Engine speed indicator for boats with switchable display modes

0001The invention relates to a boat indicator comprising an engine speed indicating section. Further, the invention relates to a boat having a hull and at least one engine.

0002Prior art document <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="US6109986A"><text>US 6,109,986</text></patcit> discloses an idle speed control system for a marine propulsion system that controls the amount of fuel injected into the combustion chamber of an engine cylinder as a function of the error between a selected target speed and an actual speed. The speed can be engine speed measured in revolutions per minute or, alternatively, it can be boat speed measured in nautical miles per hour or kilometers per hour. By comparing target speed to actual speed, the control system selects an appropriate pulse with length for the injection of fuel into the combustion chamber and regulates the speed by increasing or decreasing the pulse width. Said system comprises a mode button that can be used to select various different displays for the LCD area. In addition, the mode button can be used to select an operating option which places the engine control unit in a constant RPM mode. The magnitude of the constant RPM value can be set by using the ± buttons.

0003A conventional boat having an outboard motor or the like is provided with a boat indicator for indicating engine speed. The boat indicator can indicate engine speed of approximately 100rpm or higher (or the number with hundred's place or greater) with low display resolution in order for a user to read the engine speed at a glance.

0004Some boats are configured to run in a normal (high-speed) mode and, additionally, in a trolling mode at a low speed. The trolling mode which is used, e.g. while fishing, is a specific mode unique to boats and not used at other types of vehicles.

0005The setting of the engine speed in the trolling running covers more precise preset values compared to those indicated by the display resolution. However, the conventional indicator has a fixed display resolution which can only indicate engine speed equal to or higher than approximately 100 rpm. It is therefore difficult for a user to identify if the engine speed shown by the indicator is close to the preset engine speed.

0006A boat indicator having a display assembly that indicates the engine shaft speed and also indicates whether the boat is in the cruise mode or in the troll mode can be taken, for example, from prior art document <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US4836809A"><text>US 4,836,809</text></patcit>.

0007Furthermore, prior art document <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="US4470011A"><text>US 4,470,011</text></patcit> generally teaches a display means for a vehicle having an engine speed display that can be switched between a first and second mode according to the respective engine speed. In particular, said display switches between an idle mode and a normal mode, wherein in the idle mode the display is expanded such that an expanded scale is displayed. In the normal mode normal scale is displayed. Accordingly to said prior art, the expanded scale display differs from the normal scale display in resolution of the indication, such that an idling display indicator is provided when the expanded scale display mode is activated so that the operator can clearly realize the respective mode and the resolution of indication.

0008Prior art document <patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="US4352062A"><text>US 4,352,062</text></patcit> discloses a digital display type tachometer for an automobile for numerically displaying a rotation speed of the engine. Said tachometer comprises a numeric character display device having display sections for 1000's, 100's, 10's and 1's digits, the 1's digit display section being constructed to display always "0", a counter for counting pulses generated in synchronism with the rotations of the engine to produce a BCD signal depending on the rotation speed, and decoding/driver means for decoding the BCD signal into decimal numeric character signals for 1000's, 100's and 10's digits and driving the 1000's, 100's, and 10's digit display sections by these character signals, respectively. The digital display type tachometer further comprises means for detecting whether the rotation speed of the engine is higher than 1000 rpm and producing a detection signal when the rotation speed is higher than 1000 rpm and means for controlling in response to said detection signal the 10's digit display section to display "0", whereby when the rotation speed of the engine is higher than 1000 rpm the rotation speed of the engine is displayed only with 1000's and 100's digits, while when the rotation speed of the engine is lower than 1000 rpm, the rotation speed is displayed with 100's and 10's digits.

0009It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved boat indicator which allows a user to easily read and, more precisely, recognize engine speeds of the boat at any running state. Besides, it is an object of the invention to improve a boat of the above kind for being controllable more accurately.

