Patents by Inventor Steven J. Gonring
Steven J. Gonring has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11970251Abstract: A method and system for controlling a marine vessel is configured to operate a lanyard system to detect at least one fob worn by an individual present on the marine vessel and determine that a missing fob of the at least one fob is no longer detected, wherein the missing fob is either an operator fob or a passenger fob. A man overboard event is generated based on the missing fob, wherein the man overboard event is an operator overboard event if the missing fob includes the operator fob or a passenger overboard event if the missing fob is the passenger fob. One or more search assistance functions are automatically activated based on the man overboard event, wherein the search assistance functions activated depend on whether the man overboard event is the operator overboard event or the passenger overboard event.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2023Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventors: Steven J. Gonring, Walter B. Ross, Fredrik Eriksen, Christian Frost Røine
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Patent number: 11897591Abstract: A marine propulsion system includes an engine effectuating rotation of an output shaft, a battery, an alternator having a rotor driven into rotation by the output shaft and that is configured to generate a charge output to the battery, a battery state of charge sensor configured to measure a battery charge value of the battery, and a control system. This control system is configured to receive a demand value and/or a temperature, receive the battery charge value from the battery state of charge sensor; and control the alternator to adjust the charge output based on at least one of the battery charge value and the demand value and/or temperature.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2020Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventor: Steven J. Gonring
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Patent number: 11884176Abstract: A method of operating a charging station for a marine battery on a marine vessel is provided, wherein the charging station includes a charger configured to deliver a DC charge current from an AC power source and wherein the charger is at least partially encapsulated in an enclosure located on a dock structure in or adjacent to a body of water. Upon the marine battery being operatively coupled to the charging station, charging the marine battery with the charger using the power source. At least one pump is controlled to draw in cooling water from the body of water and to circulate the cooling water through the enclosure to cool the charger.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2022Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventor: Steven J. Gonring
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Patent number: 11866139Abstract: A power storage system for a marine vehicle is provided. The power storage system includes marine battery systems configured to provide energy to a marine vehicle load. Each marine battery system includes a battery and a three-position contactor configured to operate the marine battery system in one of a connected state, a disconnected state, or a bypass state. The power storage system further includes a controller coupled to each of the marine battery systems. The controller is configured to retrieve a preferred fault action for the marine battery systems, and in response to detection of a fault condition in the marine vehicle, control at least one three-position contactor of the marine battery systems according to the preferred fault action. The preferred fault action includes operating the marine battery system in the disconnected state or operating the marine battery system in the bypass state.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2021Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventor: Steven J. Gonring
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Patent number: 11718375Abstract: A wireless lanyard system for a marine vessel propelled by at least one propulsion device, the system comprising an operator fob configured to be worn by an operator of the marine vessel, a helm transceiver configured to receive radio signals from the operator fob an a controller. The controller is configured to define a permitted zone with respect to a helm area of the marine vessel based on at least one vessel condition, determine based on communications between the operator fob and the helm transceiver whether the operator is within the permitted zone with respect to the helm area, and generate a lanyard event when the operator is not within the permitted zone.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventor: Steven J. Gonring
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Publication number: 20230227132Abstract: A method and system for controlling a marine vessel is configured to operate a lanyard system to detect at least one fob worn by an individual present on the marine vessel and determine that a missing fob of the at least one fob is no longer detected, wherein the missing fob is either an operator fob or a passenger fob. A man overboard event is generated based on the missing fob, wherein the man overboard event is an operator overboard event if the missing fob includes the operator fob or a passenger overboard event if the missing fob is the passenger fob. One or more search assistance functions are automatically activated based on the man overboard event, wherein the search assistance functions activated depend on whether the man overboard event is the operator overboard event or the passenger overboard event.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2023Publication date: July 20, 2023Applicants: Brunswick Corporation, FELL Marine Inc.Inventors: Steven J. Gonring, Walter B. Ross, Fredrik Eriksen, Christian Frost Røine
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Patent number: 11702179Abstract: A remote control system for a marine vessel includes at least one fob and a configuration control system configured to detect available devices on the marine vessel to be controlled remotely for the marine vessel, generate a list of available functions for at least one user-selectable fob command based on the detected available devices, present the list of available functions to the user via a fob configuration user interface such that the user can select one or more functions in the list of available functions, identify a system command associated with each selected function so as to configure a set of system commands based on the user-selected functions, and store the user-configured set of system commands in association with the fob identification and the selected fob command. The system further includes a helm transceiver module to effectuate activation/deactivation of the available devices based on the user-configured set of system commands.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2021Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventor: Steven J. Gonring
