Patents by Inventor Paul Robert Bailey

Paul Robert Bailey 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: 12601820
    Abstract: A system for the enhancement of sonar data is provided comprising one or more processors, a memory, and one or more sonar transducer assemblies configured to provide sonar data. The memory includes computer program code configured to, when executed, cause the processor(s) to receive the sonar data, with the sonar data providing information representative of an underwater environment around a watercraft. The computer program code is also configured to, when executed, cause the processor(s) to perform adaptive contrast image processing to adjust a brightness level or color of the sonar data at one or more locations and to form adjusted sonar data. Adaptive contrast image processing considers a distance of a location from a sonar transducer assembly of the one or more sonar transducer assemblies, a brightness level, color, water clarity, or depth associated with a location, an object type, or an orientation or surface properties of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2026
    Assignee: Navico, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Robert Bailey
  • Publication number: 20260008525
    Abstract: A display system is provided for use in a watercraft. The display system includes a display comprising a screen having a front face. The display also includes a protective housing comprising a first side, a second side, a third side opposite the second side, a fourth side opposite the first side, and a rear side. The screen is attached to the protective housing so that the rear side is positioned opposite the front face of the screen. The display system also includes an attachment feature positioned proximate to the rear side of the protective housing. The attachment feature is configured to attach the protective housing to a dash of the watercraft, the attachment feature is positioned at a location centered between the second side and the third side of the protective housing, and the location is more proximate to the fourth side than the first side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2024
    Publication date: January 8, 2026
    Inventor: Paul Robert Bailey
  • Patent number: 12459618
    Abstract: A device for steering a trolling motor of a watercraft is provided. The device comprises a housing and a joystick attached to the housing, pivotably supported for movement from a neutral position in directions radial to an axis of the joystick. The movement from the neutral position generates a steering command for the trolling motor. The device has a transmitter within the housing and a processor communicatively coupled to the transmitter and the joystick. The device may further include a memory including a computer program code. The computer program code is configured when executed by the processor to receive movement data from the joystick, generate a steering command from the movement data, and transmit the steering command to the trolling motor. The steering command causes the trolling motor to rotate to aim in the steer direction to cause the watercraft to travel based on the joystick movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2025
    Assignee: Navico, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Robert Bailey, Antony Michael Mackenzie
  • Publication number: 20250289555
    Abstract: A user input system for controlling operation of a marine device. The user input system having a foot pedal assembly and a detachable control module that can be removably attached to the foot pedal assembly or function independently. The foot pedal assembly and detachable control module are configured to detect user input on the foot pedal and control elements on the detachable control module and process the inputs into instructional signals transmitted electrically over wired or wireless connections to other marine devices to control operational functions of the corresponding marine device. Such a user input system provides a consolidated control of functionality or expanded control of functionality of marine devices from a single control module that can save space and allow a user to control various functions of a marine device at their current position on a watercraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2024
    Publication date: September 18, 2025
    Inventors: Spencer David Buchanan, Paul Robert Bailey, Aaron J. Burton, Samuel B. Carlisle
  • Publication number: 20250289548
    Abstract: A device for steering a trolling motor of a watercraft is provided. The device comprises a housing and a joystick attached to the housing, pivotably supported for movement from a neutral position in directions radial to an axis of the joystick. The movement from the neutral position generates a steering command for the trolling motor. The device has a transmitter within the housing and a processor communicatively coupled to the transmitter and the joystick. The device may further include a memory including a computer program code. The computer program code is configured when executed by the processor to receive movement data from the joystick, generate a steering command from the movement data, and transmit the steering command to the trolling motor. The steering command causes the trolling motor to rotate to aim in the steer direction to cause the watercraft to travel based on the joystick movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2025
    Publication date: September 18, 2025
    Inventors: Paul Robert Bailey, Antony Michael Mackenzie
  • Publication number: 20250283731
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for creating and displaying wayareas on a screen. A system includes a memory and a processor, and the processor is configured to retrieve a plurality of waypoints from the memory. Each of the plurality of waypoints is associated with a location and one or more waypoint characteristics, which include at least one of weather data, season data, time of day data, tide data or depth data. The plurality of waypoints are presented on the screen and a desired set of waypoints are determined based on either a filtering process or user input. A wayarea is created from the desired set of waypoints and then saved to the memory. The system also displays a plurality of wayareas on the screen, each as highlighted shapes, and the plurality of wayareas may be filtered based on certain characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2025
    Publication date: September 11, 2025
    Inventors: Paul Robert Bailey, Aska Lai
  • Patent number: 12366460
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for creating and displaying wayareas on a screen. A system includes a memory and a processor, and the processor is configured to retrieve a plurality of waypoints from the memory. Each of the plurality of waypoints is associated with a location and one or more waypoint characteristics, which include at least one of weather data, season data, time of day data, tide data or depth data. The plurality of waypoints are presented on the screen and a desired set of waypoints are determined based on either a filtering process or user input. A wayarea is created from the desired set of waypoints and then saved to the memory. The system also displays a plurality of wayareas on the screen, each as highlighted shapes, and the plurality of wayareas may be filtered based on certain characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: Navico, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Robert Bailey, Aska Lai
  • Publication number: 20250035763
