System for and method of controlling watercraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12223828-B2
Application number	US-202218079032-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 12, 2022
Priority date	Apr 1, 2022
Publication date	Feb 11, 2025
Grant date	Feb 11, 2025

Abstract

A system for controlling a watercraft includes a data communication module, a device system, an electric power supply, and a controller. The data communication module is operable to perform wireless communication with an external computer. The device system includes at least one electric device. The electric power supply provides electric power to the data communication module and the device system. The controller is configured or programmed to switch between a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the controller provides electric power to the data communication module by the electric power supply during both activation and deactivation of the device system. In the second mode, the controller provides electric power to the data communication module by the electric power supply during the activation of the device system, but stops providing electric power to the data communication module by the electric power supply during the deactivation of the device system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for controlling a watercraft, the system comprising:
a data communication module to perform wireless communication with an external computer;
a device system connected to the data communication module and including at least one electric device;
an electric power supply including a battery and operable to provide electric power to the data communication module and the device system; and
a controller configured or programmed to control providing electric power to the data communication module and the device system by the electric power supply; wherein
the controller is configured or programmed to switch between a first mode and a second mode;
the controller is configured or programmed to provide electric power to the data communication module by the electric power supply in the first mode during both activation and deactivation of the device system; and
the controller is configured or programmed to provide electric power to the data communication module by the electric power supply in the second mode during the activation of the device system, and to stop providing electric power to the data communication module by the electric power supply in the second mode during the deactivation of the device system.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the device system includes a CAN (Controller Area Network).

3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the data communication module is provided with electric power by the electric power supply through the CAN.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured or programmed to switch between the first mode and the second mode in response to a command transmitted thereto from the external computer.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured or programmed to switch between the first modes and the second mode in response to a command transmitted thereto from a computer of a user.

6. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured or programmed to send battery information indicating an amount of electricity remaining in the battery to the computer of the user.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured or programmed to switch from the second mode to the first mode based on a predetermined period of time.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured or programmed to switch from the first mode to the second mode based on a predetermined period of time.

9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one electric device includes an engine control unitler in a marine propulsion device of the watercraft.

10. A method of controlling a watercraft including a data communication module to perform wireless communication with an external computer, a device system connected to the data communication module and including at least one electric device, and an electric power supply including a battery and operable to provide electric power to the data communication module and the device system, the method comprising:
switching between a first mode and a second mode;
providing electric power to the data communication module by the electric power supply in the first mode during both activation and deactivation of the device system; and
providing electric power to the data communication module by the electric power supply in the second mode during the activation of the device system, and stopping providing electric power to the data communication module by the electric power supply in the second module during the deactivation of the device system.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the device system includes a Controller Area Network.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the data communication module is provided with electric power by the electric power supply through the CAN.

13. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
switching between the first mode and the second mode in response to a command transmitted from the external computer.

14. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
switching between the first mode and the second mode in response to a command transmitted from a computer of a user.

15. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising:
sending battery information indicating an amount of electricity remaining in the battery to the computer of the user.

16. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
switching from the second mode to the first mode based on a predetermined period of time.

17. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
switching from the first mode to the second mode based on a predetermined period of time.

18. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one electric device includes an engine control unit in a marine propulsion device of the watercraft.

Assignees

• Yamaha Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Harada Hidehiko

Classifications

• H02J7/855

  with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery · CPC title

• H02J7/82

  Control of state of charge [SOC] · CPC title

• H04L2012/40286

  the transportation system being a waterborne vessel · CPC title

• H04L2012/40215

  Controller Area Network CAN · CPC title

• H04L12/40

  Bus networks · CPC title