Marine vessel system

Abstract

To announce generation of alert even when alert sound is not generated.SOLUTION: An ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System) has a function of outputting alert sound when a marine vessel comes to be in a predetermined alert state and also restricting an output of the alert sound. The system includes: a console 5 where a track ball 52 for performing various operations is arranged protruding upward; and a lighting control section for lighting the track ball 52 when the marine vessel comes to be in the predetermined alert state in a case where the output of the alert sound is restricted.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a ship system that outputs an alert when a ship approaches shallow waters, a quay, or the like. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, an ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System) displays geographical information from an electronic nautical chart on a screen, and also integrates and displays positional information such as the position, direction, and speed of a ship, as well as various information from radar, an Automatic Identification System, a depth sounder, etc. Furthermore, navigation safety is enhanced by having a function that outputs an alert when the ship approaches another ship, or when the ship approaches shallow waters or a quay (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] On the other hand, when a ship is navigating within a harbor, alert sounds for things like grounding monitoring are frequently generated due to the proximity of shallow waters and quays. Furthermore, the alert sounds ringing out during ship maneuvering within a harbor, which requires even more attention, can be distracting (causing stress to the helmsman, etc.). For this reason, a function is known that allows the ship to switch to a mode (harbor mode) that restricts or stops the alert sounds within a harbor, etc. (See, for example, Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-164006 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-037445 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, because no audible alerts are generated during harbor mode, there is a risk that personnel on the bridge may not realize that an alert has been generated and may not be able to take appropriate and prompt action.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a marine vessel system that is capable of notifying a user of the occurrence of an alert even when no alert sound is generated. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, the invention described in claim 1 is a ship system that outputs an alert sound when a ship enters a predetermined alert state and has the function of restricting the output of the alert sound, characterized in that it comprises a console on which an operation unit for performing various operations is arranged, and a lighting control unit that lights up the operation unit when the ship enters a predetermined alert state when the output of the alert sound is restricted.

[0008] The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that, in the ship system described in claim 1, the lighting control unit lights up the operation unit in a color corresponding to the alert state of the ship. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the invention of claim 1, when the output of alert sounds is restricted, if the ship enters a specified alert state, the operating unit lights up, making it possible to notify watchmen and others that the ship has entered a specified alert state (an alert has occurred) even without an alert sound being emitted. Moreover, because the operating unit disposed on the console lights up, watchmen and others can be sure to notice even from a distance from the console. In this way, it is possible to restrict the frequent ringing of alert sounds in ports and other areas while still being sure to notify the occurrence of an alert.

[0010] In addition, by lighting up the operation unit, it is possible to notify the person on duty that the output of the alert sound is restricted (or that they have forgotten to release the restriction).

[0011] According to the invention described in claim 2, the operating unit lights up in a color corresponding to the alert state of the ship, so that by looking at the color of the lit operating unit, it is possible to instantly know what alert state the ship is in. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration block diagram showing an ECDIS according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the ECDIS of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a front view showing the console of the ECDIS of FIG. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention will be described below based on the illustrated embodiments.

[0014] Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an ECDIS (electronic chart display and information system) 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the ECDIS 1. In this embodiment, a case where the ship system is an ECDIS 1 will be described, but the present invention can also be applied in the same way when the ship system is a radar system or a conning system.

[0015] Here, ECDIS1 is a geographic information system for navigation (maritime navigation system) that complies with the standards of the International Maritime Organization, and constitutes an integrated positioning system that displays geographic information from electronic navigational charts on a screen and displays position information such as the position, direction, and speed of a ship. Furthermore, it can connect to radar devices, Automatic Identification Systems, depth sounders, and NAVigational TEleX (which mainly receives weather information), and integrates various information from these devices and displays it on the screen. Since this basic configuration is the same as that of a commercially available or existing ECDIS, the following mainly describes the characteristic configuration of the present invention.

[0016] As shown in Figure 1, ECDIS 1 mainly comprises a monitoring unit 2, an alert sound output unit 3, a display 4, a console 5, and a central processing unit (lighting control unit) 6 that controls these components, and like existing, pre-fabricated ECDIS, it outputs an alert sound when the ship enters a specified alert state or situation, and also has the function of regulating the output of the alert sound.

[0017] That is, when the monitoring unit 2 determines that the ship is approaching shallow waters, a quay, or another ship based on the electronic navigational chart, the ship's position information (position, direction, speed, etc.), radar information from the radar device, information on other ships from the Automatic Identification System, etc., it outputs an alert to the central processing unit 6. At this time, it outputs an alert according to the ship's alert state and situation. That is, in accordance with the standards of the International Maritime Organization, if the situation requires immediate attention and action from the bridge watch officer, it outputs an alarm to indicate a change in the situation, and if the situation is not immediately dangerous but may eventually put the ship in danger if no action is taken, it outputs a warning, and if it is not an alarm or warning but requires attention or continued monitoring of the situation or given information, it outputs a caution.

