IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,739,771
Granted Patent B2
US 10,739,771 · App. 15/897,922 · Granted Aug 11, 2020

Multiple motor control system for navigating a marine vessel

Inventors: Albert F. Miller (Gardner, KS); Robert M. Kalis (Overland Park, KS); John B. Whiteside (Lenexa, KS); Jarrod W. Seymour (Overland Park, KS); Eric W. Heling (Overland Park, KS)
Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH
G05D1/0206B63H20/007B63H20/12B63H20/14B63H25/42B63H2020/003B63H2025/465
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,739,771
App. No.
15/897,922
Granted
Aug 11, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A control system for navigating a marine vessel employs at least a first motor and a second motor. The control system is configured to communicate with the first and second motors. The control system is configured to receive a position measurement and an orientation measurement for the marine vessel. The control system is further configured to generate at least one control signal for the first motor based on the position measurement and at least one control signal for the second motor based on the orientation measurement.

Claims (43)

1. A system for navigating a marine vessel, the system comprising:

a first motor coupled to a front or rear portion of the marine vessel;

a second motor coupled to a front or rear portion of the marine vessel; and

a control system in communication with the first motor and the second motor, the control system configured to:

receive a position measurement for the marine vessel;

receive an orientation measurement for the marine vessel;

generate at least one first control signal for the first motor based on the position measurement for the marine vessel; and

generate at least one second control signal for the second motor based on the orientation measurement for the marine vessel,

wherein the control system is configured to receive the orientation measurement for the marine vessel at least in part by:

receiving a first position measurement of the first motor from the first motor;

receiving a second position measurement of the second motor from the second motor; and

calculating the orientation measurement for the marine vessel based upon the first position measurement and the second position measurement.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control system comprises at least one controller embedded within or attached to at least one of the first motor or the second motor.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to generate the at least one first control signal for the first motor based on the position measurement for the marine vessel at least in part by:

comparing the position measurement for the marine vessel with a target position; and

generating the at least one first control signal for the first motor based upon a comparison between the position measurement for the marine vessel and the target position.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the target position is a fixed position or a dynamic position, the dynamic position based upon a predetermined path for the marine vessel.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to generate the at least one second control signal for the second motor based on the orientation measurement for the marine vessel at least in part by:

comparing the orientation measurement for the marine vessel with a target orientation; and

generating the at least one second control signal for the second motor based upon a comparison between the orientation measurement for the marine vessel and the target orientation.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to receive the position measurement for the marine vessel at least in part by receiving a first position measurement of the first motor from the first motor.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to receive the orientation measurement for the marine vessel at least in part by receiving the orientation measurement from a magnetometer.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the magnetometer is embedded within or attached to the first motor or the second motor.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first motor comprises a trolling motor and the second motor comprises at least one of a second trolling motor, a thruster, or a propulsion motor.

10. A control system for navigating a marine vessel, the control system comprising at least one controller in communication with at least a first motor and a second motor of the marine vessel, the at least one controller configured to:

receive a position measurement for the marine vessel;

receive an orientation measurement for the marine vessel;

generate at least one first control signal for the first motor based on the position measurement for the marine vessel; and

generate at least one second control signal for the second motor based on the orientation measurement for the marine vessel,

wherein the at least one controller is configured to receive the orientation measurement for the marine vessel at least in part by:

receiving a first position measurement of the first motor from the first motor;

receiving a second position measurement of the second motor from the second motor; and

calculating the orientation measurement for the marine vessel based upon the first position measurement and the second position measurement.

11. The control system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to generate the at least one first control signal for the first motor based on the position measurement for the marine vessel at least in part by:

comparing the position measurement for the marine vessel with a target position; and

generating the at least one first control signal for the first motor based upon a comparison between the position measurement for the marine vessel and the target position.

12. The control system of claim 11 , wherein the target position is a fixed position or a dynamic position, the dynamic position based upon a predetermined path for the marine vessel.

13. The control system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to generate the at least one second control signal for the second motor based on the orientation measurement for the marine vessel at least in part by:

comparing the orientation measurement for the marine vessel with a target orientation; and

generating the at least one second control signal for the second motor based upon a comparison between the orientation measurement for the marine vessel and the target orientation.

14. The control system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to receive the position measurement for the marine vessel at least in part by:

receiving a first position measurement of the first motor from the first motor.

15. The control system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to receive the orientation measurement for the marine vessel at least in part by receiving the orientation measurement from a magnetometer.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 11, 2020
From: SEYMOUR, JARROD W.; HELING, ERIC W.
To: GARMIN SWITZERLAND GMBH
Reel/Frame 052627/0838 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 15, 2018
From: MILLER, ALBERT F.; WHITESIDE, JOHN B.; KALIS, ROBERT M.
To: GARMIN SWITZERLAND GMBH
Reel/Frame 044946/0911 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62596994 · Dec 11, 2017
Related Publication 20190179318A1 · Jun 13, 2019
Cited By (5)
US 12,187,396 US 12,241,976 US 12,258,115 US 12,486,014 US 12,691,984