Return-to-port warning device and method
First Claim
1. A system for an outboard motor that propels a watercraft, the system comprising:
- a control input section that receives at least one command to control an outboard motor;
a control section that controls the outboard motor in response to the command received by the control input section;
a conditional information section that outputs at least one conditional information signal indicative of a condition of a watercraft;
a local area network (LAN) including a first cable connected to the control input section and a second cable connected to the conditional information section, the second cable separate from the first cable.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A watercraft is equipped with an outboard motor and an inboard local area network (LAN) that communicates control signals to the outboard motor. An outboard motor operating device retains the ability to operate the outboard motor even if part of the inboard LAN develops an abnormality. In particular, a control signal that controls the outboard motor and a conditional information signal that indicates a condition of the watercraft are transmitted by independent cables that are mutually separated. Even if the cable for transmitting the conditional information signal or equipment connected to the cable develops an abnormality, transmission of the control signal for controlling the outboard motor is not hindered since the control signal is on the other cable, which is not affected by the abnormality. The conditional information signals are processed to generate and display return-to-port warnings based on the watercraft conditions and other operator issued constraints.
18 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system for an outboard motor that propels a watercraft, the system comprising:
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a control input section that receives at least one command to control an outboard motor;
a control section that controls the outboard motor in response to the command received by the control input section;
a conditional information section that outputs at least one conditional information signal indicative of a condition of a watercraft;
a local area network (LAN) including a first cable connected to the control input section and a second cable connected to the conditional information section, the second cable separate from the first cable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 21)
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6. An operating device for an outboard motor that propels a watercraft, the operating device comprising:
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an indication section that indicates a condition of a watercraft;
a control input section that receives at least one command to control the watercraft and that outputs at least one control signal corresponding to the command;
a first and a second cable, each cable transmitting a different signal, the first cable transmitting the control signal outputted from the control input section and the second cable transmitting a condition signal indicative of the condition of the watercraft to the indication section, the second cable separate from the first cable. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 22)
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16. A watercraft comprising:
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an indication section that indicates a condition of a watercraft;
a control input section that receives at least one command to control an outboard motor and that outputs a control signal corresponding to the command;
a first cable that transmits the control signal outputted from the control input section;
a second cable that transmits a condition signal indicative of the condition of the watercraft to the indication section, the second cable separate from the first cable;
a third cable corresponding to the first cable, the third cable transmitting the control signal;
a fourth cable corresponding to the second cable, the fourth cable transmitting the condition signal, the fourth cable separate from the third cable;
a control section that controls the outboard motor based on the control signal transmitted by the third cable; and
a conditional information section coupled to the control section via at least one of the second cable and the fourth cable.
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17. A return-to-port warning device comprising:
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a maximum cruising distance calculation section that calculates a maximum cruising distance based on a residual amount of fuel and a fuel consumption ratio;
a return-to-port distance calculation section that calculates a return-to-port distance from the current location to a home port; and
a return-to-port judgment section that determines whether a return-to-port warning is issued to indicate that a watercraft should return to the home port in order to avoid fuel exhaustion, the determination based on a comparison between the maximum cruising distance calculated by the maximum cruising distance calculation section and the return-to-port distance calculated by the return-to-port distance calculation section. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A return-to-port warning method comprising:
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calculating a maximum cruising distance based on a residual amount of fuel and a fuel consumption ratio;
calculating a return-to-port distance from the current location to a home port; and
determining whether to issue a return-to-port warning to indicate that a watercraft should return to the home port based on a comparison between the calculated maximum cruising distance and the calculated return-to-port distance. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification