Camera apparatuses, systems and methods for use with marine propulsion mechanisms
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorMark R. Droubie
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Camera apparatuses, systems and methods are provided having particular application with marine propulsion mechanisms. In one aspect, a camera apparatus can include a housing that can have an external airfoil configuration. The camera apparatus can be mounted on a marine propulsion mechanism, such as a marine outboard engine, and can be used to see images of and monitor the engine. A water intake on the outboard engine can be particularly viewed and monitored, even during operation of the engine with a boat at high speeds.
Claims28
A camera apparatus for a marine propulsion mechanism, the camera apparatus comprising:
- (a) a housing having an interior, the housing comprising an exterior airfoil configuration and the housing having a camera viewing aperture that is positioned in relation to the exterior airfoil configuration of the housing to provide visual exposure of at least a portion of a marine propulsion mechanism and to reduce cavitation caused by the housing upon attachment of the housing to a marine vessel;
- and
- (b) a camera positioned within the interior of the housing wherein the camera is configured to have visual exposure through the camera viewing aperture of the at least a portion of the marine propulsion mechanism upon attachment of the housing to a marine vessel.
A camera apparatus for use with a marine propulsion mechanism, the camera apparatus comprising:
- (a) a marine propulsion mechanism for generating propulsion;
- and
- (b) a camera apparatus attached to the marine propulsion mechanism, the camera apparatus comprising:
- (i) an elongated housing having an interior, and the housing having a camera viewing aperture;
- and
- (ii) a camera positioned within the interior of the housing wherein the camera can have visual exposure through the camera viewing aperture;
- wherein the camera apparatus is attached to the marine propulsion mechanism wherein the camera can have visual exposure of at least a portion of the marine propulsion mechanism.
A camera apparatus for use to monitor a water intake of a marine outboard engine, the camera apparatus comprising:
- (a) an elongated housing defining an interior, the housing comprising an exterior airfoil configuration that is mounted to a marine outboard engine;
- (b) a camera positioned within the interior of the housing wherein the camera has visual exposure through a camera viewing aperture of the housing and wherein the field of visual exposure comprises a water intake of the marine outboard engine;
- and
- (c) an electronic display in communication with the camera for displaying images from the camera.
A method of monitoring a marine propulsion mechanism, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a camera apparatus comprising:
- (i) a housing having an interior, the housing comprising an exterior airfoil configuration and the housing having a camera viewing aperture;
- and
- (ii) a camera positioned within the interior of the housing wherein the camera can have visual exposure through the camera viewing aperture of a marine propulsion mechanism;
- and
- (b) observing an image from the camera apparatus.
A method of monitoring a marine propulsion mechanism, the method comprising:
- (a) mounting a camera apparatus to a marine propulsion mechanism, the camera apparatus comprising:
- (i) a housing having an interior, the housing comprising an exterior airfoil configuration and the housing having a camera viewing aperture;
- and
- (ii) a camera positioned within the interior of the housing wherein the camera has visual exposure through the camera viewing aperture of a marine propulsion mechanism;
- and
- (b) observing an image from the camera apparatus.
A method of monitoring a water intake of an engine of a boat, the method comprising:
- (a) mounting a camera apparatus to a boat engine wherein a camera of the camera apparatus has visual exposure to a water intake of the boat engine;
- and
- (b) observing an image of the water intake boat engine from the camera while the boat engine is moving through water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.