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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A control system for a trolling motor, the control system comprising:
 a controller configured to provide commands to the trolling motor and to provide status information relating to operation of the trolling motor, 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, the remote control further including a plurality of user inputs configured to generate input commands to be sent wirelessly to the controller to control operation of the trolling motor, and the remote control further including an audio transducer to provide audio feedback to a user.   
     
     
         2 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the remote control is configured to provide visual feedback to the user to show operating status of the trolling motor received wirelessly from the controller. 
     
     
         3 . The control system of  claim 2 , wherein the visual feedback is provided by a plurality of icons, each icon representing status of one of a plurality of modes in which the trolling motor operates. 
     
     
         4 . The control system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of user inputs include buttons configured to choose a desired trolling motor operating mode from among all available trolling motor operating modes. 
     
     
         5 . The control system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a user input device in wired communication with the controller, the user input device configured to provide input commands to the controller. 
 
     
     
         6 . The control system of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to select between input commands from the remote control and input commands from the user input device based on priorities to provide commands to the trolling motor. 
     
     
         7 . The control system of  claim 1 , further comprising a foot pedal including a transceiver for bidirectional communication with the transceiver of the controller. 
     
     
         8 . The control system of  claim 7 , wherein the controller treats input from the remote control and from the foot pedal as requests for operational change of the trolling motor, and wherein the controller controls the trolling motor based on one of the input from the remote control or from the foot pedal. 
     
     
         9 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the remote control includes an LCD display, and wherein the visual feedback is provided by icons on the LCD display. 
     
     
         10 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the remote control includes a pixilated display, and wherein the visual feedback is provided by images formed on the pixilated display. 
     
     
         11 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the remote control synchronizes communication with the controller to enable power savings by depowering the transceiver during periods on non-communication. 
     
     
         12 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the remote control and the controller are paired with one another via a serial number to ensure only control signals from paired remote controls are acted upon by the controller. 
     
     
         13 . The control system of  claim 12 , wherein the remote control is configured to transmit the serial number to the controller with each input command. 
     
     
         14 . The control system of  claim 12 , wherein the serial number is unique to the controller. 
     
     
         15 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the audio transducer is one of a beeper or buzzer. 
     
     
         16 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of user inputs include a trolling motor propeller on/off button, a turn left button, a turn right button, a speed up button, and a speed down button. 
     
     
         17 . The control system of  claim 16 , wherein the trolling motor propeller on/off button includes a first visually perceivable indicator in the form of a propeller positioned on a top surface thereof, wherein the turn left button includes a second visually perceivable indicator in the form of a left facing arrow head positioned on a top surface thereof, wherein the turn right button includes a third visually perceivable indicator in the form of a right facing arrow head positioned on a top surface thereof, wherein the speed up button includes a fourth visually perceivable indicator in the form of a plus sign positioned on a top surface thereof, and wherein the speed down button includes a fifth visually perceivable indicator in the form of a minus sign positioned on a top surface thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The control system of  claim 16 , wherein the trolling motor propeller on/off button is positioned on a front surface of the remote control between the turn left button and the turn right button. 
     
     
         19 . The control system of  claim 18 , wherein the front surface of the remote control includes a first end, and wherein when the first end is held toward the user and when the front surface of the remote control is viewed by a user, the turn left button is to the left of the trolling motor propeller on/off button, and the turn right button is to the right of the trolling motor propeller on/off button. 
     
     
         20 . The control system of  claim 18 , wherein the speed up button is positioned on a front surface of the remote control farther away from the first end than the trolling motor propeller on/off button. 
     
     
         21 . The control system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a compass configured to provide heading data;   a GPS device configured to provide position data; and,   wherein the controller, in response to an input command from the remote control, is configured to provide 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.   
     
     
         22 . The control system of  claim 21 , wherein the autonavigation modes include a Spot Lock mode, a Record Track mode, a Track To Start mode, and a Track To End mode. 
     
     
         23 . The control system of  claim 22 , wherein the remote control includes a plurality of buttons, each corresponding to one of the Spot Lock mode, Record Track mode, Track To Start mode, and Track To End mode. 
     
     
         24 . A wireless remote control for use with a control system for a trolling motor, the control system including a controller configured to provide commands to the trolling motor, the controller configured for bidirectional wireless communication, the wireless remote control comprising:
 a transceiver for bidirectional wireless communication with the controller;   a plurality of user input buttons configured to generate input commands to be sent wirelessly to the controller to control operation of the trolling motor; and   an audio transducer to provide audio feedback to a user relating to operation of the trolling motor.   
     
     
         25 . The remote control of  claim 24 , further comprising an LCD display having icons positioned thereon to indicate operational status of the remote control as received from the controller. 
     
     
         26 . The remote control of  claim 24 , further comprising a pixilated display, and wherein visual feedback of an operational status of the trolling motor is provided by images formed on the pixilated display. 
     
     
         27 . The remote control of  claim 24 , wherein the remote control transmits a serial number to the controller to enable the controller to identify the remote control as an authorized remote control from which commands are to be acted upon. 
     
     
         28 . The remote control of  claim 24 , wherein the audio transducer is one of a beeper or buzzer. 
     
     
         29 . The remote control of  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of user input buttons include a trolling motor propeller on/off button, a turn left button, a turn right button, a speed up button, and a speed down button, and wherein the trolling motor propeller on/off button includes a first visually perceivable indicator in the form of a propeller positioned on a top surface thereof, wherein the turn left button includes a second visually perceivable indicator in the form of a left facing arrow head positioned on a top surface thereof, wherein the turn right button includes a third visually perceivable indicator in the form of a right facing arrow head positioned on a top surface thereof, wherein the speed up button includes a fourth visually perceivable indicator in the form of a plus sign positioned on a top surface thereof, and wherein the speed down button includes a fifth visually perceivable indicator in the form of a minus sign positioned on a top surface thereof. 
     
     
         30 . The remote control of  claim 29 , wherein the trolling motor propeller on/off button is positioned on a front surface of the remote control between the turn left button and the turn right button. 
     
     
         31 . The remote control of  claim 29 , further comprising a front surface having a first end, and wherein when the first end is positioned toward a user and when the front surface is viewed by the user, the turn left button is to the left of the trolling motor propeller on/off button, and the turn right button is to the right of the trolling motor propeller on/off button, and the speed up button is positioned farther away from the first end than the trolling motor propeller on/off button. 
     
     
         32 . The remote control of  claim 24 , wherein the audio feedback is provided in response to the transceiver receiving a feedback signal from the controller indicating that a requested action has been taken.