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:
Mar. 17, 2015
Filed:
Jan. 28, 2011
Michael W. Walser, Comfort, TX (US);
Kennon H. Guglielmo, San Antonio, TX (US);
Kenneth R. Shouse, Fair Oaks Ranch, TX (US);
Joseph Grogan, San Antonio, TX (US);
Michael W. Walser, Comfort, TX (US);
Kennon H. Guglielmo, San Antonio, TX (US);
Kenneth R. Shouse, Fair Oaks Ranch, TX (US);
Joseph Grogan, San Antonio, TX (US);
Enovation Controls, LLC, Tulsa, OK (US);
Abstract
An automatic timing measurement system provides a measure of time of passage of a watercraft through a prescribed course. Inertial or other estimates augmented by GPS speed/position measurements are used to track position of a watercraft. Position estimates are used to allow the locations of prescribed courses to be mapped and memorized. The passage of a watercraft through mapped courses is automatically detected for the purpose of measuring and reporting time of passage of the watercraft past key points in the course, and the speed of the apparatus may be modified if necessary at certain points in the mapped course. A measure of accuracy of driver steering can be provided along with the ability to automatically steer the watercraft through the course if 'steer-by-wire' mechanism is available. GPS speed control is augmented with a secondary velocity measurement device that measures speed over water to provide real-time compensation for water current.