Steering control system and method for watercraft
First Claim
1. A watercraft comprising a rudder unit, a steering position input device configured to provide a position command signal indicative of a position of the rudder unit, at least one of an azimuth sensing device configured to sense an actual azimuth of the watercraft to provide an actual azimuth signal or a location sensing device configured to sense an actual location of the watercraft to provide an actual location signal, a control device configured to control the position of the rudder unit, a control data input device configured to selectively provide the control device with a first mode signal that starts a first mode of the control device and a second mode signal that starts a second mode of the control device, the second mode signal being accompanied by a target azimuth signal indicative of a target azimuth of the watercraft or a target location signal indicative of a target location of the watercraft, the control device controlling the position of the rudder unit based upon the position command signal in the first mode, the control device controlling the position of the rudder unit such that an actual azimuth amount designated by the actual azimuth signal generally coincides with a target azimuth amount designated by the target azimuth signal, and the control device starting the first mode in place of the second mode without the first mode signal if the position command signal changes while the control device controls the position of the rudder unit in the second mode.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A steering system for a watercraft provides a position command signal indicative of a position of a rudder. An azimuth or location sensor senses an azimuth or a location of the watercraft, respectively. A control data input device selectively provides a control device with a manual mode signal and an autopilot mode signal. The autopilot mode signal is accompanied by a target azimuth signal or a target location signal. The control device controls the position of the rudder unit based upon the position command signal in the manual mode. The control device controls the position of the rudder unit such that the actual azimuth coincides with the target azimuth. The control device places the watercraft in the manual mode in place of the autopilot mode without the manual mode signal if the position command signal changes while the control device controls the position of the rudder unit in the autopilot mode.
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Citations
27 Claims
- 1. A watercraft comprising a rudder unit, a steering position input device configured to provide a position command signal indicative of a position of the rudder unit, at least one of an azimuth sensing device configured to sense an actual azimuth of the watercraft to provide an actual azimuth signal or a location sensing device configured to sense an actual location of the watercraft to provide an actual location signal, a control device configured to control the position of the rudder unit, a control data input device configured to selectively provide the control device with a first mode signal that starts a first mode of the control device and a second mode signal that starts a second mode of the control device, the second mode signal being accompanied by a target azimuth signal indicative of a target azimuth of the watercraft or a target location signal indicative of a target location of the watercraft, the control device controlling the position of the rudder unit based upon the position command signal in the first mode, the control device controlling the position of the rudder unit such that an actual azimuth amount designated by the actual azimuth signal generally coincides with a target azimuth amount designated by the target azimuth signal, and the control device starting the first mode in place of the second mode without the first mode signal if the position command signal changes while the control device controls the position of the rudder unit in the second mode.
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16. A watercraft comprising a rudder unit, a steering position input device configured to provide a position command signal indicative of a position of the rudder unit, at least one of a azimuth sensing device configured to sense an actual azimuth of the watercraft to provide an actual azimuth signal or a location sensing device configured to sense an actual location of the watercraft to provide an actual location signal, a control device configured to control the position of the rudder unit, a control data input device configured to selectively provide the control device with a first mode signal that starts a first mode of the control device and a second mode signal that starts a second mode of the control device, the second mode signal being accompanied by a target azimuth signal indicative of a target azimuth of the watercraft or a target location signal indicative of a target location of the watercraft, the control device controlling the position of the rudder unit based upon the position command signal in the first mode, the control device controlling the position of the rudder unit such that an actual azimuth amount designated by the actual azimuth signal generally coincides with a target azimuth amount designated by the target azimuth signal, and the control device controlling the rudder unit based upon the position command signal if the position command signal changes while the control device controls the rudder unit in the second mode.
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17. A steering control system for a watercraft having a rudder unit comprising a steering position input device configured to provide a position command signal indicative of a position of the rudder unit, at least one of a azimuth sensing device configured to sense an actual azimuth of the watercraft to provide an actual azimuth signal or a location sensing device configured to sense an actual location of the watercraft to provide an actual location signal, a control device configured to control the position of the rudder unit, a control data input device configured to selectively provide the control device with a first mode signal that starts a first mode of the control device and a second mode signal that starts a second mode of the control device, the second mode signal being accompanied by a target azimuth signal indicative of a target azimuth of the watercraft or a target location signal indicative of a target location of the watercraft, the control device controlling the position of the rudder unit based upon the position command signal in the first mode, the control device controlling the position of the rudder unit such that an actual azimuth amount designated by the actual azimuth signal generally coincides with a target azimuth amount designated by the target azimuth signal in the second mode, and the control device starting the first mode in place of the second mode without the first mode signal if the position command signal changes while the control device controls the position of the rudder unit in the second mode.
- 18. A control method for controlling a position of a rudder of a watercraft comprising generating a position command signal indicative of a position of the rudder, either sensing an actual azimuth of the watercraft to generate an actual azimuth signal or sensing an actual location of the watercraft to generate an actual location signal, generating a first mode signal that starts a first mode, generating a second mode signal that starts a second mode, either generating a target azimuth signal indicative of a target azimuth of the watercraft or generating a target location signal indicative of a target location of the watercraft, controlling the position of the rudder based upon the position command signal in the first mode, controlling the position of the rudder such that an actual azimuth amount designated by the actual azimuth signal generally coincides with a target azimuth amount designated by the target azimuth signal, determining whether the position command signal changes while controlling the position of the rudder in the second mode, and starting the first mode in place of the second mode without the first mode signal if the determination is positive.
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27. A control method for controlling a position of a rudder of a watercraft comprising generating a position command signal indicative of a position of the rudder, either sensing an actual azimuth of the watercraft to generate an actual azimuth signal or sensing an actual location of the watercraft to generate an actual location signal, generating a first mode signal that starts a first mode, generating a second mode signal that starts a second mode, either generating a target azimuth signal indicative of a target azimuth of the watercraft or generating a target location signal indicative of a target location of the watercraft, controlling the position of the rudder based upon the position command signal in the first mode, controlling the position of the rudder such that an actual azimuth designated by the actual azimuth signal generally coincides with a target azimuth amount designated by the target azimuth signal, determining whether the position command signal changes while the control device controls the position of the rudder in the second mode, and controlling the rudder based upon the position signal if the determination is positive.
Specification