Patent Publication Number: US-2023150620-A1

Title: Safety Lighting System for Watercraft

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to safety lighting systems, primarily used on watercraft. More specifically, the present invention includes a system for ensuring that watercraft are properly displaying navigation lights and other types of lights under various lighting conditions, particularly while the vessel is underway. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     As boating has become tremendously popular in recent years, the number of boats on lakes, rivers and other bodies of water has exploded. With the high number of watercraft that are operating on these waterways, there has been a sharp increase in the number of boating accidents, and an alarming number of these accidents occur at night. Oftentimes, these accidents are at least partially due to failure of boat captains to ensure that the navigation lights (as well as other lights, such as interior lights and docking lights) are properly displayed while operating in darkness or low-light conditions. 
     For example, it is not unusual for a boat captain to forget to turn on the navigation lights after dark. Also, many boats include docking lights that are only supposed to be used at idle speed while the vessel is maneuvering at idle speed during docking procedures. Further, many modern watercraft also include interior lighting for illuminating the interior of the boat, including interior lights positioned around the interior of the vessel, as well as light emitted by instruments and gauges, such as GPS screens, and the like. 
     Failing to switch the navigation lights on while the boat is underway in darkness is a common problem, and can prevent other boats from observing the unlit vessel. Additionally, in most (if not all) states, boating laws require that docking lights be used only at idle speed, but boat captains frequently operate their boats at plane speed while the docking lights are fully illuminated, which can confuse other boat captains with respect to the direction the boat is traveling. Docking lights can also temporarily blind oncoming boaters. Moreover, failure to dim the interior lights of the vessel, including the light emanating from GPS screens, gauges, and other interior lighting during nighttime operations can cause a boat captain to experience impaired night vision due to these interior lights. 
     Thus, it would be desirable to provide a watercraft lighting safety system that automatically adjusts the various lights on a boat, by integrating light sensors into a smart system that controls the navigation lights, docking lights, and interior lights based on the ambient light levels. 
     Many types of “smart” lighting systems have been developed for various types of vehicles, although most of these systems have been more specifically developed for land-based vehicles such as cars, trucks, motorcycles, and the like. While some of the concepts of these systems are similar in nature to the present system, watercraft lighting systems face different challenges, and operate in a different manner, than most of the vehicle lighting systems described below. 
     Examples of vehicle lighting systems are described below, and the following references are hereby incorporated by reference herein, in their entireties: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,614,788 Automated Ambient Condition Responsive Daytime Running Light System 
     An automated daytime running light system for surface transport vehicles having headlights and taillights which includes a daytime running light control circuit which activates the highbeam filament of the headlights at a reduced power level whenever the vehicle ignition is ON and the starter motor OFF during daylight conditions. In one embodiment, the daytime running light control circuit activates the high beam filaments of the headlight at a reduced power level and also activates the parking lights to provide taillights whenever the vehicle ignition is ON and the starter motor OFF during daylight conditions. The system further includes a navigational lighting control circuit which is responsive to ambient condition sensor inputs such as low light level sensors, fog or moisture sensors, windshield wiper actuation sensors and the like, to de-activate the daytime running light control circuit and activate the vehicles headlights and taillights and other running lights at normal power levels as long as such sensors are activated or whenever the vehicle headlights are manually activated. The system may further include an emergency brake indicator circuit which turns off the daytime running light and navigational lighting control circuits, and the vehicle headlights and/or taillights controlled thereby, whenever the emergency brake is engaged and may further include an external shut-off circuit for turning off the daytime running light and navigational lighting control circuits, or portions thereof, when activated. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,014,207 Vehicle Lighting Unit 
     When a vehicle enters into the lower portion of a shielding member, a headlamp is switched on, and a condition flag is set to Set  1  which represents a waiting state in which the vehicle exterior is estimated to become bright/dark intermittently. When the condition flag is set to Set  1 , when the vehicle enters into the lower portion of the shielding member, the condition flag is set from Set  1  to Set  2  which represents an intermittent state in which the vehicle exterior becomes bright/dark intermittently with high possibilities. When the condition flag is set to Set  2 , a switch-off extension time CFE and a switch-off delay time CTF make a time until the headlamp is switched off. As a result, the time until the headlamp is switched off is delayed, and the headlamp is required to remain switched on at portions where the vehicle exterior becomes bright/dark intermittently. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,653,215 System for Controlling Exterior Vehicle Lights 