0010For a boat indicator of the above kind, this object is solved <b>by boat indicator having the features of independent claim 1. Preferred embodiments are laid down in the dependent claims.</b>

0011Thus, in the trolling running, the preset value of the engine speed is displayed at the level of lower speed range. This allows a driver to identify if the engine speed shown by the indicator is close to the preset engine speed. The engine speed indicating section does not display velocities and others but does only engine speeds in normal mode or trolling mode. This enables the driver to easily recognize them.

0012Preferably, the engine speed indicating section is configured to indicate the engine speed in the normal-speed mode with a first resolution and to indicate the engine speed in the low-speed trolling mode with a second resolution at a level of a lower speed range than the first resolution.

0013Further, preferably an engine condition indicating section is provided, preferably being arranged next to the engine speed indicating section, said engine condition indicating section being adapted to switch display modes, in particular according to the running mode selection.

0014Furthermore, preferably said engine condition indicating section is adapted to indicate texts, values and/or levels for at least one parameter or mode, in particular regarding an engine condition such as a cooling water temperature, a residual battery capacity, a battery voltage, a water accumulation amount, an oil pressure, an oil amount, and/or an engine speed.

0015Still further, preferably said engine condition indicating section is adapted to indicate an engine condition during a normal-speed running mode and/or to indicate an engine speed during the low-speed trolling mode.

0016Moreover, preferably said engine condition indicating section is adapted to indicate an engine condition indication mark, an engine condition range, and/or an engine condition value during a normal-speed running mode.

0017Also, preferably said engine condition indicating section is adapted to indicate a trolling mode display for indicating that the trolling mode is currently selected and/or the preset trolling engine speed during the low-speed trolling mode.

0018According to a preferred embodiment, the boat indicator comprises a mode selection switch for switching the running mode between the trolling mode and the normal mode.

0019According to a furthermore preferred embodiment, the boat indicator is connected to a further boat indicator, preferably via a local area network, the boat indicator being configured in that a change of the running mode selection performed at the boat indicator causes an automatic and corresponding change of the running mode selection at the further boat indicator.

0020For a boat of the above kind, the object is solved in an inventive manner in that it comprises a boat indicator according to at least one of the claims 1 to 10.

0021Therefore, since the reader can more easily read the engine speeds, the boat is controllable more accurately.

0022Further preferred embodiments are subject to the respective subclaims.

0023In the following, the invention will be described in greater detail by means of preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, wherein: <dl id="dl0001"><dt>FIG. 1</dt><dd>is a perspective view showing a boat according to an embodiment of the present <b>teaching</b>;</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>is a block diagram of an indicator and the like according to the embodiment;</dd><dt>FIG. 3</dt><dd>is a front view showing the indicator according to the embodiment;</dd><dt>FIG. 4</dt><dd>is a front view showing the indicator according to the embodiment in normal mode;</dd><dt>FIG. 5</dt><dd>is a front view showing the indicator according to the embodiment in trolling mode; and</dd><dt>FIG. 6</dt><dd>is a block diagram equivalent to <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 2</figref>, which shows a modified embodiment.</dd></dl>

0024<figref idref="f0001 f0002 f0003 f0004 f0005 f0006">FIGs. 1 through 6</figref> show embodiments of the present <b>teaching</b>.

0025In <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref>, a reference numeral 11 denotes a hull. In front of a driver's seat on the hull 11, four indicators 12 are disposed. The rear of the hull 11 is provided with four outboard motors 13. These multiple outboard motors 13 and indicators 12 are connected to each other via a Local Area Network (LAN).

0026As shown in <figref idref="f0003">FIG. 3</figref>, each indicator 12 is provided with an indicating section 14 for indicating various data, such as engine speed and cooling water temperature, while a mode selection switch 15 and a setting switch 16 are provided below the indicating section 14. The mode selection switch 15 allows switching the running mode between low-speed trolling mode and normal mode at a speed higher than the trolling mode. These mode selection switch 15 and setting switch 16 also allow changing of the preset trolling engine speed, which are referred to as "engine-speed changing switches."

0027The indicating section 14 is roughly constructed of an engine speed indicating section 18 for indicating engine speed a trim position indicating section 19 for indicating trim position of the outboard motor 13, and an engine condition indicating section 20 for indicating the state of the trolling mode and cooling water temperature etc.

