US 12,240,581 B2
User interface apparatus for controlling marine vessel
Antti Matilainen, Helsinki (FI); Kalevi Tervo, Helsinki (FI); and Santeri Vanhakartano, Helsinki (FI)
Assigned to ABB Schweiz AG, Baden (CH)
Appl. No. 17/593,784
Filed by ABB Schweiz AG, Baden (CH)
PCT Filed Mar. 27, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/058727
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 24, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/193756, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 1, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 19165678 (EP), filed on Mar. 28, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0126971 A1, Apr. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. B63H 25/02 (2006.01); B63H 21/21 (2006.01); G05G 9/047 (2006.01); G06F 3/01 (2006.01); G06F 3/0362 (2013.01); G06F 3/04847 (2022.01); G05G 1/015 (2008.04)
CPC B63H 25/02 (2013.01) [B63H 21/213 (2013.01); G05G 9/047 (2013.01); G06F 3/016 (2013.01); G06F 3/0362 (2013.01); G06F 3/04847 (2013.01); B63H 2025/026 (2013.01); G05G 1/015 (2013.01); G05G 2009/04766 (2013.01); G05G 2505/00 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A user interface apparatus for controlling a marine vessel, comprising:
a mechanical stick with a linear motion, a mechanical block with a rotational motion, and a mechanical ring with a rotational motion, all of which are manipulatable by a user, wherein the mechanical block and the mechanical ring are concentric with each other, wherein the mechanical stick in one position of a plurality of positions is concentric with the mechanical block and the mechanical ring;
one or more electric motors configured to give tactile feedback to the user; and
one or more processors configured to:
operate the user interface apparatus in a plurality of operation modes, each operation mode with a distinct configuration that:
maps one of a ship speed, a thrust force, a propeller speed, a propeller pitch, or a power output as a control parameter for the mechanical stick,
disables the mechanical block or maps one of a direction of a thrust force or a steering angle as a control parameter for the mechanical block, and
disables the mechanical ring, or maps one of a heading, a course, a torque, or a rate of turn as a control parameter for the mechanical ring, or maps a steering angle as a control parameter for the mechanical ring when the steering angle is not mapped to the mechanical block;
retrieve distinct settings for the tactile feedback as a part of the distinct configuration of the operation mode; and
control the tactile feedback given by the one or more electric motors based on the retrieved distinct settings during setting a selected control parameter mapped to the mechanical stick, the mechanical block or the mechanical ring, wherein an integrated control approach is provided such that the distinct tactile and/or visual feedback settings enable setting different control parameters with the same mechanical stick, the mechanical block, and the mechanical ring in the plurality of the operation modes.