US 11,702,178 B2
Marine propulsion control system, method, and user interface for marine vessel docking and launch
Todd D. Dannenberg, Fond du Lac, WI (US); Matthew E. Derginer, Butte des Morts, WI (US); Travis C. Malouf, Germantown, WI (US); Aaron J. Ward, Oshkosh, WI (US); and Troy R. Brockdorf, Oshkosh, WI (US)
Assigned to Brunswick Corporation, Mettawa, IL (US)
Filed by Brunswick Corporation, Mettawa, IL (US)
Filed on Jan. 27, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/752,889.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/799,427, filed on Jan. 31, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2020/0247518 A1, Aug. 6, 2020
Int. Cl. B63H 21/21 (2006.01); G05D 1/02 (2020.01)
CPC B63H 21/21 (2013.01) [G05D 1/0206 (2013.01); B63H 2021/216 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A marine propulsion system for a marine vessel comprising:
at least one propulsion device;
a user input device configured to facilitate input for engaging automatic propulsion control functionality with respect to a docking surface, the user input device comprising a direction indicator display including at least two direction indicators each configured to visually indicate a direction with respect to the marine vessel;
a control system configured to:
identify a potential docking surface;
determine a direction of the potential docking surface with respect to the marine vessel;
control at least one of the at least two direction indicators on the direction indicator display to indicate the direction of the potential docking surface with respect to the marine vessel;
receive a user selection via the user input device based on the at least one direction indicator to select the potential docking surface as a selected docking surface; and
automatically control propulsion of the marine vessel via the at least one propulsion device to move the marine vessel with respect to the selected docking surface.