Patents by Inventor Kyle F. Karnick

Kyle F. Karnick 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).

  • Patent number: 11827325
    Abstract: A method of automatically controlling trim position of a marine drive with a control system on a marine vessel includes receiving a user-selected command associated with wake surfing and then controlling a trim actuator to automatically position the marine drive in a tucked position, tucked position is between a vertical trim position and a minimum running trim position. Once a vessel condition of the marine vessel reaches a first threshold vessel condition the trim actuator is controlled to trim up the marine drive to a predetermined target trim position to generate wave behind the marine vessel. The first threshold vessel condition is at least one of a threshold vessel speed, a threshold engine speed, a threshold engine load, and a threshold vessel pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew J. Przybyl, Kyle F. Karnick, Mark A. Graf, Jeffrey D. Reifsnyder
  • Patent number: 11628920
    Abstract: A method of controlling a steering system on a marine vessel includes, in response to receiving a user input to engage a quick steer mode, employing a reduced steering ratio to translate positions of a steering wheel to desired steering angles of a marine drive. A vessel speed of a marine vessel is determined and then compared to a threshold vessel speed. An output limit is determined to prevent the marine vessel from further exceeding the threshold vessel speed while the quick steer mode is engaged. The marine drive is automatically controlled based on the output limit and a steering actuator associated with the marine drive is controlled based on the reduced steering ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Kyle F. Karnick, Andrew J. Przybyl, Kenneth G. Gable, David M. Van Buren
  • Publication number: 20220306260
    Abstract: A method of controlling a steering system on a marine vessel includes, in response to receiving a user input to engage a quick steer mode, employing a reduced steering ratio to translate positions of a steering wheel to desired steering angles of a marine drive. A vessel speed of a marine vessel is determined and then compared to a threshold vessel speed. An output limit is determined to prevent the marine vessel from further exceeding the threshold vessel speed while the quick steer mode is engaged. The marine drive is automatically controlled based on the output limit and a steering actuator associated with the marine drive is controlled based on the reduced steering ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Kyle F. Karnick, Andrew J. Przybyl, Kenneth G. Gable, David M. Van Buren
  • Publication number: 20220147061
    Abstract: A method of controlling tilt-trim position of a trimmable device on a marine vessel includes determining a trim rate based on rotational speed of a propulsion device on the marine vessel, the vessel speed of the marine vessel, the vessel pitch of the marine vessel, and/or the vessel acceleration of the marine vessel. The trim rate specifies a rate of rotation of the trimmable device about a horizontal axis, and the trim rate is determined such that the rate of rotation is minimized at high vessel speeds and high rotational speeds and the rate of rotation is maximized at low vessel speeds and low rotational speeds. A variable speed trim actuator is then controlled to rotate the trimmable device based on the trim rate so as to adjust a trim position of the trimmable device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Applicant: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Kyle F. Karnick, Andrew J. Przybyl, Steven M. Anschuetz
  • Patent number: 11262767
    Abstract: A method of controlling tilt-trim position of a trimmable device on a marine vessel includes receiving an engine speed, a vessel speed, a vessel pitch, and/or a vessel acceleration. A trim rate is then determined based on the engine speed, the vessel speed, the vessel pitch, and/or the vessel acceleration. The trim rate specifies a rate of rotation of the trimmable device about a horizontal axis, and the trim rate is determined such that the rate of rotation is minimized at high vessel speeds and high engine speeds and the rate of rotation is maximized at low vessel speeds and low engine speeds. A variable speed trim actuator is then controlled to rotate the trimmable device based on the trim rate so as to adjust a trim position of the trimmable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Kyle F. Karnick, Andrew J. Przybyl, Steven M. Anschuetz
  • Patent number: 11260946
    Abstract: A method of automatically controlling trim position of a marine drive with a control system on a marine vessel includes receiving a user-selected command associated with wake surfing and then controlling a trim actuator to automatically position the marine drive in a tucked position, tucked position is between a vertical trim position and a minimum running trim position. Once a vessel condition of the marine vessel reaches a first threshold vessel condition the trim actuator is controlled to trim up the marine drive to a predetermined target trim position to generate wave behind the marine vessel. The first threshold vessel condition is at least one of a threshold vessel speed, a threshold engine speed, a threshold engine load, and a threshold vessel pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew J. Przybyl, Kyle F. Karnick, Mark A. Graf, Jeffrey D. Reifsnyder
  • Publication number: 20210200244
    Abstract: A method of controlling tilt-trim position of a trimmable device on a marine vessel includes receiving an engine speed, a vessel speed, a vessel pitch, and/or a vessel acceleration. A trim rate is then determined based on the engine speed, the vessel speed, the vessel pitch, and/or the vessel acceleration. The trim rate specifies a rate of rotation of the trimmable device about a horizontal axis, and the trim rate is determined such that the rate of rotation is minimized at high vessel speeds and high engine speeds and the rate of rotation is maximized at low vessel speeds and low engine speeds. A variable speed trim actuator is then controlled to rotate the trimmable device based on the trim rate so as to adjust a trim position of the trimmable device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Kyle F. Karnick, Andrew J. Przybyl, Steven M. Anschuetz