Method and system for steering watercraft
First Claim
1. A method of steering a watercraft propulsion device mounted to a transom plate of a watercraft, the propulsion device having a steering input device configured for operation by an operator of the watercraft and a steering drive unit configured to allow the watercraft propulsion device to swivel about a swivel shaft, the propulsion device having a forward drive mode, the method comprising the steps of:
- detecting a displacement of the steering input device;
detecting which of a plurality of predetermined steering system forward drive mode response performance options has been selected by an operator of the watercraft, each of the plurality of predetermined steering system forward drive mode response performance options corresponding to different steering factors indicative of the amount of actuation of the steering drive unit, the different steering factors defining different direct relationships between the displacement of the steering input device and a rotational position of the propulsion device about the swivel shaft during operation of the propulsion device at least in the forward drive mode;
calculating a steering control amount for the steering drive unit in accordance with the degree displacement of the steering input device and the selected predetermined steering system response performance option; and
operating the steering drive unit based on the calculated steering control amount.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of steering a watercraft propulsion device mounted to a transom plate and having a steering drive unit which allows the watercraft propulsion device to rotationally move about a swivel shaft. The method can include calculating a steering control amount for the steering drive unit in accordance with the degree of operator'"'"'s steering wheel displacement and a predetermined steering system response performance, and operating the steering drive unit based on the calculated control physical quantity, in which the predetermined steering system response performance can be, selected from a plurality of plurality of predetermined steering system response performance options.
83 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of steering a watercraft propulsion device mounted to a transom plate of a watercraft, the propulsion device having a steering input device configured for operation by an operator of the watercraft and a steering drive unit configured to allow the watercraft propulsion device to swivel about a swivel shaft, the propulsion device having a forward drive mode, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting a displacement of the steering input device; detecting which of a plurality of predetermined steering system forward drive mode response performance options has been selected by an operator of the watercraft, each of the plurality of predetermined steering system forward drive mode response performance options corresponding to different steering factors indicative of the amount of actuation of the steering drive unit, the different steering factors defining different direct relationships between the displacement of the steering input device and a rotational position of the propulsion device about the swivel shaft during operation of the propulsion device at least in the forward drive mode; calculating a steering control amount for the steering drive unit in accordance with the degree displacement of the steering input device and the selected predetermined steering system response performance option; and operating the steering drive unit based on the calculated steering control amount. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 18)
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10. A method of steering a watercraft having a hull, marine propulsion device, the propulsion device being mounted so as to swivel and thus change its rotational position relative to the hull, the propulsion device having a steering input device configured for operation by an operator of the watercraft, the propulsion device having a forward drive mode, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting an input to the steering input device; detecting which of a plurality of predetermined steering system forward drive mode response performance options has been selected, each of the plurality of predetermined steering forward drive mode system response performance options defining a different direct relationship between the rotational position of the propulsion device and inputs into the steering input device during operation of the propulsion device at least in the forward drive mode; calculating a steering control amount in accordance with the input of the steering input device and the detected steering system response performance option, where the predetermined steering system response performance option is selected by the operator; and changing the angular position of the marine propulsion device relative to the hull based on the calculated steering control amount so as to steer the watercraft. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19)
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Specification