Outboard motor

• US 20040058594A1
• Filed: 09/22/2003
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kimata, Ryuichi, Yamashita, Kousei, Katou, Hironori
• Granted Patent: US 6,962,513 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 440/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0094 characterised by means for covering after user, e.g. boxes, shutters or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/027 four
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/1816 four
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 61/045 for outboard marine engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 75/22 with cylinders in V, fan, or star arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/35 Constructional details or hardware or software details of the signal processing chain
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles

Abstract

An operational condition of an outboard motor 1 is detected by an ECU 29, and transmitted via a communication unit 228, from a communication apparatus 283 to a base station 30. Antennas 32 and a cable 33 are arranged along an inner surface of an engine cover 12. The cable 33 is provided with a connector 34 for connecting the antenna 32 to a communication unit 28 and a GPS receiving circuit 31. The communication apparatus and the antennas are held floating in a case 351 which is filled with a gel, and the case 351 is fixed to the engine cover 12. A communication unit 28 is provided inside an engine cover 12. A housing portion 41 for a portable phone PH is provided pivoted about the cover 12 in such a manner that the portable phone is removable from the housing portion 41.

Claims

1. An outboard motor having a body which includes a propulsion unit and an internal combustion engine for driving the propulsion unit, and a cover for covering the internal combustion engine detachably, comprising:

a controller for controlling the internal combustion engine and a radio communication apparatus connected to the controller those are housed inside of the cover; and

an antenna of the radio communication apparatus which is mounted on the outboard motor.

2. The outboard motor according to claim 1, wherein the antenna is fixed in the cover.

3. The outboard motor according to claim 1, wherein the antenna is fixed to a surface of the cover.

4. The outboard motor according to claim 1, wherein the antenna is disposed along a surface of the cover.

5. The outboard motor according to claim 1, wherein the cover is made of a resin and the antenna is attached to an inner surface of the cover.

6. The outboard motor according to claim 1, wherein a cable is provided extending from the antenna to the radio communication apparatus, and the cable is run along the surface of the cover.

7. The outboard motor according to claim 1, wherein the controller and the radio communication apparatus are mounted onto the body, and a connector is provided for connecting/disconnecting the radio communication apparatus and the antenna while the cover is detached from the body.

8. An outboard motor having according to claim 1, wherein the cover is made of a resin, and

out of the controller, the radio communication apparatus and the antenna, at least the antenna is fixed to the inside of the cover via a shock absorber.

9. An outboard motor according to claim 8, wherein an antenna is covered with a gel agent as a shock absorber.

10. The outboard motor according to claim 9, further comprising a container which is fixed in the cover, wherein the radio communication apparatus and the antenna are covered entirely with a gel agent that is filled in the container.

11. The outboard motor according to claim 10, wherein the controller is covered entirely with a gel agent that is filled in the container, together with the radio communication apparatus and the antenna.

12. The outboard motor according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the container is fixed to an inner surface of the cover.

13. The outboard motor according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the container is fixed to the internal combustion engine.

14. The out board motor according to claim 1, further comprising a communication apparatus housing portion for inserting the radio communication apparatus into the cover in such a manner that the radio communication apparatus is accessible from an outside.

15. The outboard motor according to claim 14, further comprising an operational condition detecting device for detecting an operational condition of the internal combustion engine, wherein

the radio communication apparatus transmits to an outside an operational condition detected signal output from the operational condition detecting device.

16. The outboard motor according to claim 14, wherein the communication apparatus housing portion includes a lid portion which is a part of the cover, and a holding member for holding the communication apparatus inside the cover, the holding member being connected to the lid portion so as to be housed inside the cover, and

the lid portion is retractably pivoted about the cover.

17. The outboard motor according to claim 14, wherein the communication apparatus housing portion is provided with a communication connector which is compatible with a connection terminal of the communication apparatus so as to connect the communication apparatus housed in the communication apparatus housing portion and the operational condition detecting device.

18. The outboard motor according to claim 16, wherein the holding member has a shock absorbing function for protecting the communication apparatus housed in the communication apparatus housing portion.

19. The outboard motor according to claim 16, wherein the cover and the lid portion of the communication apparatus housing portion are made of a resin.

20. The outboard motor according to claim 17, wherein the communication connector is provided connectable to a remote controller for remotely controlling the communication apparatus.

21. The outboard motor according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the communication apparatus is a portable phone.