Systems and methods for automatically controlling attitude of a marine vessel with trim devices
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a trim position of a trimmable drive unit powered by an engine with respect to a marine vessel, the method comprising:
- with a controller, determining a target trim position of the drive unit as a function of at least one of a speed of the vessel and a speed of the engine;
measuring an actual trim position of the drive unit;
comparing the actual trim position to the target trim position with the controller; and
sending a first control signal to a trim actuator to trim the drive unit in a first direction toward the target trim position in response to a determination by the controller that the actual trim position is not equal to the target trim position and that at least two of the following are true;
a defined dwell time has elapsed since a previous control signal was sent to the trim actuator to trim the drive unit;
a given number of previous control signals has not been exceeded in an attempt to achieve the target trim position; and
a difference between the target trim position and the actual trim position is outside of a given deadband.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods disclosed herein control position of a trimmable drive unit with respect to a marine vessel. A controller determines a target trim position as a function of vessel or engine speed. An actual trim position is measured and compared to the target trim position. The controller sends a control signal to a trim actuator to trim the drive unit toward the target trim position if the actual trim position is not equal to the target trim position and if at least one of the following is true: a defined dwell time has elapsed since a previous control signal was sent to the trim actuator to trim the drive unit; a given number of previous control signals has not been exceeded in an attempt to achieve the target trim position; and a difference between the target trim position and the actual trim position is outside of a given deadband.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a trim position of a trimmable drive unit powered by an engine with respect to a marine vessel, the method comprising:
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with a controller, determining a target trim position of the drive unit as a function of at least one of a speed of the vessel and a speed of the engine; measuring an actual trim position of the drive unit; comparing the actual trim position to the target trim position with the controller; and sending a first control signal to a trim actuator to trim the drive unit in a first direction toward the target trim position in response to a determination by the controller that the actual trim position is not equal to the target trim position and that at least two of the following are true; a defined dwell time has elapsed since a previous control signal was sent to the trim actuator to trim the drive unit; a given number of previous control signals has not been exceeded in an attempt to achieve the target trim position; and a difference between the target trim position and the actual trim position is outside of a given deadband. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for controlling a trim position of a trimmable drive unit powered by an engine with respect to a marine vessel, the system comprising:
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a trim actuator positioning the drive unit with respect to the marine vessel; a trim sensor that determines an actual trim position of the drive unit; and a controller that determines a target trim position of the drive unit as a function of at least one of a speed of the marine vessel and a speed of the engine, the controller being in signal communication with the trim actuator and the trim sensor; wherein the controller compares the actual trim position to the target trim position; and wherein the controller sends a first control signal to the trim actuator to trim the drive unit in a first direction toward the target trim position and to the target trim position or to a maximum achievable trim position of the drive unit in response to a determination that the actual trim position is not equal to the target trim position and that at least one of the following is true; a defined dwell time has elapsed since a previous control signal was sent to the trim actuator to trim the drive unit; a given number of previous control signals has not been exceeded in an attempt to achieve the target trim position; and a difference between the target trim position and the actual trim position is outside of a given deadband. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for controlling a trim position of a trimmable drive unit powered by an engine with respect to a marine vessel, the method comprising:
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with a controller, determining a target trim position of the drive unit as a function of one of a speed of the vessel and a speed of the engine; measuring an actual trim position of the drive unit; comparing the actual trim position to the target trim position with the controller; sending a first control signal to a trim actuator to trim the drive unit in a first direction toward the target trim position in response to a determination by the controller that the actual trim position is not equal to the target trim position; and sending a second control signal for a defined brake time to trim the drive unit in an opposite, second direction in response to a determination that the actual trim position has one of achieved and exceeded the target trim position; wherein the brake time is on the order of tens of milliseconds. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification