Method for displaying marine vessel information for an operator

• US 7,143,363 B1
• Filed: 07/25/2002
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Woodward Governor Company
• Original Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Inventors: Gaynor, Phillip K., Willows, Kurt D.
• Primary Examiner(s): BAUTISTA, XIOMARA L
• Application Number:
  US10/205,037
• Time in Patent Office: 1,587 Days
• Field of Search: 715/700, 715/746, 715/747, 715/764, 715/765, 715/810, 715/835, 715/846, 715/866, 715/961, 715/744, 715/771, 701/200, 702/183, 440/84, 340/461, 340/984
• US Class Current: 715/771
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 49/00 Arrangements of nautical instruments or navigational aids nautical measuring instruments G01C; radio navigation, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 79/15 for monitoring environmental variables, e.g. wave height or weather data
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 79/40 for controlling the operation of vessels, e.g. monitoring their speed, routing or maintenance schedules
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/004 Indicating the operating range of the engine economical driving B60R16/0236, F02B77/084; measuring liquid fuel of an engine G01F9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/14 Solving problems related to the presentation of information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/36 using liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/961 Operator interface with visual structure or function dictated by intended use

Abstract

A method for displaying marine vessel information automatically selects a chosen visual display based on the magnitudes of one or more vessel-related parameters, such as engine speed, gear selector position, or vessel velocity. Based on the selected marine vessel operating condition, the chosen visual display is selected and the contents of that chosen visual display are presented on an information display device, such as a liquid crystal display or other type of monitor. As the marine vessel changes its operating condition, the process is repeated so that the marine vessel operator always is presented with the most appropriate screen images relating to the marine vessel at its current operating condition.

Claims

1. A method for displaying marine vessel information, comprising the steps of:

measuring a magnitude of each of a plurality of parameters relating to said marine vessel;

defining a plurality of potential operating conditions of said marine vessel;

a first selecting step comprising selecting a current operating condition of said marine vessel, from said plurality of potential operating conditions of said marine vessel, as a function of one or more of said magnitudes of said plurality of parameters relating to said marine vessel;

providing an information display device;

providing a plurality of visual images from which a chosen visual display can be selected for display on said information display device, each of said plurality of visual images comprising a measured magnitude of one or more of said plurality of parameters relating to said marine vessel;

a second selecting step comprising selecting said chosen visual display image from said plurality of visual images as a function of said current operating condition;

causing said chosen visual display to be displayed on said information display device;

each of said first and second selecting steps being performed automatically without manual intervention, such that;

firstly, said current operating condition is automatically selected from said plurality of potential operating conditions as a function of one or more of said measured magnitudes of said plurality of parameters;

and secondly, said chosen visual display image is automatically selected from said plurality of visual images as a function of said current operating condition chosen from said plurality of potential operating conditions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said chosen visual display comprises more than one of said plurality of visual images.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

said more than one of said plurality of visual images of said chosen visual display are sequentially displayed on said information display device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein:

each of said more than one of said plurality of visual images of said chosen visual display are displayed for a time period which is manually selected.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a preferred set of said plurality of visual images to be selected as said chosen visual display for each of said plurality of preselected vessel operating conditions.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

said preferred set of said visual images is provided as a manual input.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

each of said plurality of parameters relating to said marine vessel is selected from the group consisting of engine speed, velocity of said marine vessel, engine temperature, water pressure, battery charge, fuel flow rate, oil pressure, propeller trim angle, steering position, quantity of remaining fuel in a fuel tank, quantity of waste in a waste tank, direction of travel of said marine vessel, relative global position of said marine vessel and a preselected position, water depth, water temperature, and trim tab position.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

each of said potential operating conditions of said marine vessel is selected from the group consisting of idle engine speed and neutral gear selection, idle engine speed in forward or reverse gear, a gear selection other than neutral and a rate of change of engine speed greater than a preselected magnitude in a positive direction between idle and a preselected engine speed, engine speed greater than said preselected engine speed, a marine vessel velocity within a preselected range of magnitudes, and an engine speed within a predetermined range of maximum engine speed.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a manually controlled input command which defines which of said plurality of visual images said chosen visual display comprises for each of said plurality of potential operating conditions of said marine vessel.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said information display device is a liquid crystal display device.

