Multi-layer gear determination system

A marine vessel, the marine vessel comprising:

• a hull;
• an operator station;
• and
• a marine propulsion control system, including:
• an engine in electronic communication with an engine controller,
• a transmission including a gearbox and an oil pressure sensor configured to measure a transmission oil pressure, the oil pressure sensor in electronic communication with the engine controller, the gearbox including a feedback sensor configured to transmit a gear state,
• a propulsion device rotatably connected to the gearbox,
• a shaft fixedly attached to the propulsion device and rotatably coupled to the gearbox, the shaft including a shaft rotation sensor configured to measure a rotational direction of the shaft, and
• a propulsion control processor in electronic communication with the engine controller, the gearbox and the shaft rotation sensor, the propulsion control processor configured to:
• receive the transmission oil pressure, the gear state of the transmission and the rotational direction of the shaft,
• compare the transmission oil pressure with a predetermined engaged pressure threshold, wherein when the transmission oil pressure is greater than the predetermined engaged pressure threshold, the propulsion control processor is further configured to analyze one or more of the gear state and the direction of rotation to determine a current gear of the marine vessel, and
• when the transmission oil pressure is less than or equal to the engaged pressure threshold, compare the transmission oil pressure with a predetermined disengaged pressure threshold, wherein when the transmission oil pressure is greater than or equal to the transmission disengaged pressure threshold, the propulsion control processor is configured to analyze one or more of the gear state and the direction of rotation to determine the current gear of the marine vessel.

A method of determining a current gear of a marine vessel, the marine vessel including a transmission and a propulsion control processor to execute the method, the method comprising:

• determining whether a transmission oil pressure sensor is enabled or disabled;
• receiving, if the transmission oil pressure sensor is enabled, an oil pressure;
• determining if a feedback sensor is installed in a gearbox of a transmission of the marine vessel;
• receiving, if the feedback sensor is installed, a gear state of the transmission;
• determining if a shaft rotational direction sensor is installed on a shaft of a propulsion device of the marine vessel;
• receiving, if the shaft rotational direction sensor is installed, a direction of rotation of the shaft;
• and
• receiving a commanded gear, the commanded gear being set by an operator of the marine vessel, wherein, upon receipt of the oil pressure, the gear state, the direction of rotation of the shaft and the commanded gear, the propulsion control processor first compares the oil pressure with a predetermined pressure threshold to determine whether the current gear is neutral or one of forward and reverse, the propulsion control process then compares one or more of the gear state, the direction of rotation, and the commanded gear based on the first comparison to determine whether the current gear is one of neutral, forward and reverse.