[0018] Then, when the central processing unit 6 receives the alert, if the vessel is in a normal mode other than the harbor mode (berthing mode) described below, it outputs an alert to the alert sound output unit 3. The alert sound output unit 3 is equipped with a sound source and a speaker, and upon receiving an alert from the central processing unit 6, it outputs an alert sound according to the type of alert (alarm, warning, or caution).

[0019] Furthermore, the central processing unit 6 causes the display 4 to display a display according to the type of alert. In this embodiment, a red mark is displayed in the upper right corner of the screen of the display 4 in the case of an alarm, an orange mark is displayed in the case of a warning, and a yellow mark is displayed in the case of a caution.

[0020] On the other hand, when the harbor mode icon displayed on the display 4 is turned on, the system switches to harbor mode, and the output of the alert sound is restricted. That is, in this mode, even if the ship enters an alert state (even if an alert is output from the monitoring unit 2 to the central processing unit 6), no alert is output from the central processing unit 6 to the alert sound output unit 3, and no alert sound is output from the alert sound output unit 3. In this way, in this embodiment, the system is configured to switch to harbor mode or normal mode manually, but the system may also be configured to switch to harbor mode or normal mode automatically based on predetermined conditions (for example, when the ship enters a port or leaves a port).

[0021] The console 5 is a control console for various controls and inputs, and is provided with a keyboard (operation unit) 51 and a trackball (operation unit) 52 for various operations. As shown in Fig. 3, the trackball 52 is disposed so as to protrude upward from the board of the keyboard 51, and is exposed higher than the keys and dials of the keyboard 51. The trackball 52 also has a built-in LED (Light Emitting Diode), and is controlled by the central processing unit 6 to emit light or light up in various colors (including blinking).

[0022] When the output of alert sounds is restricted in harbor mode, the central processing unit 6 lights up the trackball 52, i.e., the LED, when the ship enters a predetermined alert state (when an alert is received from the monitoring unit 2). At this time, the trackball 52 lights up in a color corresponding to the alert state and situation of the ship. In this embodiment, the trackball 52 lights up in red in the case of an alarm, in orange in the case of a warning, and in yellow in the case of a caution. Here, in normal mode, the trackball 52 may be always turned off, or may be lit in a color different from the above three colors at night. Alternatively, the trackball 52 may light up in conjunction with the alert sound.

[0023] According to such an ECDIS 1, when the output of alert sounds is restricted in harbor mode, if the vessel enters a specified alert state or situation, the trackball 52 lights up, making it possible to notify watchkeepers and others that the vessel has entered the specified alert state or situation (the occurrence of an alert) even without the sound of an alert. Moreover, because the trackball 52, which is disposed protruding and exposed above the console 5, lights up, watchkeepers and others can reliably notice even from a distance from the console 5. In this way, it is possible to restrict the frequent sounding of alert sounds in ports and other areas while reliably notifying watchkeepers that an alert has occurred.

[0024] Furthermore, lighting up the trackball 52 makes it possible to notify the person on duty that the output of the alert sound is restricted (that the restriction has been forgotten to be released). Also, for example, when the ship is in harbor mode and not in an alert state, the trackball 52 may be lit green, and when harbor mode is released (normal mode), the trackball 52 may not be lit or may be lit amber, thereby making it possible to distinguish between harbor mode and normal mode.

[0025] Moreover, since the trackball 52 lights up in a color according to the alert state and situation of the ship, it is possible to instantly know what alert state and situation the ship is in by looking at the color of the lit trackball 52.

[0026] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the specific configuration is not limited to the above embodiments, and design changes within the scope of the present invention are also included in the present invention. For example, in the above embodiments, the trackball 52 is lit, but a flat device such as the keyboard 51 or trackpad may be lit. Also, the trackball 52 may have a function that allows adjustment of the brightness of the LED light emitted. Furthermore, while the display 4 and the console 5 are illustrated and described as being integrally assembled, the display 4 and the console 5 may be separate and disposed at separate locations. Similarly, the trackball 52 may be disposed at a distance from the keyboard 51. [Explanation of symbols]

[0027] 1 ECDIS (Earthquake and Threat Information System) 2 Monitoring Department 3 Alert sound output section 4. Display 5 Console 51 Keyboard (operation section) 52 Trackball (operation part) 6 Central processing unit (lighting control unit)

Claims

1. A marine vessel system that outputs an alert sound when a marine vessel enters a predetermined alert state and has a function of restricting the output of the alert sound, a console on which an operation unit for performing various operations is arranged; a lighting control unit that lights up the operation unit when the vessel enters a predetermined alert state while the output of the alert sound is restricted; and A ship system comprising:

2. the lighting control unit lights up the operation unit in a color corresponding to the alert state of the vessel.

2. The marine vessel system according to claim 1.

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