Patent ID: 7355518
Filing Date: 2008-04-08
Classification: B60N,B60R

Abstract:
1. A method for detecting an occupant in a preselected position at a control position of a marine vessel, comprising the steps of: providing a transmitting antenna system; providing a receiving antenna system; supporting said transmitting and receiving antenna systems within a housing structure at a location proximate a helm of said marine vessel and attached to a seat of a chair which is located at said helm of said marine vessel; causing an electric field to be emitted by said transmitting antenna system and received by said receiving antenna system, said electric field extending in a preselected region where a portion of a body of a marine vessel operator is located during safe operation of said marine vessel by said marine vessel operator; receiving a first signal which represents said electric field received by said from said receiving antenna system; comparing said first signal to a threshold magnitude, said comparing step comprising a plurality of sequential comparisons performed at a preselected frequency; and determining whether said marine vessel operator is present within said preselected region of said marine vessel as a function of said first signal and said threshold magnitude.