# US 12,222,718 B2 · Marine vessel maneuvering system, and marine vessel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,222,718 B2 - Document ID: US12222718B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/102,115 - Filed: 2023-01-27 - Published: 2023-08-17 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2022-02-17 - Assignees: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Takuya Murayama; Masaru Tamaki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12222718B2 ## CPC - G05D 1/0206: {specially adapted to water vehicles} - B63H 21/213: {Levers or the like for controlling the engine or the transmission, e.g. single hand control levers} - B63H 25/02: Initiating means for steering {, for slowing down, otherwise than by use of propulsive elements, or for dynamic anchoring} - B63H 25/42: Steering or dynamic anchoring by propulsive elements (by jets B63H25/46); Steering or dynamic anchoring by propellers used therefor only; Steering or dynamic anchoring by rudders carrying propellers - G05D 1/49: Control of attitude, i.e. control of roll, pitch or yaw - B63H 2025/026: {using multi-axis control levers, or the like, e.g. joysticks, wherein at least one degree of freedom is employed for steering, slowing down, or dynamic anchoring} - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - B63H: MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING (propulsion of air-cushion vehicles B60V1/14; specially adapted for submarines, other than nuclear propulsion, B63G; specially adapted for torpedoes F42B19/00) ## Abstract A marine vessel maneuvering system able to improve operability when shifting a marine vessel to a pivot turning mode includes a rotatable operator to maneuver a marine vessel, and a controller configured or programmed to shift to a pivot turning mode in which the marine vessel is turned on the spot. In a rotation operation direction of the operator, a high friction region where a resistance of a rotation operation increases is set within a rotatable range of the operator. When the operator is rotated to the high-friction region, the controller is configured or programmed to shift the marine vessel to the pivot turning mode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A marine vessel maneuvering system comprising: a rotatable operator to maneuver a marine vessel; and a controller configured or programmed to shift to a pivot turning mode in which the marine vessel is turned on the spot; wherein in a rotation operation direction of the operator, a high friction region where a resistance of a rotation operation increases is set within a rotatable range of the operator; and when the operator is rotated to the high-friction region, the controller is configured or programmed to shift the marine vessel to the pivot turning mode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The marine vessel maneuvering system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured or programmed to increase a turning speed of the marine vessel in the pivot turning mode as a rotation angle of the operator increases in the high friction region. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The marine vessel maneuvering system according to claim 2, wherein the controller is configured or programmed to increase the resistance of the rotation operation as the rotation angle of the operator increases in the high friction region. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The marine vessel maneuvering system according to claim 1, wherein, when the marine vessel has shifted to a low-speed mode and the operator is rotated to the high-friction region, the controller is configured or programmed to shift the marine vessel to the pivot turning mode. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The marine vessel maneuvering system according to claim 1, further comprising: a notifier; wherein when the marine vessel shifts to the pivot turning mode, the notifier is operable to notify a marine vessel user that the marine vessel has shifted to the pivot turning mode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The marine vessel maneuvering system according to claim 1, further comprising: a cancel switch to cancel the shift to the pivot turning mode; wherein when the cancel switch is operated, the controller is configured or programmed to eliminate the high friction region. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The marine vessel maneuvering system according to claim 1, wherein in the high friction region, when the operator is rotated so that the rotation angle increases, the resistance of the rotation operation increases; and when the operator is rotated so that the rotation angle decreases, the resistance of the rotation operation does not increase. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The marine vessel maneuvering system according to claim 1, wherein in the high friction region, when the operator is rotated so that the rotation angle increases or decreases, the resistance of the rotation operation increases. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The marine vessel maneuvering system according to claim 1, wherein the operator includes a steering apparatus. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The marine vessel maneuvering system according to claim 1, wherein the operator includes a joystick. ### Claim 11 A marine vessel maneuvering system comprising: a rotatable operator to maneuver a marine vessel; and a controller configured or programmed to shift to a pivot turning mode in which the marine vessel is turned on the spot; wherein the operator includes a lateral movement switch to shift the marine vessel to a lateral movement mode which moves the marine vessel in a lateral direction; and when the operator is rotated by a predetermined rotation angle or more while the lateral movement switch is operated, the controller is configured or programmed to shift the marine vessel to the pivot turning mode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The marine vessel maneuvering system according to claim 11, wherein, after the operator is rotated by the predetermined rotation angle or more, the controller is configured or programmed to increase a turning speed of the marine vessel in the pivot turning mode as a rotation angle of the operator increases. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The marine vessel maneuvering system according to claim 11, wherein the operator includes a steering apparatus; the steering apparatus includes a central portion rotatably supported with respect to a hull of the marine vessel, a handle portion that is gripped by a marine vessel user, and spoke portions that connect the central portion and the handle portion; and the lateral movement switch is located on one of the spoke portions at a position where the lateral movement switch is able to be operated by a finger of a hand of the marine vessel user that is gripping the handle portion. ### Claim 14 A marine vessel maneuvering system comprising: a rotatable operator to maneuver a marine vessel; and a controller configured or programmed to shift the marine vessel to a predetermined movement mode; wherein in a rotation operation direction of the rotatable operator, a high friction region where a resistance of a rotation operation increases is set within a rotatable range of the operator; and when the operator is rotated to the high-friction region, the controller is configured or programmed to shift the marine vessel to the predetermined movement mode. ### Claim 15 A marine vessel comprising: a rotatable operator to maneuver the marine vessel; and a controller configured or programmed to shift to a pivot turning mode in which the marine vessel is turned on the spot; wherein in a rotation operation direction of the operator, a high friction region where a resistance of a rotation operation increases is set within a rotatable range of the operator; and when the operator is rotated to the high-friction region, the controller is configured or programmed to shift the marine vessel to the pivot turning mode. ### Claim 16 A marine vessel comprising: a rotatable operator to maneuver the marine vessel; and a controller configured or programmed to shift to a pivot turning mode in which the marine vessel is turned on the spot; wherein the operator includes a lateral movement switch to shift the marine vessel to a lateral movement mode which moves the marine vessel in a lateral direction; and when the operator is rotated by a predetermined rotation angle or more while the lateral movement switch is operated, the controller is configured or programmed to shift the marine vessel to the pivot turning mode. ### Claim 17 A marine vessel comprising: a rotatable operator to maneuver the marine vessel; and a controller configured or programmed to shift the marine vessel to a predetermined movement mode; wherein in a rotation operation direction of the operator, a high friction region where a resistance of a rotation operation increases is set within a rotatable range of the operator; and when the operator is rotated to the high-friction region, the controller is configured or programmed to shift the marine vessel to the predetermined movement mode.