Radio frequency remote control for trolling motors
First Claim
1. A wireless remote control for a trolling motor system including a trolling motor for mounting on a boat for controlling propulsion of the boat and an associated user control actuable by a user to command operation of the trolling motor, the remote control comprising:
- a receiver circuit operatively associated with the trolling motor for receiving radio frequency signals at a select frequency, the radio frequency signal including an address sequence and a data sequence, wherein any user control includes a unique address sequence and the receiver circuit determines if the received address sequence is for the associated user control, and if so controlling the trolling motor in accordance with information contained in the data sequence; and
a transmitter circuit operatively associated with the user control, the transmitter circuit transmitting a radio frequency signal at the select frequency, the radio frequency signal including the unique address sequence and the data sequence, the data sequence representing information on the actuated input device, the transmitter circuit includes discriminator means for transmitting the radio frequency signal only a small percentage of the time to avoid interference with other trolling motor systems.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A trolling motor system comprises a trolling motor having a propeller rotatably driven thereby. The motor is connected to a rotating tube or column mounted to the boat. A control head is mounted at the upper end of the column. A steering motor in the control head controls rotational position of the trolling motor. The control head houses a control circuit for controlling speed of the trolling motor as well as position of the steering motor to steer the boat. A foot pedal is positioned in the boat in proximity to the control head. The foot pedal includes a plurality of user actuable switches for commanding operation of the steering motor and trolling motor. The commands are transmitted via radio frequency to a receiver in the control head. The receiver decodes the commands and transfers the command to the control circuit.
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Citations
81 Claims
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1. A wireless remote control for a trolling motor system including a trolling motor for mounting on a boat for controlling propulsion of the boat and an associated user control actuable by a user to command operation of the trolling motor, the remote control comprising:
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a receiver circuit operatively associated with the trolling motor for receiving radio frequency signals at a select frequency, the radio frequency signal including an address sequence and a data sequence, wherein any user control includes a unique address sequence and the receiver circuit determines if the received address sequence is for the associated user control, and if so controlling the trolling motor in accordance with information contained in the data sequence; and a transmitter circuit operatively associated with the user control, the transmitter circuit transmitting a radio frequency signal at the select frequency, the radio frequency signal including the unique address sequence and the data sequence, the data sequence representing information on the actuated input device, the transmitter circuit includes discriminator means for transmitting the radio frequency signal only a small percentage of the time to avoid interference with other trolling motor systems. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A wireless remote control for a trolling motor system including a trolling motor for mounting on a boat for controlling propulsion of the boat and an associated user control actuable by a user to command operation of the trolling motor, the remote control comprising:
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a receiver circuit operatively associated with the trolling motor for receiving radio frequency signals at a select frequency, the radio frequency signal including an address sequence and a data sequence, wherein any user control includes a unique address sequence and the receiver circuit determines if the received address sequence is for the associated user control, and if so controlling the trolling motor in accordance with information contained in the data sequence; and a transmitter circuit operatively associated with the user control, the transmitter circuit transmitting a radio frequency signal at the select frequency, the radio frequency signal including the unique address sequence and the data sequence, the data sequence representing information on the actuated input device, the transmitter circuit includes discriminator means for transmitting the radio frequency signal in repeating message bursts, with a delay between message bursts, the delay being of greater duration then duration of the message bursts to avoid interference with other trolling motor systems. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A wireless remote control for a trolling motor system including a trolling motor for mounting on a boat for controlling propulsion of the boat and first and second associated user controls having input devices actuable by users to command operation of the trolling motor, the remote control comprising:
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first and second transmitters operatively associated with the respective first and second user controls, each transmitter transmitting a through the air signal including a unique address and a data sequence, the data sequence representing information on actuation status of the input devices; a receiver operatively associated with the trolling motor for receiving through the air signals, the receiver including means for storing the unique addresses for the first and second transmitters and selector means for determining if a received through the air signal includes one of the stored unique addresses and if so controlling the trolling motor in accordance with information contained in the data sequence. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A wireless remote control for a trolling motor system including a trolling motor for mounting on a boat for controlling propulsion of the boat and first and second associated user controls having input devices actuable by users to command operation of the trolling motor, the remote control comprising:
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first and second transmitters operatively associated with the respective first and second user controls, each transmitter transmitting a through the air signal including a unique address and a data sequence, the data sequence representing information on actuation status of the input devices; a receiver operatively associated with the trolling motor for receiving through the air signals, the receiver including means for storing unique addresses for up to two transmitters, learning means associated with the storing means for learning the unique addresses for the first and second transmitters for storage by the storing means, and selector means for determining if a received through the air signal includes one of the stored unique addresses and if so controlling the trolling motor in accordance with information contained in the data sequence. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A wireless remote control for a trolling motor system including a trolling motor for mounting on a boat for controlling propulsion of the boat and first and second associated user controls having input devices actuable by users to command operation of the trolling motor, the remote control comprising:
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first and second transmitters operatively associated with the respective first and second user controls, each transmitter transmitting a through the air signal uniquely identifying the transmitter and including data representing information on actuation status of the input devices; a receiver operatively associated with the trolling motor for receiving through the air signals, the receiver including means for determining if a received through the air signal uniquely identifies only the first or the second transmitter and if so controlling the trolling motor in accordance with the received data. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A wireless remote control for a trolling motor system including a trolling motor for mounting on a boat for controlling propulsion of the boat and an associated user control having input devices actuable by a user to command operation of the trolling motor, the remote control comprising:
