Inspection system for watercraft

Abstract

A watercraft propelled by an outboard motor includes an inspection system. The inspection system includes a terminal computer that conducts an inspection of an engine control device and a control unit. The computer includes a program that performs an inspection process that provides the control device with a command signal to start an inspection of the control device and that requests the control device to output a first response signal. The process determines whether the response signal is consistent with a first specified signal. The process provides the control unit with a command signal to start an inspection of the control unit and requests the control unit to output a second response signal. The process determines whether the second response signal is consistent with a second specified signal. The control device controls a throttle actuator and a shift actuator based upon the second response signal and provides the inspection system with an operating signal. The process determines whether the operating signal is consistent with the second specified signal. The computer includes an indicator panel or other display device to show the results of the determinations made by the inspection process.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An inspection system for a watercraft propelled by an outboard drive and having a control device that controls the outboard drive, the inspection system comprising a first subsystem that provides the control device with a command signal to start an inspection of the control device, a second subsystem that requests the control device to output a response signal, and a third subsystem that determines whether the response signal output by the control device is consistent with a specified signal.  
     
     
         2 . The inspection system as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising an fourth subsystem that indicates a determination by the third subsystem.  
     
     
         3 . The inspection system as set forth in  claim 2 , further comprising an indicator configured to indicate a response from the control device based upon the response signal.  
     
     
         4 . The inspection system as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the indicator is positioned proximate a cockpit of the watercraft.  
     
     
         5 . The inspection system as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising an indicator configured to indicate a response from the control device based upon the response signal.  
     
     
         6 . The inspection system as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising an inspection device, wherein the first subsystem, the second subsystem and the third subsystem comprise steps of a program installed in the inspection device.  
     
     
         7 . The inspection system as set forth in  claim 6 , further comprising a fourth subsystem that indicates a determination by the third subsystem, wherein the fourth subsystem is an indicating unit defined at the inspection device.  
     
     
         8 . The inspection system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the second subsystem provides the control device with the specified signal.  
     
     
         9 . The inspection system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the outboard drive comprises an engine that provides power, and wherein the control device controls the engine.  
     
     
         10 . The inspection system as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the specified signal includes a signal corresponding to an engine speed of the engine.  
     
     
         11 . The inspection system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the outboard drive comprises an engine and a propulsion device powered by the engine, and wherein the control device controls the engine and the propulsion device.  
     
     
         12 . The inspection system as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein an operating device provides the control device with a control signal, and wherein the control device controls the engine and the propulsion device based upon the control signal.  
     
     
         13 . The inspection system as set forth in  claim 12 , further comprising a fourth subsystem that provides the operating device with a second command signal to start an inspection of the operating device, further comprising a fifth subsystem that requests the operating device to output a second response signal, and further comprising a sixth subsystem that determines whether the second response signal is consistent with a second specified signal.  
     
     
         14 . The inspection system as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the control device controls the engine and the propulsion device based upon the second response signal and provides the inspection system with an operating signal indicative of an operation of the engine and the propulsion device.  
     
     
         15 . The inspection system as set forth in  claim 14 , further comprising a seventh subsystem that determines whether the operating signal is consistent with the second specified signal.  
     
     
         16 . An inspection system for a watercraft propelled by an outboard drive, the outboard drive including an engine and a propulsion device powered by the engine, the engine and the propulsion device being controlled by a control device, the control device receiving a control signal from an operating device, the control device controlling the engine and the propulsion device in response to the control signal, the inspection system comprising a first subsystem that provides the operating device with a command signal to start an inspection of the operating device, a second subsystem that requests the operating device to output a response signal, and a third subsystem that determines whether the response signal is consistent with a specified signal.  
     
     
         17 . The inspection system as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the control device controls the engine and the propulsion unit based upon the response signal and provides the inspection system with an operating signal indicative of an operation of the engine and the propulsion unit.  
     
     
         18 . The inspection system as set forth in  claim 17 , further comprising a fourth subsystem that determines whether the operating signal is consistent with the specified signal.  
     
     
         19 . The inspection system as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the engine includes a engine control device that regulates an output of the engine in accordance with a state of the engine control device, wherein the propulsion device includes a transmission shifting mechanism that shifts an operational mode of the propulsion device among a forward mode, a neutral mode and a reverse mode, and wherein the control signal indicates at least one of the state of the engine control device and the operational mode of the propulsion device.  
     
     
         20 . An inspection system for a watercraft powered by an engine, the engine being controlled by a control device, the inspection system comprising an inspection device that conducts an inspection of the control device, the inspection device comprising a program comprising a first step of providing the control device with a command signal to start an inspection of the control device, a second step of requesting the control device to output a response signal, and a third step of determining whether the response signal is consistent with a specified signal.  
     
     
         21 . The inspection system as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein the inspection device includes an indicating unit that indicates a determination by the third step.  
     
     
         22 . The inspection system as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein the inspection device comprises an indicating unit configured to indicate a determination by the third step.  
     
