A wireless controller configured to operate the propulsion system of a vehicle, and in particular a watercraft, using intuitive, analog controls, whereby the controls allow for movement of the vehicle in forward, reverse, left, and right directions, at varying speeds, with the propulsion system in o
A wireless controller configured to operate the propulsion system of a vehicle, and in particular a watercraft, using intuitive, analog controls, whereby the controls allow for movement of the vehicle in forward, reverse, left, and right directions, at varying speeds, with the propulsion system in one embodiment having a pair of fixed motors each with a rotating propeller, with all directional and speed variations accomplished by operating each of the propellers in the same or opposite direction as the other propeller, each propeller operating at various speeds or no speed.
대표청구항▼
1. A wireless controller for use with a device, said device having a controllable first feature and a controllable second feature, wherein the controllable first feature of the device is a variable speed of movement of the device through three-dimensional space, and the controllable second feature o
1. A wireless controller for use with a device, said device having a controllable first feature and a controllable second feature, wherein the controllable first feature of the device is a variable speed of movement of the device through three-dimensional space, and the controllable second feature of the device is a variable direction of movement of the device through three-dimensional space; said controller being configured to control the controllable first feature of said device and configured to control the controllable second feature of said device,said controller having a housing, a rotary potentiometer, a sliding potentiometer, a slider, a wiper, a knob, a microprocessor, a signal transmitter, a power supply, and an on/off switch; wherein said housing is a watertight box having an external surface, with the slider located on the external surface of the housing;the rotary potentiometer is a rotatable mechanism which linearly changes resistance of an electrical current passing therethrough depending on a relative angle of rotation from a neutral position, such that changing the angle of rotation changes the level of resistance, with the resistance changing in a known manner corresponding to a known amount of rotation of the rotatable mechanism;the sliding potentiometer is a strip which linearly changes resistance of an electrical current passing therethrough depending on a relative location of an indicator mechanism along said strip, such that changing the location of the indicator mechanism changes the level of resistance, with the resistance changing in a known manner corresponding to a known location of the indicator mechanism;the slider is slidably engaged with the external surface of the housing such that said slider is moveable forward and backward along a longitudinal axis of the housing, with said slider having a lower surface spaced apart from the external surface of the housing, said slider having the rotary potentiometer integrated therewith, said wiper being in contact with the strip of the sliding potentiometer and acting as the indicator mechanism for said strip such that movement of said slider causes said wiper to contact said sliding potentiometer at various locations along said strip;the knob is suitably configured for grasping with a human hand and is affixed to a top portion of the rotatable mechanism of the rotary potentiometer located above a top surface of the slider, such that movement of the knob in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction causes the rotatable mechanism of the rotary potentiometer to rotate in a corresponding direction, and movement of the knob in either a forward or rearward direction causes the slider to move in a corresponding direction relative to the housing, with movement of the knob in either the forward or rearward direction occurring either independently of or simultaneously with movement of the knob in either the clockwise or counterclockwise direction, and with movement of the knob in either the clockwise or counterclockwise direction occurring either independently of or simultaneously with movement of the knob in either the forward or rearward direction;the microprocessor is in connection with the rotary potentiometer and with the sliding potentiometer and measures the resistances of electrical currents established by the relative positions of the rotary potentiometer and the sliding potentiometer, said resistances converted by the microprocessor into control values suitable for directing the controllable first feature of the device and directing the controllable second feature of the device;the signal transmitter is in connection with the microprocessor and is capable of transmitting signals representing the control values to a signal receiver in connection with the device;the power supply is in connection with the rotary potentiometer, the sliding potentiometer, the microprocessor, the signal transmitter, and the on/off switch, said power supply suitably configured to provide electrical current to the rotary potentiometer, the sliding potentiometer, the microprocessor, and the signal transmitter; andthe on/off switch is suitably configured for manipulation by a human hand, said on/off switch being configured to allow the power supply to provide electrical current to the rotary potentiometer, the sliding potentiometer, the microprocessor, and the signal transmitter when toggled to an operable or “on” mode, and said on/off switch being configured to prevent the power supply from providing electrical current to the rotary potentiometer, the sliding potentiometer, the microprocessor, or the signal transmitter when toggled to an inoperable or “off” mode;whereby the controller is used to control the controllable first feature of the device and to control the controllable second feature of the device by creating control values based on the relative positions of the knob and slider as established by a user and transmitting those control values to the device. 2. The wireless controller of claim 1 wherein the sliding potentiometer is a thin strip which linearly changes resistance of an electrical current depending on where along said strip pressure is applied, such that pressure applied at various points on said strip from a first end of said strip to an opposite second end of said strip results in varied levels of resistance, with a level of resistance resulting from pressure applied at a location on said strip closer to the second end of said strip being greater than a level of resistance resulting from pressure applied at a location on said strip closer to the first end of said strip, with the resistance changing in a known manner corresponding to a known location of applied pressure to said strip. 3. The wireless controller of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is in wireless connection with the rotary potentiometer. 4. The wireless controller of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is in wired connection with the rotary potentiometer. 5. The wireless controller of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is in wireless connection with the sliding potentiometer. 6. The wireless controller of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is in wired connection with the sliding potentiometer. 7. The wireless controller of claim 1 wherein said housing has a hollow interior, with the microprocessor and signal transmitter located within the hollow interior of the housing. 8. The wireless controller of claim 1 wherein the sliding potentiometer is located on the external surface of the housing proximate to the slider. 9. The wireless controller of claim 8 wherein the wiper extends from the lower surface of the slider, such that movement of the slider causes the wiper to move and contact the sliding potentiometer at various points along the sliding potentiometer. 10. The wireless controller of claim 1 wherein the sliding potentiometer is located on the lower surface of the slider. 11. The wireless controller of claim 10 wherein the wiper extends from the external surface of the housing towards the lower surface of the slider, such that movement of the slider causes the sliding potentiometer to move and contact the wiper at various points along the sliding potentiometer. 12. The wireless controller of claim 1 wherein the power supply is located within a hollow interior of the housing. 13. The wireless controller of claim 1 wherein the power supply is located within a watertight compartment attached to the housing. 14. The wireless controller of claim 1 wherein the power supply is comprised of two or more sub-power supplies, with each of the rotary potentiometer, the sliding potentiometer, the microprocessor, the signal transmitter, and the on/off switch being in connection with at least one of the two or more sub-power supplies. 15. The wireless controller of claim 1 wherein the power supply is located within a hollow interior of the slider. 16. The wireless controller of claim 1 wherein the housing further comprises an indicator means located on the external surface of the housing, and the slider further comprises an indicator engagement member extending from the lower surface of the slider, wherein said indicator means comprises one or more structures, andthe indicator engagement member is configured to engage with the one or more structures of the indicator means as the slider is moved over said one or more structures, with said engagement of the indicator engagement member with said one or more structures being perceptible to the user moving said slider. 17. The wireless controller of claim 16 wherein at least one of the one or more structures of the indicator means is a neutral indication structure located at a position on the external surface of the housing correlating to a designated neutral point of travel of the slider along the external surface of the housing, whereby when the user perceives the indicator engagement member engaging with said neutral indication structure the user is alerted to the fact that the slider is positioned at the designated neutral point of travel along the external surface of the housing. 18. The wireless controller of claim 17 wherein the neutral indication structure is a detent. 19. The wireless controller of claim 16 wherein each of the one or more structures of the indicator means is a detent. 20. The wireless controller of claim 1 wherein the slider further comprises an indicator means located on the lower surface of the slider, and the housing further comprises an indicator engagement member extending from the external surface of the housing, wherein said indicator means comprises one or more structures, andthe indicator engagement member is configured to engage with the one or more structures of the indicator means as the slider is moved over said indicator engagement member, with said engagement of the indicator engagement member with said one or more structures being perceptible to the user moving said slider. 21. The wireless controller of claim 20 wherein at least one of the one or more structures of the indicator means is a neutral indication structure located at a position on the lower surface of the slider correlating to a designated neutral point of travel of the slider along the external surface of the housing, whereby when the user perceives the indicator engagement member engaging with said neutral indication structure the user is alerted to the fact that the slider is positioned at the designated neutral point of travel along the external surface of the housing. 22. The wireless controller of claim 21 wherein the neutral indication structure is a detent. 23. The wireless controller of claim 20 wherein each of the one or more structures of the indicator means is a detent. 24. The wireless controller of claim 1 whereby the housing of the wireless controller floats, whereby when the wireless controller is immersed in water the housing of the wireless controller keeps the wireless controller proximate to the water's surface. 25. The wireless controller of claim 1 further comprising a lanyard, said lanyard being attached to the housing. 26. The wireless controller of claim 25 whereby the lanyard floats, whereby when the wireless controller is immersed in water the lanyard keeps the wireless controller proximate to the water's surface. 27. The wireless controller of claim 1 wherein frictional forces maintain the slider in the position last set by the user whenever the slider is not being moved by the user, and frictional forces maintain the knob in its rotational orientation last set by the user whenever the knob is not being rotated by the user. 28. The wireless controller of claim 1 wherein the device is a vehicle, said vehicle having a front end, a rear end, and a propulsion system, and the controllable first feature of the device is the variable speed of movement of the vehicle and the controllable second feature of the device is the variable direction of movement of the vehicle; with the microprocessor capable of creating control values suitable for directing the speed and direction of the vehicle; andthe signal receiver is in connection with the propulsion system of the vehicle;whereby the controller is used to direct the movement of the vehicle in a forward direction, a rearward direction, a leftward direction, and a rightward direction and to control the speed of the vehicle by creating control values based on the relative positions of the knob and slider as established by a user and transmitting those control values to the propulsion system of the vehicle via the signal receiver. 