11. A method for displaying marine vessel information, comprising the steps of:

measuring a magnitude of each of a plurality of parameters relating to said marine vessel;

defining a plurality of potential operating conditions of said marine vessel;

a first selecting step comprising selecting a current operating condition of said marine vessel, from said plurality of potential operating conditions of said marine vessel, as a function of one or more of said magnitudes of said plurality of parameters relating to said marine vessel;

providing an information display device;

providing a plurality of visual images from which a chosen visual display can be selected for display on said information display device, each of said plurality of visual images comprising a measured magnitude of one or more of said plurality of parameters relating to said marine vessel;

a second selection step comprising selecting said chosen visual display image from said plurality of visual images as a function of said current operating condition, said chosen visual display comprising more than one of said plurality of visual images;

causing said chosen visual display to be displayed on said information display device;

each of said first and second selecting steps being performed automatically without manual intervention, such that;

firstly, said current operating condition is automatically selected from said plurality of potential operating conditions as a function of one or more or said measured magnitudes of said plurality of said parameters;

and secondly, said chosen visual display including said more than one of said plurality of visual images is automatically selected from said plurality of visual images as a function of said current operating condition chosen from said plurality of potential operating conditions.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

said more than one of said plurality of visual images of said chosen visual display are sequentially displayed on said information display device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein:

each of said more than one of said plurality of visual images of said chosen visual display are displayed for a time period which is manually selected.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a preferred set of said plurality of visual images to be selected as said chosen visual display for each of said plurality of preselected vessel operating conditions.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein:

said plurality of visual images includes a preferred set of said visual images provided as a manual input.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein:

each of said plurality of parameters relating to said marine vessel is selected from the group consisting of engine speed, velocity of said marine vessel, engine temperature, water pressure, battery charge, fuel flow rate, oil pressure, propeller trim angle, steering position, quantity of remaining fuel in a fuel tank, quantity of waste in a waste tank, direction of travel of said marine vessel, relative global position of said marine vessel and a preselected position, water depth, water temperature, and trim tab position; and

each of said potential operating conditions of said marine vessel is selected from the group consisting of idle engine speed and neutral gear selection, idle engine speed in forward or reverse gear, a gear selection other than neutral and a rate of change of engine speed greater than a preselected magnitude in a positive direction between idle and a preselected engine speed, engine speed greater than said preselected engine speed, a marine vessel velocity within a preselected range of magnitudes, and an engine speed within a predetermined range of maximum engine speed.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a manually controlled input command which defines which of said plurality of visual images said chosen visual display comprises for at least one of said plurality of potential operating conditions of said marine vessel.

18. A method for displaying marine vessel information, comprising the steps of:

measuring a magnitude of each of a plurality of parameters relating to said marine vessel;

defining a plurality of potential operating conditions of said marine vessel;

a first selecting step comprising selecting a current operating condition of said marine vessel, from said plurality of potential operating conditions of said marine vessel, as a function of one or more of said magnitudes of said plurality of parameters relating to said marine vessel;

providing an information display device;

providing a plurality of visual images from which a chosen visual display can be selected for display on said information display device, each of said plurality of visual images comprising a measured magnitude of one or more of said plurality of parameters relating to said marine vessel;

receiving a manually controlled input command which defines which of said plurality of visual images said chosen visual display comprises for at least one of said plurality of potential operating conditions of said marine vessel;

a second selecting step comprising selecting said chosen visual display image from said plurality of visual images as a function of said current operating condition;

causing said chosen visual display to be displayed on said information display device;

each of said first and second selecting steps being performed automatically without manual intervention, such that;

firstly, said current operating condition is automatically selected from said plurality of potential operating conditions as a function of one or more of said measured magnitudes of said plurality of parameters;

and secondly, said chosen visual display image is automatically selected from said plurality of visual images as a function of said current operating condition chosen from said plurality of potential operating conditions and as a function of said manual receiving step.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein:

said more than one of said plurality of visual images of said chosen visual display are sequentially displayed on said information display device, each of said more than one of said plurality of visual images of said chosen visual display being displayed for a time period which is manually selected.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein:

each of said plurality of parameters relating to said marine vessel is selected from the group consisting of engine speed, velocity of said marine vessel, engine temperature, water pressure, battery charge, fuel flow rate, oil pressure, propeller trim angle, steering position, quantity of remaining fuel in a fuel tank, quantity of waste in a waste tank, direction of travel of said marine vessel, relative global position of said marine vessel and a preselected position, water depth, water temperature, and trim tab position; and

each of said potential operating conditions of said marine vessel is selected from the group consisting of idle engine speed and neutral gear selection, idle engine speed in forward or reverse gear, a gear selection other than neutral and a rate of change of engine speed greater than a preselected magnitude in a positive direction between idle and a preselected engine speed, engine speed greater than said preselected engine speed, a marine vessel velocity within a preselected range of magnitudes, and an engine speed within a predetermined range of maximum engine speed.