Trolling motor steering control
AssigneeJohnson Outdoors Inc.
InventorSteven J. Knight
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A steering control system for an electric trolling motor is disclosed. The system includes a steering actuator assembly with at least one open loop actuator. The system also includes at least one steering mode switch that is configured to communicate changes between steering modes. The steering modes include at least one closed loop steering mode and at least one manual steering mode. The system further includes a controller that is configured to receive signals from the open loop actuator, is configured to receive signals from at least one steering mode switch, and is configured to generate control signals based on the states of the open loop actuator and the steering mode switch.
Claims22
A steering control system for an electric trolling motor comprising:
- a steering actuator assembly, including at least one steering actuator, the steering actuator configured to provide open loop and closed loop command signals;
- and
- a controller, configured to receive command signals from the steering actuator, and the controller configured to generate closed loop control signals when the controller is in a closed loop control mode.
An electric trolling motor comprising:
- a propulsion unit configured to provide thrust and having a motor;
- a steering head, coupled to the propulsion unit and having a steering motor for steering the prop motor;
- a steering actuator assembly, including at least one open loop actuator;
- at least one steering mode switch configured to communicate changes between steering modes, the steering modes including at least one closed loop steering mode and at least one manual steering mode;
- and
- a controller, configured to receive signals from the open loop actuator, configured to receive signals from the at least one steering mode switch, and configured to generate control signals based on the states of the open loop actuator and the steering mode switch and applying the control signals to the steering motor.
A steering control system for an electric trolling motor comprising:
- a foot pedal assembly, including at least one foot pedal for manual steering;
- a foot presence detector configured to provide a signal representative of the presence of an operator's foot;
- at least one steering mode switch configured to communicate changes between steering modes, the steering modes including at least one closed loop steering mode and at least one manual steering mode;
- and
- a controller, configured to receive signals from the open loop actuator, configured to receive signals from the at least one steering mode switch, configured to receive a signal representative of the presence of an operator's foot, and configured to generate control signals based on the states of the open loop actuator and the steering mode switch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.