Low-cost means for estimating and controlling speed of electric watercraft and trolling motors
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A speed estimation system for watercraft comprising:
- a propulsion system means comprising an electric motor and propeller configured to provide propelling thrust via rotation of the motor and propeller, the propulsion system means further configured to receive electrical power;
an electronic circuit configured to store the characteristics of the electric motor and the propeller of the said propulsion system means,the electronic circuit further configured to sense at least two independent parameters of the said propulsion system, the electronic circuit configured to determine an estimated watercraft speed based on the sensed parameters and the stored characteristics of the electric motor and the propeller.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A speed estimation system for watercraft comprising a propulsion unit configured to provide thrust via rotation of a propeller and having an electric motor, a power supply configured to supply electric power to the propulsion unit, and an electronic circuit configured to sense at least one propulsion system parameter from which the propeller torque can be at least implicitly determined, and at least one propulsion system parameter sensed from which the propeller speed can be at least implicitly determined, the electronic circuit configured to determine the watercraft speed based on the sensed parameters.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A speed estimation system for watercraft comprising:
-
a propulsion system means comprising an electric motor and propeller configured to provide propelling thrust via rotation of the motor and propeller, the propulsion system means further configured to receive electrical power; an electronic circuit configured to store the characteristics of the electric motor and the propeller of the said propulsion system means, the electronic circuit further configured to sense at least two independent parameters of the said propulsion system, the electronic circuit configured to determine an estimated watercraft speed based on the sensed parameters and the stored characteristics of the electric motor and the propeller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for estimating the travel speed of watercraft and electric trolling motors comprising:
-
providing an electric propulsion unit configured to provide thrust via rotation of a propeller; providing an electronic circuit configured to store the characteristics of the electric propulsion unit, sensing at least two parameters of the said propulsion unit, and determining an estimated travel speed based on the sensed parameters and the stored characteristics of the electric propulsion unit.
-
-
12. An electric trolling motor for watercraft comprising:
-
a propulsion system means comprising an electric motor and propeller configured to provide propelling thrust via rotation of the motor and propeller, the propulsion system means further configured to receive electrical power; an electronic circuit configured to store the characteristics of the electric motor and the propeller of the said propulsion system means, the electronic circuit further configured to sense at least two independent parameters of the said propulsion system, the electronic circuit configured to determine an estimated travel speed of the electric trolling motor based on the sensed parameters and the stored characteristics of the electric motor and the propeller. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification