Operation control system for small boat
First Claim
1. An operation control system for a small boat comprising acceleration displacement detecting means for detecting the displacement of an acceleration controller, and mode selection means for selecting a driving mode from a normal operation mode in which the boat cruises at a speed in response to the displacement of the acceleration controller detected by the acceleration displacement detecting means, and a low-speed setting mode in which the boat cruises at a preset low speed when a low-speed setting controller is operated, wherein the mode selection means permits the driving mode to switch to the low-speed setting mode if the displacement of the acceleration controller is zero, or small or close to zero, further comprising forward/reverse drive shift means for changing the direction of thrust generated by a propulsion unit to either forward or reverse direction, wherein the mode selection means permits the driving mode to switch to the low-speed setting mode if the forward/reverse drive shift means has been shifted to a forward drive position, and the mode selection means prohibits the driving mode from switching to the low-speed setting mode if the forward/reverse drive shift means has been shifted to a reverse drive position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An operation control system for a small boat can include a mode selection module configured to allow a driver to select between a plurality of driving modes including at least a normal operation mode, in which the boat cruises at a speed in response to the displacement of an acceleration controller, and a low-speed setting mode, in which the boat cruises at a preset low speed when a low-speed setting controller is operated; in which the mode selection module permits the driving mode to switch to the low-speed setting mode if the displacement of the acceleration controller is zero, or small or close to zero or is in or substantially at an idle position.
141 Citations
14 Claims
- 1. An operation control system for a small boat comprising acceleration displacement detecting means for detecting the displacement of an acceleration controller, and mode selection means for selecting a driving mode from a normal operation mode in which the boat cruises at a speed in response to the displacement of the acceleration controller detected by the acceleration displacement detecting means, and a low-speed setting mode in which the boat cruises at a preset low speed when a low-speed setting controller is operated, wherein the mode selection means permits the driving mode to switch to the low-speed setting mode if the displacement of the acceleration controller is zero, or small or close to zero, further comprising forward/reverse drive shift means for changing the direction of thrust generated by a propulsion unit to either forward or reverse direction, wherein the mode selection means permits the driving mode to switch to the low-speed setting mode if the forward/reverse drive shift means has been shifted to a forward drive position, and the mode selection means prohibits the driving mode from switching to the low-speed setting mode if the forward/reverse drive shift means has been shifted to a reverse drive position.
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5. An operation control system for a small boat comprising acceleration displacement detecting means for detecting the displacement of an acceleration controller, and mode selection means for selecting a driving mode from a normal operation mode in which the boat cruises at a speed in response to the displacement of the acceleration controller detected by the acceleration displacement detecting means, and a low-speed setting mode in which the boat cruises at a preset low speed when a low-speed setting controller is operated, wherein the mode selection means permits the driving mode to switch to the low-speed setting mode if the displacement of the acceleration controller is zero, or small or close to zero, wherein the mode selection means clears the low-speed setting mode to automatically switch to the normal operation mode if the low-speed setting mode has been selected, and if at least one of the small displacement of the acceleration controller changes to a large amount, the low-speed setting controller is operated again, and a steering load, applied to a steering device by the driver'"'"'s steering action, or a steering angle is equal to or greater than a preset value.
- 6. An operation control system for a small boat comprising acceleration displacement detecting means for detecting the displacement of an acceleration controller, and mode selection means for selecting a driving mode from a normal operation mode in which the boat cruises at a speed in response to the displacement of the acceleration controller detected by the acceleration displacement detecting means, and a low-speed setting mode in which the boat cruises at a preset low speed when a low-speed setting controller is operated, wherein the mode selection means permits the driving mode to switch to the low-speed setting mode if the displacement of the acceleration controller is zero, or small or close to zero, further comprising anomaly detecting means for detecting an anomaly in at least any one of engine operation and all detecting means, wherein the mode selection means prohibits the driving mode from switching to the low-speed setting mode if any anomaly is detected.
- 8. An operation control system for a small boat having an acceleration input device configured to allow a driver of the small boat to input an acceleration input, the system comprising an acceleration displacement detector configured to detect a displacement of an acceleration controller, and a mode selection module configured to allow a driver of the small boat to select between a plurality of driving modes, the driving modes including at least a normal operation mode in which the boat cruises at a speed in response to the displacement of the acceleration input device detected by the acceleration displacement detecting module, and a low-speed setting mode in which the boat cruises at a preset low speed when a low-speed setting controller is operated, wherein the mode selection module is configured to permit the driving mode to switch to the low-speed setting mode if the displacement of the acceleration input device is in or substantially at an idle speed position, further comprising a forward/reverse drive shift device configured to allow a driver of the small boat to change the direction of thrust generated by a propulsion unit of the small boat to either forward or reverse direction, wherein the mode selection module is configured to permit the driving mode to switch to the low-speed setting mode if the forward/reverse drive shift device has been shifted to a forward drive position, and wherein the mode selection module is configured to prohibit the driving mode from switching to the low-speed setting mode if the forward/reverse drive shift device has been shifted to a reverse drive position.
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12. An operation control system for a small boat having an acceleration input device configured to allow a driver of the small boat to input an acceleration input, the system comprising an acceleration displacement detector configured to detect a displacement of an acceleration controller, and a mode selection module configured to allow a driver of the small boat to select between a plurality of driving modes, the driving modes including at least a normal operation mode in which the boat cruises at a speed in response to the displacement of the acceleration input device detected by the acceleration displacement detecting module, and a low-speed setting mode in which the boat cruises at a preset low speed when a low-speed setting controller is operated, wherein the mode selection module is configured to permit the driving mode to switch to the low-speed setting mode if the displacement of the acceleration input device is in or substantially at an idle speed position, wherein the mode selection module is configured to clear the low-speed setting mode to automatically switch to the normal operation mode if the low-speed setting mode has been selected, and if at least one of the small displacement of the acceleration input device changes to a large amount, the low-speed setting controller is operated again, and a steering load, applied to a steering device by the driver'"'"'s steering action, or a steering angle is equal to or greater than a preset value.
- 13. An operation control system for a small boat having an acceleration input device configured to allow a driver of the small boat to input an acceleration input, the system comprising an acceleration displacement detector configured to detect a displacement of an acceleration controller, and a mode selection module configured to allow a driver of the small boat to select between a plurality of driving modes, the driving modes including at least a normal operation mode in which the boat cruises at a speed in response to the displacement of the acceleration input device detected by the acceleration displacement detecting module, and a low-speed setting mode in which the boat cruises at a preset low speed when a low-speed setting controller is operated, wherein the mode selection module is configured to permit the driving mode to switch to the low-speed setting mode if the displacement of the acceleration input device is in or substantially at an idle speed position, further comprising an anomaly detecting module configured to detect an anomaly in at least any one of engine operation and all detecting modules, wherein the mode selection module prohibits the driving mode from switching to the low-speed setting mode if any anomaly is detected.
Specification