Boat propulsion apparatus and boat

• US 8,801,481 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2008
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: Kawanishi, Masaru, Akuzawa, Shu
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, An T
• Application Number:
  US12/034,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20080214069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,364 Days
• Field of Search: 440 84- 87
• US Class Current: 440/84
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/304 Boats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0064 using a remote, e.g. cordless, transmitter or receiver unit, e.g. remote keypad or mobile phone
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0083 Setting, resetting, calibration
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/00 Use of propulsion power plant or units on vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

In a boat propulsion apparatus including an engine control device for controlling operation of an engine, the engine control device includes a first ID storage and a second ID storage, a first ID is stored in the first ID storage beforehand, and the engine control device is communicably connected to a controller of a remote control device over a network. A signal containing a second ID is received from the controller when the engine control device and the controller are connected to the network for the first time and is stored in the second ID storage. Thus, maintenance and management of the engine are easy, and also it is possible to prevent a mischievous operation or theft of the boat propulsion apparatus.

Claims

1. A boat propulsion apparatus comprising:

a remote control device including a controller and an operating lever arranged to control a shift device and a throttle operating device of the boat propulsion apparatus;

an engine control device arranged to control an engine operation and including;

a first ID storage having a first ID stored therein, the first ID being a master authentication ID that enables operation of the boat propulsion apparatus when the first ID is authenticated; and

a second ID storage;

wherein

the engine control device is communicably connected to the controller of the remote control device over a network;

a signal containing a second ID is received from the controller when the engine control device and the controller are connected to the network for the first time and is stored in the second ID storage;

the engine control device is arranged to perform authentication of the second ID with the controller at a predetermined timing after the second ID is stored to change a state of not allowing remote control of the shift device and the throttle operating device of the boat propulsion apparatus by the remote control device to a state enabling remote control of the shift device and the throttle operating device of the boat propulsion apparatus by the remote control device if the second ID is authenticated by the authentication;

the engine control device is arranged to allow remote control of the shift device and the throttle operating device of the boat propulsion apparatus by a master remote control device when the engine control device receives a signal containing the first ID from the master remote control device; and

the engine control device is arranged to not allow remote control of the shift device and the throttle operating device of the boat propulsion apparatus by a different remote control device when the engine control device receives a signal other than the first ID or the second ID from the different remote control device.

2. The boat propulsion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a signal is sent for the engine control device to display a warning on a display device if the second ID is not authenticated.

3. The boat propulsion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second ID storage is initialized by an operation of a service tool connected to the engine control device with data communication enabled.

4. A boat equipped with the boat propulsion apparatus according to claim 1.

5. The boat propulsion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first ID cannot be deleted from the first ID storage.

6. The boat propulsion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second ID can be deleted from the second ID storage.

7. The boat propulsion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second ID remains in the second ID storage even when the remote control device is disconnected from the engine control device.