Remote control unmanned fishing boat and device for remote control thereof

• US 6,520,105 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2001
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Coden Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Coden Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Koda, Kojiro, Koda, Yoshiharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Olson, Lars A.
• Application Number:
  US09/907,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20010039910A1
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 114/21.2, 114/144.A, 114/144.R, 114/255, 43/261, 446/163, 731/78.R, 440/54, 340/447
• US Class Current: 114/255
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 91/02 Devices for casting lines
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/14 Fishing vessels fishing A01K69/00 - A01K97/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/96 for locating fish
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/521 Constructional features

Abstract

This invention concerns a remote control unmanned fishing boat intended for enjoyment of remote control fishing and a remote control device for use with the boat.

The invention contemplates enabling the operator to advance the boat forward and backward and change the direction of the advance of the boat by manipulating the remote control device 2. By the operator using the remote control device 2 for actuating a depth sounder, the information concerning the depth of water and the condition of water bottom determined by the depth sounder is displayed on a monitor 41 of the remote control device 2. When the optimum position for fishing is found consequently, the operator is allowed to lower his fishhook in the water by manipulating the remote control device 2.

Claims

1. A remote control unmanned fishing boat intended to effect remote control fishing, comprising:

a depth sounder for measuring the water depth and finding the condition of water bottom;

a first transmitter for transmitting by a specific radio wave the information obtained by said depth sounder concerning the depth of water and the condition of water bottom;

a propelling power source for propelling said boat;

a steering device for steering said boat;

a setting device for freely detachably mounting a fishing line, said setting device including

a hook section capable of being freely opened and closed magnetically and moved in the longitudinal direction of said boat,

an electromagnet for causing said hook section to be opened and closed,

a light shielding member adapted to be moved in the longitudinal direction of said boat in conjunction with said hook section,

an irradiating device and a light receiving device so disposed as to be disabled to effect transfer of light prior to the movement of said light shielding member and enabled to effect transfer of light without being intercepted by said light shielding member subsequent to the movement of said light shielding member, and

a load transmitting device for transmitting a signal based on the impingement of light on said light receiving device; and

a first receiver for receiving specific radio waves concerning the operations of said depth sounder, said propelling power source, said steering device, and said setting device and inducing said operations.

2. The remote control device for use with a remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 1, comprising:

a second transmitter for transmitting specific radio waves concerning the operations of said depth sounder, said propelling power source, said steering device, and said setting device to said first receiver;

an operating signal emitting device for emitting to said second transmitter the operating signals concerning said depth sounder, said propelling power source, said steering device, and said setting device;

a second receiver for receiving specific radio waves carrying the information transmitted from said first transmitter concerning the depth of water and the condition of water bottom;

a monitor for displaying thereon the depth of water and the condition of water bottom based on the signals received by said second receiver;

a third receiver for receiving a signal emitted from said load transfer device concerning the impingement of light on said light receiving device;

a monitor for displaying thereon the load of said setting device based on the reception of a signal by said third receiver;

an alarming device for issuing an alarm based on the reception of a signal by said third receiver; and

a third transmitter for transmitting a signal intended to magnetize said electromagnet.

3. The remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 1, wherein said boat is further provided with an advance direction information emitting device for emitting the information concerning the direction of advance of said boat by specific radio waves.

4. The remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 3, wherein said advance direction information emitting device comprises:

a rotary compass freely rotatably supported and having one of the opposite leading terminal parts thereof magnetized for the N pole and the other leading terminal part for the S pole;

a photoconductor disposed on the lower side of said rotary compass;

a light source for illuminating said rotary compass and said photoconductor from above; and

an advance direction detecting device for detecting the direction of advance based on an electric signal from said photoconductor.

5. The remote control device for use with a remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 3, wherein said remote control device is provided with an advance direction confirming device for causing said monitor to display thereon the direction of advance of said boat based on the information emitted by said advance direction information emitting device concerning the direction of advance of said boat.

