Watercraft network

• US 20030093196A1
• Filed: 11/12/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Marine Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Marine Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Okuyama, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 7,096,097 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/21
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 20/00 Outboard propulsion units, e.g. outboard motors or Z-drives; Arrangements thereof on vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2021/216 using electric control means
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/213 Levers or the like for controlling the engine or the transmission, e.g. single hand control levers

Abstract

A network for a vehicle correlates network addresses with functions. The network can be used to connect control devices and an outboard motor mounted to a watercraft. Each physical node on the network can include one or plurality of functional nodes. The network can be configured to assign network addresses to devices on the network based on the functions performed by the devices, respectively.

Claims

1. A watercraft comprising:

a hull defining an operator'"'"'s area; and

a network supported by the hull and connecting;

an outboard motor supported by the hull and comprising an engine, a throttle valve configured to control a power output of the engine, an actuator configured to control movement of the throttle valve, an engine speed sensor configured to perform a function of detecting a speed of the engine and generating a signal indicative of the speed of the engine, and an outboard motor transceiver for transmitting engine speed data from the outboard motor across the network and for receiving throttle actuator control data for the outboard motor from the network;

a remote control device disposed in the operator'"'"'s area and remote from the outboard motor, the remote control device comprising a throttle lever and a sensor configured to perform a function of detecting a position of the throttle valve and generating a throttle position signal indicative of the position of the throttle lever, and a transceiver for transmitting the throttle position data across the network;

a display device disposed in the operator'"'"'s area and being configured to perform a function of displaying indicia indicative of the engine speed of the engine, the display device comprising a transceiver for receiving the engine speed data; and

a memory containing data indicating a correlation of a plurality of addresses on the network with the functions, respectively.

2. A watercraft comprising an input device configured to accept an input from an operator of the watercraft, a plurality of at least one of sensors and actuators configured to perform a plurality of functions, respectively, related to the operation of the watercraft, a network connecting the input device with the plurality of at least one of sensors and actuators, and a correlation module comprising a correlation of a plurality of addresses on the network with the plurality of functions, respectively.

3. The watercraft of claim 2, wherein the input device comprises a processor configured to transmit data across the network, the data being indicative of an input command input to the input device from the operator of the watercraft.

4. The input device of claim 3 additionally comprising a communication device configured to transmit and receive data to and from the network.

5. The watercraft of claim 2 additionally comprising a display device connected to the network and configured to display operation data to the operator.

6. The display device of claim 5, wherein the correlation device correlates a plurality of the functions with one address.

7. The watercraft of claim 2 additionally comprising a propulsion device, at least one of the sensors and actuators are disposed in the propulsion device.

8. The propulsion device of claim 7, wherein the correlation device correlates one address to one of the functions.

9. The watercraft of claim 8, wherein the input device is configured to receive power request input commands from the operator, the propulsion device including an actuator configured to control a power output of the propulsion device.

10. A data table for a network, the data table correlating network addresses and functions of devices attached to the network.

11. The data table of claim 10, wherein the addresses of functions are fixed regardless of the physical connection path on the network.

12. The data table of claim 10, wherein an outboard motor and a remote control device are connected to the network, the outboard motor including at least one actuator and the remote control device including at least one sensor, wherein the data table correlates one network address for the sensor and one address for the actuator.

13. The outboard motor of claim 12 further comprising a plurality of functions having network addresses.

14. The outboard motor of claim 12 wherein the functions of the outboard motor comprise:

start up, stop, throttle and shift operations of the propulsion device.

15. The outboard motor of claim 12 wherein the correlation module of functions stores fixed addresses for the functions performed by the outboard motor.

16. A method for operating a network on a vehicle comprising:

activating electrical power for the network and all devices connected to the network;

transmitting a function identification command from a management node on the network to all the devices connected to the network;

clocking a time required for all of the devices to respond to be function identification command;

comparing the time required for all of the devices to respond with a predetermined time period;

transmit function identification replies from all of the devices connected to the network, wherein the replies indicate the functions performed by the devices, respectively;

comparing the functions with functions contained in a predetermined correlation of functions and network addresses on the network;

triggering an alarm if the devices do not respond within the predetermined time period; and

triggering an alarm if the reply contains a function that is not correlated with a network address.

17. A method for operating a network on a vehicle comprising:

transmitting an identification command to all devices connected to the network;

transmitting replies from the devices in response to the identification command, the replies indicating the functions performed by the devices, respectively; and

correlating the functions with network addresses.

18. The method of claim 17 additionally comprising assigning only one address to only one throttle actuator device.

19. The method of claim 17 additionally comprising assigning only one address to only one throttle lever position sensor.