Autopilot features for marine navigation
First Claim
1. An autopilot system for a marine vessel, comprising:
- a memory configured to store a predetermined autopilot disengagement threshold and a predetermined autopilot re-engagement threshold;
a position determining component configured to determine a geographic position of the marine vessel;
a first sensor unit mountable to a helm of the marine vessel, the first sensor unit being configured to generate helm movement data and to wirelessly transmit the helm movement data;
a second sensor unit mountable to the marine vessel at a location different than the helm and configured to generate marine vessel movement data and to transmit the marine vessel movement data;
a chart plotter coupled with the first and second sensor units, the chart plotter being configured to generate routing data indicative of a charted course for the marine vessel to follow; and
a course control unit coupled to the memory, the position determining component, the first sensor unit, and the second sensor unit, the course control unit configured to;
receive autopilot data from the chart plotter,use the autopilot data to autonomously steer a rudder associated with the marine vessel to maintain the charted course in accordance with the routing data;
receive the helm movement data and the marine vessel movement data,determine a current heading of the marine vessel,disengage the autonomous steering of the rudder using the autopilot data when the helm movement data exceeds the predetermined autopilot disengagement threshold, andre-engage the autonomous steering of the rudder when the current heading of the marine vessel is within the predetermined autopilot re-engagement threshold.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A marine autopilot system is disclosed. While in autopilot mode, the marine vessel'"'"'s autopilot system autonomously steers the marine vessel'"'"'s rudder. Steering input provided using the helm typically results in counter-steering to the autopilot. If the autopilot is following a current heading or course (route), the autopilot may continue its efforts to remain on the heading or course in response to the deviation caused by steering input to the helm. The disclosed autopilot system improves this problem by including one or more sensors that measure helm movement and wirelessly transmit helm movement data to one or more components of the marine vessel'"'"'s electronic network. If the operator of the marine vessel manually steers the helm to deviate from a current heading or course, helm movement exceeding a predetermined autopilot disengagement threshold may cause the autopilot control to temporarily disengage, allowing a user to manually steer the marine vessel.
13 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An autopilot system for a marine vessel, comprising:
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a memory configured to store a predetermined autopilot disengagement threshold and a predetermined autopilot re-engagement threshold; a position determining component configured to determine a geographic position of the marine vessel; a first sensor unit mountable to a helm of the marine vessel, the first sensor unit being configured to generate helm movement data and to wirelessly transmit the helm movement data; a second sensor unit mountable to the marine vessel at a location different than the helm and configured to generate marine vessel movement data and to transmit the marine vessel movement data; a chart plotter coupled with the first and second sensor units, the chart plotter being configured to generate routing data indicative of a charted course for the marine vessel to follow; and a course control unit coupled to the memory, the position determining component, the first sensor unit, and the second sensor unit, the course control unit configured to; receive autopilot data from the chart plotter, use the autopilot data to autonomously steer a rudder associated with the marine vessel to maintain the charted course in accordance with the routing data; receive the helm movement data and the marine vessel movement data, determine a current heading of the marine vessel, disengage the autonomous steering of the rudder using the autopilot data when the helm movement data exceeds the predetermined autopilot disengagement threshold, and re-engage the autonomous steering of the rudder when the current heading of the marine vessel is within the predetermined autopilot re-engagement threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An autopilot system for a marine vessel, comprising:
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a memory configured to store a heading of the marine vessel, a predetermined autopilot disengagement threshold, and a predetermined autopilot re-engagement threshold; a position determining component configured to determine a geographic position of the marine vessel; a first sensor unit mountable to a helm of the marine vessel, the first sensor unit being configured to generate helm movement data and to wirelessly transmit a helm steering indicator when the helm movement data exceeds the predetermined autopilot disengagement threshold; a second sensor unit mountable to the marine vessel at a location different than the helm and configured to generate marine vessel movement data and to transmit the marine vessel movement data; and a course control unit coupled to the memory, the position determining component, the first sensor unit, and the second sensor unit, the course control unit configured to; receive the helm steering indicator and the marine vessel movement data, determine helm movement based upon a difference between the helm movement data and the marine vessel movement data, determine a heading of the marine vessel based on the determined geographic position, autonomously steer a rudder associated with the marine vessel to maintain a heading or charted course, the autonomous steering of the rudder disengaged in response to receiving the helm steering indicator, and re-engage the autonomous steering of the rudder when the current heading of the marine vessel is within the predetermined autopilot re-engagement threshold. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An autopilot system for a marine vessel, comprising:
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a memory configured to store a heading of the marine vessel a predetermined autopilot disengagement threshold, and a predetermined autopilot re-engagement threshold; a position determining component configured to determine a geographic position of the marine vessel; a first sensor unit mountable to a helm of the marine vessel, the first sensor unit being configured to generate helm movement data and to transmit the helm movement data; a second sensor unit mountable to the marine vessel at a location different than the helm and configured to generate marine vessel movement data and to transmit the marine vessel movement data; and a course control unit coupled to the memory, the position determining component, the first sensor unit, and the second sensor unit, the course control unit configured to; receive the marine vessel movement data, determine helm movement based upon a difference between the helm movement data and the marine vessel movement data, continuously determine a heading of the marine vessel based on the determined geographic position, disengage the autonomous steering of the rudder when the helm movement data exceeds the predetermined autopilot disengagement threshold, re-engage the autonomous steering of the rudder when the current heading of the marine vessel is within the predetermined autopilot re-engagement threshold, and autonomously steer the rudder to maintain the current heading of the marine vessel. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification