Lanyard system and method for a marine vessel
First Claim
1. A wireless lanyard system for a marine vessel propelled by at least one propulsion device, the system comprising:
- an operator fob worn by an operator of the marine vessel;
a helm transceiver at a helm area of the marine vessel configured to receive radio signals from the operator fob;
a lanyard control module executable on a processor and configured to;
determine based on communications between the operator fob and the helm transceiver whether the operator is within a permitted zone with respect to the helm area;
generate a lanyard event when the operator is not within the permitted zone;
wherein the system is configured such that, upon generation of the lanyard event, the propulsion device is controlled to reduce an engine rpm of an engine in the propulsion device to an idle rpm and/or to turn off the propulsion device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of operating a wireless lanyard system on a marine vessel having at least one propulsion device includes defining a permitted zone with respect to a helm area where an operator should occupy based on one or more conditions of the marine vessel. Generating a location inquiry signal by a helm transceiver at the helm area of the marine vessel, and receiving an operator location signal from an operator fob worn by the operator of the marine vessel in response to the location inquiry signal. The method further includes determining whether the operator is within the permitted zone with respect to the helm area based on the operator location signal, and generating a lanyard event when the operator is not within the permitted zone. Upon generation of the lanyard event, the propulsion device is controlled to reduce an engine RPM to an idle RPM or the propulsion device is turned off.
15 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A wireless lanyard system for a marine vessel propelled by at least one propulsion device, the system comprising:
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an operator fob worn by an operator of the marine vessel; a helm transceiver at a helm area of the marine vessel configured to receive radio signals from the operator fob; a lanyard control module executable on a processor and configured to; determine based on communications between the operator fob and the helm transceiver whether the operator is within a permitted zone with respect to the helm area; generate a lanyard event when the operator is not within the permitted zone; wherein the system is configured such that, upon generation of the lanyard event, the propulsion device is controlled to reduce an engine rpm of an engine in the propulsion device to an idle rpm and/or to turn off the propulsion device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A lanyard system for a marine vessel propelled by at least one propulsion device, the system comprising:
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an operator device worn by an operator of the marine vessel; a receiver device at a helm area of the marine vessel, wherein the receiver device is configured to detect whether the operator is within a permitted zone with respect to the helm area; a lanyard control module executable on a processor and configured to; generate a lanyard event when the operator is not detected within the permitted zone; upon generating a lanyard event, reduce an engine rpm of an engine in the propulsion device to an idle rpm; and control a gear system of the propulsion device to shift to a neutral gear position. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method of operating a wireless lanyard system on a marine vessel having at least one propulsion device, the method comprising:
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defining a permitted zone with respect to a helm area where an operator should occupy based on one or more conditions of the marine vessel; generating a location inquiry signal by a helm transceiver at the helm area of the marine vessel; receiving an operator location signal from an operator fob worn by the operator of the marine vessel in response to the location inquiry signal; determining whether the operator is within the permitted zone with respect to the helm area based on the operator location signal; generating a lanyard event when the operator is not within the permitted zone; and upon generation of the lanyard event, controlling the propulsion device to reduce an engine rpm to an idle rpm or to turn off the propulsion device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification