Information processing apparatuses for a sailboat

Abstract

A device 10 for a sailboat has a global navigation satellite system, GNSS 11 and a controller 13 to determine a position of the sailboat based on received GNSS signals. A solar power supply 12 collects solar power to supply power to the GNSS 11 and the controller 13. The controller 13 controls supply of power by the solar power supply 12. This may be done based on a measure of the collected solar power or the position or heading of the sailboat or on a rate of change of these.

Description

The present invention generally relates to the field of sailboats. In particular, the present invention is directed to information processing apparatuses for sailboats. Background A sailboat is a vessel propelled by sail, specifically by wind acting on one or more sails of the sailboat. When sailing, sailors generally rely on various information in order to navigate, i.e., plan, monitor, and control the movement of the sailboat from one place to another. Such information may be referred to as navigation information and may include, for example, heading, speed of the sailboat, change in speed of the sailboat, depth of water, wind speed, wind shift information, etc. The sport of sailing may involve additional forms of navigation information for use in training and racing, such as an elapsed race time, a position of the start line, a position of the finish line, etc. Devices for sailboats are known which may determine, display, and / or record one or more of the above types of navigation information for use in sailing. Such devices may be installed or otherwise provided on a sailboat during sailing and the displayed navigation information may be used as a basis for further navigation. Recorded navigation information may also be used by sailors to analyse and improve their performance during training and in races. For example, devices such as the Tacktick / Raymarine Micro Compass and Race Master, the Velocitek Prism and Prostart, the Vakaros Atlas and Edge, the sailmon Max, and the Novasail 'Pro'' are known. As well as these custom sailing products, sailors make use of generic sporting equipment such as the Garmin Quatix. Furthermore, tracking devices exists which are customized for use in sailing such as Tractrac. Summary of the Invention Technical Problem When a user is relying on the navigation information output by a device while sailing, any failure of the device will, at least, be highly inconvenient for the user and, at worst, extremely dangerous if the failure prevents the user from navigating back to land. Furthermore, devices which support sailboat racing need to be highly reliable if they are to achieve mass adoption. For example, a race is to be run with electronics supporting line starting, the failure of one device on one boat would be problematic for the race as a whole. in order for a device to be reliable and safe for use during sailing, such device must include a reliable power source, i.e., a power source that requires minimal maintenance and has a long battery life. The ideal power supply would require no maintenance and has infinite life. Small sailboats such as racing dinghies do not have an onboard power supply, so are even more dependent on the reliability of the power source used in such devices. There have been many attempts to resolve the power supply issue : - The first electronic tactical compass produced for small sailboats in the 1990s was the KVH industries 'Sail Comp' and this required connection to a dedicated external battery. This limited the use to small keelboats since an external battery is not suitable to boats which capsize. - The first product to include a built-in solar recharging battery was the Tacktick 'Race Compass'' launched in 1998. Like all products containing batteries, some units suffered from battery fade and since no battery replacement hatch was included, this meant replacing the product with new and discarding the old. - Subsequently the Tacktick 'Race Compass' was replaced by the 'Micro Compass' which used the same design and is the market leader to this day. Whilst the battery life exceeds 5 years typically, customers are unhappy when they have to replace their compass because of the failure of the battery. - GPS dinghy displays started to appear in the late 2000s and used AA batteries which could be changed through a battery hatch. There were significant water integrity issues. In the late 2010s, GPS devices started to appear with inductive charging. This this resolves the water integrity issue but requires the user to have an inductive base station and to actively ensure that the device is charged ahead of a regatta. - In 2020, Velocitek launched the 'Prism' with the same solar recharging design as the 'Micro Compass' but which included a battery hatch. However, there were problems with water integrity which were so significant that in 2023 the battery hatch was removed, and a USB recharging port was added (though it is too early to tell whether this solution will cause further corrosion issues over time). From this history, it can be derived that known devices suffer from multiple problems in terms of ensuring reliability of the power supply. For example, devices currently available on the market tend to contain lithium batteries. These lithium batteries must be charged ahead of time, and this requires a level of user care which would be best not relied upon. Furthermore, it is known that lithium batteries fade with time, especially when used at high temperatures which are common when sailing in hot climates. In fact, many of the devices currently available are black, increasing heat absorption, and are required to operate in direct sunshine. It can be expected therefore that problems of reliability are likely to slow the mass adoption of such electronic devices to support selling, particularly in critical situations such as high-level regattas. As noted above, as an alternative to inductive charging, some known devices provide for solar recharging of the device's battery. An example of a standard circuit 60 for recharging a rechargeable battery 66 using solar power is illustrated in Figure 6. In the standard circuit 60, the rechargeable battery 66 may be directly connected to a microprocessor and other circuit elements at the connection points 63. In the standard circuit 60 shown in Figure 6, the solar panel 61 charges the battery 66 through a current limiting resistor 65 which prevents charging too fast. The voltage is controlled by a Zener diode 62. Leakage into the solar panel 61 at night is prevented through a forward diode 64. The objective of standard solar recharging circuits such as circuit 60 shown in Figure 6 is to harvest solar energy when it is plentiful (i.e., during the day, particularly in fine weather) and to store it in a rechargeable battery for use in low light conditions or at night. There are many possible embodiments and energy harvesting ICs exist to optimize power transfer such as Texas Instrument's BQ25504, BQ25505, and BQ25570 ICs, as well as e-peas' AEM00300 and AEM10900 ICs. However, in known devices for sailboats comprising such standard solar recharging circuits, in the case of battery end-of-life failure, the circuit will not be powered, and the product will fail, causing customer grievance and Potential safety issues. While a battery hatch can be added to enable battery replacement, such modification of standard devices adds cost and is a potential point of water ingress, thereby negatively affecting the overall reliability of the device. Summary of the Solution The present invention is intended to address one or more of the above technical problems. In particular, in view of the limitations discussed above, the present inventor has devised, in accordance with a first aspect herein, an information processing apparatus for a sailboat, comprising a global satellite system navigation, GNSS, section configured to receive GNSS signals. The information processing apparatus further comprises a control section configured to determine a position of the sailboat based on the received GNSS signals. The information processing apparatus further comprises a solar power supply section configured to collect solar power and to supply power to the GNSS section and the control section. The control section is configured to control supply of power by the solar power supply section. The present inventor has also devised, in accordance with a second aspect herein, an information processing apparatus for a sailboat, comprising a solar panel configured to output a power supply voltage. The information processing apparatus further comprises an output section configured to perform at least one function for generating and outputting navigation information. The output section is configured to receive the power supply voltage from the solar panel. The output power of the solar panel is at least 50 times a power consumption of the output section. In the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect herein, rather than using solar power to recharge a rechargeable battery, power may be supplied directly from the solar power supply section to the GNSS section and the control section. In order to ensure a reliable supply of power from the solar power supply section to the GNSS section and the control section, the control section is provided to control the supply of power by the solar power supply section. Accordingly, by performing appropriate control of the supply of power, the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect herein may enable solar power to be reliably supplied to the GNSS section and the control section. In this way, the information processing apparatus may perform GNSS positioning of the sailboat using solar power, without relying on a rechargeable battery in order to facilitate this primary function. Turning to the information processing apparatus according to the second aspect herein, this apparatus includes a solar panel having an output power that is at least 50 times the power consumption of the output section, which performs at least one function for generating and outputting navigation information. As such, the information processing apparatus according to the second aspect may contribute to ensuring that the output of the solar panel is sufficient in order to allow navigation information to be obtained. Accordingly, by appropriate configuration of the solar panel, the information processing apparatus according to the second aspect herein may allow for robust solar energy capture, thereby allowing navigation information to be output without relying on a rechargeable battery in order to facilitate this primary function. Therefore, the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect herein and the information processing apparatus according to the second aspect herein may each contribute to ensuring reliability of the power supply of an information processing apparatus for a sailboat. Brief Description of the Drawings Embodiments of the invention will now be explained in detail, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying figures, described below. Like reference numerals appearing in different ones of the figures can denote identical or functionally similar elements, unless indicated otherwise. Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating an information processing apparatus for a sailboat, according to a first aspect herein. Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating an information processing apparatus for a sailboat, according to a second aspect herein. Figure 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating a first exemplary circuit that may be used in implementing the information processing apparatus of Figure 1 or the information processing apparatus of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating a second exemplary circuit that may be used in implementing the information processing apparatus of Figure 1 or the information processing apparatus of Figure 2. Figure 5A is a circuit diagram illustrating a third exemplary circuit that may be used in implementing the information processing apparatus of Figure 1 or the information processing apparatus of Figure 2. Figures 5B and 5C are partial circuit diagrams illustrating the measurement circuit of Figure 5A in a first state and the second state. Figure 6 illustrates a standard circuit for recharging a rechargeable battery using solar power, in accordance with a background example. Detailed Description Example embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings . Where technical features in the drawings, detailed description or any claim are followed by reference signs, the reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the drawings, detailed description, and claims. Accordingly, neither the reference signs nor their absence have any limiting effect on the scope of any claim elements. Objectives of the present disclosure include contributing to ensuring reliability of the power supply of an information processing apparatus for a sailboat, particularly by making use of solar power as a power source . The available solar energy in any situation may be defined, inter alia, by means of the air mass coefficient (AM) , which defines the direct optical path length through the Earth's atmosphere expressed as a ratio relative to the path length vertically upwards. Under optimal conditions during the summer at an air mass coefficient of 1.5 atmospheres, i.e., AMI.5 which is a commonly used coefficient for characterising performance of solar cells, a reference power of 1000W / M2 may be achieved. However, solar panels and solar cells are not ideal converters of energy and, even when ideally orientated, a solar panel may only capture a fifth of the above reference power at the nominal AMI.5, i.e., 200W / M2. Typically however, a solar panel mounted in a product provided on a sailboat, will be intermittently shaded by the sale and the crew and may at times be orientated in a less than ideal manner as the sailboat travels. In addition, during the winter, the diffuse radiation can be as little as 10W / m2, and in all seasons, there is a need to provide at least some safety margin to allow reliable operation. As such, as illustrated by the history provided in the "Technical Problem" section above, conventional devices have avoided powering information processing devices for sailboats directly from solar power, i.e., using solar power as a main power source such that the device is not dependent on an intervening rechargeable battery for power. This is particularly true for devices which generate and output more energy intensive forms of navigation information, such as GSS positioning, or which generate and output a wide variety of navigation information. The present disclosure relates to various means of improving aspects of the configuration of the solar panel in order to provide more reliable solar energy capture and means of improving efficiency of the circuits drawing power therefrom, so that the circuits may be more reliably powered by the captured solar energy. The various aspects disclosed herein may be implemented alone or in combination in order to ensure reliability of the power supply of an information processing apparatus for sailboat. Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating an information processing apparatus 10 for a sailboat, according to a first aspect herein. The information processing apparatus 10 comprises a global satellite system navigation (GNSS) section 11, a solar power supply section 12 and a control section 13. Optional elements are indicated by dashed lines . The information processing apparatus 10 may be configured for a sailboat in that the information processing apparatus 10 is provided on a sailboat during use. For example, the information processing apparatus 10 may be permanently mounted or installed on a sailboat, or provided with means for being detachably mounted to corresponding means provided on the sailboat. In order to ensure reliable use on a sailboat, the information processing apparatus 10 may be configured to be at least partially waterproof or water resistant. For example, the information processing apparatus 10 may provide means to ensure that the components and function thereof are not damaged if the apparatus is splashed and / or submerged in water). In addition, the information processing apparatus 10 may be suitably sized so as to be safely used on sailboats as small as, for example, 6 or 7 metres in length. The GNSS section 11 is configured to receive GNSS signals. For example, the GNSS section 11 may comprise a GNSS receiver including one or more suitable antennas in order to receive GNSS signals suitable for calculating a position of the sailboat. By way of example, the GNSS section 11 may comprise a GPS unit or a positioning unit according to any other GNSS system known to those versed in the art. The solar power supply section 12 is configured to collect solar power and to supply power to the GNSS section 11 and the control section 13. For example, solar power supply section 12 may comprise one or more solar panels or one or more solar cells for collecting solar power. In a preferred embodiment, the power supply section 12 may comprise a solar panel as described below in relation to the solar panel 21 of Figure 2. Additionally or alternatively, the solar power supply section 12 may be implemented by any of the first to third exemplary circuits described below in relation to Figures 3 to 5C. As will be described in more detail below in relation to the examples shown in Figures 3 to 5C, the solar power supply section 12 may supply power the GNSS section 11 and the control section 13 by means of any suitable connection. By way of example, an output terminal of the solar power supply section 12 may be directly connected to an input terminal of the GNSS section 11 and to an input terminal of the control section 13, or may be connected to the input terminal of the GNSS section 11 and to the input terminal of the control section 13 via respective intervening elements, such as diodes, so as to provide a supply voltage thereto . More generally, the connection between the solar power supply section 12 and the GNSS section 11 may, as in the present example embodiment, be configured such that an output voltage (or a regulated version thereof) of the solar power supply section 12 can serve as the supply voltage for the GNSS section 11. This may advantageously help to ensure that either a rechargeable battery is not necessary or, if a battery failure occurs, the GNSS section 11 is not reliant on a rechargeable battery or other power source (e.g., a primary coin cell) in order to be supplied with power. The control section 13 is configured to determine