6. The remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 1, wherein said boat is further provided with a position information emitting device for emitting the information concerning the position and the direction of advance of said boat by specific radio waves.

7. The remote control device for use with a remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 6, wherein said remote control device is provided with an advance direction confirming device for causing said monitor to display thereon the current position of said boat and the direction of advance of said boat based on the information emitted by said advance direction information emitting device concerning the position and the direction of advance of said boat.

8. The remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 1, wherein said boat is further provided with an indicating lamp for visually informing the operator of the position of said boat.

9. The remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 1, wherein said boat is further provided with a lifting handle for lowering said boat onto the water surface or lifting said boat from the water surface.

10. The remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 1, wherein said propelling power source comprises:

a motor adapted to be driven with a battery;

a screw disposed outside said boat through the medium of a shaft of said motor; and

a ship bottom cover so fixed to the lower section of a hull of said boat as to cover said screw and provided in the front section thereof with plural of intakes opened therein.

11. The remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 1, wherein said steering device is a cylindrical rudder supported freely rotatably by a shaft of said motor.

12. The remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 1, wherein said boat comprises:

a battery for supplying electric power;

a voltage detecting section for detecting the voltage of said battery; and

a battery information transmitting device for transmitting the information concerning the residue of charge of said battery based on the detected voltage of said battery.

13. The remote control device for use with a remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 12, wherein said remote control device comprises:

a battery information receiving device for receiving the information transmitted from said battery information transmitting device concerning the residue of charge of said battery;

a monitor for displaying thereon the residue of charge of said battery based on the information concerning the residue of charge of said battery; and

an alarm device for issuing an alarm based on the information concerning the residue of charge of said battery.

14. The remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 6, wherein said information concerning the position and the direction of advance of said boat is obtained by using a Global Positioning System.

15. The remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 6, wherein said position information emitting device emits said information through a wireless LAN.

16. The remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 15, wherein said boat is further provided with a temperature sensor for measuring the water temperature, and a water temperature emitting device for emitting an information concerning the water temperature via said wireless LAN.

17. The remote control device for use with a remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 16, wherein said monitor can display the water temperature based on said information concerning the water temperature emitted from said water temperature emitting device.

18. The remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 1, wherein said boat is further comprising:

a soft antenna that is used for sending the said specific radio wave with the said first transmitter, or for receiving the specific. radio wave with the first receiver and;

a pole that is attachable/detachable to the upper section of the hull, and along which the said antenna can be attached.

19. A remote control unmanned fishing boat intended to effect remote control fishing, comprises:

a fish shoal detector for detecting a shoal of fish;

a first transmitter for transmitting by specific radio waves the information concerning the shoal of fish detected by said fish shoal detector;

a propelling power source for propelling said boat;

a steering device for steering said boat;

a setting device for freely detachably mounting a fishing line thereon, including

a hook section capable of being freely opened and closed magnetically and moved in the longitudinal direction of said boat,

electromagnet for causing said hook section to be opened and closed,

a light shielding member adapted to be moved in the longitudinal direction of said boat in conjunction with said hook section,

an irradiating device and a light receiving device so disposed as to be disabled to effect transfer of light prior to the movement of said light shielding member and enabled to effect transfer of light without being intercepted by said light shielding member subsequent to the movement of said light shielding member, and

a load transmitting device for transmitting a signal based on the impingement of light on said light receiving device; and

a first receiver for receiving specific radio waves concerning the operations of said fish shoal detector, said propelling power source, said steering device, and said setting device and inducing said operations.

20. The remote control device for use with a remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 19, comprising:

a second transmitter for transmitting specific radio waves concerning the operations of said fish shoal detector, said propelling power source, said steering device, and said setting device to said first receiver;

an operating signal emitting device for emitting operating signals concerning said fish shoal detector, said propelling power source, said steering device, and said setting device to said second transmitter;

a second receiver for receiving a specific radio wave carrying the information concerning a shoal of fish transmitted from said first transmitter;

a monitor for displaying the condition of water bottom and the position of the shoal of fish based on the signal received by said second receiver;

a third receiver for receiving a signal emitted from said load transfer device concerning the impingement of light on said light receiving device;

a monitor for displaying thereon the load of said setting device based on the reception of a signal by said third receiver;

an alarming device for issuing an alarm based on the reception of a signal by said third receiver; and

a third transmitter for transmitting a signal intended to magnetize said electromagnet.

21. The remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 19, wherein said boat is further provided with an advance direction information emitting device for emitting the information concerning the direction of advance of said boat by specific radio waves.

22. The remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 21, wherein said advance direction information emitting device comprises:

a rotary compass freely rotatably supported and having one of the opposite leading terminal parts thereof magnetized for the N pole and the other leading terminal part for the S pole;

a photoconductor disposed on the lower side of said rotary compass;

a light source for illuminating said rotary compass and said photoconductor from above; and

an advance direction detecting device for detecting the direction of advance based on an electric signal from said photoconductor.

23. The remote control device for use with a remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 21, wherein said remote control device is provided with an advance direction confirming device for causing said monitor to display thereon the direction of advance of said boat based on the information emitted by said advance direction information emitting device concerning the direction of advance of said boat.

24. The remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 19, wherein said boat is further provided with a position information emitting device for emitting the information concerning the position and the direction of advance of said boat by specific radio waves.

25. The remote control device for use with a remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 24, wherein said remote control device is provided with an advance direction confirming device for causing said monitor to display thereon the current position of said boat and the direction of advance of said boat based on the information emitted by said advance direction information emitting device concerning the position and the direction of advance of said boat.

26. The remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 24, wherein said information concerning the position and the direction of advance of said boat is obtained by using a Global Positioning System.

27. The remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 24, wherein said position information emitting device emits said information through a wireless LAN.

28. The remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 27, wherein said boat is further provided with a temperature sensor for measuring the water temperature, and a water temperature emitting device for emitting an information concerning the water temperature via said wireless LAN.

29. The remote control device for use with a remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 28, wherein said monitor can display the water temperature based on said information concerning the water temperature emitted from said water temperature emitting device.

30. The remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 19, wherein said boat is further provided with an indicating lamp for visually informing the operator of the position of said boat.

31. The remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 19, wherein said boat is further provided with a lifting handle for lowering said boat onto the water surface or lifting said boat from the water surface.

32. The remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 19, wherein said propelling power source comprises:

a motor adapted to be driven with a battery;

a screw disposed outside said boat through the medium of a shaft of said motor; and

a ship bottom cover so fixed to the lower section of a hull of said boat as to cover said screw and provided in the front section thereof with a plurality of intakes opened therein.

33. The remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 19, therein said steering device is a cylindrical rudder supported freely rotatably by a shaft of said motor.

34. he remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 19, wherein said boat comprises:

a battery for supplying electric power;

a voltage detecting section for detecting the voltage of said battery; and

a battery information transmitting device for transmitting the information concerning the residue of charge of said battery based on the detected voltage of said battery.

35. The remote control device for use with a remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 34, wherein said remote control device comprises:

a battery information receiving device for receiving the information transmitted from said battery information transmitting device concerning the residue of charge of said battery;

a monitor for displaying thereon the residue of charge of said battery based on the information concerning the residue of charge of said battery; and

an alarm device for issuing an alarm based on the information concerning the residue of charge of said battery.

36. The remote control unmanned fishing boat according to claim 19, wherein said boat is further comprising:

a soft antenna that is used for sending the said specific radio wave with the said first transmitter, or for receiving the specific radio wave with the first receiver and;

a pole that is attachable/detachable to the upper section of the hull, and along which the said antenna can be attached.