System and method for controlling a trolling motor

• US 9,132,900 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2014
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Outdoors, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Johnson Outdoors, Inc.
• Inventors: Salmon, Paul D., Evers, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): CAMBY, RICHARD M
• Application Number:
  US14/274,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20140249698A1
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 701/21, 701/22, 701/23, 701/412, 701/425, 701/468, 318/588, 318/551, 318/548, 440/6, 440/84
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2021/216 using electric control means
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2025/045 making use of satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. the Global Positioning System [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/21 Control means for engine or transmission, specially adapted for use on marine vessels
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/203 Specially adapted for sailing ships
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0206 specially adapted to water vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

A trolling motor control system that includes a main controller configured interface with a trolling motor is provided. The main controller is configured to control the output power and directional heading of the trolling motor. In at least one embodiment, the main controller has an electronic interface configured to establish a two-way day data connection between the main controller and an electronic GPS-equipped mapping device. This two-way connection allows the main controller to use data stored on the GPS-equipped mapping device to execute functions of the trolling motor control system. It also allows functions of the trolling motor control system to be executed via controls on the GPS-equipped mapping device.

Claims

1. A trolling motor control system comprising:

a main controller configured to interface with a trolling motor for a watercraft, wherein the main controller is further configured to control an output power of the trolling motor and a directional heading of the watercraft via the trolling motor, the main controller having an electronic interface configured to establish a two-way data connection between the main controller and an electronic GPS-equipped mapping device such that the main controller can use data stored on the GPS-equipped mapping device to execute functions of the trolling motor control system, and such that functions of the trolling motor control system can be executed via controls on the GPS-equipped mapping device.

2. The trolling motor control system of claim 1, wherein the electronic interface is a wireless electronic interface.

3. The trolling motor control system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless remote control device having a display screen and input means, the wireless remote control device configured to wirelessly communicate with the main controller to cause, via the input means, the main controller to execute functions of the trolling motor control system.

4. The trolling motor control system of claim 3, wherein the wireless remote control device is configured to cause the GPS-equipped mapping device to record one or more waypoints.

5. The trolling motor control system of claim 3, wherein the wireless remote control device is configured to control the GPS-equipped mapping device such that the user can remotely control standard functions on the GPS-equipped mapping device.

6. The trolling motor control system of claim 5, wherein one of the standard functions on the GPS-equipped mapping device is to record a track or series of waypoints.

7. The trolling motor control system of claim 1, wherein the data stored on the GPS-equipped mapping device comprises a recorded waypoint, or a series of recorded waypoints that constitute a track.

8. The trolling motor control system of claim 1, wherein the main controller is configured to execute a Spot-Lock function, wherein the trolling motor is operated to keep the watercraft at a selected waypoint when the watercraft is not anchored.

9. The trolling motor control system of claim 1, wherein the main controller is configured to execute a Track-to-Start function, wherein the trolling motor is operated to cause the watercraft to follow a recorded track from a present position to the first waypoint in the track.

10. The trolling motor control system of claim 9, wherein the main controller is configured to execute a Track-to-End function, wherein the trolling motor is operated to cause the watercraft to follow a recorded track from a present position to the last waypoint in the track.

11. The trolling motor control system of claim 1, wherein the main controller is configured to execute an autopilot feature that causes the trolling motor to automatically maintain a predetermined heading for the watercraft and to correct for any effects of wind, waves or currents on that heading.

12. The trolling motor control system of claim 1, wherein the main controller is configured to execute a Navigate-To function that causes the trolling motor to navigate the watercraft from a present position to a selected waypoint.

13. The trolling motor control system of claim 1, wherein the main controller includes a main control module, a GPS receiver, an electronic compass, and a wireless interface.

14. The trolling motor control system of claim 1, wherein the main controller is configured to be mounted to the trolling motor.

15. The trolling motor control system of claim 1, wherein the main controller is configured to be mounted to an operator'"'"'s console.

16. The trolling motor control system of claim 1, wherein the GPS-equipped mapping device is one of a chart plotter and an electronic fish finder.

17. A method of controlling a trolling motor on a watercraft, the method comprising the steps of:

configuring a module of a trolling motor control system to transmit control signals to the trolling motor for controlling an output power of the trolling motor and a directional heading of the watercraft via the trolling motor;

establishing a two-way data link between the trolling motor control system and an electronic GPS-equipped mapping device; and

configuring the trolling motor control system to use the two-way data link to access data stored on the electronic GPS-equipped mapping device in order to execute functions of the trolling motor control system;

the method further comprising using user input controls on the electronic GPS-equipped mapping device to execute functions of the trolling motor control system.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising executing functions of the trolling motor control system using a wireless remote control device.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein configuring a module of a trolling motor control system to transmit signals to the trolling motor comprises configuring a module of a trolling motor control system to wirelessly transmit signals to the trolling motor.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein executing functions of the trolling motor control system comprises controlling the trolling motor causing it to perform a spot-lock function.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein executing functions of the trolling motor control system comprises controlling the trolling motor causing it to perform an autopilot function.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein executing functions of the trolling motor control system comprises controlling the trolling motor causing it to follow a recorded track to the starting point for the track.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein executing functions of the trolling motor control system comprises controlling the trolling motor causing it to follow a recorded track to the end point for the track.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein executing functions of the trolling motor control system comprises controlling the trolling motor causing it to navigate from a present position to a selected waypoint.

25. The method of claim 17, further comprising coupling the module of the trolling motor control system to the trolling motor.

26. The method of claim 17, further comprising coupling the module of the trolling motor control system to an operator'"'"'s console.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein establishing a two-way data link between the trolling motor control system and an electronic GPS-equipped mapping device comprises establishing a wireless two-way data link between the trolling motor control system and an electronic GPS-equipped mapping device.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein establishing a wireless two-way data link between the trolling motor control system and the electronic GPS-equipped mapping device comprises connecting a wireless interface to a port of the GPS-equipped mapping device.

29. A trolling motor configured to be used on a boat, the trolling motor comprising:

one or more mechanisms for the manual control of the speed and direction of the trolling motor; and

a control system for regulating operation of the trolling motor, the control system comprising;

a main controller configured to control an output power of the trolling motor and a directional heading of the watercraft via the trolling motor, the main controller having an electronic interface configured to establish a two-way data connection between the main controller and an electronic GPS-equipped mapping device such that the main controller can use data stored on the GPS-equipped mapping device to execute functions of the trolling motor, and such that functions of the trolling motor can be executed via controls on the GPS-equipped mapping device.

30. The trolling motor of claim 29, wherein the functions of the trolling motor can be executed using a wireless remote control device having a display screen and input means, the wireless remote control device configured to wirelessly communicate with the main controller to cause, via the input means, the main controller to execute functions of the trolling motor.

31. The trolling motor of claim 30, wherein the wireless remote control device is configured to cause the GPS-equipped mapping device to record one or more waypoints, and wherein the wireless remote control device is configured to display a copy of that being displayed on the GPS-equipped mapping device display, and wherein the wireless remote control device is configured to control the GPS-equipped mapping device such that the user can remotely control standard functions on the GPS-equipped mapping device, and wherein the wireless remote control device includes software that can be modified using the GPS-equipped mapping device.

32. The trolling motor of claim 29, wherein the main controller includes a main control module, a GPS receiver, an electronic compass, and a wireless interface.

33. The trolling motor of claim 29, wherein the data stored on the GPS-equipped mapping device comprises a recorded waypoint, or a series of recorded waypoints that constitute a track.

34. The trolling motor of claim 29, wherein functions of the trolling motor include a Spot-Lock function in which the trolling motor is operated to keep the watercraft at a selected waypoint when the watercraft is not anchored.

35. The trolling motor of claim 29, wherein functions of the trolling motor include a Track-to-Start function in which the trolling motor is operated to cause the watercraft to follow a recorded track from a present position to the first waypoint in the track.

36. The trolling motor of claim 29, wherein functions of the trolling motor include a Track-to-End function in which the trolling motor is operated to cause the watercraft to follow a recorded track from a present position to the last waypoint in the track.

37. The trolling motor of claim 29, wherein functions of the trolling motor include an autopilot function in which the trolling motor is operated to automatically maintain a predetermined heading for the watercraft and to correct for any effects of wind, waves or currents on that heading.

38. The trolling motor of claim 29, wherein functions of the trolling motor include a Navigate-To function in which the trolling motor navigates the watercraft from a present position to a selected waypoint.

39. The trolling motor of claim 29, wherein the electronic interface is a wireless electronic interface.