Safety Lighting System for Watercraft

Abstract

A watercraft safety lighting system includes one or more light sensors for measuring ambient light levels, which are operatively connected to an electronic controller, such as a programmable logic controller or any suitable programmable computing device. The navigation lights 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. 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. The system may also shut off docking lights at a predetermined speed after dark, and may include alarms to warn the boat captain of improper lighting settings in low-light conditions.

Claims

1. A safety lighting system for a watercraft comprising: at least one light sensor for detecting brightness levels of ambient light; a programmable electronic controller operatively connected to said light sensor; navigation lights operatively connected to said programmable electronic controller; docking lights operatively connected to said programmable electronic controller; a global positioning satellite receiver for determining the location and speed of said receiver, said global positioning satellite receiver being operatively connected to said programmable electronic controller; wherein said programmable electronic controller is programmed to receive ambient light level data from said light sensor, and to turn on said navigation lights when said ambient light levels are detected below a predetermined level; and wherein said programmable electronic controller is programmed to switch off said docking lights when said global positioning satellite receiver detects that said global positioning satellite receiver is moving at a speed above a predetermined level.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. The safety lighting system for a watercraft set forth in claim 2, further including gauge lights that are operatively connected to said programmable electronic controller, wherein said programmable electronic controller is programmed to adjust said gauge lights when said light sensor detects ambient light below a predetermined level.

5. The safety lighting system for a watercraft set forth in claim 1, further including a kill switch for shutting off a boat motor, wherein said kill switch is operatively connected to said programmable electronic controller.

6. The safety lighting system for a watercraft set forth in claim 5, further including a carbon monoxide detector that is operatively connected to said programmable electronic controller; wherein said programmable electronic controller is programmed to turn off said kill switch when said carbon monoxide detector detects carbon monoxide levels that are above a predetermined level.

7. The safety lighting system for a watercraft set forth in claim 1, further including a video screen that is operatively connected to said programmable electronic controller; and wherein said programmable electronic controller is programmed to adjust brightness levels of said video screen based on levels of ambient light detected by said light sensor.

8. The safety lighting system for a watercraft set forth in claim 1, further including a plurality of interior lights adapted to be positioned on an interior portion of a boat; wherein said interior lights are operatively connected to said programmable electronic controller; and wherein said programmable electronic controller is programmed to adjust brightness levels of said interior lights based on ambient light levels detected by said light sensor.

9. The safety lighting system for a watercraft set forth in claim 8, further including a carbon monoxide detector operatively connected to said programmable electronic controller; wherein said programmable electronic controller is programmed to intermittently flash said navigation lights and said interior lights when said carbon monoxide detector detects carbon monoxide levels above a predetermined level.

10. A safety lighting system for a watercraft comprising: at least one light sensor for detecting brightness levels of ambient light; a programmable electronic controller operatively connected to said light sensor; and docking lights operatively connected to said programmable electronic controller; wherein said programmable electronic controller is programmed to receive ambient light level data from said light sensor, and to turn off said docking lights when said ambient light levels are detected above a predetermined level.

11. The safety lighting system for a watercraft set forth in claim 10, further comprising: a global positioning satellite receiver for determining the location and speed of said receiver, said global positioning satellite receiver being operatively connected to said programmable electronic controller.

12. The safety lighting system for a watercraft set forth in claim 11, wherein said programmable electronic controller is programmed to switch off said docking lights when said global positioning satellite receiver detects that said global positioning satellite receiver is moving at a speed above a predetermined level.

13. The safety lighting system for a watercraft set forth in claim 10, further comprising: navigation lights operatively connected to said programmable electronic controller; wherein said programmable electronic controller is programmed to turn on said navigation lights when said ambient light levels are detected below a predetermined level.

14. (canceled)

15. A safety lighting system for a watercraft comprising: at least one light sensor for detecting brightness levels of ambient light; a programmable electronic controller operatively connected to said light sensor; navigation lights operatively connected to said programmable electronic controller; and a kill switch that is adapted to be operatively connected to a motor, said kill switch being operatively connected to said programmable electronic controller wherein said programmable electronic controller is programmed to receive ambient light level data from said light sensor, and to switch said kill switch to an off position when said programmable electronic controller detects that the navigation lights are switched off when said light sensor indicates that ambient light levels are detected below a predetermined brightness level.

16. The safety lighting system for a watercraft set forth in claim 15, further including a video monitor that is operatively connected to said programmable electronic controller, wherein said video monitor displays an alert that said navigation lights are not illuminated when said ambient light levels are detected below a predetermined brightness level.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] 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:

[0038] 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;

[0039] 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;

[0040] 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

[0041] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of one embodiment of a safety lighting system for a boat or watercraft.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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.

[0044] 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.

[0045] 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.

[0046] 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.

[0047] 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'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.

[0048] 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'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.

[0049] 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'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.

[0050] 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.

[0051] 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.

[0052] 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.