     A system and method of automatically controlling exterior vehicle lights includes an image sensor and a controller to generate control signals. The control signals are derived based on information obtained from the image sensor as well as other detected parameters pertaining to the detected light source(s), the vehicle having the inventive control system, and the ambient environment. The control circuit may simply turn certain exterior lights on or off, or change the brightness, aim, focus, etc. to produce various beam patterns that maximize the illuminated area in front of the vehicle without causing excessive glare in the eyes of other drivers. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,759,819 Illumination Control Device for Vehicle 
     An illumination control unit includes an automatic control function for automatically controlling the turning on and off of vehicle head lights depending on brightness of an environment around a vehicle. A sensitivity adjuster is installed on a lever extending from a steering column in a vehicle compartment. The sensitivity to the brightness of the environment around the vehicle at the time when the auto-on and auto-off state of the vehicle lights is changed can be adjusted with the sensitivity adjuster. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 8,757,851 Location and Weather Information Activated Illumination Device for Outboard Marine Motors 
     An illumination device includes a telescoping mast with a stern navigation light source, a first rear facing illumination source, a second rear facing illumination source, a front-facing inboard light source stationed between the first and second light sources, a weather receiver which receives location-based weather information, and a geo-location receiver in communication with the weather receiver. The mast automatically telescopes and retracts, and the stern navigation light source automatically turns on and off, based at least in part on the information. The illumination device can be provided in an outboard marine motor, or as a system for retrofitting existing outboard marine motors. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 9,227,556 Lighting Control System and Method for a Motor Vehicle 
     A lighting control system and a lighting control method to implement, in an automotive vehicle, external running lights in different available lighting configurations are provided. The lighting control method includes detecting at least one environment parameter, selecting among the different available lighting configurations and depending on the parameter, which lighting configurations can be implemented, depending on the parameter, defining in which order the selected lighting configurations are implemented when an input device is manually actuated, detecting a manual actuation on the input device, depending on a motion of the input device or a motion on the input device, implementing at least one lighting configuration that is chosen among the selected lighting configurations according to the implementation order. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 9,751,456 Headlight Setting Activation Via a Stalk Switch 
     Method, apparatus, and computer storage media are disclosed for headlight setting activation via a stalk switch. An example vehicle includes a stalk switch and a headlamp controller. The example headlamp controller is to monitor the stalk switch and detect, in response to identifying the stalk switch is transitioning to a high-beam position, a number of occurrences the stalk switch is set at the high-beam position in a predetermined time period. Also, the example headlamp controller is to activate, in response to determining the number of occurrences is two, a first headlight setting of headlamps. 
     U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/029,608 Automated Vehicle Lighting Control 
     A vehicle includes headlights, a headlight switch, and a controller. The headlight switch may have automatic and override positions, and include a biasing member configured to return the switch to the automatic position from the override position. The controller may be configured to, in response to a signal indicative of movement from the automatic position to the override position, illuminate the headlights until the vehicle is in a key-off state, and prior to the signal, illuminate the headlights based on ambient light conditions. Also, the controller may set a threshold based on a level of ambient light sensed at a time of the input indicative of headlight switch movement from the automatic position to the override position and illuminate the headlights until first occurrence of the ambient light exceeding the threshold or the vehicle being in the key-off state. 
     U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/457,358 Marine Safety Lighting 
     When a marine engine is on, automatic daytime running lights shall be illuminated. For example, white lights situated in the bow area of the boat would increase visibility of a boat to others, for safety purposes. The same lights or lights generally in the same area, at dusk and/or at night shall manually or automatically transition to red/green navigation lights. 
