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Vocal alarm for outboard engine

  • US 4,940,965 A
  • Filed: 07/21/1988
  • Issued: 07/10/1990
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1987
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A vocal alarm apparatus for an engine, comprising:

  • a plurality of sensors for said engine which each produce a signal upon detecting a respective operational abnormality; and

    voice synthesizing means coupled to said sensors for producing in response to each said signal a respective synthesized vocal statement;

    wherein said voice synthesizing means includes prioritization means for checking said sensors in a predetermined sequence for the presence of a signal therefrom, for responding to detection of the presence of a signal from a first of said sensors by causing said voice synthesizing means to produce the vocal statement corresponding to said first sensor and for then resuming said checking of said sensors according to said predetermined sequence, for responding to detection of the presence of a signal from a second of said sensors by causing said voice synthesizing means to produce the vocal statement corresponding to said second sensor and for then resuming said checking of said sensors according to said predetermined sequence, and for responding to detection of the presence of a signal from a third of said sensors by causing said voice synthesizing means to repeatedly successively produce the vocal statement corresponding to said third sensor until said signal from said third sensor terminates and for thereafter resuming said checking of said sensors according to said predetermined sequence;

    wherein said prioritization means responds to detection of the presence of a signal from a fourth of said sensors by causing said voice synthesizing means to produce the vocal statement corresponding to said fourth sensor and by then resuming said checking of said sensors according to said predetermined sequence;

    wherein said predetermined sequence of checking said sensors includes a check for the presence of a signal from said third sensor immediately after the production by said voice synthesizing means of the vocal statement corresponding to each said sensor other than said third sensor;

    wherein said first sensor produces a signal in response to detection of a condition in which an oil level in the engine is below a predetermined level;

    wherein said third sensor produces a signal in response to detection of a condition in which the engine speed is being forcibly limited;

    wherein said fourth sensor produces a signal in response to detection of a condition in which a flow rate of the oil in the engine is below a predetermined rate; and

    wherein said predetermined sequence includes;

    a first subsequence in which, in the absence of a signal from any said sensor, said prioritization means successively cyclically checks in order said first sensor, said second sensor, said fourth sensor and said third sensor;

    a second subsequence in which, following detection of the presence of a signal from said first sensor and the production of the corresponding vocal statement, said prioritization means successively checks in order said third sensor, said second sensor and said fourth sensor, and then resumes said first subsequence with said check therein of said first sensor;

    a third subsequence in which, following detection by said prioritization means of a signal from said second of said sensors and the production of the corresponding vocal statement, said prioritization means successively checks in order said third sensor, said fourth sensor and said first sensor, and then resumes said first subsequence with said check therein of said second sensor; and

    a fourth subsequence in which, following detection by said prioritization means of a signal from said fourth sensor and the production of the corresponding vocal statement, said prioritization means successively checks in order said third sensor, said second sensor and said first sensor, and then resumes said first subsequence with said check therein of said fourth sensor.

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