Device for steering a trolling motor and method of the same

Abstract

A device for steering a trolling motor of a watercraft is provided. The device comprises a housing and a joystick attached to the housing, pivotably supported for movement from a neutral position in directions radial to an axis of the joystick. The movement from the neutral position generates a steering command for the trolling motor. The device has a transmitter within the housing and a processor communicatively coupled to the transmitter and the joystick. The device may further include a memory including a computer program code. The computer program code is configured when executed by the processor to receive movement data from the joystick, generate a steering command from the movement data, and transmit the steering command to the trolling motor. The steering command causes the trolling motor to rotate to aim in the steer direction to cause the watercraft to travel based on the joystick movement.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A handheld device for steering a motor of a watercraft, the handheld device comprising:
 a joystick mounted within a housing and pivotably supported for movement from a neutral position in directions radial to an axis of the joystick, wherein the movement from the neutral position generates a steering command for the motor;   a transmitter;   a processor communicatively coupled to the transmitter and the joystick; and   a memory including a computer program product stored thereon, wherein the computer program product is configured, when executed by the processor, to:
 receive a plurality of movement data corresponding to movement of the joystick from the neutral position occurring over 360 degrees, wherein each of the plurality of movement data indicates a direction of movement of the joystick from the neutral position so as to define a joystick direction; 
 generate, based on the plurality of movement data, steering commands corresponding to the plurality of movement data for instructing the motor to aim in a steer direction; and 
 correspondingly, transmit each of the steering commands to the motor to cause the motor to adjust the steer direction to match a corresponding joystick direction for each of the plurality of movement data. 
   
     
     
         2 . The handheld device of  claim 1 , further comprising a button having an engaged position and a disengaged position attached to the housing opposite the joystick so as to form a trigger, wherein the computer program code is further configured, when executed by the processor to:
 determine that the button is in the engaged position; and   generate the steering command if the button is in the engaged position.   
     
     
         3 . The handheld device of  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure sensor positioned relative to the joystick, wherein the pressure sensor generates a pressure indication from radial movement of the joystick from the neutral position, and wherein the computer program code is further configured, when executed by the processor, to:
 receive the pressure indication from the pressure sensor;   generate, based on the pressure indication, a thrust command for instructing the motor to operate according to a speed, wherein a degree of thrust varies with respect to a degree of pressure applied to the joystick; and   transmit the thrust command to the motor.   
     
     
         4 . The handheld device of  claim 1 , wherein the joystick further comprises a joystick button, wherein the joystick button is moveable between a disengaged position and an engaged position, wherein the joystick button is moved to the engaged position by pressing a top face of the joystick into the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The handheld device of  claim 4 , wherein the joystick button, when pressed into the engaged position, generates a virtual anchor signal, and wherein the computer program product is further configured, when executed by the processor, to:
 receive engagement data from the joystick button;   generate, based on the engagement data, the virtual anchor signal for instructing the motor to engage in a virtual anchor protocol; and   transmit the virtual anchor signal to the motor, instructing the motor to engage the virtual anchor protocol to cause the watercraft to maintain a current position.   
     
     
         6 . The handheld device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one button positioned adjacent the joystick, wherein the at least one button is configured to generate a command when engaged, and wherein the when the computer program product, when executed by the processor to:
 receive engagement data from the at least one button;   generate, based on the engagement data, the command for instructing the watercraft; and   transmit the command to the watercraft.   
     
     
         7 . The handheld device of  claim 6 , wherein the command is selected from the group consisting of: engage a propeller; turn on an autopilot; provide input to a user interface; disengage the propeller, and turn off the autopilot. 
     
     
         8 . The handheld device of  claim 1 , further comprising a display, wherein the display is positioned adjacent the joystick on the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The handheld device of  claim 8 , wherein the display is configured to present marine data. 
     
     
         10 . The handheld device of  claim 1 , wherein the computer program product is further configured, when executed by the processor to:
 receive orientation data from a position sensor, wherein the orientation indicates an orientation of the motor; and   determine a path of least rotation between the orientation of the motor and the steer direction.   
     
     
         11 . The handheld device of  claim 10 , wherein the steering command indicates the motor to rotate counterclockwise to the steer direction. 
     
     
         12 . The handheld device of  claim 10 , wherein the steering command indicates the motor to rotate clockwise to the steer direction. 
     
     
         13 . The handheld device of  claim 1 , wherein the computer program product, is further configured, when executed by the processor to:
 assign a forward direction to movement of the joystick from the neutral position, wherein the forward direction corresponds to a forward direction of the watercraft;   determine an angle of difference between the direction of movement of the joystick and the forward direction; and   determine the steer direction based on the angle of difference.   
     
     
         14 . A system for use with a watercraft, the system comprising:
 a motor assembly comprising:
 a motor at least partially contained within a motor housing, wherein, when the motor assembly is attached to the watercraft and the motor housing is submerged in a body of water, the motor, when operating, is configured to propel the watercraft to travel along the body of water; 
   a user input assembly comprising:
 a housing; 
 a joystick mounted within the housing and pivotably supported for movement from a neutral position in directions radial to an axis of the joystick, wherein the movement from the neutral position generates a steering command for the motor; 
 a transmitter; 
 a processor communicatively coupled to the transmitter and the joystick; and 
 a memory including a computer program product stored thereon, wherein the computer program product is configured, when executed by the processor, to:
 receive a plurality of movement data corresponding to movement of the joystick from the neutral position occurring over 360 degrees, wherein each of the plurality of movement data indicates a direction of movement of the joystick from the neutral position so as to define a joystick direction; 
 generate, based on the plurality of movement data, steering commands corresponding to the plurality of movement data for instructing the motor to aim in a steer direction; and 
 correspondingly, transmit each of the steering commands to the motor to cause the motor to adjust the steer direction to match a corresponding joystick direction for each of the plurality of movement data. 
 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the user input assembly further comprises a trigger button disposed opposite the joystick, wherein the trigger button is moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein the steering command is generated when the trigger button is in the engaged position. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the joystick further comprises a joystick button, wherein the joystick button is moveable between a disengaged position and an engaged position, wherein the joystick button is moved to the engaged position by pressing a top face of the joystick into the housing. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein a virtual anchor command is generated when the joystick button is engaged, and wherein the computer program product is further configured, when executed by the processor, to:
 receive engagement data from the joystick button;   generate, based on the engagement data, the virtual anchor command for instructing the controller to keep the watercraft at a current position; and   transmit the virtual anchor command to the controller, wherein the virtual anchor command causes the controller to rotate the motor about the shaft axis to cause the watercraft to maintain the current position.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the controller is within the main housing of the motor. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the controller is in a remote marine electronic device at a helm of the watercraft. 
     
     
         20 . A method of steering a watercraft, the method comprising:
 receiving a plurality of movement data of a joystick from a user input device, wherein the plurality of movement data corresponds to movement of the joystick from a neutral position occurring over 360 degrees, wherein the user input device comprises:
 the joystick mounted within a housing, wherein the joystick is pivotably supported for movement from the neutral position in directions radial to an axis of the joystick; 
 a transmitter; and 
 a processor; 
   wherein each of the plurality of movement data indicates a direction of movement of the joystick from the neutral position so as to define a joystick direction,   generating, based on the plurality of movement data, steering commands corresponding to the plurality of movement data for instructing a motor of the watercraft to aim in a steer direction; and   correspondingly, transmitting each of the steering commands to the motor to cause the motor to adjust the steer direction to match a corresponding joystick direction for each of the plurality of movement data.