US 12,545,390 B2Granted

Bidirectional wireless controls for marine devices

AssigneeJohnson Outdoors Inc.

InventorsPaul D. Salmon, David M. Samek

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A control system for a trolling motor operated based upon commands generated by a wireless remote control device and a wired foot pedal is provided. The controller is interposed between the trolling motor and the wired foot pedal to add wireless controllability to the trolling motor via the wireless remote control. The controller communicates with the remote control through a bidirectional wireless communication link to receive commands and to provide status information on the operation of the motor. The remote control includes user inputs for generating commands that are sent wirelessly to the controller to control operation of the marine device. The remote control also includes a display for displaying real time status information that is received wirelessly from the controller. The controller generates control signals upon receipt of wireless communication from the remote control that simulate signals that are normally generated by the wired foot pedal.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An autonavigation system for a trolling motor, comprising:

a controller configured to provide commands to the trolling motor and to receive status information from the trolling motor, the controller including a transceiver for wireless communication:
remote user interface devices including a foot pedal connected to the controller and a wireless handheld remote control paired with the controller via a learn function, the remote user interface devices each configured to communicate with the controller to control operation of the trolling motor based on user actuation of user interface buttons, the user interface buttons including basic control buttons, autonavigation buttons, and special function buttons included on at least one of the remote user interface devices, the basic control buttons including a propeller button for turning the propeller of the trolling motor on and off, a steer right button, a steer left button, a speed increase button, and a speed decrease button, the autonavigation buttons including a spot lock button to maintain a current GPS position, and the special function buttons including three individual buttons that may be programmed to perform different control functions, the remote user interface devices configured to generate input commands to be sent to the controller based on user selection of one of the basic control buttons, the autonavigation function buttons, or the special function buttons to control operation of the trolling motor;
and
wherein the controller is further configured to provide control signals to control the trolling motor, the control signals being generated based on signals received by the controller from at least one of the remote user interface devices;
and
wherein the learn function is initiated by simultaneous pressing of two of the user interface buttons.

3 more elements

A control system, comprising:

a trolling motor having a controller, a compass, and a GPS receiver:
a wireless remote control and a foot pedal configured to generate input commands to control operation of the trolling motor, the wireless remote control including a visual display, the input commands being generated in response to user actuation of basic control buttons including a propeller button for turning the propeller on and off, a steer right button, a steer left button, a speed increase button, and a speed decrease button, the input commands further being generated in response to user actuation of special autonavigation function buttons including a spot lock button to maintain a current GPS position, the input commands further being generated in response to user actuation of special function buttons including three individual buttons that may be programmed to perform different control functions;
and
wherein the controller is configured to control an operational status, steering, and speed of the trolling motor, the controller having a foot pedal input configured to receive the input commands from the foot pedal, the controller further including a transceiver for wireless communication with the wireless remote control to receive the input commands from the wireless remote control once paired therewith, the control signals being generated based on at least one of the input commands from the wireless remote control or the input commands from the foot pedal, the controller further configured to provide the control signals to the trolling motor.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/526,308Filed 15 Nov 2021 · continuation
Priority: 3 Aug 2007
Published: US 2022/0073180 A110 Mar 2022
Granted: 10 Feb 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

B63H 21/21
Use of propulsion power plant or units on vessels: control means for engine or transmission, specially adapted for use on marine vessels
B63B 17/00
Vessels parts, details, or accessories, not otherwise provided for
B63H 1/04
Of rotary type: with rotation axis substantially at right angles to propulsive direction
B63H 21/17
The vessels being motor-driven: by electric motor

Family

Application11/888,945Parent of this continuation · filed 3 Aug 2007
Application14/337,942Parent of this continuation · filed 22 Jul 2014
Application16/431,424Parent of this continuation · filed 4 Jun 2019
US 11,173,996 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 16 Nov 2021
US 2022/0073180 A1Pre-grant publication · published 10 Mar 2022
US 2009/0037040 A1Published application
US 2014/0336854 A1Published application
US 2019/0283854 A1Published application
US 12,545,390 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.