0028As shown in <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 2</figref>, the indicating section 14 and the switches 15, 16 are connected to and controlled by a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as "CPU") 17 as will be described below.

0029To be specific, to keep pressing the mode selection switch 15 for a predetermined period of time (1.5 seconds) allows transmitting of a mode selection signal to the outboard motor 13 through the CPU 17 to set the running mode at the low-speed trolling mode. In turn, to keep pressing the mode selection switch 15 allows transmitting of a mode selection signal to the outboard motor 13 through the CPU 17 to switch the trolling mode to normal mode for higher-speed running.

0030The engine speed in trolling mode is adjusted on the outboard motor 13 by controlling an idle speed control (ISC) valve.

0031The engine speed indicating section 18 is designed to switch display modes, according to the running mode selection, between the normal mode display for indicating the engine speed in normal mode (See <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 4</figref>) and the trolling mode display for indicating the low engine speed in trolling mode (See <figref idref="f0005">FIG. 5</figref>).

0032The normal mode display on the engine speed indicating section 18 indicates engine speed detected with a first resolution (1(×100r/min)). To be more specific, the engine revolution speed per minute is indicated as a value having a number in the hundred's place or a larger-place value (in a range between 0 and 99 (×100 r/min)). For example, [53×100r/min] is indicated as shown in <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 4</figref>.

0033The trolling mode display on the engine speed indicating section 18 indicates engine speed detected with a second resolution (50(r/min)) at the level of lower speed range than the first resolution. To be more specific, the engine revolution speed per minute is indicated as a value having a number in the one's place or a larger place value (in a range between 000 and 999 (r/min)). For example, [750 r/min] is indicated as shown in <figref idref="f0005">FIG. 5</figref>.

0034In contrast, the trim position indicating section 19, formed next to the engine speed indicating section 18, is designed to indicate a trim position and trim tab position at one of the 10 position levels.

0035As shown in <figref idref="f0003">FIG. 3</figref>, the engine condition indicating section 20 is provided with a multi-indication section 21 on which values for various parameters, levels and texts are indicated. The engine condition indicating section 20 provides a water pressure mark 22 which is indicated on selecting the water pressure mode and flashes at abnormally low cooling water temperature; a water temperature mark 23 which is indicated on selecting the water temperature mode and flashes at abnormally high water temperature; a water accumulation mark 24 which flashes when water accumulation is detected in a fuel filter; a voltage mark 25 which is indicated on selecting the electric voltage mode and flashes at abnormally low battery voltage; an oil amount mark 26 designed for two-stroke engines which is indicated on selecting the oil amount mode and flashes at low amount of oil; and an oil pressure mark 27 designed for four-stroke engines which is indicated on selecting the oil pressure mode and flashes at abnormally low oil pressure.

0036The engine condition indicating section 20 is designed to switch display modes, according to the running mode selection, between the normal mode display for indicating cooling water temperature, residual battery capacity and the like in normal mode, and the trolling mode display for indicating that the trolling mode is currently selected, and the preset trolling engine speed in trolling mode.

0037For example as shown in <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 4</figref>, the normal mode display on the engine condition indicating section 20 provides the water temperature mark 23, the voltage mark 25 and the oil amount mark 26 while providing the cooling water temperature, residual battery capacity and oil amount in the multi-indication section 21.

0038The trolling mode display on the engine condition indicating section 20 indicates [TROLL 750r/m] in the multi-indication section 21, for example as shown in <figref idref="f0005">FIG. 5</figref>.

0039The preset trolling engine speed in trolling mode is designed to be variable so that it can increase by 50 rpm each time pressing the mode selection switch 15 for a predetermined period of time (not longer than 1.5 seconds) or decrease by 50 rpm each time pressing the setting switch 16 for a predetermined period of time (not longer than 1.5 seconds).

0040Effects of the present teaching are next described.

