Handheld device for navigating a marine vessel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019137993-A1
Application number	US-201815897980-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 15, 2018
Priority date	Nov 7, 2017
Publication date	May 9, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A handheld device for navigating a marine vessel includes a magnetometer, and inertial sensor, and a controller. The controller is communicatively coupled to the magnetometer and the inertial sensor. The controller is configured to receive a directional measurement from the magnetometer. The controller is also configured to receive an orientation measurement from the inertial sensor. The controller is configured to generate at least one control signal for a motor of the marine vessel at least partially based on the directional measurement and the orientation measurement.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A handheld device for navigating a marine vessel, the handheld device comprising:
a housing; a transmitter; a magnetometer configured to generate a directional measurement, the directional measurement corresponding to a current direction of the housing; a memory configured to store the directional measurement; and a controller communicatively coupled to the transmitter, the magnetometer, and the memory, the controller configured to:
generate a control signal based on the directional measurement,
control the transmitter to wirelessly communicate the control signal to a motor of the marine vessel;
wherein operation of the motor using the control signal causes the marine vessel to travel in a direction corresponding to the directional measurement.

2 . The handheld device of claim 1 , further comprising an inertial sensor communicatively coupled with the controller and the memory, wherein the inertial sensor is configured to generate an orientation measurement, the orientation measurement being a current orientation of the housing, and wherein the controller is further configured to generate the control signal at least partially based on the orientation measurement.

3 . The handheld device of claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine a distance for the marine vessel to travel based on the orientation measurement, and wherein the control signal is at least partially based on the determined distance.

4 . The handheld device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine an adjustment to a direction of a propulsion motor housing based on the directional measurement, and wherein the control signal is at least partially based on the determined adjustment.

5 . The handheld device of claim 1 , further comprising an input device communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is further configured to generate the control signal based on the directional measurement when a user input is received from the input device, and wherein the directional measurement further corresponds to a selected direction of travel.

6 . The handheld device of claim 5 , further comprising a user interface, wherein the controller is further configured to receive selection of a numerical value from the input device, and wherein the control signal is at least partially based on the numerical value.

7 . The handheld device of claim 5 , wherein the input device comprises at least one of an electromechanical input device, a touch-sensitive input device, a pressure-sensitive input device, or an audio input device.

8 . A handheld device for navigating a marine vessel, the handheld device comprising:
a housing; a transmitter; an inertial sensor configured to generate an orientation measurement, the orientation measurement corresponding to a current orientation of the housing; a memory configured to store the orientation measurement; and a controller communicatively coupled to the transmitter, the inertial sensor, and the memory, the controller configured to:
generate a control signal based on the orientation measurement, and
control the transmitter to wirelessly communicate the control signal to a motor of the marine vessel;
wherein operation of the motor using the control signal causes the marine vessel to travel at a desired speed corresponding to the orientation measurement.

9 . The handheld device of claim 8 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine a distance for the marine vessel to travel to a geographic location based on the orientation measurement, and wherein the control signal is at least partially based on the determined distance.

10 . The handheld device of claim 8 , further comprising a magnetometer communicatively coupled with the controller and the memory, wherein the magnetometer is configured to generate a directional measurement, the directional measurement corresponding to a current direction of the housing, and wherein the controller is further configured to generate the control signal at least partially based on the directional measurement.

11 . The handheld device of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine a direction and a distance for the marine vessel to travel to a geographic location based on the directional measurement and the orientation measurement, and wherein the control signal is at least partially based on the determined direction and the determined distance

12 . The handheld device of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine an adjustment to a direction of a propulsion motor housing based on the directional measurement, and wherein the control signal is at least partially based on the determined adjustment.

13 . The handheld device of claim 10 , further compromising a receiver configured to receive informational data from the motor, the informational data including a direction of a propulsion motor housing of the motor, wherein the controller is further configured to determine an adjustment to the direction of the propulsion motor housing based on the directional measurement, and wherein the control signal is at least partially based on the determined adjustment.

14 . The handheld device of claim 8 , further comprising an input device communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to generate the control signal based on the orientation measurement when a user input is received from the input device.

15 . The handheld device of claim 8 , wherein the inertial sensor is one of an accelerometer or a gyroscope.

16 . A handheld device for navigating a marine vessel, the handheld device comprising:
a housing; an input device; a transmitter; a magnetometer configured to generate a directional measurement, the directional measurement corresponding to a current direction of the housing; and a memory configured to store the directional measurement; a controller communicatively coupled to the input device, the transmitter, the magnetometer, and the memory, the controller configured to:
generate a control signal including the directional measurement, and
control the transmitter to wirelessly communicate the control signal to a motor of the marine vessel when a user input is received from the input device;
wherein operation of the motor using the control signal causes the marine vessel to travel in a direction corresponding to the directional measurement.

17 . The handheld device of claim 16 , wherein the directional measurement further corresponds to a direction of travel.

18 . The handheld device of claim 16 , further compromising a receiver configured to receive informational data from the motor, the informational data including a direction of a propulsion motor housing of the motor.

19 . The handheld device of claim 18 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine an adjustment to the direction of the propulsion motor housing based on the directional measurement, and wherein the control signal is at least partially based on the determined adjustment.

20 . The handheld device of claim 16 , further comprising an inertial sensor communicatively coupled with the controller and configured to generate an orientation measurement, the orientation measurement being a current orientation of the housing, and wherein the controller is further configured to generate the control signal at least partially based on the orientation measurement.

Assignees

• Garmin Switzerland Gmbh

Inventors

• Bertrand Paul M
• Langford Jeremy J

Classifications

• G05D1/0016 Primary

  characterised by the operator's input device (input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00) · CPC title

• B63H2025/028

  using remote control means, e.g. wireless control; Equipment or accessories therefor · CPC title

• G06F3/0488

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title

• G06F1/1694

  the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer · CPC title

• B63H20/007

  Trolling propulsion units (trolling plates for slowing down B63H25/50; dynamo-electric machines of trolling units H02K) · CPC title