Granted Patent B2

US 12,637,193 · App. 18/502,339 · Granted May 26, 2026

Inventor: Robert A. Morvillo (Dover, MA)

Assignee: Vector Controls Inc.

B63H25/42B60W10/20B62D6/002B63B79/10B63B79/20B63B79/40B63H20/08B60W2510/20B60W2540/18B60W2710/20B63H2020/003B63H2025/026

Abstract

Claims (29)

1 . A system for a marine vessel, the marine vessel having a steering actuator coupled to a propulsion device and a trim actuator coupled to the propulsion device, the trim actuator having a trim actuator position, the system comprising:

at least one processor configured to be coupled to a steering actuator position sensor and a trim position sensor, the at least one processor being configured to:

receive a sensed steering actuator position of the steering actuator from the steering actuator position sensor;

receive a sensed trim actuator position from the trim position sensor; and

determine an estimated steering angle of the propulsion device based on the sensed steering actuator position and the sensed trim actuator position.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the estimated steering angle by:

identifying, based on the trim actuator position, a mapping encoding a determined relationship between steering actuator positions and corresponding steering angles; and

using the identified mapping to determine the estimated steering angle based on the sensed steering actuator position.

3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a memory storing a plurality of mappings corresponding to a respective plurality of trim positions, each of the plurality of mappings encoding a determined relationship between steering actuator positions and corresponding steering angles,

wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the estimated steering angle by:

identifying, based on the sensed trim actuator position, a mapping in the plurality of mappings; and

using the identified mapping to determine the estimated steering angle from the sensed steering actuator position.

4 . The system of claim 1 , further configured to display the estimated steering angle to an operator of the marine vessel.

5 . The system of claim 1 , further configured to control the steering actuator based, at least in part, on the estimated steering angle.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the steering actuator is attached to a transom of the marine vessel at a different height and/or fore-aft position from a trimming pivot point of the propulsion device.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the steering actuator position sensor senses a degree of extension of the steering actuator coupled to the propulsion device.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the steering actuator position sensor is integrated into the steering actuator.

9 . A method for use in a marine vessel, the marine vessel having a steering actuator coupled to a propulsion device and a trim actuator coupled to the propulsion device, the trim actuator having a trim actuator position, the method comprising:

receiving a sensed steering actuator position of the steering actuator from a steering actuator position sensor;

receiving a sensed trim actuator position from a trim position sensor; and

determining, using at least one processor, an estimated steering angle of the propulsion device based on the sensed steering actuator position and the sensed trim actuator position.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

identifying, based on the trim actuator position, a mapping encoding a determined relationship between steering actuator positions and corresponding steering angles; and

using the identified mapping to determine the estimated steering angle based on the sensed steering actuator position.

11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

displaying the estimated steering angle to an operator of the marine vessel.

12 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

controlling the steering actuator based, at least in part, on the estimated steering angle.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (5)

References Cited (50)