0041As for the engine driving conditions of the outboard motor 13, as shown in <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 2</figref>, engine speed data is transmitted from the outboard motor 13 to the indicator 12 through the LAN and then inputted to an averaging processing section 30 in the CPU 17 through a transmitter/receiver module 29 in the indicator 12. This averaged engine speed data is inputted to an indication processing section 31.

0042In normal mode, the indication processing section 31 processes the aforementioned engine speed data at low resolution (first resolution). This data is transmitted to an indication driver 32 from which a control signal is outputted to the indicating section 14.

0043The engine speed indicating section 18 in the indicating section 14 indicates [53×100r/min] for example as shown in <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 4</figref>.

0044In the indicating section 14, the engine condition indicating section 20 indicates the water temperature mark 23, the voltage mark 25 and the oil amount mark 26 while the multi-indication section 21 indicates the cooling water temperature, residual battery capacity and oil amount.

0045In contrast, operating the mode selection switch 15 to switch to the trolling mode allows inputting a trolling mode signal to the indication processing section 31 through a key switch input processing section 33. The indication processing section 31 is therefore switched to processing at high resolution (second resolution).

0046The engine speed data processed at high resolution is transmitted to an indication driver 32 from which a control signal is outputted to the indicating section 14.

0047The engine speed indicating section 18 in the indicating section 14 indicates [750r/min] for example as shown in <figref idref="f0005">FIG. 5</figref>.

0048The engine condition indicating section 20 in the indicating section 14 is switched to the trolling mode display and then indicates [TROLL 750r/m] as shown in <figref idref="f0005">FIG. 5</figref> for example.

0049According to these switching operations between normal mode and trolling mode, resolution at which the engine speed data is processed is changed, and the display mode of the engine speed indicating section 18 is switched. The trolling mode display indicates engine speeds lower than those shown on the normal mode display. Based on these indicated values, a driver can appropriately control the lower engine speed in trolling mode. This allows adjusting the running speed in trolling mode to a desirable speed, which can lead to more successful fishing.

0050The engine speed indicating section 18 does not display velocities and others but does only engine speeds in normal mode or trolling mode. This enables the driver to easily recognize them.

0051Furthermore, no numbers in the ten's and one's places, which indicates low engine speed range, are flashed on the engine speed indicating section 18 in normal mode. This is because momentary visibility of the engine speed indicated at the level of low speed range becomes low in normal mode. In other words, more digits displayed, lower visibility, respectively recognizability, and the lowest two-digit numbers constantly change indeed. This makes it difficult for the driver to read them.

0052Furthermore, the engine condition indicating section 20 is designed to switch display modes, according to each mode selection, between the normal mode display for indicating the cooling water temperature, battery residual capacity and the like in normal mode, and the trolling mode display for indicating that the trolling mode is currently selected and the preset trolling engine speed in trolling mode. Viewing these displays allows the driver to easily recognize the current mode. In addition, indicating the preset trolling engine speed allows the driver to easily recognize the current preset engine speed. Furthermore, the driver can easily compare this current preset engine speed with the actual engine speed so that the driver can make sure if the engine is in operation at the preset value.

0053The indicator 12 has the mode selection switch 15 for switching running mode between trolling mode and normal mode. This allows the driver to easily switch the running mode using this switch 15 while viewing the indicating section 14.

0054The indicator has not only the mode selection switch 15, but also the setting switch 16, in order to change the preset trolling engine speed in trolling mode. This allows the driver to easily change the preset trolling engine speed using these switches 15, 16, while viewing the indicating section 14, as required depending on the circumstances, such as wave, wind and type of target fish.

0055Another embodiment may be formed in which multiple outboard motors 13 and the corresponding multiple indicators 12 are provided as with the aforementioned embodiment, and setting one of the indicators 12 to trolling mode allows the other indicators, connected via the LAN, to also be set to trolling mode as shown in <figref idref="f0006">FIG. 6</figref>, which results in switching to low resolution display.

0056In such embodiment, only operating one of the mode selection switches 15 of the indicators 12 allows all the other indicators 12 and outboard motors 13 to be set to trolling mode, thereby substantially improving the operability.

