Trolling motor steering control

• US 6,325,684 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2000
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Johnson Outdoors, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Johnson Outdoors, Inc.
• Inventors: Knight, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotelo, Jesus D.
• Application Number:
  US09/590,914
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 440/6, 440/7, 440/1, 114/144.R, 114/144.RE, 364/444, 364/424.01
• US Class Current: 440/6
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 20/007 Trolling propulsion units trolling plates for slowing down B63H25/50; dynamo-electric machines of trolling units H02K
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 20/08 Means enabling movement of the position of the propulsion element, e.g. for trim, tilt or steering; Control of trim or tilt initiating means for steering B63H25/02
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 20/10 Means enabling trim or tilt, or lifting of the propulsion element when an obstruction is hit; Control of trim or tilt
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 20/106 Means enabling lifting of the propulsion element in a substantially vertical, linearly sliding movement
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 25/42 Steering or dynamic anchoring by propulsive elements by jets B63H25/46; Steering or dynamic anchoring by propellers used therefor only; Steering or dynamic anchoring by rudders carrying propellers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/96 for locating fish

Abstract

A steering control system for an electric trolling motor is disclosed. The system includes a steering actuator assembly with at least one open loop actuator. The system also includes at least one steering mode switch that is configured to communicate changes between steering modes. The steering modes include at least one closed loop steering mode and at least one manual steering mode. The system further includes a controller that is configured to receive signals from the open loop actuator, is configured to receive signals from at least one steering mode switch, and is configured to generate control signals based on the states of the open loop actuator and the steering mode switch.

Claims

1. A steering control system for an electric trolling motor comprising:

a steering actuator assembly, including at least one steering actuator, the steering actuator configured to provide open loop and closed loop command signals; and

a controller, configured to receive command signals from the steering actuator, and the controller configured to generate closed loop control signals when the controller is in a closed loop control mode.

2. The steering control system of claim 1, wherein the steering actuator assembly includes a foot pedal assembly.

3. The steering control system of claim 2, wherein the foot pedal assembly includes a foot pedal.

4. The steering control system of claim 1, wherein the controller may be switched between an open loop mode and a closed loop mode by at least one steering mode switch.

5. The steering control system of claim 4, wherein the at least one steering mode switch includes a manual steering switch.

6. The steering control system of claim 4, wherein the at least one steering mode switch includes an auto pilot switch.

7. The steering control system of claim 1, wherein the steering actuator assembly includes a foot detection system.

8. The steering control system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to provide a signal to resynchronize the steering actuator with the trolling motor attitude.

9. The steering control system of claim 7, wherein the foot detection system includes a foot presence switch.

10. The steering control system of claim 7, wherein the foot detection system includes a potentiometer.

11. An electric trolling motor comprising:

a propulsion unit configured to provide thrust and having a motor;

a steering head, coupled to the propulsion unit and having a steering motor for steering the prop motor;

a steering actuator assembly, including at least one open loop actuator;

at least one steering mode switch configured to communicate changes between steering modes, the steering modes including at least one closed loop steering mode and at least one manual steering mode; and

a controller, configured to receive signals from the open loop actuator, configured to receive signals from the at least one steering mode switch, and configured to generate control signals based on the states of the open loop actuator and the steering mode switch and applying the control signals to the steering motor.

12. The steering control system of claim 11, wherein the steering actuator assembly includes a foot pedal assembly.

13. The steering control system of claim 11, wherein the open loop actuator includes a foot pedal.

14. The steering control system of claim 11, wherein the at least one steering mode switch includes a manual steering switch and an auto pilot switch.

15. The steering control system of claim 11, wherein the at least one steering mode switch includes a depth tracking switch.

16. The steering control system of claim 11, wherein the at least one steering mode switch includes a global positioning system (GPS) tracking switch.

17. The steering control system of claim 11, wherein the steering actuator assembly includes a foot presence switch.

18. The steering control system of claim 11, wherein the controller provides a signal to the steering motor to resynchronize the steering with the manual controller, when the controller is switched to a manual steering mode.

19. A steering control system for an electric trolling motor comprising:

a foot pedal assembly, including at least one foot pedal for manual steering;

a foot presence detector configured to provide a signal representative of the presence of an operator'"'"'s foot;

at least one steering mode switch configured to communicate changes between steering modes, the steering modes including at least one closed loop steering mode and at least one manual steering mode; and

a controller, configured to receive signals from the open loop actuator, configured to receive signals from the at least one steering mode switch, configured to receive a signal representative of the presence of an operator'"'"'s foot, and configured to generate control signals based on the states of the open loop actuator and the steering mode switch.

20. The steering control of claim 19, further comprising:

at least one jog switch configured to provide a jog signal to the controller.

21. The steering controller of claim 19, wherein the controller provides a resynchronization signal based on the position of the foot pedal and based on the state of the foot presence switch.

22. The steering controller of claim 19, wherein the controller provides a resynchronization signal based on the position of the foot pedal and based on the state of the at least one steering mode switch.