Outboard Motor Actuator Shift Feedback Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Outboard motors with electric actuators lack operational feedback, making it difficult for vessel operators to recognize shift changes and detect failures in the transmission mechanism, such as shift disengagement, which can lead to malfunctions during navigation.
Innovation Solution
An outboard motor system that includes an actuator operated by a user, with an operation position detection unit, a shift position detection unit, and an actuator detection unit, all connected to a control unit that processes detection information to perform failure determination and drive control, allowing for real-time monitoring and control of the shift state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an electric actuator is used for shift switching, then ease of operation is improved, but operational feedback and reliability are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multiple feedback mechanisms including operation position detection (detecting where the user moves the lever), shift position detection (detecting actual gear position), and actuator detection (monitoring actuator state). The control unit continuously compares these feedback signals to determine if shift operations completed successfully and to detect failures such as shift disengagement during navigation.
2Ease of operation
If an electric actuator is used for shift switching, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multiple feedback mechanisms including operation position detection (detecting where the user moves the lever), shift position detection (detecting actual gear position), and actuator detection (monitoring actuator state). The control unit continuously compares these feedback signals to determine if shift operations completed successfully and to detect failures such as shift disengagement during navigation.
3Reliability
If multiple detection units are added, then reliability is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it processes detection information from all three detection units, performs failure determination by comparing operation position with actual shift position, controls actuator operation for shift switching, and monitors for shift disengagement during navigation. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise be separate systems into a single integrated control unit.
Data Source
AI summary
An outboard motor that has an actuator and a gear change mechanism. The outboard motor also comprises an operation position sensor that detects the operation position of an operation part, a shift position detection unit that detects the actual shift position of the gear shift mechanism, an actuator detection unit that detects the state of the actuator, and a control device. The control device performs failure determination or drive control of the actuator on the basis of at least two pieces of the detected information.