Foot pedal device for controlling a trolling motor
AssigneeGarmin Switzerland GmbH
InventorsJohn B. Whiteside, Robert M. Kalis, Albert F. Miller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A foot pedal device for controlling an electric steer trolling motor and navigating a marine vessel. The foot pedal allows proportional control of the vessel such that the operator's foot movement on the foot pedal is proportional to an action by the trolling motor. The foot pedal includes a platform that pivots upon a base, an angular position monitor, and a controller; the controller is communicatively coupled to the angular position monitor and is configured to receive an angular measurement from the magnetic angle sensor and generate at least one control signal for a trolling motor of a marine vessel at least partially based on the angular measurement from the sensor.
Claims16
A foot pedal device for controlling a trolling motor having an electric steer control comprising:
- a base member;
- a foot pedal platform configured to pivotally rotate upon the base;
- a mechanism for tactile feedback to platform pivotal rotation;
- an angular position monitor configured to detect pivotal movement of the foot pedal platform and generate a user input;
- and
- a controller communicatively coupled to the angular position monitor, the controller configured to generate a control signal at least partially based on the user input and to generate a feedback signal based on the user input to set a resistance associated with the mechanism for tactile feedback;
- the control signal configured to control an operation of the electric steer control of the trolling motor;
- wherein the operation of the electric steer control is proportional to the pivotal movement of the foot pedal platform.
A system for navigating a marine vessel, the system comprising:
- at least one trolling motor;
- and
- a foot pedal device in communication with the at least one trolling motor, the foot pedal device including:
- a base member;
- a foot pedal platform pivotally attached to the base;
- a mechanism for tactile feedback to platform pivotal rotation;
- an angular position monitor that detects pivotal movement of the foot pedal platform and generates a user input;
- and
- a controller communicatively coupled to the angular position monitor, the controller configured to receive the user input generate a control signal at least partially based on the user input and generate a control signal to control an operation of the electric steer control of the trolling motor wherein the pivotal movement is proportional to the operation,
- wherein the controller is further configured to generate a feedback signal based on the user input to set a resistance associated with the mechanism for tactile feedback.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.