Marine propulsion – Engine – motor – or transmission control means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-17
2001-08-14
Sotelo, Jesus D. (Department: 3617)
Marine propulsion
Engine, motor, or transmission control means
C114S1440RE
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273771
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to a control system for a marine vessel and, more particularly, to a control system that utilizes a serial bus to connect pluralities of input devices and output devices in signal communication with each other.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The control of a marine vessel, such as a pleasure craft used for fishing, water skiing, or other leisure activities, requires the implementation of many different input and output devices. For example, input signals are provided by speedometers, tachometers, depth finders, and various temperature and pressure sensors. Engine control units (ECU's) provide output signals to control the operation of various components related to the internal combustion engine of the marine propulsion system used to provide thrust for the marine vessel.
In marine vessels that use transducers as input devices, such as speed sensors, temperature sensors, and pressure sensors, it is typical for each transducer to be separately and individually connected in signal communication with an appropriate gauge located on the control panel at the helm of the vessel. For example, a speed measuring transducer (e.g. paddlewheel) may be connected by a pair of wires to a speedometer gauge on a control panel of the marine vessel. Similarly, a pressure transducer disposed in pressure sensing relation with an oil system or a cooling system would typically be connected by a pair of wires to a separate gauge on a control panel at the helm of the marine vessel. Similarly, temperature transducers and other sensors would be connected to their associated gauges on a control panel. If the marine propulsion system is provided with actuators to cause the propulsion system to trim or tilt relative to the marine vessel, switches would typically be provided at the helm to activate the trim and tilt cylinders and position transducers would be attached to the marine propulsion system and connected, by appropriate wires, to gauges on the control panel to inform the marine vessel operator of the actual position of the marine propulsion system.
In pleasure craft known to those skilled in the art, the various input and output devices are connected individually to associated devices. If many input and output devices are provided on the marine vessel, the number of wires and interconnections can be significant. In addition, during manufacture of the marine vessel, the assembly of the system can be very complex when large numbers of input and output devices are provided.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,958,524, which issued to Cantley et al on May 25, 1976, describes a station control selection system for controlling a motor and rudder of a power boat selectively from either of two remote stations, each of which includes means for producing linear input signals for motor shift and throttle control and for steering control. The system includes a steering input selector mechanism which is capable of transmitting the linear input signal for steering control from one of the stations to the rudder while isolating the signal from the other station. A motor input selector mechanism is capable of transmitting the linear input signals from motor shift and throttle control from one of the stations to the motor while isolating the signals from the other station. The steering and motor input selector mechanism may be actuated to facilitate the selection of one of the stations whenever corresponding linear input signals from the two stations are substantially equal. The system also includes a mechanism for initiating the actuation of selection of one of the stations prior to the corresponding linear input signals from the two stations being substantially equal.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,200,782, which issued to Walden on Aug. 17, 1965, describes a power boat attachment which prevents the tendency to porpoise, to increase speed at a given power and to improve tracking. The purpose of the invention is to provide elevator plates at the stern or transom of a power boat at the water line and to automatically adjust the angle of such elevator plates toward the horizontal by providing a regulator controlling the elevator plates and having cooperating plunger elements urged apart by a spring which yields and permits shortening of the regulator as more pressure is applied to the elevator plates by the water. A further purpose is to spring bias elevator plates located at the water line adjacent to the stern or transom of a power boat so that under low load the elevator plates extend behind the boat at a substantial angle below the horizontal and as load increases the springs yield to permit the elevator plates to assume smaller angles with respect to the horizontal.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,213, which issued to Carlson on Mar. 16, 1999, describes a system for controlling navigation of a fishing boat between waypoints representing successive positions around a navigation route. The system includes an input device for setting the waypoint positions, a position detector to detect the actual position of the fishing boat, a trolling motor to produce a thrust to propel the fishing boat, a steering motor to control the direction of the thrust, and a heading detector to detect the actual heading of the fishing boat. The system also includes a control circuit which determines a desired heading using a desired waypoint and the actual position of the fishing boat, and generates a steering control signal applied to the steering boat to steer the fishing boat from the actual position to the desired waypoint. The system operates in various modes which allow repeated navigation of the fishing boat around a navigational route. The system provides for automatic waypoint storage as the fishing boat is maneuvered around a navigation route.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,751,344, which issued to Schnee on May 12, 1998, describes a navigation system for a marine vessel in low light conditions and includes a low light video camera mounted with a weather proof enclosure on a vantage point of a marine vessel for improved night vision. A conventional video cameral is also mounted with the low light video for daytime viewing. Video signals from the cameras are automatically selected depending on light conditions for transmission to a cabin of the vessel. Motors rotate the housing in a horizontal plane and in a vertical plane for enabling remote controlled aiming of the cameras from the helm of the marine vessel. Sensors provide information on azimuth and elevation of the cameras for overlaying the video signal transmitted from the camera housing with this information for display with the video image on a monitor near the helm. Information on longitude and latitude, as well as vessel velocity and direction, from a global satellite positioning system receiver is also displayed. The overlay video signal is radio frequency modulated on to a predetermined channel for distribution to television receivers in other locations of the vessel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,592,382, which issued to Colley on Jan. 7, 1997, discloses a directional steering and navigation indicator which directs a user toward a desired destination. Position and steering information are integrated into a single display to allow the user to immediately determine whether the correct course is being traveled, and to inform the user of any directional changes which may be necessary to be directed toward the desired destination waypoint. The user's position and course are determined by a navigation system and indicated on the display as a directional pointing icon, such as a line or arrow. The destination is displayed as a point. The user's Point of Closest Approach (PCA) can then be calculated according to current position, course, and the position of the desired destination. As the user's course gets closer to the bearing of the destination waypoint the PCA indicator can correspondingly shift with the user's movements. By superimposing the PCA over the destination waypoint, the user may precisely steer his or her craft t
Buckley George W.
Clarkson Daniel E.
Divljakovic Vojislav V.
Ehlers Jeffery C.
Gaynor Phillip K.
Brunswick Corporation
Lanyi William D.
Sotelo Jesus D.
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