     U.S. Application No. 20080246404 Vehicle Headlight Beam Controls 
     A method of manually overriding automatic activation of an automatic headlight control system for a motor vehicle, headlamps operable in a high beam state and a low beam state, a high/low beam switch movable from a neutral position to a latched position and from a neutral position to a non-latched position for controlling the state of the headlamps and a headlamp on/off switch comprising a multi-position switch with at least a selectively automatic headlamp position is disclosed. The system includes forward-facing sensor for collecting light emanating from for instance a second vehicle, and a controller for controlling, when the headlamp switch is detected as being in the automatic headlamp position, the headlamp states as a function of the sensed intensity of the beam of light emanating from said second vehicle. The method comprises the steps of: monitoring the states of the headlamps when the headlamp on/off switch is in the automatic position, causing the controller to initiate an override mode if the high beam states is detected (step  230 ) and said high/low beam switch is detected as moved from the neutral position to the non-latched position whereupon the controller changes the headlamps to the Low state (step  260 ) when the High/Low beam switch is subsequently released to the neutral position. Such a method ensures the use of conventional stalk. 
     U.S. Application No. 20130234593 Systems and Methods for Controlling Vehicle Lighting 
     A system for controlling a lighting system for a vehicle includes an ambient light sensor operable for detecting a level of ambient light and a lighting circuitry. The system also includes a logical control unit that receives input signals from a vehicle control unit, a user input device and the ambient light sensor. The logical control unit control, a voltage on the lighting circuitry to provide a minimum voltage based on the one or more input signal. 
     WO2016099419 An Automatic Illumination System 
     The invention subject to the application is related to a system where the vehicle interior illumination lighting level can be adjusted automatically by means of a programmable electronic control unit ( 2 ) using the information obtained from a sensor ( 5 ), by the vehicle interior illumination hardware which is illuminated by LEDs ( 4 ). 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a first embodiment of a watercraft safety lighting system includes one or more light sensors for measuring ambient light levels. These light sensors are operatively connected to a programmable electronic controller, such as a programmable logic controller or any suitable programmable computing device. In one embodiment, the navigation lights (at least one red light on the port side of the vessel and at least one green light positioned on the starboard side of the vessel) are operatively connected to the electronic controller, as well as docking lights, interior lights, and instrument panel lighting, such as the lighting for gauges, instrument panels, video screens, GPS monitors, and the like. 
     In one embodiment, the light sensors are deployed to detect ambient light levels, and provide a continuous data feed to the electronic controller regarding current ambient light levels. When ambient light levels reach a predetermined level of low light (as darkness is setting in, for example), the electronic controller is programmed to switch on the navigation lights, and to adjust other lighting to appropriate levels for night-time operations. For example, during hours of darkness, the electronic controller may switch the instrument screens such as GPS, fuel level gauges, speedometer, RPM gauges, battery power gauges, video screens and other instruments, as well as other interior lighting, to appropriate brightness levels in order to provide optimal visibility to the boat captain. 
     The electronic controller may also be operatively connected to the GPS system, the RPM gauges, and/or the speedometer, as well, in order to properly operate the docking lights or other components. In this embodiment, the electronic controller may automatically shut off the docking lights when the vessel reaches a speed above a predetermined limit (preferably at a low or idle speed, but certainly below displacement speed where the boat is ‘up on plane,’ and traveling fast). 
     The present system may also include alarms to warn the boat captain that the navigation lights are not switched on during hours of darkness, or when ambient light levels are below a predetermined level. The alarm(s) may take any form, such as an audio alarm, a visual alarm such as a flashing light on the helm, or a warning displayed on a video screen. The alarm(s) may be operatively connected to, and controlled by, the electronic controller. The alarms may also be used to alert the boat captain that the navigation lights (or any other lights controlled by the system) are not functioning properly (ie. when a light bulb has burned out, or a fuse has blown). 
     It is also contemplated that the system may be operatively connected, either wirelessly or via a cord or docking station, by a hand-held mobile device, such as a smart phone or iPad. These mobile devices may include software, commonly referred to as an ‘app,’ that may be used to operate the lighting system remotely, and to receive alerts or notifications from the vessel&#39;s lighting system. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a boat that includes one embodiment of the safety lighting system, including navigation lights, a light sensor, and a carbon monoxide detector, all of which are operatively connected to a programmable electronic controller; 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of a boat that includes one embodiment of the safety lighting system, including navigation lights, a light sensor, and a carbon monoxide detector, all of which are operatively connected to a programmable electronic controller; 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of a helm of a boat that includes one embodiment of the safety lighting system, wherein the helm includes a light sensor, a video screen, a kill switch, and gauges that include lighting therein for nighttime operations, all of which are operatively connected to a programmable electronic controller; and 
         FIG.  4    is a schematic view of one embodiment of a safety lighting system for a boat or watercraft. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention includes, in a first embodiment, a safety lighting system for watercraft includes a programmable electronic controller  10  that is operatively connected to various lights on a vessel, as well as one or more light sensors  12  for determining ambient light levels. In one embodiment, the navigation lights  14  (at least one red light on the port side of the vessel and at least one green light positioned on the starboard side of the vessel, as well as the stern anchor light) are operatively connected to the electronic controller  10 , as well as docking lights  16 , interior lights, and instrument panel lighting, such as the lighting for gauges  18 , instrument panels, video screens  20 , GPS monitors, and the like, as shown in  FIGS.  1 - 3   . A schematic drawing of the system is shown in  FIG.  4   . 
     The electronic controller  10  is programmed to operate the various lights based on data input from the light sensor(s)  12 , and specific lights may be operated in a different manner from the other lights, based on the functionality of each specific light or series of lights. For example, when the light sensors  12  detect ambient light levels below a predetermined level, it may switch on the navigation lights  14  (including the red light on the port side, the green light on the starboard side, and the stern light). The navigation lights  14  are typically either in the off position or the on position, and it is generally not necessary (or recommended) to adjust brightness levels of the navigation lights  14 , as they should always be illuminated as brightly as possible for safety purposes. 
     Control of the navigation lights  14  may take several different forms. For instance, in one embodiment, the system may be programmed to automatically switch the navigation lights  14  on when darkness falls. In another embodiment, the system may be programmed to simply activate an alarm to alert the boat captain that the navigation lights are not on when the light sensors detect low ambient light levels, and the captain may switch the navigation lights  14  to the on position, thereby causing the alarm to deactivate. The alarm(s) may take any suitable or desired form, such as an audio alarm, a visual alarm such as a flashing light on the helm, a warning displayed on a video screen  20 , a notification sent to a handheld wireless device, or any combination thereof. The alarm(s) may be operatively connected to, and controlled by, the electronic controller  10 . The alarms may also be used to alert the boat captain that the navigation lights  14  (or any other lights controlled by the system) are not function properly (ie. when a light bulb has burned out, or a fuse has blown). Additionally, the alarm(s) may be used to indicate that the docking lights  16  are on, where the alarm is triggered by 1) the docking lights  16  are switched on, and 2) the boat has reached a predetermined speed above idle speed. 
     For helm lighting, which includes all instrument gauges  18 , video displays  20 , backlights, GPS screens, touchscreens and the like, any or all of those components may be operatively connected to the electronic controller  10 , so that the system may adjust those lights to appropriate levels, based on the ambient light data provided by the light sensors  12 . In one embodiment, these lights may be programmed to dim on a sliding scale, so that they may appear bright in broad daylight, may dim slightly at dusk when ambient light levels are lower (but not completely dark yet), and may adjust further as ambient light levels drop to nighttime levels. It is contemplated that these adjustments may be programmed by a user, as some captains may need the helm lights to be a bit brighter than other captains at various ambient light levels. 
     Similarly, other interior lighting around the interior or exterior of the boat  22  (preferably excluding navigation lights) may be automatically dimmed, brightened, or adjusted by the system, based on the ambient light level data provided by the light sensors. These interior lights may include lights around the cabin, adjacent to passenger seating, around cupholders, along aisles, adjacent doors, lights positioned on or within audio speakers, and the like. 