a position of the sailboat based on the received GNSS signals. By way of example, the control section 13 may determine the position from the sailboat using the received GNSS signals by performing any suitable processing and calculations known to those versed in the art the particular GNSS system in question. The control section 13 may comprise one or more processing units (e.g. a central processing unit (CPU) such as a microprocessor, or microcontroller unit (MCU), or micro processing unit (MPU), or a suitably programmed field programmable gate array (FPGA) or application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)). The control section 13 may, as in the present example embodiment, be configured to control operation of the information processing apparatus 10. The control section 13 may, as in the present example embodiment, include separate modules or sections for each function performed. The information processing apparatus 10 may, as in the present example embodiment, further comprise an optional display unit 14. By way of example, the display unit 14 may comprise any suitable means of providing a visual output to a user including but not limited to a display screen, such as an LED screen or a touchscreen, one or more LEDs, etc. Additionally or alternatively, the information processing apparatus 10 may, as in the present example embodiment, further comprise an optional auxiliary power supply section 15. The auxiliary power supply may, as in the present example embodiment, be rechargeable, for example, by the solar power supply section 11. Alternatively, the auxiliary power supply may be inductively chargeable. By way of further alternative, the auxiliary power supply may comprise one or more primary coin cells. By way of example, the auxiliary power supply section 15 may comprise a supercapacitor (e.g., a capacitor capable of storing 5As and / or 300mA-minutes of charge) or a lithium battery. By way of example, the super capacitor may be the 5F Eaton PVH-5R4H505-R which can store 5As or 300mA-minutes of charge. The inclusion of an auxiliary power supply section 15 may advantageously help to protect the power supply system of the information processing apparatus 10 against high intensity short duration power requirements, such as audio buzzers, by using suitable reserve capacitance. That is, the provision of an auxiliary power source may advantageously provide sufficient power for brief intervals of high intensity power usage, thereby allowing the information processing apparatus 10 to support functions in addition to GNSS positioning. Additionally or alternatively, the information processing apparatus 10 may, as in the present example embodiment, further comprise an optional output section 16. The output section 16 may comprise any means suitable for allowing output, such as information generated by the control section 13, to be provided to a user of the information processing apparatus 10. For example, the output section 16 may, as in the present example embodiment, be implemented by the display unit 14. More generally, the output section 16 may include one or more of speakers, one or more LEDs, a touch screen, or any other suitable means or combination of such means. Optionally, the information processing apparatus 10 may additionally comprise an optional input section (not shown) and / or an optional memory section (not shown). The optional input section may comprise any means suitable for allowing input to be received directly from a user of the information processing apparatus, such as a keypad comprising one or more keys, one or more switches, a touch panel, an audio input unit, or any suitable combination of such input means. Additionally or alternatively, the input section may comprise any means suitable for allowing input to be received indirectly from the user, by receiving input via communication link with a mobile device operated by the user. By way of example, the mobile device may be a mobile phone, a tablet, laptop computer, a dedicated device, etc. By way of example, the input section may comprise a receiving section configured to receive input from a mobile device of the user by any suitable means of wireless transmission known to those versed in the art, e.g., by means of a Bluetooth™, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), NFC, or NR connection, so as to form a local area wireless network or by any means necessary to operate in accordance with one or more conventional telecommunication standards, including -but not limited to - GSM, PCS, 3GPP, LTE, LTE-A, UMTS, 3G, 4G, 5G. The optional memory section may store any information generated by the control section 13. By way of example, the memory section may comprise one or both of volatile and non-volatile memory resources. By way of example, memory section may comprise a working memory (e.g. a random access memory) and a nonvolatile memory (e.g. a ROM in the form of an electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) or flash memory). The nonvolatile memory may further act as an instruction store for storing a computer program comprising computer-readable instructions which, when executed by the control section 13, cause the control section 13 to control the information processing apparatus 10 to perform the various functions as described herein. The control section 13 is further configured to control supply of power by the solar power supply section 12 to the GNSS section 12 and to the control section 13. Such control may additionally include controlling the supply of power by the solar power supply section 12 to any other optional elements of the information processing apparatus 10, e.g., the display unit 14. By way of example, the control section 13 may be configured to control the supply of power by the solar power supply section 12 to the GNSS section 11 and to the control section 13 in various ways in order to improve the efficiency of operation of the GNSS section 11 and / or other elements of the information processing apparatus, and to appropriately modulate the demand on the supply of power by the solar power supply section 12. By way of example, the control section 13 may, as in the present example embodiment, be configured to measure a value indicative of the collected solar power. The value indicative of the collected solar power may be any value that provides an indication of the light conditions (e.g., defined as various W / m2 value ranges at AMI.5) and the ability of the solar power supply section to collect solar power. By way of example, the value indicative of the collected solar power may be, for example, a current or voltage output by the solar power supply section 12 or by one or more solar cells or solar panels thereof, a combination of such values, or any ratios or functions based on such values. Additionally or alternatively, the value indicative of the collected solar power may be an output value of an ambient light sensor, e.g., provided in the vicinity of the solar power supply section 12. By way of example, the value may be an output current of the solar power supply section 12 measured using a measurement circuit as described below in relation to Figures 5A to 5C. In such example embodiments, the control section 13 may, as in the present example embodiment, be configured to control the supply of power by the solar power supply section 12 based on the measured value. For example, in a case where the value is indicative of low light or extremely low light conditions the control section 13 may be configured to perform any control suitable to improve the efficiency of the GNSS section 11 and / or other elements of the information processing apparatus to thereby reduce the draw on the solar power supply section 12 and contribute to ensuring reliable supply of power to the GNSS section 11 and the control section 13. For example, the control of the power supply performed by the control section 13 may be any of the controls described in the following passages. Additionally or alternatively, the control section 13 may be configured to base said control of the power supply on measured value in any suitable manner. By way of example, the information processing apparatus 10 may store a predetermined threshold indicative of a low light condition and relating to the measured value, e.g., light intensity threshold in a case where the measured value is the output of an ambient light sensor or current threshold in the case where the measured value is an output current. In such example embodiments, the control section 13 may be configured to perform one or more controls to reduce the draw the solar power supply section 12 in a case where the measured value is less than the threshold (or vice versa in a case where a lower measured value is indicative of better light conditions). Additionally or alternatively, the information processing apparatus 10 may store multiple thresholds, each indicative of different light conditions (e.g. extremely low light conditions, low light conditions, normal light conditions, optimal light conditions, etc.). In such example embodiments, the control section may be configured to perform additional controls to reduce the draw on the solar power supply section 12 or to intensify some aspect of a control already being performed based on the comparison of the measured value to the multiple thresholds. By way of example, no controls may be performed during normal light conditions, one control may be performed in low light conditions, and additional controls may be performed in extremely low light conditions. By way of further example, additional features may be enabled in optimal light conditions . Accordingly, controlling the supply of power in this way may advantageously allow the efficiency of use of the solar power supplied by the solar power supply section 12 to be improved by adapting the draw on the solar power supply section 12 to the light conditions and available solar power. Additionally or alternatively, the control section 13 may, as in the present example embodiment, be configured to determine at least one of a position of the sailboat, a rate of change of the position of the sailboat, a heading of the sailboat, and a rate of change of the heading of the sailboat. By way of example, the control section 13 may be configured to perform such a determination based on the information output by the GNSS section 11. Additionally or alternatively, the information processing apparatus may comprise one or more sensors additional to the GNSS section 11 for use in determining navigation information, such as one or more of accelerometers, gyroscopes, other motion sensors, etc. In such embodiments, the control section 13 may be configured to perform the determination based on the output of the one or more additional sensors. In example embodiments, such as the present example embodiment in which the control section 13 determines at least one of a position of the sailboat, a rate of change of the position of the sailboat, a heading of the sailboat, and a rate of change of the heading of the sailboat, the control section 13 may be further configured to control the supply of power by the solar power supply section 12 based on the determined at least one of the position of the sailboat, the rate of change of the position of the sailboat, the heading of the sailboat, and the rate of change of the heading of the sailboat. This approach may be advantageous in terms of energy saving. In particular, the navigation information generated in cases where the sailboat travels at a high speed and / or at changes speed quickly, and / or cases where the sailboat changes direction, are often of particular interest to users as it may be indicative of intense activity, such as sailing close to other sailboats or other predetermined features. In contrast, situations where the sailboat was sailing at a lower consistent speed in substantially the same direction may not require such detailed navigation information. Accordingly, the control section 13 may, as in the present example embodiment, perform controls to improve the efficiency of use of the supplied solar power (e.g., by any of the means discussed below) by the GNSS section 11 or any other element of the information processing apparatus 10 as the at least one of a position of the sailboat, a rate of change of the position of the sailboat, a heading of the sailboat, and a rate of change of the heading of the sailboat increases. Accordingly, controlling the supply of power in this way may advantageously allow the efficiency of use of the solar power supplied by the solar power supply section 12 to be improved by adapting the draw on the solar power supply section 12 to the needs of the user while sailing. In some example embodiments such as the present example embodiment, the control section 13 may be configured to control the supply of power by controlling the power consumption of the information processing apparatus 10. For example, the control section 13 may control the power consumption of the GNSS section 11 and / or any other element of the information processing apparatus 10 in order to reduce the draw on the solar power supply section 12 by reducing its power consumption or to increase the draw on the solar power supply section 12 when improved functionality is required by the user or in optimal light conditions . By way of example, in example embodiments such as the present example embodiment in which the information processing apparatus comprises an optional display unit 14, the control section 13 may be configured to control the power consumption of the information processing apparatus 10 by controlling an update rate of the display unit 14. That is, the control section 13 may be configured to control the rate at which the display unit 14 is refreshed so as to display updated position information generated based on the signals received by the GNSS section 11. This may be particularly advantageous in example embodiments in which the control section 13 controls the supply of power based on the determined at least one of the position of the sailboat, the rate of change of the position of the sailboat, the heading of the sailboat, and the rate of change of the heading of the sailboat, as the update rate may be reduced in cases where the sailboat was sailing at a lower consistent speed and / or in substantially the same direction and a lower update rate of the displayed position information may be easily sufficient to meet the needs of the user. Additionally or alternatively, the control section 13 may, as in the present example embodiment, be configured to control the power consumption of the information processing apparatus 10 by at least one of: controlling a clocking speed of at least one circuit of the GNSS section 11; controlling a rate at which the determined position of the sailboat is updated; and controlling a rate at which at least one sensor of the information processing apparatus 10 is monitored. For example, the draw on the solar power supply section 12 may be reduced by reducing the clocking speed, reducing the rate at which the determined position is updated, and / or reducing the rate at which the at least one sensor is monitored. Additionally or alternatively, the control section 13 may, as in the present example embodiment, be configured to control the power consumption of the information processing apparatus 10 by controlling the GNSS section 11 to disable the at least one additional function of the GNSS section 11. By way of example, the at least one additional function of the GNSS section 11 may comprise at least one of a gyroscopic stabilization function and a dual-band GNSS function. More generally, the at least one additional function may comprise any function that draws significant power and is not essential to the primary function of the information processing apparatus 10 of determining position information. For example, a compass feature (determination of heading) may be automatically downgraded by slowing down the read rate of the MEMS sensors, slowing down the update rate of the display, and / or removing the gyroscopic stabilization. MEMS gyroscopic sensors generally consume more power than other parts of a circuit (processor, LCD, accelerometer, magnetometer MEMS sensors, etc.) so disabling a gyroscopic stabilization function may provide a highly effect means of reducing power consumption without preventing the primary function of determining GNSS position information. Similarly, the information processing apparatus 10 may determine the position of the sailboat using single band GNSS (e.g., LI GPS) with acceptable accuracy, dual band GNSS (e.g., L5 GPS) is merely preferable for providing improved accuracy. As such, disabling a dual band GNSS function may provide a highly effect means of reducing power consumption without preventing the primary function of determining GNSS position information. Accordingly, controlling the power consumption in any of these ways may advantageously allow the draw on the solar power supply section 12 to be modulated in accordance with, for example, the light conditions and or the needs of the user in order to optimize the efficiency of the use of the supplied power. In example embodiments such as the present example embodiment in which the information processing apparatus comprises an optional auxiliary power supply section 15, the control section 13 may, as in the present example embodiment, be configured to control the supply of power by controlling the auxiliary power supply section 15 to supply power to the GNSS section 11 and / or to the control section 13. That it, the auxiliary power supply section may provide a back up or addition source of power to the supply of solar power provided by the solar power supply section 12. AS discussed above, this may advantageously allow sufficient power to be provided for brief intervals of high intensity power usage, thereby allowing the information processing apparatus 10 to support functions in addition to GNSS positioning and protect the power supply system. In embodiments such as the present example embodiment in which the auxiliary power supply section 15 is rechargeable, the solar power supply section 12 may be configured to supply power to charge the auxiliary power supply section 15. That is, in addition to a function of providing a power supply to the GNSS section 11, the control section 13, and other optional elements of the information processing apparatus 10, the solar power supply section 12 may have a secondary function of supplying a charging power supply in some example embodiments. By way of example, the case of longer duration high intensity activities like GNSS ephemeris acquisition is considered. Modern low power GPS receivers such as the Broadcom's BCM4778 GNSS receiver operate at 4mW in a single band (6mW dual band LI &L5) but require an order of magnitude more power for a short duration (e.g., a minute) whilst acquiring ephemeris. A GPS acquisition taking 40mW for one minute requires 40mW-minutes of energy and a solar panel capable of generating 4mW of power will require 10 minutes to harvest this amount of energy. Given a standard use case for sailing, in which sailboats stay rigged for many tens of minutes before leaving the dock, allowing for such a time window should not be a problem so long as users are clearly informed. Additionally, the control section 13 may control the solar power supply section 12 to supply power to charge the auxiliary power supply section 15 in a case where the available solar power is greater than a certain threshold, in order to avoid impacting the primary function of the solar power supply section 12 of powering the GNSS section 11 and the control section 13. Additionally or alternatively, in example embodiments in which the information processing apparatus comprises the optional output section 16, the output section 16 may be configured to output at least one of: a first notification indicating that the auxiliary power supply section 15 is being charged; and a second notification indicating that the auxiliary power supply section 15 is fully charged. Such notifications may take the form of an indicator displayed by the display unit 14 and may be displayed in addition to or as an alternative to a conventional battery status indicator. The displayed indicator may take many forms, one example is a sunshine icon which flashes during the charging phase. In example embodiments such as the present example embodiment in which the information processing apparatus comprises an optional auxiliary power supply section 15, the auxiliary power supply 15 may be configured to continuously supply power to a real time clock function of the information processing apparatus. A real time clock may be maintained through storage periods of the information processing device 10 using an ultra-long life rechargeable lithium battery (e.g., FDK ML621), thereby enabling features such as a timing a locking period for a class rule legal display configuration for a period of 7 days. Alternatively, a real time clock may be maintained through storage periods of the information processing device 10 using one or more primary coin cells. In the information processing apparatus 10 according to the first aspect herein, rather than using solar power to recharge a rechargeable battery, power may be supplied directly from the solar power supply section 12 to the GNSS section 11 and the control section 30. In order to ensure a reliable supply of power from the solar power supply section 12 to the GNSS section 11 and the control section 13, the control section 13 is provided to control the supply of power by the solar power supply section 12. Accordingly, by performing appropriate control of the supply of power, the information processing apparatus 10 may enable solar power to be reliably supplied to the GNSS section 11 and the control section 13. In this way, the information processing apparatus 10 may perform GNSS positioning of the sailboat using solar power, without relying on a rechargeable battery in order to facilitate this primary function In particular, for a user, and ideal power supply requires little to no maintenance and has infinite life. In the case of information processing apparatus is for a sailboat, the target application is generally day racing, it is evident that daylight energy will always be available, even if at a tiny fraction of the optimal AMI,5 = 1000W / m2 solar design norm. By controlling the supply of power as discussed above, the information processing apparatus 10 may enable GNSS positioning that is dependent only on solar power. Furthermore, in some example embodiments, the information processing device 10 may additionally include an auxiliary power supply section 15, thereby enabling night operation by means of solar harvesting. In this case, performing control of the supply of power as described above may to avoid the need for a large energy store or user recharging. By way of example, it may be possible to enable GNSS positioning at night-time using super capacitors. Therefore, the information processing apparatus 10 may contribute to ensuring reliability of the power supply of an information processing apparatus 10 for a sailboat. Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating an information processing apparatus 20 for a sailboat, according to a first aspect herein. The information processing apparatus 20 comprises a solar panel 21 and an output section 22. Optional elements are indicated by dashed lines. As will be described in more detail below, the configuration of information processing apparatus 20 may help to enable robust solar energy capture, even in lowlight conditions, by enabling at least one or more of a larger solar panel, lower power demand, low-light voltage matching, and energy storage disconnection. This may in turn allow the information processing apparatus 20 to be powered by solar power in low light conditions without relying on harvested energy. The information processing apparatus 20 may be configured for a sailboat in that the information processing apparatus 20 is provided on a sailboat during use. For example, the information processing apparatus 20 may be permanently mounted or installed on a sailboat, or provided with means for being detachably mounted to corresponding means provided on the sailboat. In order to ensure reliable use on a sailboat, the information processing apparatus 20 may be configured to be at least partially waterproof or water resistant. For example, the information processing apparatus 20 may provide means to ensure that the components and function thereof are not damaged if the apparatus is splashed and / or submerged in water). In addition, the information processing apparatus 20 may be suitably sized so as to be safely used on sailboats as small as, for example, 6 or 7 metres in length. The solar panel 21 is configured to output a power supply voltage. The solar panel 21 may comprise one or more photovoltaic cells arranged in any suitable manner and of any suitable design. In a preferred embodiment, the solar panel 21 may be implemented using efficient monocrystalline technology with almost no intercell gap. The solar panel 21 may be arranged in any suitable manner in the information processing apparatus 20. By way of example, the solar panel 21 may, as in the present example embodiment, be arranged such that a light-absorbing surface of the solar panel 21 faces the sky when the information processing apparatus 20 is arranged in the sailboat. The output section 22 is configured to perform at least one function for generating and outputting navigation information. That is output section 22 may comprise both a control module for performing the at least one function and an outputting module for outputting the navigation information generated by performing said at least one Accordingly, the output section 22 may comprise one or more processing units (e.g. a central processing unit (CPU) such as a microprocessor, or microcontroller unit (MCU), or micro processing unit (MPU), or a suitably programmed field programmable gate array (FPGA) or application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)). The output section 22 may be configured to control operation of the information processing apparatus 20. The output section 22 may further comprise any means suitable for allowing the generated navigation information to be provided to a user of the information processing apparatus 20 in any suitable form (e.g., visual or audible output). For example, the output section 22 may, as in the present example embodiment, include one or more of display screens (such as an LED screen) , speakers, one or more LEDs, a touch screen, or any other suitable means or combination of such means. Navigation information may comprise any information that may be used by a sailor or sailors to navigate, i.e., plan, monitor, and control the movement of the sailboat from one place to another. This may include, for example, heading, speed of the sailboat, change in speed of the sailboat, depth of water, wind speed, wind shift information, etc. As will be discussed in more detail below, the first navigation information generated by performance of the first function may include one or more of types of navigation information. Preferably, the navigation information may, as in the present example embodiment, a heading of the sailboat. The information processing apparatus 20 may, as in the present example embodiment, be provided with any suitable sensing means necessary to allow the output section 22 to generate navigation information. For example, such sensing means may include one or more of accelerometers, gyroscopes, other motion sensors, and / or global satellite positioning (GPS) units or other such global navigation satellite system (GNSS) units, etc. The sensing means may be provided as part of the output section 22 or as a separate module within the information processing apparatus 20. Alternatively, any sensing means necessary to generate the navigation information may be provided on the sailboat and the information processing apparatus 20 may be provided with any suitable means for