Systems and methods for displaying operational characteristics of marine vessels
AssigneeBrunswick Corporation
InventorSteven J. Gonring
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An indicator device on a marine vessel is configured to display motion. A controller operates the indicator device according to at least a first mode wherein the indicator device displays motion and a second mode wherein the indicator device does not display motion. The controller operates the indicator device based upon an operational characteristic of the marine vessel to thereby inform a swimmer located proximate to the marine vessel of the operational characteristic.
Claims9
A display system for a marine vessel, the display system comprising:
- an indicator device comprising a circular array of lights;
- and
- a controller that operates the indicator device according to at least a first mode wherein the lights in the array are sequentially lit so as to display a circular pattern of motion around the circular array of lights and a second mode wherein the lights in the circular array are not sequentially lit so as not to display the circular pattern of motion;
- wherein the controller operates the indicator device according to the first mode when the controller determines that a propeller on the marine vessel is rotating and wherein the controller operates the indicator device according to the second mode when the controller determines that the propeller is not rotating;
- wherein the circular array of lights is visible to a swimmer located proximate to a propulsion device for the marine vessel;
- and
- wherein the circular pattern of motion is clockwise when rotation of the propeller is clockwise and wherein the circular pattern of motion is counter-clockwise when rotation of the propeller is counter-clockwise.
A method of displaying an operational characteristic of a marine vessel, the method comprising:
- providing an indicator device on the marine vessel, the indicator device comprising a circular array of lights that are visible to a swimmer located proximate a propulsion device for the marine vessel;
- determining whether a propeller of the propulsion device is rotating;
- sequentially lighting lights in the circular array of lights in a circular pattern around the circular array so as to display circular motion to the swimmer;
- and
- sequentially lighting the lights in a clockwise circular pattern when the rotational state of the propeller is clockwise and sequentially lighting the lights in a counter-clockwise circular pattern when the rotational state of the propeller is counter-clockwise.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.