Component Navigation System for a Sailing Vessel

• US 20060104038A1
• Filed: 11/12/2004
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Jones
• Original Assignee: John Jones
• Inventors: Jones, John Edgar P.E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,308,357 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/748
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1424 Card cages

Abstract

A component navigational system comprising a video interface unit and multiple purpose-built printed circuit boards that are presented in a card cage unit. A number of the printed circuit boards will be further connected to input sensors for measuring various parameters while other printed circuit boards will be connected to specific output devices. The individual units are comprised of computer and/or electronic and/or electro/mechanical devices. The video interface unit provides single point access to all navigational data as well as providing a user interface for the system. The card-cage unit has multiple bus structures with a plurality of sockets for connection to a power supply, a central processing unit and the purpose built printed circuit boards. The purpose-built printed circuit boards and the central processing unit will communicate bi-directionally by means of a parallel signal bus. The central processing unit will thus be able to process input data, display appropriate information and logically control a specific output device.

Claims

1. A component navigational system which comprises

a video interface unit;

a card-cage unit;

a plurality of purpose-built printed circuit boards;

a central processing unit;

a parallel signal bus connecting the signal circuits of the central processing unit and those of the purpose-built printed circuit boards;

a power supply;

a power distribution bus connecting the power supply to the power circuits of the central processing unit and those of the purpose-built printed circuit boards;

and multiple input sensors and output devices connected to the purpose-built printed circuit boards.

2. The component navigation system of claim 1 in which said video interface unit comprises a flat panel display.

3. The component navigation system of claim 2 in which the video interface unit utilizes multiple function keys and/or soft keys to provide user input.

4. The component navigation system of claim 2 in which the video interface unit utilizes a “

touch screen” and

/or a keyboard to provide user input.

5. The component navigation system of claims 2, 3 and 4 in which the flat panel display, function keys, soft keys and the “

touch-screen”

are presented in a waterproof housing which protects the electronic components.

6. The component navigation system of claim 2, 3, and 4 in which the flat panel display, the function keys, the soft keys and the “

touch-screen”

are in signal communication with the system by means of CAT5/K/M interface.

7. The component navigation system of claim 1 in which said card-cage unit comprises a “

back plane”

which has multiple integral bus structures and a framework to house the purpose-built printed circuit boards.

8. The component navigation system of claim 1 in which said parallel signal bus comprises multiple electrical conductor lines located on the back plane.

9. The component navigation system of claim 1 in which said parallel power bus has multiple electrical conductor lines located on the back plane.

10. The component navigation system of claim 8 and of claim 9 in which the signal conductors and the power conductors of the back plane are electrically connected to edge connector sockets.

11. The component navigation system of claim 7 in which the card-cage unit will be housed in a protective waterproof enclosure.

12. The component navigation system of claim 1 in which said power supply comprises a voltage regulator, a surge suppressor and filters designed to provide “

clean”

electric power to the various components in the card-cage unit.

13. The component navigation system of claim 12 in which the power supply will be designed to reside in the card-cage unit, and said supply will attach to the power bus of the back plane via the edge connector sockets.

14. The component navigation system of claim 1 in which said central processing unit comprises a processor, memory, an operating system and the necessary electronic components to produce a functional computer/controller.

15. The component navigation system of claim 14 in which the central processing unit will be designed to reside in the card-cage unit, where said unit will attach to the signal bus of the back plane via the edge connector sockets.

16. The component navigation system of claim 2, 3 and 4 in which the video interface unit will provide data displays, cartographic displays, configuration menus, and a means of user input.

17. The component navigation system of claim 1 in which said purpose-built printed circuit boards comprising sufficient electrical and/or electronic components necessary to perform the given function(s).

18. The component navigation system of claim 17 in which the purpose-built printed circuit boards will have edge contacts on the inner edge of the board, where said contacts are designed to “

mate”

to the edge connector sockets located on the back plane.

19. The component navigation system of claim 17 in which the purpose-built printed circuit boards will be connected to a specific input sensor or output device which will be suited for that board'"'"'s specific function, and where said sensors or devices will be connected to the outer edge of the purpose-built circuit board.

20. The component navigation system of claim 17 in which a purpose-built printed circuit board will provide the function of a video interface card.

21. The component navigation system of claim 20 in which the video interface card will further provide the function of a CAT5/K/M interface.

22. The component navigation system of claim 6 and claim 21 in which the video interface unit and the video interface card will be in signal communication by means of said CAT5/KVM interface.

23. The component navigation system of claim 17 in which a purpose-built printed circuit board will provide the function of a depth sounder.

24. The component navigation system of claim 17 in which a purpose-built printed circuit board will provide the function of a speedometer.

25. The component navigation system of claim 17 in which a purpose-built printed circuit board will provide the function of an anemometer.

26. The component navigation system of claim 17 in which a purpose-built printed circuit board will provide the function of a gyrocompass.

27. The component navigation system of claim 17 in which a purpose-built printed circuit board will provide the function of a GPS receiver.

28. The component navigation system of claim 17 in which a purpose-built printed circuit board will provide the function of a chart plotter.

29. The component navigation system of claim 17 in which a purpose-built printed circuit board will provide the function of a radar interface.

30. The component navigation system of claim 17 in which a purpose-built printed circuit board will provide the function of an autopilot interface.

31. The component navigation system of claim 17 in which a purpose-built printed circuit board will provide the function of a weather band receiver.

32. The component navigation system of claim 17 in which a purpose-built printed circuit board will provide the function of a CD-ROM unit.

33. The component navigation system of claim 17 in which a purpose-built printed circuit board will provide the function of a read/write CD-ROM unit.

34. The component navigation system of claim 17 in which a purpose-built printed circuit board will provide the function of an engine parameter monitor.

35. The component navigation system of claim 17 in which a purpose-built printed circuit board will provide the function of a DC power monitor.

36. The component navigation system of claim 17 in which a purpose-built printed circuit board will provide the function of a collision avoidance unit.

37. The component navigation system of claim 1 in which said input sensors comprising electrical or electro/mechanical devices to provide specific data.

38. The component navigation system of claim 1 in which said output devices comprising electric or electro/mechanical apparatus to perform a specific task.