Boat trolling motor control
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for effecting automatic movement of a boat to maintain the boat at selected distances from selected objects, such as shores, fixed structures, and suspected fish habitats, the system comprising:
- motor means supported by the boat for propelling and steering the boat;
a controller carried by the boat with circuit means for automatically controlling said motor means, said controller further comprising;
means for transmitting signals toward a selected object;
means for sensing the distance from the boat to the selected object in response to said transmitted signals;
means for selecting a desired distance to be maintained between the boat and said object;
means for comparing the sensed distance with the selected desired distance; and
means for operating said motor means, upon the sensed distance being different from the selected desired distance, to drive the boat toward a position where the sensed and selected desired distances are substantially the same.
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Abstract
A motor control system for a boat used for fishing in which the propulsion motor is automatically responsive to a control system for moving the boat at a desired distance from a habitat where fish are suspected to be found. The motor control system may be selectively responsive to one of several different types of control input such as sonar range device, radio frequency, optical or infrared transmitter, or cable control provisions.
41 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system for effecting automatic movement of a boat to maintain the boat at selected distances from selected objects, such as shores, fixed structures, and suspected fish habitats, the system comprising:
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motor means supported by the boat for propelling and steering the boat; a controller carried by the boat with circuit means for automatically controlling said motor means, said controller further comprising; means for transmitting signals toward a selected object; means for sensing the distance from the boat to the selected object in response to said transmitted signals; means for selecting a desired distance to be maintained between the boat and said object; means for comparing the sensed distance with the selected desired distance; and means for operating said motor means, upon the sensed distance being different from the selected desired distance, to drive the boat toward a position where the sensed and selected desired distances are substantially the same. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12)
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10. A controller carried by a boat having circuit means for effecting automatic movement of the boat by controlling a motor means of the boat to maintain the boat at selected distances from selected objects such as shores, fixed structures, and suspected fish habitats, the controller comprising:
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means for transmitting signals toward a selected object; means for sensing the distance from the boat to the selected object in response to said transmitted signals; means for selecting a desired distance to be maintained between the boat and said object; means for comparing the sensed distance with the selected desired distance; and means for operating said motor means, upon the sensed distance being different from the selected desired distance, to drive the boat toward a position where the sensed and selected desired distances are substantially the same. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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13. A system for effecting automatic movement of a boat to maintain the boat at selected distances from selected objects, such as shores, fixed structures, and suspected fish habitats, the system comprising:
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motor means supported by the boat for propelling and steering the boat; a controller carried by the boat with circuit means for automatically controlling said motor means, said controller further comprising; means for transmitting signals toward a selected object; means for generating first signals representing the distance from the boat to a selected object in response to said transmitted signals; means for generating second signals representing a selected desired distance to be maintained between the boat and said object; means for comparing said first and second signal; and means for operating said motor means, to drive the boat in a direction that will cause said first and second signals to compare in a predetermined correspondence. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for effecting automatic movement of a boat to maintain the boat at selected distances from selected objects as the boat moves, said objects be ever changing such as ever changing locations along a shore, the system comprising:
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motor means supported by the boat for propelling and steering the boat; a controller carried by the boat with circuit means for automatically controlling said motor means, said controller further comprising; means for transmitting signals toward said selected objects as the boat moves; means for sensing the distance from the boat to the selected objects as the boat moves; means for selecting a desired distance to be maintained between the boat and said objects as the boat moves; means for comparing the sensed distances with the selected desired distance; and means for operating said motor means, upon a sensed distance being different from the selected desired distance, to drive the boat toward a position where the sensed and selected desired distances are substantially the same to maintain the boat at selected distances from selected objects as the boat moves. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A controller carried by a boat having circuit means for effecting automatic movement of the boat by controlling a motor means of the boat to maintain the boat at selected distances from selected objects as the boat moves, said objects being ever changing such as ever changing locations along a shore, said controller comprising:
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means for transmitting signals toward said selected objects as the boat moves; means for sensing the distances from the boat to the selected objects as the boat moves; means for selecting a desired distance to be maintained between the boat and said objects as the boat moves; means for comparing the sensed distances with the selected desired distance; and means for operating said motor means, upon a sensed distance being different from the selected desired distance, to drive the boat toward a position where the sensed and selected desired distances are substantially the same to maintain the boat at selected distances from selected objects as the boat moves. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification