Display device for watercraft

• US 20060020376A1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: Kanno, Isao, Motose, Hitoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,571,032 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/21
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 20/00 Outboard propulsion units, e.g. outboard motors or Z-drives; Arrangements thereof on vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2020/003 Arrangements of two, or more outboard propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/002 giving both analog and numerical indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/02 Indicating value of two or more variables simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/04 for presentation of a single character by selection from a plurality of characters, or by composing the character by combination of individual elements, e.g. segments using a combination of such display devices for composing words, rows or the like, in a frame with fixed character positions
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/20 for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters

Abstract

A display device for a watercraft indicates various status data values regarding the conditions of an outboard motor, such as cooling water temperature, battery voltage, and oil level. The display device has a dot matrix display as a part of display region, in which dots capable of being turned on and off are arranged in the form of a matrix, and the status data values are indicated via the lighting pattern of the dots.

Claims

1. A display device for a watercraft to indicate various status data values regarding the conditions of an outboard motor, such as cooling water temperature, battery voltage, and oil level, comprising a display region having a dot matrix display, wherein dots capable of being selectively turned on and off are arranged in the form of matrix, and a controller is configured to control the lighting pattern of the dots so as to indicate the the status data values.

2. The display device for a watercraft of claim 1, wherein the dot matrix display is divided into a plurality of regions laid out vertically in sections, and each of the regions displays different types of the status data values.

3. The display device for a watercraft of claim 2, wherein the number of sections formed by dividing the dot matrix display with the regions are adapted to be set-up variably.

4. The display device for a watercraft of claim 2, wherein a display form of the various status data values indicated in each of the regions is adapted to be set-up variably.

5. The display device for a watercraft of claim 2, wherein the display form is a scale display depicted by the lighting pattern of the dots.

6. The display device for a watercraft of claim 2, wherein the display form is a display using numerals or characters depicted by the lighting pattern of the dots.

7. The display device for a watercraft of claim 1, wherein an information mark display section is provided at the side of the dot matrix display, and the information mark display section displays information marks to identify the category of the various status data.

8. The display device for a watercraft of claim 7, wherein display positions of information marks indicated in the information mark display section, and display positions of the status data values corresponding to the information marks and indicated in the dot matrix display section are aligned with each other.

9. The display device for a watercraft of claim 8, wherein the display position of information marks and the display position of the status data values corresponding to the information marks are aligned adjacent each other.

10. The display device for a watercraft of claim 7, wherein the information mark display section is divided into grids arranged in the form of matrix, and a predetermined information mark is lighted freely on or off in each of the grids, allowing variable set up for lighting on or off of the information marks for each of the grids.

11. The display device for a watercraft of claim 7, wherein the information mark capable of lighting in each of the grids is a graphic for identifying the type of status data displayed in each of the rectangular regions of the dot matrix display.

12. A display device for a watercraft to indicate various status data values regarding the conditions of a motor, comprising:

a display region having a dot matrix display including a plurality of dots, the dots being arranged in the matrix and adapted to be selectively turned on and off to form a pattern, the pattern adapted to illustrate at least one status data value;

an information mark display section disposed proximal the dot matrix display and configured to display at least one information mark corresponding to the at least one status data value, the information mark identifying a category of the status data; and

means for varying the display position of the at least one information mark indicated on the information mark display section and the display position of the at least one status data value on the dot matrix display.

13. The display device of claim 12, wherein the dot matrix display displays a plurality of status data values, the dot matrix display being divided into a plurality of regions laid out vertically in sections, each of the regions displaying a different type of status data values.

14. The display device of claim 13, wherein the number of regions is variable.

15. The display device of claim 13, wherein a display form of the status data values indicated in each region is variable.

16. The display device of claim 12, wherein the display position of the at least one information mark and the display position of the at least one status data value corresponding to the information mark are aligned with each other.

17. The display device for a watercraft according to claim 12, wherein the information mark display section is divided into grids arranged in the form of matrix, and a predetermined information mark is lighted freely on or off in each of the grids, allowing a variable set-up for lighting on or off of the information marks for each of the grids.

18. The display device of claim 12, wherein the at least one information mark is a graphic adapted to identify the type of the at least one status data value displayed in the dot matrix display.

19. A display device for a watercraft to indicate various status data values regarding the conditions of a motor, comprising:

a display region having a dot matrix display including a plurality of dots, the dots being arranged in the matrix and adapted to be selectively turned on and off to form a pattern, the pattern adapted to illustrate at least one status data value;

an information mark display section disposed proximal the dot matrix display and configured to display at least one information mark corresponding to the at least one status data value, the information mark identifying a category of the status data; and

a controller configured to vary the display position of the at least one information mark indicated on the information mark display section and the display position of the at least one status data value on the dot matrix display.

20. The display device of claim 19, wherein the at least one information mark is a graphic adapted to identify the type of the at least one status data value displayed in the dot matrix display.