Bidirectional wireless controls for marine devices

Abstract

A marine device, such as a trolling motor, a trim tab, a downrigger or a sonar device, is operated based upon commands generated by a wireless remote control device. The marine device is connected to a controller that provides commands to the marine device. The controller communicates with the remote control through a bidirectional wireless communication link to receive commands and to provide status information on the operation of the motor. The remote control includes user inputs for generating commands that are sent wirelessly to the controller to control operation of the marine device. The remote control also includes a display for displaying real time status information that is received wirelessly from the controller.

1 . A control system for a marine device, the control system comprising:
 a controller for providing commands to the marine device and for providing status information relating to operation of the marine device, the controller including a transceiver for bidirectional wireless communication; and   a remote control including a transceiver for bidirectional wireless communication with the transceiver of the controller, a plurality of user inputs for generating input commands to be sent wirelessly to the controller to control operation of the marine device, and a display for displaying real time marine device status information received wirelessly from the controller.   
     
     
         2 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller provides commands to cause the marine device to operate in one of a plurality of modes, and wherein the status information includes an indication of the mode in which the marine device is operating. 
     
     
         3 . The control system of  claim 2 , wherein the display includes a plurality of icons, each icon representing status of one of the plurality of modes. 
     
     
         4 . The control system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of inputs include inputs for selecting the plurality of modes. 
     
     
         5 . The control system of  claim 1  and further comprising:
 a user input device in wired communication with the controller for providing input commands to the controller.   
     
     
         6 . The control system of  claim 5 , wherein the controller selects between input commands from the remote control and input commands from the user input device to provide commands to the marine device. 
     
     
         7 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the status information includes speed status information representative of operating speed of the marine device. 
     
     
         8 . The control system of  claim 7 , wherein the display includes a numerical speed display based upon the speed status information. 
     
     
         9 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the status information includes operational status of a component of the marine device, and wherein the display includes an icon that depicts the operational status of the component. 
     
     
         10 . The control system of  claim 9 , wherein the marine device comprises a trolling motor and the component is a propeller. 
     
     
         11 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the marine device comprises a trolling motor. 
     
     
         12 . The control system of  claim 11  and further comprising:
 a compass for providing heading data; and   a GPS device for providing position data.   
     
     
         13 . The control system of  claim 12 , wherein the controller, in response to an input command from the remote control, provides commands to control the trolling motor in an autonavigation mode as a function of at least one of the heading data and the position data. 
     
     
         14 . The control system of  claim 13 , wherein the autonavigation mode comprises one of an Autopilot mode, a Spot Lock mode, a Record Track mode, a Track To Start mode, a Track To End mode, and a Pause mode. 
     
     
         15 . The control system of  claim 14 , wherein the display controls an icon representative of the autonavigation mode based upon the status information. 
     
     
         16 . The control system of  claim 14 , wherein the remote control includes buttons for selecting the modes. 
     
     
         17 . The control system of  claim 11 , wherein the display provides an indication of a trolling motor speed setting based upon the status information. 
     
     
         18 . The control system of  claim 11 , wherein the remote control generates steering input commands. 
     
     
         19 . The control system of  claim 11 , wherein the remote control generates motor speed commands. 
     
     
         20 . The control system of  claim 11 , wherein the remote control generates propeller on/off commands. 
     
     
         21 . The control system of  claim 11 , wherein the trolling motor is mounted on a trim tab. 
     
     
         22 . The control system of  claim 21 , wherein the remote control generates commands to control operation of the trolling motor and operation of the trim tab. 
     
     
         23 . The control system of  claim 22 , wherein the real time device status information includes trolling motor status information and trim tab status information. 
     
     
         24 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the marine device comprises a trim tab system. 
     
     
         25 . The control system of  claim 24 , wherein the trim tab system includes a first trim tab, a first trolling motor mounted on the first trim tab, a second trim tab, and a second trolling motor mounted on the second trim tab. 
     
     
         26 . The control system of  claim 25 , wherein the real time marine device status information includes steering status information. 
     
     
         27 . The control system of  claim 25 , wherein the real time marine device status information includes trim tab position information. 
     
     
         28 . The control system of  claim 25 , wherein the real time marine device status information includes trolling motor status information. 
     
     
         29 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the marine device comprises a downrigger system. 
     
     
         30 . The control system of  claim 29 , wherein the real time marine device status information includes at least one of downrigger selection, downrigger ball depth, downrigger ball position with respect to bottom, and direction of downrigger ball movement. 
     
     
         31 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the marine device includes a sonar device. 
     
     
         32 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the marine device includes a GPS device for providing position data and an indication of GPS signal quality, and wherein the real time marine device status information includes GPS signal quality. 
     
     
         33 . A wireless remote control for controlling operation of a marine device, the wireless remote control comprising:
 a transceiver for bidirectional wireless communication with the marine device;   a plurality of user inputs for generating input commands to be sent wirelessly to control operation of the marine device; and   a display for displaying real time marine device status information received wirelessly.   
     
     
         34 . The wireless remote control of  claim 33 , wherein the input commands cause the marine device to operate in one of a plurality of modes, and wherein the status information includes an indication of the mode in which the marine device is operating. 
     
     
         35 . The wireless remote control of  claim 33 , wherein the status information includes speed status information representative of operating speed of the marine device. 
     
     
         36 . The wireless remote control of  claim 33 , wherein the status information includes operational status of a component of the marine device, and wherein the display includes an icon that depicts the operational status of the component. 
     
     
         37 . The wireless remote control of  claim 33 , wherein the marine device comprises a trolling motor, and wherein the remote control provides input commands to control the trolling motor in an autonavigation mode as a function of at least one of heading data and position data, and the status information includes an indication of the autonavigation mode. 
     
     
         38 . The wireless remote control of  claim 33 , wherein the marine device comprises a trolling motor, and the display provides an indication of a trolling motor speed setting based upon the status information. 
     
     
         39 . The wireless remote control of  claim 33 , wherein the marine device comprises a trolling motor mounted on a trim tab, and wherein the remote control generates commands to control operation of the trolling motor and operation of the trim tab. 
     
     
         40 . The wireless remote control of  claim 39 , wherein the real time marine device status information includes trolling motor status information and trim tab status information. 
     
     
         41 . The wireless remote control of  claim 39 , wherein the real time marine device status information includes steering status information. 
     
     
         42 . The wireless remote control of  claim 39 , wherein the real time marine device status information includes trim tab position information. 
     
     
         43 . The wireless remote control of  claim 39 , wherein the real time marine device status information includes trolling motor status information. 
     
     
         44 . The wireless remote control of  claim 33 , wherein the marine device comprises a downrigger system, and wherein the real time marine device status information includes at least one of downrigger selection, downrigger ball depth, downrigger ball position with respect to bottom, and direction of downrigger ball movement. 
     
     
         45 . The wireless remote control of  claim 33 , wherein the marine device includes a sonar device, and wherein the real time marine device status information includes depth information from the sonar device. 
     
     
         46 . The wireless remote control of  claim 33 , wherein the marine device includes a GPS device for providing position data and an indication of GPS signal quality, and wherein the real time marine device status information includes GPS signal quality.