0057The aforementioned embodiment is provided with four each of the indicators 12 and outboard motors 13. However, it should be understood that the present teaching shall not be limited to this, and one or two or more of those may be provided.

0058As described above, this <b>teaching</b> relates to a boat indicator comprising an engine speed indicating section for indicating engine speed, to be used for boats which can switch running mode between low-speed trolling mode and normal mode at a speed higher than the trolling mode.

0059In particular, a boat indicator is provided comprising an engine speed indicating section for indicating engine speed, to be used for boats which can switch running mode between low-speed trolling mode and normal mode at a speed higher than the trolling mode, wherein the engine speed indicating section is adapted to switch display modes, according to the running mode selection, between the normal mode display for indicating the engine speed in the normal mode and the trolling mode display for indicating engine speed in the trolling mode; and the normal mode display indicates engine speed detected with a first resolution while the trolling mode display indicates engine speed detected with a second resolution at the level of lower speed range than the first resolution.

0060Therein, preferably an engine condition indicating section is provided next to the engine speed indicating section, said engine condition indicating section being adapted to switch display modes, according to the running mode selection, between the normal mode display for indicating cooling water temperature, residual battery capacity and the like in the normal mode, and the trolling mode display for indicating that the trolling mode is currently selected, and the preset trolling engine speed in the trolling mode.

0061Further, preferably the boat indicator comprises a mode selection switch for switching running mode between the trolling mode and the normal mode.

0062Furthermore, preferably the boat indicator comprises an engine-speed changing switch for changing a preset trolling engine speed in the trolling mode.

0063Accordingly, the engine speed indicating section is preferably adapted to switch display modes, according to the running mode selection, between the normal mode display for indicating the engine speed in normal mode and the trolling mode display for indicating engine speed in trolling mode; and the normal mode display indicates engine speed detected with a first resolution while the trolling mode display indicates engine speed detected with a second resolution at the level of lower speed range than the first resolution. Thus, in the trolling running, the preset value of the engine speed is displayed at the level of lower speed range. This allows a driver to identify if the engine speed shown by the indicator is close to the preset engine speed. The engine speed indicating section does not display velocities and others but does only engine speeds in normal mode or trolling mode. This enables the driver to easily recognize them.

0064Moreover, the engine condition indicating section is preferably provided next to the engine speed indicating section, said engine condition indicating section being adapted to switch display modes, according to each mode selection, between the normal mode display for indicating the cooling water temperature, battery residual capacity and the like in normal mode, and the trolling mode display for indicating that the trolling mode is currently selected and the preset trolling engine speed in trolling mode. Viewing these displays allows the driver to easily recognize the current mode. In addition, indicating the preset trolling engine speed allows the driver to easily recognize the current preset engine speed. Furthermore, the driver can easily compare this current preset engine speed with the actual engine speed so that the driver can make sure if the engine is in operation at the preset value.

0065Preferably, the indicator comprises the mode selection switch for switching running mode between the trolling mode and the normal mode. This allows the driver to easily switch the running mode using this switch while viewing the indicating section.

0066According to a further embodiment, the boat indicator comprises an engine-speed changing switch, in order to change the preset trolling engine speed in trolling mode. This allows the driver to easily change the preset trolling engine speed using the engine-speed changing switch, while viewing the indicating section, as required depending on the circumstances, such as wave, wind and type of target fish.

0067As described above, in order to provide a boat indicator which allows a user to easily read engine speeds, either which is relatively high in normal mode, or which is more precisely indicated in trolling mode, a boat indicator 12 is provided comprising an engine speed indicating section 18 for indicating engine speed, to be used for boats which can switch running mode between low-speed trolling mode and normal mode at a speed higher than the trolling mode, wherein the engine speed indicating section 18 is adapted to switch display modes, according to the running mode selection, between the normal mode display for indicating the engine speed in the normal mode and the trolling mode display for indicating engine speed in the trolling mode; and the normal mode display indicates engine speed detected with a first resolution while the trolling mode display indicates engine speed detected with a second resolution at the level of lower speed range than the first resolution.