Digital Direction Display for Trolling Motor
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Trolling motors often rely on complex mechanical linkages for direction indication, which are difficult to waterproof and prone to mechanical failure, lacking a reliable and user-friendly solution for displaying direction and additional information.
Innovation Solution
A trolling motor assembly equipped with a position sensor, digital display, speed sensor, motor sensor, and battery sensor, powered by the watercraft or trolling motor batteries, providing a waterproof and user-friendly interface for direction, speed, motor output, battery charge, and operating mode information, with optional features like autopilot and navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical linkages (cable, ribbon, or other mechanical components) are used to indicate direction, then the direction indicator rotates with the trolling motor shaft, but the system becomes complex, difficult to waterproof, and prone to mechanical failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical linkage system (cables, ribbons, mechanical components) with an electronic sensing and display system. A position sensor detects the angular position of the trolling motor shaft, and a digital display shows the direction information electronically, eliminating mechanical linkages entirely and resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy of the direction indication function. Instead of mechanically transmitting the shaft's rotational position through physical linkages, the system uses a position sensor to detect the shaft position and generates a digital representation of this position that is displayed on a screen, replacing the mechanical copying process with an electronic one
2Reliability
If mechanical linkages are used for direction indication, then the indicator follows the shaft rotation, but the system is difficult to waterproof and subject to mechanical failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes mechanical components with electronic components that can be easily sealed and protected from water. The position sensor and digital display system requires no mechanical linkages that extend into the water environment, making waterproofing straightforward and eliminating the vulnerability of mechanical parts to water damage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the direction indication function from the mechanical drive system. By separating the sensing function (position sensor on the shaft) from the display function (digital display on the housing), the system eliminates the need for mechanical components that bridge the water boundary, simplifying waterproofing requirements
Data Source
AI summary
A trolling motor is provided including a position sensor configured to determine the direction of the trolling motor housing, a digital display, a processor, and a memory including computer program code. The computer program code is configured to, when executed, cause the processor to receive position data from the position sensor, generate display data based on the position data, and cause the display data to be displayed on the digital display. The digital display is integrated with the main housing and configured to display the display data so as to provide an indication of the current direction of the trolling motor housing relative to the watercraft.