    Abstract: A system for the enhancement of sonar data is provided comprising one or more processors, a memory, and one or more sonar transducer assemblies configured to provide sonar data. The memory includes computer program code configured to, when executed, cause the processor(s) to receive the sonar data, with the sonar data providing information representative of an underwater environment around a watercraft. The computer program code is also configured to, when executed, cause the processor(s) to perform adaptive contrast image processing to adjust a brightness level or color of the sonar data at one or more locations and to form adjusted sonar data. Adaptive contrast image processing considers a distance of a location from a sonar transducer assembly of the one or more sonar transducer assemblies, a brightness level, color, water clarity, or depth associated with a location, an object type, or an orientation or surface properties of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2023
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Inventor: Paul Robert Bailey
  • Patent number: 12162580
    Abstract: A user input assembly for controlling operation of a trolling motor assembly including a propulsion motor, the user input assembly having an input device housing defining a top surface that is configured to receive a user's foot thereon, wherein the top surface defines a left edge and right edge, a support plate, wherein the input device housing is pivotably mounted to the support plate, and a switch that is selectively secured to the input device housing in one of a first position and a second position, wherein the first position is proximate the left edge of the input device housing, the second position is proximate the right edge of the input device housing, and the switch is movable between an open position and closed position so that the power is supplied to the propulsion motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Navico, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremiah D. Clark, Jeremy J. Schroeder, Paul Robert Bailey, Dustyn P. Pendergraft
  • Publication number: 20240288992
    Abstract: Systems and methods for presenting marine data are provided herein. The system comprises a sensor, a display, at least one processor, and computer program code. The computer program code is configured to, when executed by the at least one processor, cause, on the display, presentation of at least one image. The at least one image covers a first area of the display extending at least partially across the display. The computer program code further determines, based on data from the sensor, a presence of a user within a sensing zone. The computer program code further causes, on the display, in response to detecting the presence of the user within the sensing zone, an interactive menu to be presented within at least a portion of the first area of the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Inventors: Paul Robert Bailey, Alan Van Gerve
  • Publication number: 20240288278
    Abstract: Example systems and methods are provided herein for creating and displaying wayareas on a screen. A system includes a memory and a processor, and the processor is configured to retrieve a plurality of waypoints from the memory. Each of the plurality of waypoints is associated with a location and one or more waypoint characteristics, which include at least one of weather data, season data, time of day data, tide data or depth data. The plurality of waypoints are presented on the screen and a desired set of waypoints are determined based on either a filtering process or user input. A wayarea is created from the desired set of waypoints and then saved to the memory. The system also displays a plurality of wayareas on the screen, each as highlighted shapes, and the plurality of wayareas may be filtered based on certain characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2023
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Inventors: Paul Robert Bailey, Aska Lai
  • Publication number: 20230294809
    Abstract: A method of operating a handheld device for controlling a watercraft motor is provided. The method comprises determining whether the handheld device is operating in an anchor mode or a heading hold mode; receiving movement data when the joystick is in a non-neutral position that includes a direction of movement; generating steering command(s), with a steering command of the steering command(s) being based on the movement data; causing motor rotation based on the steering command; detecting the joystick shifting to the neutral position, with the watercraft being at a location when the joystick shifts to the neutral position; when in the anchor mode, causing the motor to cease operation proximate to the location after the joystick has shifted to the neutral position; and, when in the heading hold mode, causing the motor to continue operating so that the watercraft travels in the new heading direction after the joystick shifts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Spencer Buchanan, Paul Robert Bailey
  • Patent number: 11747433
    Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to a device having a housing configured for mounting to a watercraft. The device may include a power interface configured to receive power from a power source. The device may include a network interface configured to receive marine data from a plurality of different data sources. The device may include a sonar interface configured to receive sonar data from a sonar device. The device may include a display interface coupled to the power interface, the network interface, and the sonar interface. The display interface may be configured to receive power from the power interface, receive marine data from the network interface, receive sonar data from the sonar interface, and provide power, marine data, and sonar data to a remote marine display that is separate from the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Navico, Inc.
    Inventors: Pablo Eynon, Paul Robert Bailey, Chris Richardson
  • Publication number: 20230192258
    Abstract: A device for steering a trolling motor of a watercraft is provided. The device comprises a housing and a joystick attached to the housing, pivotably supported for movement from a neutral position in directions radial to an axis of the joystick. The movement from the neutral position generates a steering command for the trolling motor. The device has a transmitter within the housing and a processor communicatively coupled to the transmitter and the joystick. The device may further include a memory including a computer program code. The computer program code is configured when executed by the processor to receive movement data from the joystick, generate a steering command from the movement data, and transmit the steering command to the trolling motor. The steering command causes the trolling motor to rotate to aim in the steer direction to cause the watercraft to travel based on the joystick movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Paul Robert Bailey, Antony Michael Mackenzie
  • Patent number: D1026685
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Navico, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Robert Bailey
  • Patent number: D1084889
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: Navico Group Americas, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Raffills, Spencer David Buchanan, Paul Robert Bailey
  • Patent number: D1085080
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: Navico Group Americas, LLC
    Inventors: Spencer David Buchanan, Paul Robert Bailey, Joseph Raffills
  • Patent number: D1092415
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2025
    Assignee: Navico Group Americas, LLC
    Inventors: Spencer David Buchanan, Paul Robert Bailey, Joseph Raffills, Rafael De Santos
  • Patent number: D1106267
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2025
    Assignee: Navico Group Americas, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Raffills, Paul Robert Bailey
  • Patent number: D1117112
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2026
    Assignee: Navico Group Americas, LLC
    Inventors: Spencer David Buchanan, Paul Robert Bailey