Speed control system and method for watercraft
First Claim
1. A watercraft comprising a propulsion device arranged to propel the watercraft, a prime mover that powers the propulsion device, a regulating device that regulates an output of the prime mover, the watercraft capable of proceeding generally at a speed corresponding to the output of the prime mover, a command input device configured to provide a command signal to control the regulating device, a speed sensing device configured to sense an actual speed of the watercraft and to provide an actual speed signal, a control device configured to control the regulating device, 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 first mode being a manual control mode in which a human operator manually controls a speed of the watercraft, and the second mode being a mode in which the speed is controlled automatically, the second mode signal accompanied by a target speed signal indicative of a target speed of the watercraft, the control device controlling the regulating device based upon the command signal in the first mode, the control device controlling the regulating device in the second mode such that an actual speed of the watercraft designated by the actual speed signal generally corresponds with the target speed of the watercraft designated by the target speed signal, and the control device starting the first mode in place of the second mode without the first mode signal if the command signal changes while the control device controls the regulating device in the second mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A watercraft has an engine and a remote controller. The engine has a throttle valve unit. The remote controller provides a command signal indicative of a position of the throttle valve unit. A watercraft velocity sensor senses an actual speed of the watercraft to provide an actual speed signal. A control data input device selectively provides a control device with a manual mode signal and a constant speed mode signal. The constant speed mode signal is accompanied by a target speed signal. The control device controls the throttle valve unit based upon the command signal in the manual mode. The control device controls the throttle valve unit in the constant speed mode such that an actual speed of the watercraft coincides with the target speed of the watercraft once a state of equilibrium is reached. The control device starts the manual mode in place of the constant speed mode without the manual mode signal if the command signal changes while the control device controls the throttle valve unit in the constant speed mode.
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Citations
32 Claims
- 1. A watercraft comprising a propulsion device arranged to propel the watercraft, a prime mover that powers the propulsion device, a regulating device that regulates an output of the prime mover, the watercraft capable of proceeding generally at a speed corresponding to the output of the prime mover, a command input device configured to provide a command signal to control the regulating device, a speed sensing device configured to sense an actual speed of the watercraft and to provide an actual speed signal, a control device configured to control the regulating device, 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 first mode being a manual control mode in which a human operator manually controls a speed of the watercraft, and the second mode being a mode in which the speed is controlled automatically, the second mode signal accompanied by a target speed signal indicative of a target speed of the watercraft, the control device controlling the regulating device based upon the command signal in the first mode, the control device controlling the regulating device in the second mode such that an actual speed of the watercraft designated by the actual speed signal generally corresponds with the target speed of the watercraft designated by the target speed signal, and the control device starting the first mode in place of the second mode without the first mode signal if the command signal changes while the control device controls the regulating device in the second mode.
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14. A watercraft comprising a propulsion device arranged to propel the watercraft, a prime mover that powers the propulsion device, a regulating device that regulates an output of the prime mover, the watercraft capable of proceeding generally at a speed corresponding to the output of the prime mover, a command input device configured to provide a command signal to control the regulating device, a speed sensing device configured to sense an actual speed of the watercraft to provide an actual speed signal, a control device configured to control the regulating device, 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 associated with by a target speed signal indicative of a target speed of the watercraft, the control device controlling the regulating device based upon the command signal in the first mode, the control device controlling the regulating device in the second mode such that an actual speed of the watercraft designated by the actual speed signal generally corresponds with a target speed of the watercraft designated by the target speed signal, and the control device controlling the regulating device based upon the command signal if the command signal changes while the control device controls the regulating device in the second mode.
- 15. A watercraft comprising a propulsion device arranged to propel the watercraft, an engine that powers the propulsion device, an air intake device arranged to deliver air to the engine, a throttle valve unit that regulates an amount of the air, an output of the engine generally varying in response to the amount of the air, the watercraft capable of proceeding generally at a speed corresponding to the output of the engine, a command input device configured to provide a command signal indicative of a position of the throttle valve unit, a speed sensing device configured to sense an actual speed of the watercraft and to provide an actual speed signal, a control device configured to control the throttle valve 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 associated with by a target speed signal indicative of a target speed of the watercraft, the control device controlling the throttle valve unit based upon the command signal in the first mode, the control device controlling the throttle valve unit in the second mode such that an actual speed of the watercraft designated by the actual speed signal generally corresponds with the target speed of the watercraft designated by the target speed signal, and the control device starting the first mode in place of the second mode without the first mode signal if the command signal changes while the control device controls the throttle valve unit in the second mode.
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21. A velocity control system for a watercraft comprising a command input device configured to provide a command signal to control a regulating device that regulates an output of a prime mover of the watercraft, a speed sensing device configured to sense an actual speed of the watercraft to provide an actual speed signal, a control device configured to control the regulating device, 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 accompanied by a target speed signal indicative of a target speed of the watercraft, the control device controlling the regulating device based upon the command signal in the first mode, the control device controlling the regulating device in the second mode such that an actual speed of the watercraft designated by the actual speed signal generally corresponds to the target speed of the watercraft designated by the target speed signal, and the control device starting the first mode in place of the second mode without the first mode signal if the command signal changes while the control device controls the regulating device in the second mode.
- 22. A computer-implemented control method for controlling a speed of a watercraft comprising regulating an output of a prime mover that powers a propulsion device of the watercraft, generating a command signal, sensing an actual speed of the watercraft to generate an actual speed signal, generating a first mode signal that starts a first mode, generating a second mode signal that starts a second mode, generating a target speed signal indicative of a target speed of the watercraft, controlling the regulation of the output of the prime mover based upon the command signal in the first mode, controlling the regulation of the output of the prime mover in the second mode such that an actual speed designated by the actual speed signal generally coincides with a target speed designated by the target speed signal, determining whether the command signal changes while controlling the regulation of the output of the prime mover 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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32. A control method for controlling a speed of a watercraft comprising regulating an output of a prime mover that powers a propulsion device of the watercraft, generating a command signal, sensing an actual speed of the watercraft to generate an actual speed signal, generating a first mode signal that starts a first mode, generating a second mode signal that starts a second mode, generating a target speed signal indicative of a target speed of the watercraft, controlling the regulation of the output of the prime mover based upon the command signal in the first mode, controlling the regulation of the output of the prime mover in the second mode such that an actual speed designated by the actual speed signal generally coincides with a target speed designated by the target speed signal, determining whether the command signal changes while controlling the regulation of the output of the prime mover in the second mode, and controlling the regulation of the output of the prime mover based upon the command signal if the determination is positive.
Specification