Watercraft steer-by-wireless system

• US 7,404,369 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2006
• Issued: 07/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company), Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Czerny, Barbara J., D'Ambrosio, Joseph G., Kaufmann, Timothy W., Tracht, Steven L., Gillman, Stephen V.
• Primary Examiner(s): BASINGER, SHERMAN D
• Application Number:
  US11/349,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20060124043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 114/144.0RE
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 39/061 by using trimflaps, i.e. flaps mounted on the rear of a boat, e.g. speed boat
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 25/02 Initiating means for steering , for slowing down, otherwise than by use of propulsive elements, or for dynamic anchoring
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 25/04 automatic, e.g. reacting to compass
• 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

Abstract

A watercraft steer-by-wireless control system including: a directional control system responsive to a directional command signal for steering a watercraft, the directional control system including a rudder position sensor to measure and transmit a rudder position signal, and a helm control system responsive to a helm command signal for receiving a directional input to a helm control unit from an operator, the helm control system including a helm position sensor to produce and transmit a helm position signal to a master control unit in operable communication with the helm control system and the directional control system; the master control unit includes a position control process for generating the directional command signal in response to the helm position signal; and wherein the helm control unit wirelessly communicates with the helm control system.

Claims

1. A watercraft steer-by-wireless control system comprising:

a directional control system responsive to a directional command signal for steering a watercraft, said directional control system including a rudder position sensor to measure and transmit a rudder position signal and

a helm control system responsive to a helm command signal for receiving a directional input to a helm control unit from an operator, said helm control system including a helm position sensor to produce and transmit a helm position signal to a master control unit in operable communication with said helm control system, and said directional control system;

said master control unit includes a position control process for generating said directional command signal in response to said helm position signal;

wherein said helm control unit wirelessly communicates with said helm control system,

wherein said helm control unit is configured to receive tactile feedback via an external connection to a watercraft power supply;

an input device receiving said directional input from the operator;

a microprocessor receiving a sensed input signal in response to said input device;

a wireless communications electronics wirelessly transmitting a command to said helm control system;

a helm brake configured to provide tactile feedback to said input device in response to said helm brake coupled to said watercraft power supply of said watercraft; and

a brake drive power electronics module coupled to said helm brake and disposed between said helm brake and said input device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said input device is a steering wheel or a joystick.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a battery, powering said helm control unit.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the brake drive power electronic module is configured to tactile feedback to said input device.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said tactile feedback is disabled in response to the helm brake being decoupled from said watercraft power supply.

5. A wireless helm control unit, comprising:

an input device receiving directional input from an operator;

a sensor processing device generating a sensed input signal in response to said input device;

a microprocessor generating a command in response to the sensed input signal;

a wireless communications device establishing communications between said microprocessor and a helm control system;

an external connection to a watercraft power supply;

a warning indicator driver activating a warning indicator in response to a warning signal from said microprocessor;

a helm brake coupled to the input device and configured to provide tactile feedback to the operator;

a brake drive power electronics module coupled to said helm brake and disposed between said helm brake and said input device;

wherein said external connection to said watercraft power supply configured to be electrically coupled to the helm brake; and

wherein said helm brake is configured to provide tactile feedback to the operator when said helm brake is electrically coupled to said external connection to said watercraft power supply, and wherein said tactile feedback is disabled when said helm brake is decoupled from said external connection to said watercraft power supply.

6. The wireless helm control unit of claim 5 wherein said input device is a steering wheel or a joystick.

7. The wireless helm control unit of claim 5 further comprising a battery, powering said helm control unit.

8. The wireless helm control unit of claim 7 wherein the brake drive power electronics module is configured to generate tactile feedback to said input device.