Engine rotation control device and boat

• US 7,698,052 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2008
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: Kawanishi, Masaru, Yamada, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): WOLFE JR, WILLIS RAY
• Application Number:
  US12/026,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20080215230A1
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 123/349, 123/350, 123/352, 123/361, 123/399, 123/400, 123/403, 701101-103, 701/110, 701/115, 440/1, 440/2, 440/75, 440/84, 440/87
• US Class Current: 701/110
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 20/00 Outboard propulsion units, e.g. outboard motors or Z-drives; Arrangements thereof on vessels
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/105 characterised by the function converting demand to actuation, e.g. a map indicating relations between an accelerator pedal position and throttle valve opening or target engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 31/001 Electric control of rotation speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/266 the computer being backed-up or assisted by another circuit, e.g. analogue

Abstract

In an engine rotation control device, a remote control operation device is provided with a remote control side ECU and an engine side ECU so that an outboard motor can be remotely controlled. The remote control side ECU and the engine side ECU periodically communicate a control signal. A gauge includes a slow-speed operation section that changes the engine rotational speed during slow-speed cruising. The slow-speed operation section outputs a change command signal to change the engine rotational speed, and a rotational speed change signal generated by a signal output section based on the change command signal is transmitted to the engine side ECU as a periodic control signal. A reset section of the remote control side ECU resets the rotational speed change signal to an initial state in response to a request from a reset request section.

Claims

1. An engine rotation control device comprising:

a slow-speed operation section that outputs a change command signal to change a rotational speed of an engine based on a command input to control the speed during slow-speed cruising;

a remote control side control unit provided in a remote control device that remotely controls the engine so as to output a rotational speed change signal to change the rotational speed of the engine when the change command signal is received; and

an engine side control unit provided in the engine that periodically communicates a control signal with the remote control side control unit at regular intervals to change the rotational speed of the engine based on the rotational speed change signal;

wherein

the remote control side control unit includes a signal output section that outputs the rotational speed change signal, a reset section that resets the output state of the rotational speed change signal in the signal output unit to an initial state, and a reset request section that actuates the reset section.

2. The engine rotation control device according to claim 1, wherein the engine side control unit includes a rotational speed operation section that performs control functions required to change the rotational speed of the engine when a rise or fall of the rotational speed change signal is detected.

3. The engine rotation control device according to claim 1, wherein the slow-speed operation section is provided on a gauge to display measured values from the engine.

4. The engine rotation control device according to claim 1, wherein the reset request section is provided in one of the gauge, the remote control side control unit, and the engine side control unit.

5. The engine rotation control device according to claim 1, wherein the reset request section includes a timer arranged to monitor the output period of the rotational speed change signal, and the reset request section makes a request for the reset when the output period of the rotational speed change signal measured by the timer reaches a predetermined period of time.

6. The engine rotation control device according to claim 1, wherein the engine side control unit includes a response section that sends out a response signal for indicating the reception of the rotational speed change signal, and the reset request section activates the reset section after receiving the response signal.

7. The engine rotation control device according to claim 1, wherein the slow-speed operation section includes an interface through which an operator can manually input a command.

8. The engine rotation control device according to claim 1, wherein the remote control side control unit includes a sub-microcomputer and a main microcomputer which communicate with one another.

9. The engine rotation control device according to claim 8, wherein the sub-microcomputer includes at least one CPU which performs arithmetic processing of programs and data, a RAM which functions as a work area of the at least one CPU, a ROM in which required programs and data are stored, and a plurality of interfaces which perform various processing required for communicating with the gauge and the main microcomputer.

10. The engine rotation control device according to claim 8, wherein the main microcomputer includes at least one CPU which performs arithmetic processing of programs and data, a RAM which functions as a work area of the at least one CPU, a ROM in which required programs and data are stored, and a plurality of interfaces which perform various processing required for communicating with the engine side control unit and the sub-microcomputer.

11. The engine rotation control device according to claim 1, wherein the rotation speed change signal is a signal having a binary value.

12. A boat comprising:

a hull;

a boat propulsion device attached to a stern of the hull and including an engine; and

an engine rotation control device according to claim 1.