Watercraft automation and aquatic effort data utilization

• US 9,758,222 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2016
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH (Garmin Limited)
• Inventors: Grace, Ted V., Grace, Ryan T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US15/346,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20170050712A1
• Time in Patent Office: 307 Days
• Field of Search: 701 21, 701300, 34099519, 440 6, 440 53, 114144 RE
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 83/02 Expanding fish-hook assembly
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 85/00 Artificial bait for fishing
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 85/02 with means for concealing or protecting hooks, e.g. to prevent entanglement with weeds
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 91/08 Trolling devices
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 93/02 with signalling devices
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 97/00 Accessories for angling fish stringers A01K65/00; landing-nets or landing-spoons for fishing A01K77/00
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2201/18 Sonar
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2211/02 Oceanography
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2213/02 using satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. the Global Positioning System GPS
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 51/00 Marking of navigation route
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 79/15 for monitoring environmental variables, e.g. wave height or weather data
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 79/40 for controlling the operation of vessels, e.g. monitoring their speed, routing or maintenance schedules
• 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 2025/425 Propulsive elements, other than jets, substantially used for steering or dynamic anchoring only, with means for retracting, or otherwise moving to a rest position outside the water flow around the hull
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/21 Control means for engine or transmission, specially adapted for use on marine vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 25/04 automatic, e.g. reacting to compass
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/005 with correlation of navigation data from several sources, e.g. map or contour matching G01C21/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 : Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/89 : for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 : Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0206 : specially adapted to water vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 3/00 : Control of position or direction G05D1/00 takes precedence; numerical control to execute positioning G05B19/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 : Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 : communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 : Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/80 : in fisheries management

Abstract

A trolling system for a boat includes a trolling motor and a control mechanism. The control mechanism includes an interface for establishing a network connection between the control mechanism and an electronic GPS mapping computer. The control mechanism is configured to receive control instruction from the electronic GPS mapping computer to cause the trolling motor to execute a direction in accordance with a water depth.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a trolling device, the system comprising:

a trolling motor;

a control mechanism associated with the trolling motor for controlling at least one member of a group consisting of;

a speed of the trolling motor and a direction of the trolling motor;

an electronic GPS mapping computer having an electronic display for displaying data;

a network connection between the control mechanism and the electronic GPS mapping computer; and

computer executable instructions executable by a processor of the electronic GPS mapping computer, wherein the computer executable instructions are configured for;

receiving an indication of a water depth,

generating control instructions based on the indication of the water depth, and

sending instructions to the control mechanism associated with the trolling motor to cause the control mechanism to control the direction of the trolling motor to maintain the water depth.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the indication of the water depth is received by user input.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the indication of the water depth is received by a sonar device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the indication of the water depth is received by a depth sensor.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the depth sensor is associated with a down rigger.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic GPS mapping computer is a depth finder.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the network connection is at least one member of a group consisting of:

a wireless network connection and a wired network connection.

8. A trolling device configured to be used on a boat, the trolling device comprising:

a trolling motor; and

a control mechanism associated with the trolling motor to control at least one member of a group consisting of;

a speed of the trolling motor and a direction of the trolling motor,

wherein the control mechanism includes an interface for establishing a network connection between the control mechanism and an electronic GPS mapping computer having an electronic display for displaying data,

wherein the control mechanism is configured to receive control instructions from the electronic GPS mapping computer to cause the trolling motor to execute a direction in accordance with a water depth.

9. The trolling device of claim 8, wherein the water depth is a user input water depth.

10. The trolling device of claim 8, wherein the water depth is determined from sonar data.

11. The trolling device of claim 8, wherein the water depth is determined from a depth sensor data.

12. The trolling device of claim 8, wherein the depth sensor is associated with a down rigger.

13. The trolling device of claim 8, wherein the electronic GPS mapping computer is a depth finder.

14. The trolling device of claim 8, wherein the interface is at least one member of a group consisting of:

a wireless network interface and a wired network interface.

15. A system for controlling a trolling device, the system comprising:

an electronic GPS mapping computer having an electronic display for displaying data,

wherein the GPS mapping computer includes an interface for establishing a network connection between the GPS mapping computer and a control mechanism associated with a trolling motor, and

wherein the GPS mapping computer includes computer executable instructions executable by a processor of the electronic GPS mapping computer, wherein the computer executable instructions are configured for;

receiving an indication of a water depth,

generating control instructions based on the indication of the water depth, and

sending instructions to the control mechanism associated with the trolling motor to cause the control mechanism to control the direction of the trolling motor to maintain the water depth.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the indication of the water depth is received by user input.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the indication of the water depth is received by a sonar device.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the indication of the water depth is received by a depth sensor.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the electronic GPS mapping computer is a depth finder.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the network connection is at least one member of a group consisting of:

a wireless network connection and a wired network connection.