Diagnostic system for watercraft

• US 20030060952A1
• Filed: 09/25/2002
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: Kanno, Isao, Motose, Hitoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,353,095 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0235 based on a comparison with predetermined threshold or range, e.g. "classical methods", carried out during normal operation; threshold adaptation or choice; when or how to compare with the threshold

Abstract

A diagnostic system is provided for a watercraft that is propelled by an outboard drive. Sensors can detect conditions of components related to at least the operation of the outboard drive. The diagnostic system can leave inside and outside computers. The inside computer is placed in the watercraft, while the outside computer is placed out of the watercraft. The outside computer is installed with a program to provide the inside computer with an instruction signal to start a diagnosis on the components. The inside computer is installed with a program to provide sensors with a commencement signal to start checking the components, to require the sensors to provide a detection signal, to collect detection signals, and to provide the outside computer with a result of the checking based upon the detection signals. The program of the outside computer additionally controls a monitor of the outside computer to indicate the conditions of the components based upon the result of the checking. The inside computer can create a table listing checked components and provide the outside computer with the table. Alternatively, the outside computer can be eliminated and the inside computer can display the table.

Claims

1. A diagnostic system for a watercraft propelled by a propulsion unit, either the watercraft or the propulsion unit having sensors configured to detect conditions of components related to at least the operation of the propulsion unit, the diagnostic system comprising an output device, a first module configured to provide the sensors with a commencement signal to start checking the components, a second module configured to query the sensors to transmit a detection signal, and a third module configured to output the conditions of the components based upon the detection signals to the output device.

2. The diagnostic system as set forth in claim 1, additionally comprising a fourth module configured to create a table listing the conditions of the components based upon the detection signals, the third module being configured to control the output device to output the table.

3. The diagnostic system as set forth in claim 2, additionally comprising a fifth module configured to determine whether at least one of the detected conditions of the components is abnormal, and a sixth module configured to add the determination conducted by the fifth module to the table, the third module being configured to control the output device to output the table including the determination.

4. The diagnostic system as set forth in claim 1, additionally comprising a fourth module configured to determine whether at least one of the conditions of the components is abnormal, the third module being configured to control the output device to output the determination conducted by the fourth module.

5. The diagnostic system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first, second and third modules are steps of a computer program.

6. The diagnostic system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the output device includes a monitor.

7. The diagnostic system as set forth in claim 1, additionally comprising first and second processing sections, at least the first processing section and the output device being located out of the watercraft, the first processing section including the third module, the second processing section including the first and second modules, and the first processing section additionally comprises a fourth module providing the second processing module with an instruction signal to start the first module.

8. The diagnostic system as set forth in claim 7, wherein the second processing section additionally comprises a fifth module configured to collect the detection signals, and a sixth module configured to provide the first processing section with the detection signals.

9. The diagnostic system as set forth in claim 7, wherein the first and second processing sections communicate with each other by radio.

10. The diagnostic system as set forth in claim 7, wherein the second processing section additionally comprises a fifth module making an electric power source supply electric power to the sensors upon receiving the instruction signal provided by the first processing section.

11. A diagnostic system for a watercraft propelled by a propulsion unit and having a plurality of sensors configured to detect conditions of components related to at least the operation of the propulsion unit, the diagnostic system comprising first and second processors and an output device, the first processor comprising a first module configured to provide the second processor with an instruction signal to start a diagnosis of the components, the second processor comprising a second module configured to provide the sensors with a commencement signal to start checking the components, a third module configured to query the sensors for a detection signal, a fourth module configured to collect the detection signals, and a fifth module configured to provide the first processor with a result of the check based upon the detection signals, the first processor additionally comprising a sixth module configured to control the output device to output the conditions of the components based upon the result of the check.

12. The diagnostic system as set forth in claim 11, wherein the first processor and the output device are located out of the watercraft.

13. The diagnostic system as set forth in claim 11, wherein the second processor additionally comprises a seventh module configured to create a table listing the conditions of the components based upon the detection signals, and an eighth module configured to provide the first processor with the table as the result of the diagnosis.

14. The diagnostic system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the second processor further comprises a ninth module configured to determine whether at least one of the detected conditions of the components is abnormal, and a tenth module configured to add the determination to the table.

15. The diagnostic system as set forth in claim 11, wherein the second processor further comprises a seventh module configured to determine whether at least one of the detected conditions of the components is abnormal, and the result of the checking includes the determination conducted by the seventh module.

16. The diagnostic system as set forth in claim 11, wherein the first and sixth modules comprise steps of a computer program running on the first processor, and the second, third, fourth and fifth modules comprise steps of a computer program running on the second processor.

17. The diagnostic system as set forth in claim 11, wherein the first and second processors communicate with each other by radio.

18. The diagnostic system as set forth in claim 11, wherein the second processor additionally comprises a seventh module configured to provide electric power to the sensors upon receiving the instruction signal provided by the first processor.

19. The diagnostic system as set forth in claim 11, wherein the watercraft is mounted on a trailer, the first processor is located either in a vehicle pulling the trailer or on the trailer.

20. A method for diagnosing a watercraft propelled by a propulsion unit, comprising providing sensors with a commencement signal to start a diagnosis on components related to at least the operation of the propulsion unit, requiring the sensors to provide a detection signal, and controlling an output device to output the conditions of the components based upon the detection signals.

21. The diagnostic method as set forth in claim 20 additionally comprising creating a table listing the conditions of the components based upon the detection signals.

22. The diagnostic method as set forth in claim 21 further comprising determining whether at least one of the detected conditions of the components is abnormal, and adding the determination to the table.

23. The diagnostic method as set forth in claim 20 additionally comprising determining whether at least one of the conditions of the components is abnormal.

24. The diagnostic method as set forth in claim 20, wherein first and second processors are used, the first processor is disconnected from the sensors, the second processor is connected to the sensors, the method additionally comprises providing an instruction signal from the first processor to the second processor, and making an electric source supply electric power to the sensors when the instruction signal is provided.