Abstract:
A system for displaying the status of accessory systems is claimed. At least one sensor monitors the status of at least one accessory system. A transmitter located in proximity of the sensor transmits status information from the sensor to a receiver. The receiver is located remotely from the sensor and the transmitter. The receiver processes the status information and transmits the status information to a visual display.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This invention relates to monitoring systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a remote monitoring system having a centralized visual display of the status of various accessories or systems in a marine environment. 
     A boat has many independent accessory systems for effecting the basic operational and environmental functions of the boat. Typically, such accessory systems are located on various places on the boat that may be difficult to physically access or monitor, especially while attempting to pilot the boat at the same time. For example, accessory systems related to engine operating parameters, such as battery level, fuel level, oil level, oil pressure, and engine temperature are usually located in or around the engine. Accessory systems related to environment control, parameters such as state room temperature, potable water tank level and gray water tank level are usually located proximate to their respective systems, which, in turn, may be located anywhere on the boat. 
     Some have attempted to solve the problem of monitoring such systems by hard wiring accessory system monitors or sensors to a centralized display. However, having hard-wired connections to connect accessory systems to a centralized display requires the installation of cabling conduits throughout the vessel. Further, connecting multiple accessory systems to a centralized display is time consuming and expensive. Moreover, the wires are often exposed to severe weather and seawater. Such harsh elements provide a corrosive environment that shortens the life and decreases the reliability of such systems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the invention provides a system for monitoring the status of various accessories, the monitoring system having a visual display of the status of accessory systems without physically having to access the various systems. As opposed to existing monitoring systems, the present invention uses wireless communication between various sensors of accessory systems and a centralized display. 
     At least one sensor monitors the status of at least one accessory system. A transmitter is connected to the sensor and transmits status information from the sensor to a receiver. The receiver is located remotely from the accessory system and receives the transmitted status information from the sensor. The receiver processes the information received from the sensor and transmits the information to a visual display. 
     The principal advantage of the invention is to provide a remote accessory monitoring system having a centralized display utilizing wireless communication. 
     Another advantage of the invention is to provide a centralized display that is easily accessible to the operation of the marine vessel. 
     Another advantage of the invention is to provide a centralized display of accessory systems that is operable in a harsh environment. 
     Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reviewing the following detailed description, claims and drawings. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the system of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the basic systems monitor of the invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the environmental systems display of the invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the electrical systems display of the invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the climate control and comfort systems display of the invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a block diagram of optional displays of the invention. 
     Before one embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and may be carried out in various ways. Also, it is understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Illustrated in FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the accessory monitoring system  100  of the invention. Individual sensors, such as sensors  104 ,  108  and  112  monitor various individual accessory systems. The sensors can monitor any type of accessory system. Some representative accessory system categories are illustrated in FIGS. 2-6. The individual sensors  104 ,  108  and  112  capture status information from the accessory system that the sensor is monitoring. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the basic accessory systems  150 . The selectable viewing screen  154  comprises a battery voltage indicator  158 , a generator AC voltage indicator  162 , an oil pressure indicator  166 , a black water holding tank level indicator  170  and a bilge water hydrocarbon detector  174 . Each viewing screen allows for programmable features, such as audible alarms and low battery indicators. Thus, for example, a fuel tank inlet alarm may sound when the fuel level passes a pre-programmed, threshold amount to avoid overfilling the tank and spilling fuel into a marina. Similarly, an alarm may sound off when a battery operated sensor is in danger of losing power or is no longer operable. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the environmental accessory systems  178 . The environmental accessory systems  178  are displayed on an environmental systems viewing screen  182 . The environmental viewing screen  182  comprises an engine room detector  186 , a state room indicator  190 , a salon CO detector  194 , a fuel level sensor indicator  198 , a potable water indicator  202 , a gray water holding tank level indicator  206  and a water mark status indicator  210 . 
     FIG. 4 illustrates the electrical systems  214 . The electrical systems  214  are displayed on an electrical systems viewing screen  218 . The electrical systems viewing screen  218  comprises a battery load indicator  222 , a battery current indicator  226 , a battery temperature indicator  230 , a generator AC current indicator  234 , a load temperature indicator  238  and a coolant temperature indicator  242 . 
