The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 22, 1999
Filed:
Feb. 14, 1997
Karl Allen Beck, Fruitport, MI (US);
Kimberly Scott, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Kuhlman Corporation, Spring Lake, MI (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for concentrating diverse input signals indicative of the state or magnitude of a variety of functions and conditions of an engine-driven watercraft is disclosed. A power regulation portion includes a feedback resistor configured to form a hysteresis loop to prevent operation in a linear region when an over voltage condition exists, thus protecting the circuitry from excessive power dissipation. The apparatus also includes a reverse voltage protection circuit including a diode and a polyswitch that protects downstream circuits from application of reverse polarity power. An inventive method for determining the speed of the watercraft, using a measured pressure, and which includes a calculated component designed to account for the effects of the friction as in a pitot tube is disclosed. An input is obtained from a user-actuated switch, such input being used to vary an adjustment factor, which in turn varies the watercraft speed determination using the inventive speed method. A method of determining a rotational speed of a rotating component of an engine in the engine-driven watercraft is also disclosed. The speed determining method includes the steps of defining a sampling time, counting the number of pulses of a tachometer signal having pulses for the sampling time, and determining an average time interval per pulse. The average time interval per pulse parameter is then used to calculate a rotational speed of the engine.