Granted Patent B2

US 7,712,695 · App. 12/170,436 · Granted May 11, 2010

Abstract

Claims (40)

1. A spool braking device for a fishing reel attached to a fishing rod in a detachable manner for use with a fishing line, the spool braking device comprising:

a rotatable spool, arrangeable in the reel, for winding and unwinding the fishing line;

a brake mechanism for electronically braking rotation of the spool;

an acceleration sensor attached to the fishing rod for detecting swing acceleration of the fishing rod that is produced when the fishing rod is swung and generating an acceleration signal; and

a brake control unit coupled to the acceleration sensor, wherein the brake control unit drives the brake mechanism and determines whether or not to brake the spool based on the acceleration signal, and wherein the brake control unit determines, based on the acceleration signal, an estimated casting distance of the fishing line from a casting point to a landing point where the fishing line lands on water, and drives the brake mechanism based on the estimated casting distance, and wherein the brake control unit includes a parameter setting unit for setting at least one initial parameter and changing a casting condition, and determines the estimated casting distance based on the at least one initial parameter and the acceleration signal, and wherein the at least one initial parameter includes a height parameter indicating a height of the fishing rod when the fishing line is cast from the fishing rod as the fishing rod reaches a casting swing termination position.

2. The spool braking device according to claim 1 , wherein the fishing rod includes a basal portion to which the reel is attached and a distal portion opposite to the basal portion, the acceleration sensor being arrangeable on the distal portion of the fishing rod.

3. The spool braking device according to claim 1 , wherein the brake control unit determines, based on the acceleration signal, an estimated cast line amount of the fishing line drawn out of the spool during a casting period, and drives the brake mechanism when the estimated cast line amount becomes equal to the estimated casting distance.

4. The spool braking device according to claim 1 , wherein the brake control unit determines, based on the acceleration signal, an initial speed of the fishing line when the fishing line is cast from the fishing rod as the fishing rod reaches a casting swing termination position, and the brake control unit drives the brake mechanism when the estimated casting distance is less than a minimum casting distance that corresponds to the initial speed.

5. The spool braking device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one initial parameter includes

at least one air resistance parameter indicating air resistance during a casting period.

6. The spool braking device according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one air resistance parameter includes:

a mass parameter indicating mass of a weight connected to the fishing line; and

a weather parameter indicating an air resistance coefficient corresponding to a weather condition.

7. A spool braking device for a fishing reel, the reel being attached to a fishing rod and for use with a fishing line, the spool braking device comprising:

a rotatable spool for winding and unwinding the fishing line;

a brake mechanism for electronically braking rotation of the spool;

an acceleration sensor, attached to a distal portion of the fishing rod, for detecting swing acceleration of the fishing rod produced when the fishing rod is swung, the acceleration sensor generating an acceleration signal; and

a brake control unit, coupled to the acceleration sensor and the brake mechanism, that drives the brake mechanism, wherein the brake control unit determines whether to brake the spool based on the acceleration signal, and wherein the brake control unit determines, based on the acceleration signal, an initial speed and a projection angle of the fishing line when the fishing line is cast from the fishing rod as the fishing rod reaches a casting swing termination position, and the brake control unit drives the brake mechanism when the projection angle exceeds a predetermined maximum projection angle that corresponds to the initial speed.

8. The spool braking device according to claim 7 , further comprising:

a rotation sensor for detecting rotation of the spool, and generating a rotation signal;

wherein the brake control unit drives the brake mechanism based on the acceleration signal and the rotation signal.

9. The spool braking device according to claim 8 , wherein the brake control unit determines rotation speed of the spool during a casting period based on the rotation signal, determines an estimated speed of the fishing line during the casting period based on the acceleration signal, and drives the brake mechanism when the rotation speed of the spooi exceeds the estimated speed of the fishing line.

10. A method for controlling braking of a rotatable spool arranged in a fishing reel, the reel being attached to a fishing rod in a detachable manner, and the reel including a brake mechanism for electronically braking rotation of the spool, and wherein the spool is wound with a fishing line, the method comprising:

generating an acceleration signal indicative of acceleration of the fishing rod using an acceleration sensor attached to the fishing rod to detect swing acceleration produced when the fishing rod is swung;

driving the brake mechanism by determining whether or not to brake the spool based on the acceleration signal;

determining an initial speed and a projection angle of the fishing line when the fishing line is cast from the fishing rod as the fishing rod reaches a casting swing termination position based on the acceleration signal; and

driving the brake mechanism when the projection angle is greater than a predetermined maximum projection angle that corresponds to the initial speed.

11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

determining an estimated casting distance of the fishing line from a casting point to a landing point where the fishing line reaches water surface based on the acceleration signal; and

driving the brake mechanism based on the estimated casting distance.

12. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

determining an estimated cast line amount of the fishing line drawn out of the spool during a casting period based on the acceleration signal; and

driving the brake mechanism so as to equalize the estimated cast line amount and the estimated casting distance.

13. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

determining the estimated casting distance based on the acceleration signal and at least one initial parameter that changes a casting condition.

14. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

driving the brake mechanism when the estimated casting distance is less than a minimum casting distance that corresponds to the initial speed.

15. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

generating a rotation signal by detecting rotation of the spool with a rotation sensor; and

driving the brake mechanism based on the acceleration signal and the rotation signal.

Assignments (31)