     FIG. 5 illustrates the climate control systems  246 . The climate control systems  246  are displayed on a climate control systems viewing screen  250 . The climate control system-viewing screen  250  comprises a salon indicator  252 , a state room temperature indicator  258  and an engine room temperature indicator  262 . 
     Referring back to FIG. 1, the accessory monitoring system  100  includes radio frequency (RF) transmitters  116 ,  120 , and  124  connected to sensors  104 ,  108 , and  112 , respectively. Transmitters  116 ,  120 , and  124  receive status information from the respective sensors, and transmit the status information to a centralized receiver  128 . In a preferred embodiment, the transmitters  116 ,  120 , and  124  transmit (i.e., broadcast) a low power radio frequency (RF) signal to the receiver  128 . The receiver  128  receives the data transmission of status information from the various sensors. The status information is processed in a processor or computer  130 , which then transmits the status information to a centralized display  132 . As status information is received from the sensors  104 ,  108 , and  112 , the status information is periodically updated to the centralized display  132 . In some cases, it may be desirable to transmit status information to a different display, or to more than one display, such as displays  136  and  140 . The displays  132 ,  136 , and  140  are mounted in easily accessible locations, such as the helm of a boat. 
     The display  132  is preferably a flat panel display that may be configured with selectable viewing screens for each of the major accessory system categories. Push buttons, soft keys, and/or a mouse driven cursor may allow the operator to navigate through the different viewing screens. 
     In some cases, it may not be desirable to have all accessory systems status information available on a single display. Also, it may be desirable to have status information of certain accessory systems available on multiple displays. Accordingly, FIG. 6 illustrates optional display systems  266 . The optional display systems  266  are displayed on an optional display system-viewing screen  270 . The optional display systems  266  may operate remotely from the main operating display  132 . The optional display systems  266  may comprise a remote filling alarm and display  274  and a black water display and alarm system  278 . 
     The computer  130  operates in two modes: a normal mode where the computer carries out the functions described above, and a learning or programming mode where the computer learns the identity of the sensors  104 - 112 . 
     The sensor/transmitter units used in the present invention are uni-directional devices. That is, the sensor/transmitter units transmit data but are incapable of receiving data or commands from a controller such as the computer  130 . Further, since the present invention employs wireless communication there is no direct connection from each sensor/transmitter unit to the receiver  128 . These circumstances make it difficult for the receiver  128 /computer  130  to determine which sensor/transmitter unit is “talking” to it. 
     The circumstances also make it difficult for the receiver  128 /computer  130  to distinguish spurious signals from desired transmissions of the sensor/transmitter units. 
     Accordingly, transmissions from sensor/transmitter units are encoded before transmission. Once received by the receiver, the transmissions are decoded to ensure that they match previously stored codes. Preferably, each sensor  104 - 112  is assigned a pseudo-random code number of sufficient length to ensure that duplication of codes does not occur for a commercially reasonable number of monitoring systems. Each sensor  104 - 112  provides at least two transmission data packets depending on the mode of operation: normal mode or power up mode. In the normal mode, each sensor provides the pseudo-random code with each transmission of information. In the power up mode, each sensor provides a diagnostic signal or data packet with the identifying pseudo-random code. The computer  130  is programmed to recognize that receipt of a power up mode transmission packet indicates a failure or tamper condition with the associated sensor. 
     As the computer  130  receives information from the receiver  128 , it stores the pseudo-random code associated with the transmission and compares it to codes received while the computer  130  was in the programming mode. The computer  130  then ignores any sensor transmissions that do not contain a code that matches those stored during programming. Using this technique it is possible for the computer  130  to learn the identity of the sensors  104 - 112  by placing the computer  130  in the programming mode, turning off each sensor, and then turning each sensor on. 
     As can be seen from the above, the present invention provides a wireless accessory monitoring system that provides information regarding various accessory systems. Many possible forms of the invention may be constructed based on the teachings set forth herein. Therefore, it should be understood that the invention is not confined to the particular construction and arrangement of the components illustrated and described, but embraces all forms encompassed by the following claims.