Integrated battery level indicator, method and circuit for a trolling motor controller

• US 8,188,876 B1
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Original Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Inventors: Holley, Steven E., Bentz, Jason M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US12/474,666
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 340/636.15, 340/636.1, 340/661, 340/660, 340/636.19, 320/134, 320/137
• US Class Current: 340/636.15
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 20/007 Trolling propulsion units trolling plates for slowing down B63H25/50; dynamo-electric machines of trolling units H02K
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/21 Control means for engine or transmission, specially adapted for use on marine vessels
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/16542 for batteries charge condition monitoring in G01R31/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3646 for indicating electrical conditions or variables, e.g. visual or audible indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The integrated batter level indicator method and circuit of the present application provides an LED bar graph display proportional to a range of variable throttle control that provides range of speed indication, direction indication, as well as a battery level indicator. The bar graph display is configured to switch between speed or battery mode, preferably switching to battery mode when a user turns the throttle to an off position, while indicating direction of the motor at all times when the motor is in use. The integrated battery level indicator and circuit displays an amount of battery power remaining in the battery by comparing the input signal to a high and low reference level such that as the input varies between the high and low reference levels, the battery voltage is displayed on the indicator. The indicator and circuit of the present application further includes the bar graph display being integrated into the controller head cover of the controller head assembly such that a user can easily view the indicator and even be reminded of the battery level charge without having to think about it or search for it.

Claims

1. A battery level circuit for a trolling motor, the circuit comprising:

an LED driver, the LED driver including a low reference voltage input, a high reference voltage input, and a battery voltage input;

a low reference voltage generator, including a low reference transistor (Q103), a buffering resistor, an operational amplifier and a voltage divider, wherein the low reference voltage generator receives a reference input, outputs a low reference scaler and provides the low reference voltage input to the LED driver based on the low reference scaler and a maximum battery voltage;

a high reference voltage generator including a high reference transistor (Q102), a reference diode and the operational amplifier, wherein the high reference voltage generator receives the reference input, outputs a high reference scaler, and provides the high reference voltage input to the LED driver based on the high reference scaler and a maximum battery voltage; and

a battery voltage input circuit including a battery voltage transistor (Q104), the battery voltage input circuit providing the battery voltage input to the LED driver,

wherein the LED driver compares the battery voltage input to the low and high reference voltage inputs and illuminates an appropriate number of a plurality of LEDs according to the comparison.

2. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of LEDs are coupled with a controller head assembly of the trolling motor such that the plurality of LEDs are easily viewable by a user.

3. The circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plurality of LEDs are coupled with a controller board of the trolling motor inside the controller head assembly, and are configured to be viewable to the user through a plurality of apertures in the controller head cover.

4. The circuit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pulse width modulated (PWM) inhibit signal, wherein a low value of the PWM inhibit signal places the circuit in a battery mode, thus activating the low reference transistor, the high reference transistor and the battery voltage transistor, such that the low reference voltage, high reference voltage, and battery voltage are inputted to the LED driver.

5. The circuit as claimed in claim 4, further comprising an RC circuit, wherein when the PWM inhibit signal is low, the RC circuit charges a capacitor (C104) for a charging time, and further wherein the LED driver is powered off at the end of the charging time, such that the battery level in the battery mode is only displayed for the charging time of the capacitor.

6. The circuit as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a speed mode when the PWM inhibit signal is high, wherein a POT Hi signal, a POT La signal and a POT Wiper signal bypass the low reference transistor, the high reference transistor and the battery voltage transistor, and are inputted into the LED driver, such that the LED driver compares the POT Wiper signal to the POT Hi and POT Lo signals to calculate and display a current throttle condition of the trolling motor, further wherein the current throttle is displayed on the plurality of LEDs.

7. The circuit as claimed in claim 6, wherein a high PWM inhibit signal is inputted into a mode input of the LED driver and causes the LED driver to illuminate the throttle condition of the motor in a bar configuration, wherein the bar configuration includes illuminating all of the plurality of LEDs up to an LED corresponding to the throttle condition of the trolling motor.

8. The circuit as claimed in claim 6, wherein a low PWM inhibit signal is inputted into a mode input of the LED driver and causes the LED driver to illuminate the battery level in a dot configuration, wherein the dot configuration includes illuminating one of the plurality of LEDs corresponding to the battery level.

9. The circuit as claimed in claim 6, wherein a directional sensor circuit is activated when the PWM inhibit signal is high, the directional sensor circuit further receiving a F/R select signal, the F/R select signal activating an appropriate one of a top or bottom arrow LED, thus indicating a current operating direction of the trolling motor.

10. The circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reference input has a value of 5.3 volts.

11. The circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the LED driver is an integrated circuit chip.

12. The circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the LED driver is a constant current driver.

13. A method of battery level indication for a trolling motor, the method comprising:

calculating a low reference voltage input, and inputting the low reference voltage input into an LED driver;

calculating a high reference voltage input, and inputting the high reference voltage input into the LED driver;

inputting a current battery voltage into the LED driver, and comparing the current battery voltage with the reference voltage inputs; and

displaying the current battery level according to the comparison, and illuminating an LED to illustrate the current battery level.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising coupling a plurality of LEDs with a controller head assembly of the trolling motor such that the plurality of LEDs are easily viewable by a user.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising coupling the plurality of LEDs with a controller board of the trolling motor inside the controller head assembly, configured to be viewable to the user through a plurality of apertures in the controller head cover.

16. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising activating the calculating steps with a pulse width modulated (PWM) inhibit signal, when a low value of the PWM inhibit signal places the battery level circuit in a battery mode.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising powering the LED driver for a charging time of a capacitor (C104) with an RC circuit, wherein when the PWM inhibit signal is low, the RC circuit charges, wherein the LED driver is powered off at the end of the charging time, such that the battery level in the battery mode is only displayed for the charging time of the capacitor.

18. The method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising activating a speed mode when the PWM inhibit signal is high, further comprising inputting a POT Hi signal, a POT Lo signal and a POT Wiper signal into the LED driver, and further comprising the LED driver comparing the POT Wiper signal to the POT Hi and POT Lo signals and calculating and displaying a current throttle condition of the trolling motor, further wherein the current throttle is displayed on the plurality of LEDs.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising inputting a high PWM inhibit signal into a mode input of the LED driver, causing the LED driver to illuminate the throttle condition of the motor in a bar configuration, wherein the bar configuration includes illuminating all of the plurality of LEDs up to an LED corresponding to the throttle condition of the trolling motor.

20. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising inputting a low PWM inhibit signal into a mode input of the LED driver, causing the LED driver to illuminate the battery level in a dot configuration, wherein the dot configuration includes illuminating one of the plurality of LEDs corresponding to the battery.

21. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein a directional sensor circuit is activated when the PWM inhibit signal is high, the directional sensor circuit further receiving a F/R select signal, the F/R select signal activating an appropriate one of a top or bottom arrow LED, thus indicating a current operating direction of the trolling motor.

22. The circuit as claimed in claim 13, wherein the LED driver is an integrated circuit chip.

23. The circuit as claimed in claim 13, wherein the LED driver is a constant current driver.

24. A controller head assembly for a trolling motor, the assembly comprising:

a plurality of apertures configured on a controller head cover;

a plurality of LEDs coupled with a battery level circuit configured inside the controller head assembly, the plurality of LEDs viewable through the plurality of apertures in the controller head assembly; and

a throttle handle rotatable about an axis, such that when the throttle handle is rotated to a throttle off position, the battery level circuit compares a battery voltage input to a scaled low and high reference voltage input and illuminates one of the plurality of LEDs according to the comparison to indicate a current battery level.