forming a wired or wireless connection to a control device or other unit of the sailboat and to receive sensor data of the sensing means therefrom. The output section 22 is configured to receive the power supply voltage from the solar panel 21. As will be described in more detail below in relation to the examples shown in Figures 3 to 50, the solar panel 21 may supply power the output section 22 by means of any suitable connection. By way of example, an output terminal of the solar panel 21 may be directly connected to an input terminal of the output section 22, or may be connected to the input terminal of the output section 22 via an intervening element, such as a diode, so as to provide the power supply voltage thereto. The output power of the solar panel 21 is at least 50 times a power consumption of the output section 22. By configuring the solar panel 21 to provide an output power that is at least 50 times the power consumption of the output section 22 (e.g., an average power consumption during operation) it may be ensured that the draw on the solar panel 21 by the output section 22 does not exceed the capabilities of the solar panel 21 even in lowlight conditions . Preferably, the output power of the solar panel 21 may be at least 50 to 250 times the power consumption of the output section 22. This may help to ensure that the solar panel 21 can reliably meet the power requirements of the output section 22, even in lowlight conditions, without requiring an excessively large solar panel. In a preferred example, the output power of the solar panel 21 may be at least 100 to 200 times the power consumption of the output section 22. Configuring the solar panel 21 so that its output power is at least 50 times the power consumption of the output section 22 may result in the use of a larger solar panel than in a conventional circuit, such as those used for recharging a rechargeable battery. In such conventional circuits, a product requiring ImW of power could operate from a 15mW solar panel since this would enable operation and harvesting in most light conditions. The larger solar panel of the information processing apparatus 20 may allow the information processing apparatus 20 to be powered by solar power in low light conditions without relying on harvested energy. Additionally, in some example embodiments such as the present example embodiment, an open circuit voltage of the solar panel 21 may be at least 1.8 times the power supply voltage, preferably at least twice the power supply voltage. That is, the open circuit voltage of the solar panel 21 may be chosen to be higher than would normally be specified since the low light output voltage is considerably lower at lower light levels By way of example, in a conventional device for a sailboat, solar cell typically delivers an open circuit voltage of 0.69V and a power supply voltage of 0.55V V at AMI. 5 (1000W / m2). In low light (50<W / m2), the open circuit voltage may fall below 0.6V and as the light intensity falls, the open circuit voltage may fall to 0.5V. In such cases, the power supply voltage falls correspondingly and may be insufficient to power the device. For example, a conventional device might be designed with a 4.8Voc solar panel (7 series connected solar cells) to charge a a 3V battery. In contrast, an example embodiment of the information processing apparatus 10 may use a solar panel having an open circuit voltage of 6.9 V (10 series solar cells) in order to provide a 3V power supply voltage. Accordingly, by configuring the solar panel 21 such that it is open circuit voltage is at least 1.8 times the desired power supply voltage, may further contribute to advantageously ensuring that the information processing apparatus 20 can be powered by solar power in low light conditions without relying on harvested energy. Additionally or alternatively, the information processing apparatus 20 may, as in the present example embodiment, comprise a voltage regulator (31 as shown in Figure 3) configured to regulate the power supply voltage received by the output section 22. By way of example, Figure 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating a first exemplary circuit 30 that may be used in implementing the information processing apparatus 10 of Figure 1 or the information processing apparatus 20 of Figure 2. In the first exemplary circuit 30, the voltage regulator 31 is implemented by Zener diode. Alternatively, any other suitable voltage regulator may be used. The Zener diode 31 is connected across the solar panel 21. The first exemplary circuit 30 further comprises output terminals 32, to which corresponding terminals of the output section 22 may be connected in order to receive the power supply voltage VPOwer from the solar panel 21, such that the cathode of the Zener diode is connected a same node as a positive terminal of the solar panel 21 and the anode of the Zener diode is connected to a same node as a negative terminal of the solar panel 21. The Zener diode 31 may serve to regulate the power supply voltage in that it may ensure that the power supply voltage VP0WEr does not exceed the breakdown voltage of the Zener diode 31. By way of alternative, the information processing apparatus 20 may comprise a maximum power point tracking, MPPT, DC-DC voltage converter (not shown). That is, a solar harvesting IC in the form of a MPPT, DC-DC voltage converter may be provided, which is capable of matching the solar panel output peak power to the power requirements of the circuits of the output section 22. Additionally or alternatively, the solar panel 21 may be connected to the output section 22 by a direct connection via a first diode (e.g., 41 as shown in Figure 4). The use of such a first diode 41 may help to ensure that power flows in the intended direction. Additionally or alternatively, the information processing apparatus 20, may comprise an optional auxiliary power supply section 23 comprising a power source. The power source may, as in the present example embodiment, be a rechargeable power source (e.g., 42 in Figure 4). By way of alternative, the power source may comprise one or more primary coin cells. In example embodiments such as the present example embodiment having a rechargeable power source, the auxiliary power supply section 23 may be configured to receive the power supply voltage as a charging voltage from the solar panel 21. The output section 22 may be configured to receive the power supply voltage and to receive an output voltage of the rechargeable power source 42 as a second power supply voltage . By way of example, Figure 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating a second exemplary circuit 40 that may be used in implementing the information processing apparatus 10 of Figure 1 or the information processing apparatus 20 of Figure 2. In the second exemplary circuit 40, the positive terminal of the solar panel 21 is connected to the positive output terminal 32 via a diode 41. In the second exemplary circuit 40, the first diode 41 is a Schottky diode, but any other suitable type of diode may be used. In the second exemplary circuit 40, a rechargeable power source 42 is provided. The rechargeable power source 42 may comprise one of a capacitor and a rechargeable battery. The output section 22 may be configured to receive the output voltage of the rechargeable power source 42 as the second power supply voltage via a second diode 43. In the second exemplary circuit 40, the second diode 43 is a Schottky diode, but any other suitable type of diode may be used. The second diode 43 may help to ensure that power flows in the intended direction. The positive terminal of the rechargeable power source 42 may, as in the second exemplary circuit 40, the connected to a same node as the positive terminal of the solar panel 21 and the cathode of the Zener diode 31 via a third diode 44 and a charging resistor 45. In example embodiments including such an exemplary circuit, a direct diode feed with voltage clamp (implemented by diodes 41 and 31) is used to provide a simple low-cost power supply to the output section 22. Preferably, in such example embodiments, an open circuit voltage of the solar panel 21 may be at least 1.8 times the power supply voltage, preferably at least twice the power supply voltage, as discussed above. Additionally or alternatively, the information processing apparatus 20 may, as in the present example embodiment, further comprise an optional control section 24 configured to control supply of solar power to the output section. By way of example, the control section 24 may, as in the present example embodiment, be separate to the control module of the output section 22 and implemented by any of the means discussed above in relation to the control module of the output section 22. By way of alternative, be provided as a functionality of the control module of the output section 22. The optional control section 24 may be configured to control supply of solar power to the output section 22 by any of the means described above in relation to the control section 13 of Figure 1 so as to achieve a lower power demand, e.g., when a current is close to a less than required by a full power mode of the output section 22. By way of example, in a similar manner to the control section 13, the optional control section 24 may be configured to determine at least one of a position of the sailboat, a rate of