Backup method for controlling the operation of a marine vessel when a throttle lever is disabled
View Patent ↗A control system is provided which allows the operator of a marine vessel to select a transmission position (e.g. forward, neutral, or reverse) and an engine speed in the event that a throttle lever malfunctions. By providing messages to the operator on an annunciator and receiving selections from the operator on a plurality of push button switches, a microprocessor selects gear positions and engine operating speed in response to commands received from the operator.
1. A method for controlling the operation of a marine propulsion device, comprising the steps of:
providing a manually operable handle which is configured to control operation of said marine propulsion device;
recognizing a fault condition associated with said manually operable handle;
providing an annunciator;
providing a plurality of switches;
transmitting a message with said annunciator for receipt by an operator of said marine propulsion device;
receiving an input signal from at least one of said plurality of switches activated by said operator; and
changing an operating parameter of said marine propulsion device in response to said input signal, wherein said fault condition relates to a position signal which is responsive to a position of said manually operable handle and wherein said recognizing step comprises the steps of receiving said position signal and comparing said position signal to a preselected range of magnitudes of said position signal.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
said operating parameter is a gear selection associated with a transmission of said marine propulsion device.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
said operating parameter is an operating speed of an engine of said marine propulsion device.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
said annunciator comprises a liquid crystal display device.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
said plurality of switches comprises at least one push button.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
said manually operable handle is a throttle handle.
7. A method for controlling the operation of a marine propulsion device, comprising the steps of:
providing a manually operable handle which is configured to control operation of said marine propulsion device;
recognizing a fault condition associated with said manually operable handle;
providing a visually readable annunciator;
providing a plurality of push buttons;
transmitting a message with said annunciator for receipt by an operator of said marine propulsion device;
receiving an input signal from at least one of said plurality of push buttons activated by said operator; and
changing an operating parameter of said marine propulsion device in response to said input signal, wherein said fault condition relates to a position signal which is responsive to a position of said manually operable handle and wherein said recognizing step comprises the steps of receiving said position signal and comparing said position signal to a preselected range of magnitudes of said position signal.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein:
said manually operable handle comprises a plurality of resistive elements, said position signal being generated in response to a position of said manually operable handle relative to said plurality of resistive elements.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein:
said annunciator comprises a liquid crystal display device.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein:
said manually operable handle is a throttle handle.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein:
said operating parameter is a gear selection associated with a transmission of said marine propulsion device.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
said operating parameter is an operating speed of an engine of said marine propulsion device.
13. A method for controlling the operation of a marine propulsion device, comprising the steps of:
providing a manually operable handle which is configured to control operation of said marine propulsion device;
providing an annunciator;
providing a plurality of switches;
transmitting a message with said annunciator for receipt by an operator of said marine propulsion device;
receiving an input signal from at least one of said plurality of switches activated by said operator;
changing an operating parameter of said marine propulsion device in response to said input signal;
recognizing a fault condition associated with said manually operable handle, wherein said operating parameter is a gear selection associated with a transmission of said marine propulsion device, said fault condition relating to a position signal which is responsive to a position of said manually operable handle, said annunciator comprising a liquid crystal display device, said recognizing step comprising the steps of receiving said position signal and comparing said position signal to a preselected range of magnitudes of said position signal, said plurality of switches comprising at least one push button.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein:
said operating parameter is an operating speed of an engine of said marine propulsion device.