a movement of a fishing line, an evaluation unit, an acoustic signaling device and a display unit, characterized in that the evaluation unit is designed to provide several different sound patterns, to enable pitch variation independently of the selected sound pattern, and to change the playback speed of a sound pattern depending on a temporal progression of the movement of the fishing line, wherein the acoustic output is dependent on a fishing event and is synchronized with an optical display.

Description

Technical field The invention relates to an electronic bite indicator for a fishing rod for detecting movements of a fishing line and for outputting an acoustic signal. In particular, the invention relates to the generation and control of acoustic signals depending on a detected fishing event, as well as the user-side adjustment of such signals. State of the art Electronic bite indicators have been known in angling for many years and usually feature a sensor device to detect movement of a fishing line. When a cord movement is detected, an acoustic signal is typically emitted. Known systems usually use simple signal forms, in particular: fixed tone sequences, single pitches, PWM-based signal forms, or simple variations in tone frequency or volume. Furthermore, bite alarms are known in which the pitch can be adjusted by the user. However, these known systems have the disadvantage that the acoustic signals are usually static or only variable to a limited extent and do not allow for differentiated adaptation to the course of a fishing event. Furthermore, electronic bite alarms are known which are designed to play back stored audio data, especially in the form of music tracks or user-defined sound signals. In such systems, a pre-stored audio signal is typically played back statically, without its signal structure or temporal progression being changed depending on a detected fishing event. In particular, there is no adjustment of the playback speed, pitch, or signal structure depending on characteristics of the detected string movement. Such systems are therefore not suitable for acoustically representing the dynamics of a fishing event. Furthermore, bite indicator systems are known in which a detected fishing event is wirelessly transmitted to an external receiver or a mobile device, in particular a smartphone. In such systems, the mobile device can play back an acoustic signal, for example a selected tone or a piece of music. The playback is usually performed as a static audio signal, which is played back independently of any temporal progression of the detected cord movement. In particular, there is no adjustment of the signal structure, pitch, or playback speed depending on characteristics of the fishing event. Furthermore, the acoustic output does not occur directly in the bite indicator itself, but on an external device, so that a direct, near real-time and synchronized representation of the fishing event is limited. Furthermore, systems are known in which acoustic signals are changed depending on a detected activity or intensity of a cord movement. However, these systems are typically limited to simple adjustments of individual parameters, especially the tone frequency, the signal sequence, or the volume. The provision of multiple different signal characteristics in the form of selectable sound patterns, as well as an independent combination of such signal characteristics with variable pitch, is not provided. Likewise, the temporal structure of an acoustic signal is not adapted by changing the playback speed depending on the temporal course of a fishing event. In summary, it can be stated that known bite indicators do not provide a solution that offers multiple different sound patterns, allows pitch variation independent of a selected sound pattern, and dynamically adjusts the playback speed of a signal depending on the time course of a fishing event, especially in combination with a synchronized visual representation of the fishing event. Object of the invention The invention is based on the objective of providing an electronic bite indicator that enables a flexible, multidimensional acoustic display adapted to the course of a fishing event. In particular, a system should be created in which: • different acoustic signal characteristics can be selected, • a pitch can be set independently of a selected signal characteristic, and • the temporal reproduction of an acoustic signal is adapted to the course of a fishing event. Furthermore, intuitive user customization of the acoustic properties should be enabled. Solution to the task This problem is solved by a bite indicator having the features of claim 1. The invention is based on the finding that an acoustic representation of a fishing event can be significantly improved if: • several different sound patterns are provided, • a pitch variation occurs independently of the selected sound pattern, and • the playback speed of a sound pattern is changed depending on the temporal course of the line movement. This enables multidimensional parameterization of the acoustic output. Description of terms For the purposes of the present invention: Fishing event: a movement of the fishing line caused by an external influence, in particular by a fish. Sound pattern: a defined temporal structure of an acoustic signal, in particular a characteristic sequence of tone pulses, frequency curves or signal shapes. Pitch: a perceived frequency of an acoustic signal that can be changed independently of the structure of a sound pattern. Playback speed: a temporal scaling of a sound pattern, in particular a shortening or lengthening of the duration of individual signal components. Description of the embodiment In a preferred embodiment, the bite indicator comprises: • a sensor device for detecting movement of a fishing line, • an evaluation unit for processing a sensor signal, • an acoustic signaling device, and • a display unit for generating an optical representation. Recording and evaluation of a fishing event The sensor device generates a sensor signal which is transmitted to the evaluation unit. The evaluation unit is designed to: • recognize a fishing event from the sensor signal and • determine the temporal progression of the line movement. The temporal progression can include parameters such as speed, direction, or intensity. Provision of sound patterns The evaluation unit provides several different sound patterns. The sound patterns differ particularly in terms of: • temporal structure, • rhythm, • signal shape, • or sequence of sound impulses. This allows for the creation of different acoustic characteristics. Independent pitch variation In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the pitch of a sound pattern can be changed independently of the selected sound pattern. The pitch variation is preferably achieved through software-based frequency scaling of a base signal. This allows a wide variety of different acoustic variations to be generated from a limited number of sound patterns. Event-dependent playback speed The evaluation unit is also designed to change the playback speed of a sound pattern depending on the temporal progression of the string movement. In particular, playback can be: • slow when activity is low, • accelerated when activity increases. This acoustically represents the dynamics of a fishing event. Synchronization with optical display In a preferred embodiment, the acoustic output is synchronized with a visual representation of the fishing event. The visual representation may include, in particular: • a graphic representation on a display unit, • a sequential light display, or • a combination of different visual elements. Synchronization can refer in particular to: • temporal progression, • intensity, • speed. Generation of acoustic signals In another embodiment, the acoustic signals are generated by means of digital-to-analog conversion. This allows, in particular: • defined waveforms, • sinusoidal signals, • or complex signal waveforms to be generated with high sound quality. User interaction In a preferred embodiment, the following parameters can be set by the user: • Selection of a sound pattern, • Selection of a pitch, • Volume. The settings are preferably configured via a user interface with a display unit. Variant clause The embodiments described above serve only to illustrate the invention. It is evident to the expert that numerous changes and modifications are possible without leaving the scope of protection of the claims. In particular: • the number and design of the sound patterns can vary, • different frequency scaling methods can be used, • the dependence on the playback speed can be implemented differently, • the visual representation can be realized in different technical designs. The invention is not limited to a specific sensor technology, display unit or acoustic output technology. The scope of protection of the invention is determined exclusively by the patent claims. Description of Figure 1 Fig. 1 schematically shows the system architecture of an electronic bite indicator according to an embodiment of the invention. A sensor device detects the movement of a fishing line and generates a corresponding sensor signal. This signal is then transmitted to an evaluation unit. The evaluation unit is designed to evaluate the sensor signal and determine a fishing event as well as the temporal progression of the line movement. Based on this evaluation, the evaluation unit controls both a display unit to generate a visual representation and an acoustic signaling device to output an acoustic signal. Description of Figure 2 Fig. 2 schematically shows the structure of an audio engine of an electronic bite alarm according to an embodiment of the invention. The audio engine includes several provided sound patterns, each with different sequences of sound signals. A selected sound pattern is combined with a pitch variation that can be set independently of the sound pattern. The playback speed of the signal is then adjusted depending on the time course of a fishing event. The resulting signal is output via an acoustic signaling device. Description of Figure 3 Fig. 3 schematically shows the coupling between a fishing event, an optical representation and an acoustic output. A movement of the fishing line is recorded as a fishing event and transferred into a time sequence. This temporal sequence is used to control both a visual display and an acoustic display. The acoustic representation is achieved by selecting a sound pattern and adjusting the playback speed depending on the course of the fishing event. The visual and acoustic presentations occur synchronously.