change of the position of the sailboat, a heading of the sailboat, and a rate of change of the heading of the sailboat, and to control the supply of solar power to the output section 22 based on the determined at least one of the position of the sailboat, the rate of change of the position of the sailboat, the heading of the sailboat, and the rate of change of the heading of the sailboat. By way of further example, the control section 24 may be configured to control the supply of solar power to the output section 22 by measuring a value indicative of solar power collected by the solar panel 21, and controlling the supply of solar power to the output section 22 based on the measured value. The value indicative of the solar power collected by the solar panel 21 may comprise any of the values and be measured by any of the means discussed above in relation to the control section 13 of Figure 1. For example, the control section 24 may comprise a measurement circuit 25. By way of specific example, Figure 5A is a circuit diagram illustrating a third exemplary circuit 50 that may be used in implementing the information processing apparatus 10 of Figure 1 or the information processing apparatus 20 of Figure 2. Figures 5B and 5C are partial circuit diagrams illustrating the measurement circuit 25 of Figure 5A in a first state and the second state . The measurement circuit 25 may, as in the third exemplary circuit 50, be arranged between the solar panel 21 and the voltage regulator 31, such that one side of the measurement circuit 25 is connected to the positive terminal of the solar panel 21, and another side is connected to a same node as the cathode of the voltage regulator 31. The third exemplary circuit 50 comprises an exemplary measurement circuit 25. The measurement circuit 25 comprises a shunt resistor 251, a measurement resistor ladder 252A, 252B, a first switch 253A and a second switch 253B as shown in Figures 5B and 5C . In the third exemplary circuit 50, the shunt resistor 251 is connected between the solar panel 21 and the output section 22. The measurement resistor ladder is composed of two resistors 252A and 252B connected in series, with an output terminal 254 therebetween. The first switch 252A is configured to connect the measurement resistor ladder to a first side of the shunt resistor 251. The second switch 253B is configured to connect the measurement resistor ladder to a second side of the shunt resistor 251. In the third exemplary circuit 50, control section 24 may be connected to the measurement circuit 25 (e.g., the measurement circuit 25 of Figures 5A to 5C) so as to receive the output voltage VSEnse output at terminal 254 in order to measure the value. By way of example, the control section 24 may, as in the present example embodiment, be configured to measure, as the value, a current output by the solar panel 21 by controlling to successively close the first switch 253A and the second switch 253B in order to measure a voltage on either side of the shunt resistor 251. By way of example, Figure 5B depicts a first state of the measurement circuit 25 in which the first switch 253A is open and the second switch 253B is closed. Figure 5C depicts a second state of the measurement circuit in which the second switch 253B is open and the first switch 253A is closed. By measuring the voltage output at the terminal 254 in each of the states, the current across the shunt resistor 251 may be determined. Accordingly, the measurement circuit 25, such as that described in relation to Figures 5A to 5C may advantageously allow a current output by the solar panel 21 to be determined. Additionally or alternatively, in embodiments such as the present example embodiment in which the information processing apparatus 20 comprises the optional auxiliary power supply 15, the information processing apparatus 20 may further comprise a switch (e.g. switch 54 in Figure 5A) configured to prevent, in a case where the switch 54 is open, the output section 22 receiving the output voltage of the rechargeable power source 42. For example, the control section 24 may, as in the present example embodiment, the configured to detect a failure of the rechargeable power source 42. The control section 24 may be configured to control the supply of solar power to the output section 22 by controlling to open the switch 54 in a case where a failure of the rechargeable power source 42 is detected. By way of example, failure of the rechargeable power source 42 may be detected by any suitable means using any suitable measurements, e.g., based on the current measured using the measurement circuit 25 and the resistance of the charging resistor 45. The switch 54 may advantageously allow the information processing apparatus 20 to achieve energy storage disconnection. In particular, in the case of soft cell failure or open circuit failure, the solar panel 21 can power the information processing apparatus 20 directly without needing to disconnect the rechargeable power source 42. In the case of short circuit failure (e.g., dendrite growth in lithium cells) or the case of a discharged super capacitor with insufficient light to charge it, the solar panel 21 should be able to power the output section 22 directly without loading from the rechargeable power source 42 due to switch 54. This can be achieved through a switch to open circuit the battery or super capacitor. In the third exemplary circuit 50, the diode 51 allows for direct provision of solar power is the power supply voltage. There is an optional bottom pathway with the rechargeable power source 42 that allows for energy storage for secondary or temporary functions if required (e.g., counting time over night or acquiring ephemeris data in a GPS enabled embodiment). The rechargeable power source 42 is connected through a final diode 52 to allow solar operation in the case of battery short circuit failure. By way of example, the circuit may be used to implement a digital compass for daytime use where the primary operation is solar powered and battery failure does not prevent primary function. By way alternative, the second exemplary 40 and / or the third exemplary circuit 50 may be implemented using one or more primary coin cells or another suitable power source in place of the rechargeable power source. The above description applies mutatis mutandis, except in that the charging power supply path may not be necessary. Accordingly, the information processing apparatus 20 according to the second aspect herein includes a solar panel 21 having an output power that is at least 50 times the power consumption of the output section 22, which performs at least one function for generating and outputting navigation information. As such, the information processing apparatus 20 may contribute to ensuring that the output of the solar panel 21 is sufficient in order to allow navigation information to be obtained. As discussed above, the information processing apparatus 20 may optionally configurations of include further additional preferred the solar panel 21 to further contribute to ensuring that the output of the solar panel 21 is sufficient in order to allow navigation information to be obtained. Accordingly, by appropriate configuration of the solar panel 21, the information processing apparatus 20 may allow for robust solar energy capture, thereby allowing navigation information to be output without relying on a rechargeable battery in order to facilitate this primary function. Therefore, the information processing apparatus 20 may contribute to ensuring reliability of the power supply of an information processing apparatus 20 for a sailboat. In a preferred example embodiment, the configurations of the solar panel 21 of the information processing apparatus 20 of Figure 2 may be combined with the means of improving the efficiency of the circuits drawing the solar power of the information processing apparatus 10 of Figure 1 in order to optimally ensure reliability of the power supply. By way of further example, the information processing device 10 and / or the information processing device 20 may be implemented as a twin screen package comprising a first display screen and a second display screen arranged to be viewed from different directions. That is, the first display screen and the second display screen may be arranged at an angle to one another. The use of such a twin screen package may advantageously provide sufficient space for, e.g., an optional auxiliary power supply, in the space defined between the first display screen in the second display screen. Furthermore, the use of such a twin screen package may allow the solar panel to be provided on a surface of the twin screen package perpendicular to the two screens and facing the sky. This may advantageously allow sufficient upward facing surface area to be provided for both a solar panel and, if required, a keypad without compromising the display area. Accordingly, an information processing apparatus for sailboat may be provided that combines h a large efficient solar panel facing the sky and containing a highly power-optimized electronic circuit so that the power available even in low-light conditions is sufficient to operate the electronics . Although detailed embodiments have been described, they only serve to provide a better understanding of the invention defined by the independent claims, and are not to be seen as limiting.

