IP Library Granted Patent US 12,466,523
Granted Patent B1
US 12,466,523 · App. 18/520,049 · Granted Nov 11, 2025

Marine navigation systems, methods, and user interfaces

Inventors: Brandon L. Tate (Walnut Hill, IL); Jason S. Arbuckle (Horicon, WI)
Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
B63B49/00B63B43/18B63B2035/007
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,466,523
App. No.
18/520,049
Filed
Nov 27, 2023
Granted
Nov 11, 2025
Kind
B1
Art Unit
3666
USPC
701/21
Abstract

A method of controlling navigation for a marine vessel includes receiving a user input via a user input device identifying at least one selectable priority for path planning, defining a prioritized navigation pathway through a marine navigation area based on the at least one selectable priority for path planning indicated by the user input between a vessel location and a navigation target location, generating a display image representing the marine navigation area and the prioritized navigation pathway, and displaying the display image on a display device.

Claims (38)

1 . A method of controlling navigation for a marine vessel, the method comprising:

receiving a user input via a user input device identifying at least one selectable priority for path planning;

defining a prioritized navigation pathway through a marine navigation area based on the at least one selectable priority for path planning indicated by the user input between a vessel location and a navigation target location;

generating a display image representing the marine navigation area and the prioritized navigation pathway; and

displaying the display image on a display device.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one selectable priority for path planning includes an acceleration maximum, wherein the acceleration maximum defines an acceleration limit of the marine vessel and/or at least one marine drive on the marine vessel; and

wherein the prioritized navigation pathway is defined such that the acceleration maximum is not exceeded.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one selectable priority for path planning includes a distance from obstacles, wherein the prioritized navigation pathway is defined such that the vessel remains at least a threshold distance from any obstacle.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the user input specifies the threshold distance.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one selectable priority for path planning includes minimizing travel time, wherein the prioritized navigation pathway is defined to minimize the time it takes to travel between the vessel location and the navigation target location.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one selectable priority for path planning includes energy efficiency, wherein the prioritized navigation pathway is defined to prioritize energy efficiency of at least one marine drive while propelling the vessel between the vessel location and the navigation target location.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, upon generating the display image and displaying the display image on the display device, prompting a user to confirm the prioritized navigation pathway or select at least one additional selectable priority for path planning.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a user input identifies two or more selectable priorities for path planning.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the two or more selectable priorities are prioritized and the prioritized navigation pathway is defined based on the prioritization of the two or more selectable priorities for path planning.

10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising determining that the number of selected priorities for path planning are fewer than a selected priorities threshold prior to defining the prioritized navigation pathway, wherein the selected priorities threshold includes a limit on how many selectable priorities for path planning may be included in the user input.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

defining a first navigation pathway through the marine navigation area between the vessel location and the navigation target location, wherein the first navigation pathway includes a first set of geographical locations extending in a first direction from the vessel location towards the navigation target location;

generating a first display image representing the marine navigation area and the first navigation pathway and displaying the first display image on the display device; and

wherein the at least one selectable priority for path planning inputted by a user indicates a different direction than the first direction such that the prioritized navigation pathway extends in a different direction with respect to the vessel location than the first direction.

12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising controlling a marine drive to propel the marine vessel based on the navigation pathway.

13 . A navigation system for a marine vessel, the system comprising:

a display device on the marine vessel;

a control system configured to:

receive a user input via a user input device identifying at least one selectable priority for path planning;

define a prioritized navigation pathway through a marine navigation area based on the at least one selectable priority for path planning indicated by the user input between a vessel location and a navigation target location;

generate a display image representing the marine navigation area and the prioritized navigation pathway; and

display the display image on the display device.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one selectable priority for path planning includes an acceleration maximum, wherein the acceleration maximum defines an acceleration limit of the marine vessel and/or at least one marine drive on the marine vessel; and

wherein the prioritized navigation pathway is defined such that the acceleration maximum is not exceeded.

15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one selectable priority for path planning includes a distance from obstacles, wherein the prioritized navigation pathway is defined such that the vessel remains at least a threshold distance from any obstacle.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the user input specifies the threshold distance.

17 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one selectable priority for path planning includes minimizing travel time, wherein the prioritized navigation pathway is defined to minimize the time it takes to travel between the vessel location and the navigation target location.

18 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one selectable priority for path planning includes energy efficiency, wherein the prioritized navigation pathway is defined to prioritize energy efficiency of at least one marine drive while propelling the vessel between the vessel location and the navigation target location.

19 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the control system is further configured to, upon generating the display image and displaying the display image on the display device, prompt a user to confirm the prioritized navigation pathway or select at least one additional selectable priority for path planning.

20 . The system of claim 13 , wherein a user input identifies two or more selectable priorities for path planning.

21 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the two or more selectable priorities are prioritized and the prioritized navigation pathway is defined based on the prioritization of the two or more selectable priorities for path planning.

22 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the control system is further configured to, determine that the number of selected priorities for path planning are fewer than a selected priorities threshold prior to defining the prioritized navigation pathway, wherein the selected priorities threshold includes a limit on how many selectable priorities for path planning may be included in the user input.

23 . The system of claim 22 , wherein a selection of two or more selectable priorities for path planning prevents the selection of at least one other selectable priority for path planning.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 28, 2023
From: TATE, BRANDON L.; ARBUCKLE, JASON S.
To: BRUNSWICK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 065684/0633 →
References Cited (12)
US 7561886B1 · Gonring et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 9255807B2 · Lee et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 10198005B2 · Arbuckle et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10460484B2 · Hovland et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 11022442B1 · Paskaris et al. · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 11257378B2 · Derginer et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11403955B2 · Derginer et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11473914B2 · Yamabayashi et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11531343B1 · Kitchens et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20190155287A1 · Arbuckle · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20200132467A1 · Borovac et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20230195118A1 · Singh · 2023 [cited by examiner]