Claims

Electronic bite indicator comprising a sensor device for detecting movement of a fishing line, an evaluation unit, an acoustic signaling device and a display unit, characterized in that the evaluation unit is designed to provide several different sound patterns, to enable pitch variation independently of the selected sound pattern, and to change the playback speed of a sound pattern depending on the temporal progression of the movement of the fishing line, wherein the acoustic output is dependent on a fishing event and is synchronized with an optical display. Bite indicator according to claim 1, characterized in that the sound patterns have different sequences of sound signals, in particular with regard to duration, rhythm or pauses. Bite indicator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pitch variation is achieved by software-based frequency scaling. Bite indicator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the playback speed is proportional to a detected line speed or a quantity derived therefrom. Bite indicator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the acoustic output is generated by means of digital-to-analog conversion. Bite indicator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the optical representation is provided as a graphic representation on a display unit. Bite indicator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that sound pattern and pitch can be selected independently of each other by a user. Bite indicator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the synchronization between acoustic output and optical display takes place with regard to speed, intensity or temporal progression. Bite indicator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the evaluation unit is configured to classify the temporal progression of the line movement into activity states and to adjust the playback speed and / or the sound pattern depending on a detected activity state. Bite indicator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the acoustic output has a defined waveform, in particular a sinusoidal or derived signal form.

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