Method and system for steering watercraft

• US 20050170713A1
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Marine Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Marine Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Okuyama, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 7,497,746 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 440/59
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 20/12 Means enabling steering
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 25/02 Initiating means for steering , for slowing down, otherwise than by use of propulsive elements, or for dynamic anchoring
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 25/24 by electrical means

Abstract

A method of steering a watercraft propulsion device mounted to a transom plate and having a steering drive unit which allows the watercraft propulsion device to rotationally move about a swivel shaft. The method can include calculating a steering control amount for the steering drive unit in accordance with the degree of operator'"'"'s steering wheel displacement and a predetermined steering system response performance, and operating the steering drive unit based on the calculated control physical quantity, in which the predetermined steering system response performance can be selected from a plurality of plurality of predetermined steering system response performance options.

Claims

1. A method of steering a watercraft propulsion device mounted to a transom plate of a watercraft, the propulsion device having a steering input device configured for operation by an operator of the watercraft and a steering drive unit configured to allow the watercraft propulsion device to swivel about a swivel shaft, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a displacement of the steering input device;

detecting which of a plurality of predetermined steering system response performance options has been selected, each of the plurality of predetermined steering system response performance options corresponding to a steering factor indicative of the amount of actuation of the steering drive unit;

calculating a steering control amount for the steering drive unit in accordance with the degree displacement of the steering input device and the selected predetermined steering system response performance option; and

operating the steering drive unit based on the calculated steering control amount.

2. The steering control method according to claim 1, wherein each of the steering factors includes at least one of a response speed to the steering operation and an amount of response to the steering operation angle.

3. The steering control method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of predetermined steering system response performance options includes at least two of a cruising mode, a trolling mode, and a sports running mode.

4. The steering control method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of predetermined steering system response performance options includes at least two of a cruising mode, a trolling mode, and a sports running mode.

5. The steering control method according to claim 1, wherein the steering drive unit comprises an electric motor.

6. The steering control method according to claim 2, wherein the steering drive unit comprises an electric motor.

7. The steering control method according to claim 3, wherein the steering drive unit comprises an electric motor.

8. The steering control method according to claim 1, wherein each of the steering factors includes at least one of a delay value and a gain value.