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Publication number: 20230175447Abstract: A marine propulsion system for a marine vessel includes an engine effectuating rotation of an output shaft, multiple batteries configured to power a marine vessel load, and an alternator having a rotor that is driven into rotation by the output shaft and that outputs a charge current to the batteries. The marine propulsion system further includes a control system configured to operate the engine in a propulsion mode and a generator mode. Upon receiving a generator mode command to start the engine in the generator mode, the control system operates the engine in accordance with a set of generator parameters to charge the batteries while a shift system of the marine propulsion system is locked in a neutral position such that the propulsor cannot be engaged and the marine vessel remains stationary.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2021Publication date: June 8, 2023Applicant: Brunswick CorporationInventors: Steven J. Gonring, Eric S. Mueller, Michael J. Lemancik
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Publication number: 20230174215Abstract: A marine propulsion system for marine vessel includes at least one battery configured to power a vessel load, a plurality of marine drives, and a control system. Each of the plurality of marine drives includes an engine, an alternator driven by the engine to charge the battery, and a propulsor selectively driven by the engine to propel the marine vessel. Each of the plurality of marine drives is configured to operate in a propulsion mode in which the engine is operated to rotate the propulsor to propel the marine vessel in a generator mode in which the engine is operated to charge the battery while the marine vessel remains stationary. The control system is configured to select a subset of the plurality of marine drives and then to operate the subset of marine drives in the generator mode to charge the battery while the marine vessel remains stationary.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2021Publication date: June 8, 2023Applicant: Brunswick CorporationInventors: Steven J. Gonring, Michael J. Lemancik, Jason S. Arbuckle
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Patent number: 11661165Abstract: A method of controlling an alternator in a marine propulsion system includes receiving a demand value, wherein the demand value relates to an amount of output power produced by the engine that is demanded for propulsion of the marine vessel, and determining whether the demand value exceeds a demand threshold. The alternator is then controlled to reduce the charge current output to the battery and/or reduce a portion of engine output power from the engine that is utilized by the alternator when the demand value exceeds the demand threshold.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventor: Steven J. Gonring
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Patent number: 11618538Abstract: A vessel control system for a marine vessel propelled by at least one propulsion device includes a wireless lanyard system including at least one fob worn by an individual on the marine vessel and a helm transceiver at a helm area of the marine vessel configured to receive radio signals from the at least one fob. A controller is configured to detect, based on communications between each of the at least one fob and the helm transceiver, that each of the at least one fob is present on the marine vessel. A missing fob is detected if at least one of the fobs is no longer detected at the helm transceiver, and then a man overboard event is generated. The vessel control system is configured to automatically activate one or more search assistance functions based on the man overboard event.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2020Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignees: Brunswick Corporation, FELL Marine Inc.Inventors: Steven J. Gonring, Walter B. Ross, Fredrik Eriksen, Christian Frost Røine
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Publication number: 20230053671Abstract: An electric marine propulsion system is configured to propel a marine vessel and comprises a lithium ion (LI) battery, a marine drive having an electric motor powered by the LI battery, and a user input device configured to receive a user input selected an emergency depletion mode. The system further includes a controller configured to determine a battery charge level for the LI battery and reserve a minimum charge level of the LI battery associated with a normal operating area for the LI battery by ceasing power delivery from the LI battery to the marine drive once the battery charge level reaches the minimum charge level. In response to selection of the emergency depletion mode, power is delivered from the LI battery to the marine drive when the battery charge level is below the minimum charge level.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2021Publication date: February 23, 2023Applicant: Brunswick CorporationInventor: Steven J. Gonring
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Patent number: 11518261Abstract: A fast charging station for a marine vessel battery on a marine vessel is provided. The fast charging station includes a dock battery, a charger that is operatively coupled to a power source and the dock battery, and an enclosure located on a dock structure in a body of water. The enclosure is configured to encapsulate the dock battery and the charger. The charger is configured to charge the dock battery using the power source when the marine vessel is not docked to the dock structure. The charger is further configured to charge the marine vessel battery using the power source and the dock battery when the marine vessel is docked to the dock structure.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2020Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventor: Steven J. Gonring
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Publication number: 20220328912Abstract: A marine battery system configured to provide energy to a marine vessel load is provided. The marine battery system includes a main enclosure body and an auxiliary enclosure body that is detachably coupled to the main enclosure body to define a sealed battery volume. The auxiliary enclosure body is configured to perform a pressure accommodation action responsive to an increase in a temperature within the sealed battery volume. The marine battery system further includes a battery disposed within the sealed battery volume.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2021Publication date: October 13, 2022Applicant: Brunswick CorporationInventor: Steven J. Gonring
