Method for detecting a source of heat near a marine vessel
AssigneeBrunswick Corporation
InventorRichard E. Staerzl
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Two sensor units are mounted on opposite sides of a transom of a boat and directed to a common location behind the boat. The field of view of the two sensors overlaps behind the marine propulsion unit of the boat to detect the presence of a heat emitting object, such as a mammal. Housing structures contain infrared sensing elements, lenses, and light shields. Signals from four infrared sensing elements are received by a controller which reacts, with an alarm signal, when at least two of the four sensors detect a heat emitting object within their individual fields of view. False triggering can be reduced by not providing an alarm signal if only the two most inboard sensors detect the heat emitting object.
Claims20
A method for detecting a heat source proximate a marine vessel, comprising the steps of:
- monitoring a first field of view in a first direction from a first sensing device;
- providing a first signal when a heat source is within said first field of view;
- monitoring a second field of view in a second direction from a second sensing device;
- providing a second signal when a heat source is within said second field of view;
- receiving said first and second signals;
- and
- determining the presence or absence of a heat source within a detection zone as a function of both of said first and second signals.
A method for detecting a heat source proximate a marine vessel, comprising the steps of:
- monitoring a first field of view in a first direction from a first sensing device;
- providing a first signal when a heat source is within said first field of view;
- monitoring a second field of view in a second direction from a second sensing device, said first and second sensing devices being attached to said marine vessel with said first and second fields of view directed in a rearward direction, said first and second fields of view intersecting at a detection zone behind said marine vessel, said first sensing device comprising a first sensor and a second sensor, said second sensing device comprising a third sensor and a fourth sensor;
- providing a second signal when a heat source is within said second field of view;
- receiving said first and second signals;
- and
- determining the presence or absence of a heat source within said detection zone as a function of both of said first and second signals.
A method for detecting a heat source proximate a marine vessel, comprising the steps of:
- monitoring a first field of view in a first direction from a first sensing device;
- providing a first signal when a heat source is within said first field of view, said first field of view being directed toward a region below a deck of a pontoon boat;
- receiving said first signal;
- and
- determining the presence or absence of a heat source within a detection zone as a function of said first signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.