Point-n-click steering
First Claim
1. A trolling motor controller for controlling a trolling motor and for determining a target heading direction of a boat to which the trolling motor may be connected and directing the boat in the target heading direction, the trolling motor controller comprising:
- a transmitting means for transmitting signals, wherein the signals contain information corresponding to the target heading direction for directing the trolling motor controller, the target heading direction being automatically sensed by a direction sensor; and
, a receiving means for receiving the signals wherein the receiving means is further operative to cause a change in the steering direction of the trolling motor to achieve the target heading direction.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present system is a system for controlling a trolling motor in a fishing boat. The system comprises a transmitting unit and a receiving unit. The transmitting unit includes a direction sensor, a selection switch, and a transmitter. The direction sensor automatically senses the direction to which the user desires to steer the fishing boat when the user points the direction sensor in that direction. The user then uses the selection switch, and by “clicking” the switch once the transmitter sends a signal with the direction information to the receiving unit. The receiving unit then receives the signal containing the direction information, and affects the trolling motor in such a way that it steers the fishing boat in the desired direction.
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Citations
91 Claims
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1. A trolling motor controller for controlling a trolling motor and for determining a target heading direction of a boat to which the trolling motor may be connected and directing the boat in the target heading direction, the trolling motor controller comprising:
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a transmitting means for transmitting signals, wherein the signals contain information corresponding to the target heading direction for directing the trolling motor controller, the target heading direction being automatically sensed by a direction sensor; and
,a receiving means for receiving the signals wherein the receiving means is further operative to cause a change in the steering direction of the trolling motor to achieve the target heading direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for controlling a trolling motor and for determining a target heading direction of a boat to which the trolling motor may be connected and directing the boat in the target heading direction, wherein the trolling motor is associated with a trolling motor controller, and wherein the trolling motor controller comprises a transmitting means and a receiving means, the method comprising the steps of:
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affecting the sensing of the target heading direction using the transmitting means; and
,affecting a change in the trolling motor using the sensed target heading direction to achieve the target heading direction. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A trolling motor control system for controlling a trolling motor and for determining a target heading direction of a boat to which the trolling motor may be connected and directing the boat in the target heading direction, the trolling motor system comprising:
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a direction sensor for sensing the target heading direction, a signal comprising information corresponding to the target heading direction for the trolling motor controller to achieve, wherein the signal is used to cause a change in the steering direction of the trolling motor to achieve the target heading direction. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for controlling a trolling motor and for changing a target heading direction of a boat to which the trolling motor may be connected and directing the boat in the target heading direction, wherein the trolling motor is operatively connected to a trolling motor controller, and wherein the trolling motor controller comprises a transmitter, the method comprising the steps of:
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affecting the sensing of the target heading direction using the transmitter; and
,affecting a change in the trolling motor using the sensed target heading direction to achieve the target heading direction. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A trolling motor control system for controlling a trolling motor and for changing a target heading direction of a boat to which the trolling motor may be connected and directing the boat in the target heading direction, the trolling motor system comprising:
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a direction sensor for sensing the target heading direction;
a digital compass; and
a tilt compensator operatively connected to the digital compass for compensating for the orientation of the digital compass. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A motor control system for a trolling motor, comprising:
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a heading detector indicating a heading, and comprising a tilt compensator operatively connected to a digital compass, wherein the tilt compensator adjusts an output from the digital compass to account for a roll angle and a pitch angle of the digital compass, a feedback analyzer operatively connected to the heading detector, wherein the heading detector provides a feedback signal to the feedback analyzer;
a propulsion device coupled to the heading detector;
a controller operatively connected to the feedback analyzer and to the propulsion device for controlling the heading, wherein the feedback analyzer achieves a heading substantially identical to a target heading, wherein the feedback analyzer provides a control signal to the controller. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A motor control system for a trolling motor, comprising:
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a propulsion device coupled to a boat;
a steering actuator operatively coupled to the propulsion device, wherein the steering actuator is configured to control the orientation of the propulsion device in response to a steering control signal;
an input device for generating a waypoint signal, wherein the waypoint signal is representative of the position of an at least one waypoint;
a position detector for generating a position signal representative of the actual position of the boat;
a heading detector comprising a tilt compensator and a digital compass for generating a heading signal related to the actual heading of the boat, wherein the tilt compensator adjusts the output of the digital compass to account for a roll angle and a pitch angle of the digital compass; and
a control circuit operatively connected to the input device, the position detector, the steering actuator and the heading detector, the control circuit being configured to determine the position of the at least one waypoint based upon the waypoint signal generated by the input device and to determine the actual position of the boat based upon the position signal generated by the position detector, the control circuit being further configured to determine a desired heading based upon the at least one waypoint and the actual position of the boat, and to generate the steering control signal to steer the boat toward the desired waypoint based upon the desired heading and the heading signal, wherein the control circuit steers the boat toward the at least one waypoint. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81)
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82. A motor control system for a trolling motor, comprising:
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a propulsion device operatively connected to a boat, wherein the propulsion device produces a variable magnitude of thrust to propel the boat in response to a thrust control signal;
an input device for allowing an operator to provide a desired waypoint, wherein the desired waypoint is representative of a location the operator desires to travel to;
a position detector for generating a position signal representative of the actual position of the boat;
a steering actuator operatively connected to the propulsion device, wherein the steering actuator is configured to control the orientation of the propulsion device in response to a steering control signal;
a heading detector operatively connected to a tilt compensator and a digital compass for generating a heading signal related to the actual heading of the boat, wherein the tilt compensator adjusts the output of the digital compass to account for a roll angle and a pitch angle of the digital compass; and
a control circuit operatively connected to the position detector, the propulsion device, the steering actuator, the heading detector, and the input device, the control circuit being configured to determine the actual position of the boat based upon the position signal generated by the position detector and to determine a desired heading based upon the desired waypoint and the actual position of the boat, the control circuit being further configured to generate a thrust control signal and the steering control signal to navigate the boat to the desired waypoint, wherein the control circuit generates the thrust control signal based at least upon signals generated by the input device. - View Dependent Claims (83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91)
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Specification