Johnson Fishing, Inc.

Steven J Knight

An apparatus for maintaining a floating boat or water vessel in a desired position is provided. The apparatus includes an electric trolling motor disposed to produce a thrust to pull the boat, a steering motor disposed to affect the orientation of the electric trolling motor, a position deviation detection unit, and a control circuit. The position deviation detection unit detects a deviation in the position of the boat from the desired position and transmits signals indicative of a deviation distance (the distance from the boat to the desired position) and a return heading (the direction of the desired position from the boat) to the control circuit. The control circuit causes the steering motor to steer the electric trolling motor in the return heading, and the electric trolling motor to propel the boat in the return heading, to return the boat to the desired position. [Various] A first embodiment[s] of the position deviation detection unit [are disclosed, including an embodiment which] detects a deviation in position based on signals from a satellite-based global positions system[,]. [an] Another embodiment [which] detects a deviation in position based on a signal from an anchored transmitter[,]. [and an] A third embodiment [which] detects a deviation in position based on the forces caused by the surrounding water when the boat drifts.

Apparatus for maintaining a boat in a fixed position

A trolling motor with heading lock coupled to the trolling motor and producing a thrust to pull a watercraft is disclosed. The system contains a bow-mounted motor and a steering motor connected to the bow-mounted motor. The outputs of a heading detector circuit and desired heading circuit are compared by a steering control circuit and used to generate input signals to the steering motor.

Trolling motor with heading lock

A device for controlling the heading of a water craft using a propulsion device which pulls the water craft is disclosed. The device includes a motor with a variable thrust orientation and a controller for controlling the direction of the thrust of the motor. A feedback circuit, including a compass in a substantially fixed relationship to the motor, provides a feedback signal to the controller indicative of the direction of the thrust of the motor. A heading designator provides a desired heading signal to the controller. The controller maintains the heading of the water craft in the desired heading in response to the desired heading signal and the feedback signal by varying the orientation which is of the thrust.

Electronic steering system

A depth finding-trolling system for measuring the water depth and operating a trolling motor. The depth finder and trolling motor are configured within a unitary structure having dimensions of a conventional trolling motor. The depth finder includes an automatic gain circuit and a display including one or more arrays of information operatives representing depth measurement.

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Mapleton, MN, United States of America

Steven J Knight