29. The wireless controller of claim 28 whereby movement of the slider in a forward direction along the external surface of the housing beyond a designated neutral point of travel of the slider results in the vehicle being moved in a forward direction, and the farther forward the slider is moved in a forward direction the faster the speed of the vehicle;movement of the slider in a backward direction along the external surface of the housing beyond the designated neutral point of travel of the slider results in the vehicle being moved in a reverse direction, and the farther backward the slider is moved in a backward direction the faster the speed of the vehicle;movement of the knob in a clockwise direction beyond a designated neutral point of rotation when the slider is positioned forward of the designated neutral point of travel results in the front end of the vehicle being turned to the right of a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and the farther the knob is moved in a clockwise direction beyond the designated neutral point of rotation the sharper the front end of the vehicle is turned to the right;movement of the knob in a clockwise direction beyond the designated neutral point of rotation when the slider is positioned backward from the designated neutral point of travel results in the rear end of the vehicle being turned to the left of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and the farther the knob is moved in a clockwise direction beyond the designated neutral point of rotation the sharper the rear end of the vehicle is turned to the left;movement of the knob in a counterclockwise direction beyond the designated neutral point of rotation when the slider is positioned forward of the designated neutral point of travel results in the front end of the vehicle being turned to the left of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and the farther the knob is moved in a counterclockwise direction beyond the designated neutral point of rotation the sharper the front end of the vehicle is turned to the left; andmovement of the knob in a counterclockwise direction beyond the designated neutral point of rotation when the slider is positioned backward from the designated neutral point of travel results in the rear end of the vehicle being turned to the right of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and the farther the knob is moved in a counterclockwise direction beyond the designated neutral point of rotation the sharper the rear end of the vehicle is turned to the right. 30. The wireless controller of claim 28 further comprising a clockwise rotation switch, wherein the clockwise rotation switch is suitably configured for manipulation by a human hand, said clockwise rotation is located on the housing and is in connection with the microprocessor and the power supply, whereby when the clockwise rotation switch is activated the microprocessor creates a clockwise rotation control value which is then sent by the signal transmitter to the propulsion system of the vehicle via the signal receiver, thereby causing the vehicle to be rotated in a clockwise direction. 31. The wireless controller of claim 28 further comprising a counterclockwise rotation switch, wherein the counterclockwise rotation switch is suitably configured for manipulation by a human hand, said counterclockwise rotation is located on the housing and is in connection with the microprocessor and the power supply, whereby when the clockwise rotation switch is activated the microprocessor creates a counterclockwise rotation control value which is then sent by the signal transmitter to the propulsion system of the vehicle via the signal receiver, thereby causing the vehicle to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction. 32. The wireless controller of claim 28 being suitably configured to be affixed to a surface of the vehicle. 33. The wireless controller of claim 28 wherein the propulsion system of the vehicle is located at the rear end of the vehicle. 34. The wireless controller of claim 28 wherein the vehicle for which said wireless controller is used is a watercraft, said watercraft having a stern and a bow, with said propulsion system of said vehicle comprising a port side motor and a starboard side motor, with each said motor being electrically powered and having a propeller capable of rotating in both a forward direction and in a reverse direction at various speeds, said controller being capable of controlling the speed and direction of rotation of the port side motor and the speed and direction of rotation of the starboard side motor,with the microprocessor of said controller generating control values suitable for directing the speed and rotation of the propellers of the motors of the watercraft, andthe signal receiver being in connection with the motors of the watercraft;whereby the controller is used to direct the movement of the watercraft and to control the speed of the watercraft by transmitting said control values to the port side motor and the starboard side motor of the propulsion system of the watercraft via the signal receiver to effect the operation of one or both of the port side motor and the starboard side motor, said motors operating with the same or different speed of rotation of the respective propellers of the motors and with the same or different direction of rotation of the respective propellers of the motors to achieve the desired movement of the watercraft. 35. The wireless controller of claim 34 further comprising a clockwise rotation switch, wherein the clockwise rotation switch is suitably configured for manipulation by a human hand, said clockwise rotation is located on the housing and is in connection with the microprocessor and the power supply, whereby when the clockwise rotation switch is activated the microprocessor creates a clockwise rotation control value which is then sent by the signal transmitter to the motors of the propulsion system of the watercraft via the signal receiver such that the propeller of the port side motor does not rotate and the propeller of the starboard side motor rotates in a reverse direction at substantially maximum speed, thereby rotating the watercraft in a clockwise direction. 36. The wireless controller of claim 34 further comprising a counterclockwise rotation switch, wherein the counterclockwise rotation switch is suitably configured for manipulation by a human hand, said counterclockwise rotation is located on the housing and is in connection with the microprocessor and the power supply,when the counterclockwise rotation switch is activated the microprocessor creates a counterclockwise rotation control value which is then sent by the signal transmitter to the motors of the propulsion system of the watercraft via the signal receiver such that the propeller of the starboard side motor does not rotate and the propeller of the port side motor rotates in a reverse direction at substantially maximum speed, thereby rotating the watercraft in a counterclockwise direction. 37. The wireless controller of claim 34 being suitably configured to be affixed to a surface of the watercraft. 38. The wireless controller of claim 34 wherein the propulsion system of the vehicle is located at the stern of said watercraft.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (2)
Martin, David V., Controller for an electric propulsion system for watercraft.
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