Claims

An information processing apparatus for a sailboat.comprising:a global satellite system navigation, GNSS, section configured to receive GNSS signals;a control section configured to determine a position of the sailboat based on the received GNSS signals; anda solar power supply section configured to collect solar power and to supply power to the GNSS section and the control section,wherein the control section is configured to control supply of power by the solar power supply section.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control section is configured to:measure a value indicative of the collected solar power; andcontrol the supply of power by the solar power supply section based on the measured value.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the control section is configured to:determine at least one of a position of the sailboat, a rate of change of the position of the sailboat, a heading of the sailboat, and a rate of change of the heading of the sailboat; andcontrol the supply of power by the solar power supply section based on the determined at least one of the position of the sailboat, the rate of change of the position of the sailboat, the heading of the sailboat, and the rate of change of the heading of the sailboat.

4. The information processing apparatus according to anypreceding claim, wherein the control section is configuredto control the supply of power by controlling the power consumption of the information processing apparatus.

5. The information apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the information processing apparatus further comprises a display unit,wherein the control section is configured to control the power consumption of the information processing apparatus by controlling an update rate of the display unit.

6. The information apparatus according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the control section is configured to control the power consumption of the information processing apparatus by at least one of:controlling a clocking speed of at least one circuit of the GNSS section;controlling a rate at which the determined position of the sailboat is updated; andcontrolling a rate at which at least one sensor of the information processing apparatus is monitored.

7. The information processing apparatus according to any of claims 4 to 6, wherein the control section is configured to control the power consumption of the information processing apparatus by controlling the GNSS section to disable the at least one additional function of the GNSS section.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the at least one additional function of the GNSS section comprises at least one of:a gyroscopic stabilization function; anda dual-band GNSS function.

9. The information processing apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising an auxiliary power supply section,wherein the control section is configured to control the supply of power by controlling the auxiliary power supply section to supply power to the GNSS section and / or the control section.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the auxiliary power supply is rechargeable, andwherein the solar power supply section is configured to supply power to charge the auxiliary power supply section.

11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising an output section configured to output at least one of:a first notification indicating that the auxiliary power supply section is being charged; anda second notification indicating that the auxiliary power supply section is fully charged.

12. The information processing apparatus according to any of claims 9 to 11, wherein the auxiliary power supply section is inductively chargeable.

13. The information processing apparatus according to any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the auxiliary power supply is configured to continuously supply power to a real time clock function of the information processing apparatus.

14. An information processing apparatus for a sailboat, comprising:a solar panel configured to output a power supply voltage; andan output section configured to perform at least one function for generating and outputting navigation information,wherein the output section is configured to receive the power supply voltage from the solar panel; andwherein an output power of the solar panel is at least 50 times a power consumption of the output section.

15. The information processing apparatus of claim 14, wherein the navigation information comprises a heading of the sailboat.

16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 14 or claim 15, further comprising:a voltage regulator configured to regulate the power supply voltage received by the output section; ora maximum power point tracking, MPPT, DC-DC voltage converter.

17. The information processing apparatus according to any of claim 14 to 16, wherein an open circuit voltage of the solar panel is at least 1.8 times the power supply voltage.

18. The information processing apparatus according to any of claims 14 to 17, wherein the solar panel is arranged such that a light-absorbing surface of the solar panel faces the sky when the information processing apparatus is arranged in the sailboat.

19. The information processing apparatus according to any of claims 14 to 18, further comprising an auxiliary power supply section comprising a power source, the power source being a rechargeable power source,wherein the auxiliary power supply section is configured to receive the power supply voltage as a charging voltage from the solar panel; andwherein the output section is configured to receive the power supply voltage and to receive an output voltage of the rechargeable power source as a second power supply voltage .

20. The information processing apparatus according to any of claims 14 to 18, further comprising an auxiliary power supply section comprising a power source, the power source being at least one primary coil cell.

21. The information processing apparatus according to any of claims 14 to 20, further comprising:a control section configured to control supply of solar power to the output section.

22. The information processing apparatus of claim 21, wherein the control section is configured to control the supply of solar power to the output section by:measuring a value indicative of solar power collected by the solar panel, andcontrolling the supply of solar power to the output section based on the measured value.

23. The information processing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the control section comprises a measurement circuit including:a shunt resistor connected between the solar panel and the output section;a measurement resistor ladder;a first switch configured to connect the measurement resistor ladder to a first side of the shunt resistor; anda second switch configured to connect the measurement resistor ladder to a second side of the shunt resistor, andwherein the control section is configured to measure, as the value, a current output by the solar panel by controlling to successively close the first switch and thesecond switch in order to measure a voltage on either side of the shunt resistor.

24. The information processing apparatus according any of claims 21 to 23, as dependent on claim 19 or claim 20, further comprising:a switch configured to prevent, in a case where the switch is open, the output section receiving the output voltage of the power source,wherein the control section is configured to detect a failure of the power source; andwherein the control section is configured to control the supply of solar power to the output section by controlling to open the switch in a case where a failure of the power source is detected.

25. The information processing apparatus according to any of claims 21 to 24, wherein the control section is configured to:determine at least one of a position of the sailboat, a rate of change of the position of the sailboat, a heading of the sailboat, and a rate of change of the heading of the sailboat; andcontrol the supply of solar power to the output section based on the determined at least one of the position of the sailboat, the rate of change of the position of the sailboat, the heading of the sailboat, and the rate of change of the heading of the sailboat.

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