Systems and methods for displaying operational characteristics of marine vessels
View Patent ↗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.
1. 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.
2. The display system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller operates the indicator device to dim the circular array of lights based upon ambient light conditions.
3. The display system according to claim 1 , comprising an input device for inputting as user-requested operating condition of the display system.
4. The display system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller determines that the propeller is rotating based upon an operational characteristic of a marine propulsion device on the marine vessel.
5. The display system according to claim 4 , wherein the operational characteristic comprises engine speed of the marine propulsion device.
6. The display system according to claim 5 , wherein the operational characteristic comprises gear state of the marine propulsion device.
7. The display system according to claim 1 , wherein the indicator device further comprises a depiction of a propeller.
8. 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.
9. The method according to claim 8 , comprising dimming the circular array of lights based upon ambient conditions.