Patent ID: 9422047
Filing Date: 2016-08-23
CPC Classification: B63H

Claim Text:
1. A method of facilitating shift changes in a marine propulsion device, the marine propulsion device having an internal combustion engine and a shift linkage that operatively connects a shift lever to a transmission for effecting the shift changes amongst a reverse gear, a neutral gear and a forward gear, the method comprising: (a) determining that a reduction in speed of the internal combustion engine is necessary to facilitate an actual shift change; (b) sensing a current speed of the internal combustion engine; (c) comparing the current speed of the internal combustion engine to a stored threshold speed, wherein the stored threshold speed is an idle entry threshold speed at which the speed of the internal combustion engine is being ramped down to a stored idle set point speed by controlling at least one of an idle air control valve and a timing of spark in the internal combustion engine; (d) waiting to invoke the reduction in speed of the internal combustion engine if the current speed of the internal combustion engine is above the stored threshold speed; (e) invoking the reduction in speed of the internal combustion engine once the current speed of the internal combustion engine reaches the stored threshold speed; and (f) aborting step (e) if the actual shift change has already occurred.