     In one embodiment, the interior lights and/or the helm instrument lights may be programmed to adjust brightness levels based not only on ambient light levels, but also based on whether the boat  22  is underway, or is stopped or drifting but not under power. For example, the interior lighting and or helm lighting might be programmed to brighten to a predetermined level at night when the boat  22  is at rest or drifting with the motor  24  disengaged, and may be further programmed to dim when the boat  22  reaches a predetermined speed (based on data from the GPS system, the speedometer, the RPM gauges, or some combination of these components). It is contemplated that the system may be pre-programmed by the factory or manufacturer to certain default settings, and may further be programmable by the user to adjust to a user&#39;s preferred functionality (including brightness levels under certain conditions, and whether certain lights are in the on or off position under various conditions). For example, some boat captains prefer to completely turn off interior lighting while running at night, operating only the navigation lights and the helm instrument lights. Other boat captains may desire to have the interior lighting become bright when the boat  22  is at rest, and then to dim when the boat  22  is underway or reaches a predetermined speed. 
     In an embodiment where some aspects of the safety lighting system are user programmable, a control panel, touch screen, or the like may be operatively connected to the electronic controller to provide a user interface for programming the system according to the user&#39;s preferences. Alternatively, the boat lighting system interface may be displayed on a video monitor or touch screen that is already installed on the vessel for other purposes, such as commonly used Simrad® screens that are routinely used in modern vessels for displaying various types of data, such as GPS map screens, instrument gauges, speedometers, RPMs, and the like. 
     It is also contemplated that the safety lighting system may be operatively connected, either wirelessly or via a cord or docking station, by a hand-held mobile device, such as a smart phone or iPad. These mobile devices may include software, commonly referred to as an ‘app,’ that may be used to operate the lighting system remotely, and to receive alerts or notifications from the vessel&#39;s lighting system. Essentially, the system may be operated and programmed remotely by the handheld device, preferably via a wireless connection, such as BlueTooth, WiFi, or any other suitable wireless communications method. 
     In another embodiment, the electronic controller may also be operatively connected to the ignition key or button on a watercraft  22 , and may be programmed to prevent the motor  24  from starting if the light sensor detects low ambient light levels while the navigation lights  14  are switched to the off position. In other words, if the navigation lights  14  are not switched on after dark, the motor  24  will not start. Alternatively, the system may be programmed so that the motor  24  will start, but the propellor will not engage until the navigation lights  14  are switched on. In these embodiments, it is contemplated that an alarm (as described above) may be activated to notify the boat captain that the navigation lights  14  are not switched on, so that the captain understands that the watercraft  22  is operating properly, and that the problem is that the navigation lights  14  are off. Once the navigation lights  14  are switched to the on position during low-light conditions, the motor  24  starts and the boat  22  may shift into gear for normal nighttime operations. 
     Optionally, the system may include a carbon monoxide detector  26  that is preferably positioned in the stern section of the boat  22  or any place where exhaust fumes may be emitted. In use the carbon monoxide detector  26  monitors the air for carbon monoxide, and triggers an alarm when the carbon monoxide levels reach a predetermined concentration. The carbon monoxide detector  26  may be connected to a speaker or through the stereo system to emit an audio alarm, and/or may be operatively connected to the programmable electronic controller  10 , which can be programmed to make the interior lights, or any other lights, flash or pulse, in order to provide a visual warning or distress signal. Additionally, the programmable electronic controller  10  may also be programmed to display warning language or some other visual alarm on a video screen or monitor  20  at the helm  28 , when the carbon monoxide alarm is triggered. Alternatively, the carbon monoxide detector  26  may be operatively connected to a kill switch  30  on the boat  22 , so that when excessive levels of carbon monoxide are detected, the kill switch  30  shuts down the motor(s)  24  of the boat  22  in order to prevent additional noxious gases from being generated by the motor(s)  24 . 
     Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein. All features disclosed in this specification may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.