Trolling motor with diagnostic system
An apparatus including a trolling motor having at least one operational subsystem and the trolling motor also having an integral electronic controller for controlling the operational subsystem wherein the improvement comprises an integral electronic diagnostic system which will receive diagnostic information from the operational subsystem and will transmit the diagnostic information for reception externally of the trolling motor.
1. In an apparatus including an electric trolling motor having at least one operational subsystem and said trolling motor having an integral electronic controller for controlling said operational subsystem, the improvement comprising:
said trolling motor also having an integral electronic diagnostic system which will receive diagnostic information pertaining to said operational subsystem;
said integral electronic diagnostic system including a wireless infrared transmitter comprising an infrared light-emitting diode which, when said trolling motor is activated, will continuously and automatically transmit, in real time, said diagnostic information pertaining to said operational subsystem for wireless reception externally of said trolling motor;
said integral electronic diagnostic system being potted by encapsulation in a covering material such that said infrared light-emitting diode projects from said covering material and said integral electronic diagnostic system has no connection ports exposed to external environmental conditions;
a diagnostic data processing system located externally of said trolling motor; and
said diagnostic data processing system including a wireless receiver comprising an infrared phototransistor which, when placed in receiving proximity to said infrared light-emitting diode, will receive said diagnostic information being continuously and automatically transmitted from said infrared light-emitting diode.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said integral electronic diagnostic system is encapsulated in an epoxy material.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
said operational subsystem is a propulsion operation subsystem;
said trolling motor also includes a steering operation subsystem which is controlled by said integral electronic controller; and
the improvement further comprises said integral electronic diagnostic system will receive diagnostic information pertaining to each of said propulsion operation subsystem and said steering operation subsystem and said wireless infrared transmitter will continuously and automatically transmit from said infrared light-emitting diode, in real time, said diagnostic information pertaining to each of said propulsion operation subsystem and steering operation subsystem for wireless reception externally of said trolling motor.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
said integral electronic controller includes a receiver for receiving wireless motor control signals and
the improvement further comprises said integral electronic diagnostic system will receive diagnostic information pertaining to said receiver and said wireless infrared transmitter will continuously and automatically transmit from said infrared light-emitting diode, in real time, said diagnostic information pertaining to said receiver for wireless reception externally of said trolling motor.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the improvement further comprises said wireless infrared transmitter comprising an universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said integral electronic controller comprises a circuit board and the improvement further comprises said universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter being installed on said circuit board.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the improvement further comprises said integral electronic diagnostic system including an internal memory installed on said circuit board for storing historical data pertaining to said operational subsystem, said historical data being automatically transmitted from said infrared light-emitting diode by said integral electronic diagnostic system.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the improvement further comprises said integral electronic diagnostic system having an internal nonvolatile memory for storing historical data pertaining to said operational subsystem, said historical data being automatically transmitted from said infrared light-emitting diode by said integral electronic diagnostic system.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the improvement further comprises said diagnostic data processing system located externally of said trolling motor comprising an external computing device for analyzing said diagnostic information pertaining to said operational subsystem.