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Publication number: 20220328943Abstract: A marine battery pack including a battery enclosure having an exterior and an interior defining a cavity, wherein the battery enclosure is configured to protect against water ingress into the cavity. The marine battery pack further comprises a plurality of cell modules within the cavity, each including a plurality of battery cells, and at least one exterior sensor on the battery enclosure configured to sense at least one of an exterior temperature, an exterior pressure, and a presence of water on the exterior of the battery enclosure. A controller is configured to identify a water exposure event based on the at least one of the exterior temperature, the exterior pressure, and the presence of water on the exterior of the battery enclosure. A water exposure response is then generated.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2022Publication date: October 13, 2022Applicant: Brunswick CorporationInventors: Eric S. Mueller, John N. Oenick, Steven J. Gonring, Trevor George, Timothy S. Reid
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Publication number: 20220328893Abstract: A marine battery pack including an enclosure defining a cavity, a plurality of cell modules within the cavity, each comprising a plurality of battery cells, and at least one sensor configured to sense at least one of a temperature, a pressure, a presence of water, and a gas content within the cavity. A controller is configured to detect an event warranting decommission of the battery pack based on the temperature, the pressure, the presence of water, and/or the gas content within the cavity, and then to automatically operate a pump to intake water from outside of the enclosure and pump water through the cavity from an inlet port in the enclosure to an outlet port in the enclosure so as to cool the plurality of battery cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2022Publication date: October 13, 2022Applicant: Brunswick CorporationInventors: John N. Oenick, Eric S. Mueller, Steven J. Gonring, Trevor George
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Publication number: 20220242538Abstract: A power storage system for a marine vehicle is provided. The power storage system includes marine battery systems configured to provide energy to a marine vehicle load. Each marine battery system includes a battery and a three-position contactor configured to operate the marine battery system in one of a connected state, a disconnected state, or a bypass state. The power storage system further includes a controller coupled to each of the marine battery systems. The controller is configured to retrieve a preferred fault action for the marine battery systems, and in response to detection of a fault condition in the marine vehicle, control at least one three-position contactor of the marine battery systems according to the preferred fault action. The preferred fault action includes operating the marine battery system in the disconnected state or operating the marine battery system in the bypass state.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2021Publication date: August 4, 2022Applicant: Brunswick CorporationInventor: Steven J. Gonring
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Patent number: 11381103Abstract: A variable voltage charging system for a vehicle includes an alternator operatively connected to an engine and configured to alternately output at least a low charge voltage to charge a low voltage storage device and a high charge voltage to charge a high voltage storage device. A switch is configured to switch between connecting the alternator to the low voltage storage device and connecting the alternator to the high voltage storage device. A controller is configured to control operation of the alternator and the switch between at least a low voltage mode and a high voltage mode. In the low voltage mode, the alternator outputs the low charge voltage and the switch is connecting the alternator to the low voltage storage device. In the high voltage mode, the alternator outputs the high charge voltage and the switch is connecting the alternator to the high voltage storage device.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2019Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventor: Steven J. Gonring
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Publication number: 20220194241Abstract: A fast charging station for a marine vessel battery on a marine vessel is provided. The fast charging station includes a dock battery, a charger that is operatively coupled to a power source and the dock battery, and an enclosure located on a dock structure in a body of water. The enclosure is configured to encapsulate the dock battery and the charger. The charger is configured to charge the dock battery using the power source when the marine vessel is not docked to the dock structure. The charger is further configured to charge the marine vessel battery using the power source and the dock battery when the marine vessel is docked to the dock structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2020Publication date: June 23, 2022Applicant: Brunswick CorporationInventor: Steven J. Gonring
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Publication number: 20220200070Abstract: A marine battery system configured to provide energy to a marine vehicle load is provided. The marine battery system includes a battery, an enclosure configured to at least partially encapsulate the battery, a temperature sensor configured to detect temperature information within the enclosure, a pressure sensor configured to detect pressure information within the enclosure, and a controller coupled to the temperature sensor and the pressure sensor. The controller is configured to receive the temperature information from the temperature sensor, receive the pressure information from the pressure sensor, determine whether an enclosure breach condition has occurred based on a comparison of the temperature information and the pressure information, and in response to a determination that the enclosure breach condition has occurred, perform an enclosure breach mitigation action.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2020Publication date: June 23, 2022Applicant: Brunswick CorporationInventor: Steven J. Gonring