     
         23 . The inspection system as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein the inspection device communicates with the control device either by wire or by radio communication.  
     
     
         24 . An inspection system for a watercraft propelled by an outboard drive, the outboard drive including an engine and a propulsion device powered by an engine, an operating device that provides a control device with a control signal to control the engine and the propulsion device, the inspection system comprising an inspection device that conducts an inspection of the control device and the operating device, the inspection device including a program comprising a first step of providing the control device with a command signal to start an inspection of the control device, a second step of requesting the control device to output a first response signal, a third step of determining whether the response signal is consistent with a first specified signal, a fourth step of providing the operating device with a command signal to start an inspection of the operating device, a fifth step of requesting the operating device to output a second response signal, and a sixth step of determining whether the second response signal is consistent with a second specified signal.  
     
     
         25 . The inspection system as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein the control device controls the engine and the propulsion device based upon the second response signal and provides the inspection device with an operating signal indicative of an operation of the engine and the propulsion device.  
     
     
         26 . The inspection system as set forth in  claim 25 , the program further comprising a seventh step of determining whether the operating signal is consistent with the second specified signal.  
     
     
         27 . An inspection system for a watercraft propelled by an outboard drive, the outboard drive including an engine and a propulsion device powered by an engine, an operating device that provides a control device with a control signal to control the engine and the propulsion device, the inspection system comprising an inspection device that conducts an inspection of the operating device, the inspection device including a program comprising a first step of providing the operating device with a command signal to start an inspection of the operating device, a second step of requesting the operating device to output a response signal, and a third step of determining whether the response signal is consistent with a specified signal.  
     
     
         28 . The inspection system as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein the control device controls the engine and the propulsion unit based upon the response signal and provides the inspection system with an operating signal indicative of an operation of the engine and the propulsion unit.  
     
     
         29 . The inspection system as set forth in  claim 28 , wherein the program additionally comprises a fourth step of determining whether the operating signal is consistent with the specified signal.  
     
     
         30 . An inspection system for a watercraft propelled by an outboard drive and having a plurality of components related to the watercraft and the outboard drive identified by distinctive codes, the components being capable of outputting readable signals corresponding to the codes, the inspection system comprising a first subsystem that includes a component table that stores information corresponding to the codes, a second subsystem that requests the components to output the readable signals to the inspection system, and a third subsystem that compares the signals output by the components with the information stored in the component table.  
     
     
         31 . The inspection system as set forth in  claim 30 , further comprising a fourth subsystem that indicates a result of the comparison made by the third subsystem.  
     
     
         32 . The inspection system as set forth in  claim 31 , further comprising an inspection device, wherein the first subsystem, the second subsystem and the third subsystem are steps of a program installed in the inspection device.  
     
     
         33 . The inspection system as set forth in  claim 32 , further comprising a fourth subsystem that indicates a determination by the third subsystem, wherein the fourth subsystem is an indicating unit defined at the inspection device.  
     
     
         34 . An inspection method for a watercraft propelled by an outboard drive, comprising providing a control device of the outboard drive with a command signal to start an inspection of the control device, requesting the control device to output a response signal, and determining whether the response signal is consistent with a specified signal.  
     
     
         35 . The inspection method as set forth in  claim 34 , further comprising indicating a result of the determination for perception by an operator.  
     
     
         36 . An inspection method for a watercraft propelled by an outboard drive, the outboard drive including an engine and a propulsion device powered by the engine, an operating device that provides a control signal, and a control device responsive to the control signal to control the engine and the propulsion device, the method comprising providing the control device with a command signal to start an inspection of the control device, requesting the control device to output a first response signal, determining whether the first response signal is consistent with a first specified signal, providing the operating device with a command signal to start an inspection of the operating device, requesting the operating device to output a second response signal, and determining whether the second response signal is consistent with a second specified signal.  
     
     
         37 . The inspection method as set forth in  claim 36 , further comprising operating the engine and the propulsion device based upon the second response signal, and determining whether an operating signal indicative of an operation of the engine and the propulsion device is consistent with the second specified signal.  
     
     
         38 . An inspection method for a watercraft propelled by an outboard drive, the outboard drive including an engine and a propulsion device powered by the engine, an operating device that provides a control signal, and a control device responsive to the control signal to control the engine and the propulsion device, the method comprising providing the operating device with a command signal to start an inspection of the operating device, requesting the operating device to output a response signal, and determining whether the response signal is consistent with a specified signal.  
     
     
         39 . An inspection method for a watercraft propelled by an outboard drive and having a plurality of components related to the watercraft and the outboard drive, the plurality of components identifiable by distinctive codes, the components selectably outputting readable signals corresponding to the codes, the method comprising storing information corresponding to the codes in a component table, causing each of the components to output a respective readable signal to an inspection system, and comparing the signals sent by the components with the information in the component table.  
     
     
         40 . The inspection method as set forth in  claim 39 , further comprising indicating a result of the comparison.