Operator display panel control by throttle mechanism switch manipulation

A throttle control mechanism for a marine vessel, comprising:

• a base portion attached to said marine vessel;
• a throttle control lever movably attached to said base portion for movement relative to said base portion;
• a control unit connected in signal communication with said throttle control mechanism, said control unit being connected in signal communication with a neutral gear position sensor which provides a first signal to said control unit which is representative of a position of said throttle control lever of said marine vessel being in a first state or a second state;
• at least one switch attached to said throttle control mechanism and connected in signal communication with said control unit, the status of said at least one switch being interpreted as a trim tab control command when said position of said throttle control lever is in said first state and as a docking system control command when said position of said throttle control lever is in said second state, said first manually movable lever being pivotable relative to said base portion;
• a manual override switch which provides a second signal to said control unit which is representative of a manually selected mode of said marine vessel being in a third state or a fourth state;
• and
• another switch attached to said throttle control mechanism and connected in signal communication with said control unit, the status of said another switch being interpreted as a trim system control command when said manually selected mode is in said third state and as a operator visual display command when said manually selected mode is in said fourth state.

A throttle control mechanism for a marine vessel, comprising:

• a base portion attached to said marine vessel;
• a manually movable lever movably attached to said base portion for movement relative to said base portion;
• a control unit connected in signal communication with said throttle control mechanism, said control unit being connected in signal communication with a neutral gear position sensor which provides a first signal to said control unit which is representative of a position of said manually movable lever of said marine vessel, said first signal being in a first state or a second state;
• and
• at least one switch attached to said throttle control mechanism and connected in signal communication with said control unit, the status of said at least one switch being interpreted as a docking system control command when said first signal is in said first state and as a trim system control command when said first operating parameter is in said second state.