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:
Jan. 18, 2005
Filed:
Jan. 13, 2004
Hiroshi Watabe, Wako, JP;
Hideaki Takada, Wako, JP;
Yoshinori Masubuchi, Wako, JP;
Hiroshi Mizuguchi, Wako, JP;
Taiichi Otobe, Wako, JP;
Hiroshi Watabe, Wako, JP;
Hideaki Takada, Wako, JP;
Yoshinori Masubuchi, Wako, JP;
Hiroshi Mizuguchi, Wako, JP;
Taiichi Otobe, Wako, JP;
Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
In an outboard motor steering system for an outboard motor mounted on a stern of a boat and having an internal combustion engine at its upper portion and a propeller with a rudder at its lower portion powered by the engine to propel and steer the boat, a controller is connected to an actuator to rotate the outboard motor relative to the boat, and controls the actuator in such a manner that steered angle of the outboard motor relative to a steering angle inputted through a steering wheel becomes a predetermined ratio that is changed such that the steered angle of the outboard motor relative to the steering angle decreases with increasing moving speed of the boat. Alternatively, a switch is provided to be manipulated by the operator and generating a signal indicative of an instruction to change the steered angle of the outboard motor when manipulated; and the controller controlling the actuator to steer the outboard motor to an angle in response to inputted steering angle when the switch is not manipulated, while controlling the actuator to change the steered angle when the switch is manipulated. With this, the burdens of the operator are lightened and the steering feel is improved, in particular when the operator steers the boat to approach or leave a quay.