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a receiver operatively associated with the trolling motor for receiving a through the air signal and controlling the trolling motor in accordance with information contained in the signal; and a housing associated with the user control housing the input devices, a transmitter operatively associated with the user control, the transmitter transmitting a through the air signal representing information on actuation status of the input devices, and a battery for powering the transmitter, the transmitter including shut down means for turning the transmitter off if no input device is actuated for a select period of time. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. In a trolling motor system including a trolling motor for mounting on a boat for controlling propulsion of the boat and an associated user control having input devices actuable by a user to command operation of the trolling motor, a remote control comprising:
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a receiver operatively associated with the trolling motor for receiving a radio frequency signal and controlling the trolling motor in accordance with information contained in the signal; and a housing associated with the user control supporting the input devices and housing a membrane switch panel positioned for actuation by the input devices and a transmitter electrically connected to the membrane switch panel for developing a radio frequency signal representing information on actuation status of the input devices, the transmitter including an antenna located in the housing proximate the membrane panel to create a parasitic radiator. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. In a trolling motor system including a trolling motor for mounting on a boat for controlling propulsion of the boat and an associated foot pedal having input devices actuable by a user to command operation of the trolling motor, a remote control comprising:
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a receiver operatively associated with the trolling motor for receiving a radio frequency signal and controlling the trolling motor in accordance with information contained in the signal; and the foot pedal including a housing supporting the input devices and housing a membrane switch panel positioned for actuation by the input devices and a transmitter electrically connected to the membrane switch panel for developing a radio frequency signal representing information on actuation status of the input devices, the transmitter including an antenna located in the housing proximate the membrane panel to create a parasitic radiator. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A wireless remote control for a trolling motor system including a trolling motor for mounting on a boat for controlling propulsion of the boat and a user control having input devices actuable by users to command operation of the trolling motor, the remote control comprising:
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a transmitter operatively associated with the user control, the transmitter transmitting a through the air signal responsive to actuation of the input devices; a receiver operatively associated with the trolling motor for receiving through the air signals from the transmitter and controlling the trolling motor in accordance with information contained in the signal, the receiver including indicator means for indicating if a signal is received from the transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A wireless remote control for a trolling motor system including a trolling motor for mounting on a boat for controlling propulsion of the boat and a user control having input means for receiving commands to command operation of the trolling motor, the remote control comprising:
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a transmitter operatively associated with the user control, the transmitter transmitting a through the air signal responsive to user commands; a receiver operatively associated with the trolling motor for receiving through the air signals from the transmitter and controlling the trolling motor in accordance with the user commands, the receiver including indicator means for indicating if command is received by the input means. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. In a wireless remote control for a trolling motor system including a foot pedal having input keys and a transmitter transmitting a through the air signal responsive to actuation of the input keys, and a trolling motor for mounting on a boat for controlling propulsion of the boat, the trolling motor including a control head housing a receiver for receiving through the air signals from the transmitter and controlling the trolling motor in accordance with information contained in the signal, the improvement comprising:
indicator means operatively associated with the receiver for indicating if a signal is received from the transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67)
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68. A wireless remote control for a trolling motor system including a trolling motor for mounting on a boat for controlling propulsion of the boat and a user control having input devices actuable by users to command operation of the trolling motor, the remote control comprising:
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a transmitter operatively associated with the user control, the transmitter transmitting a through the air signal, the signal comprising a status message transmitted periodically if any of the input devices is actuated and for a select time after all of the input devices are deactuated, the status message representing actuation status of the input devices; a receiver operatively associated with the trolling motor for receiving through the air signals from the transmitter and sending commands to the trolling motor to control the trolling motor in accordance with the actuation status represented in received status messages, the receiver including a timer set each time a status message is received indicating that any input device is actuated and reset if a status message is received indicating that all input devices are deactuated, means for determining if the timer exceeds a select time limit, and cancellation means operable in response to the timer exceeding the select time limit to cancel any commands sent to the trolling motor that any input device is actuated. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70, 71)
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72. A wireless remote control for a trolling motor system including a trolling motor for mounting on a boat for controlling propulsion of the boat and a user control having input devices actuable by users to command operation of the trolling motor, the remote control comprising:
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a transmitter operatively associated with the user control, the transmitter periodically transmitting a through the air signal, the signal comprising a status message transmitted if any of the input devices is actuated and for a select time after all of the input devices are deactuated, the status message representing actuation status of the input devices; the trolling motor including a receiver having a receiver circuit for receiving through the air signals from the transmitter and sending commands to a control circuit for controlling the trolling motor in accordance with the actuation status represented in received status messages, the receiver circuit including a timer set each time a status message is received indicating that any input device is actuated and reset if a status message is received indicating that all input devices are deactuated, means for determining if the timer exceeds a select time limit, and cancellation means operable in response to the timer exceeding the select time limit to cancel any commands sent to the trolling motor that any input device is actuated. - View Dependent Claims (73, 74, 75)
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76. A wireless remote control for a trolling motor system including a trolling motor for mounting on a boat for controlling propulsion of the boat and a foot pedal having input keys actuable by users to command speed and steering operation of the trolling motor, the remote control comprising:
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a transmitter operatively associated with the foot pedal, the transmitter periodically transmitting a through the air signal, the signal comprising a status message transmitted if any of the input keys is actuated and for a select time after all of the input keys are deactuated, the status message representing actuation status of the input keys; the trolling motor including a receiver having a receiver circuit for receiving through the air signals from the transmitter and sending steering and speed control commands to a control circuit for controlling the trolling motor in accordance with the actuation status represented in received status messages, the receiver circuit including a timer set each time a status message is received indicating that any input key is actuated and reset if a status message is received indicating that all input keys are deactuated, means for determining if the timer exceeds a select time limit, and cancellation means operable in response to the timer exceeding the select time limit to cancel any steering and speed commands sent to the trolling motor that any input key is actuated. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78, 79, 80, 81)
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Specification