Abstract: A marine vessel control system comprises a propulsion unit and a steering actuator for steering the propulsion unit. There is a shift actuator for shifting gears in the propulsion unit and a throttle actuator for increasing or decreasing throttle to the propulsion unit. There is an input device for providing user inputted steering commands to the steering actuator and for providing user inputted shift and throttle commands to the shift actuator and the throttle actuator. There is a sensor for detecting a global position and a heading direction of the marine vessel. A controller receives position and heading values of the marine vessel from the sensor. The controller compares the received position value to a pre-programmed position value to determine a position error difference. The controller also compares the received heading value to a pre-programmed heading value to determine a heading error difference.

Abstract: There is provided a mounting assembly for a marine vessel having a pair of stern-mounted propulsion units. The assembly includes a pair of angle-setting members which forwardly angle the propulsion units towards a bow of the marine vessel when each propulsion unit is at the center of its total steering range. Each propulsion unit has a line of action of its propulsion force. The lines of action of the propulsion units intersect each other between a center of rotation of the marine vessel and a stern of the marine vessel when the propulsion units are steered forwardly towards each other.

Abstract: An electric actuator comprises a housing and an output shaft reciprocatingly received by the housing. There is a screw assembly disposed within the housing and coupled to the output shaft. The screw assembly includes a plurality of annular rollers and a central screw received by the annular rollers. The annular rollers are rotatable about the central screw. There is a motor which includes a stator and a rotor. The rotor has an inner bore which engages the annular rollers. Rotation of the rotor causes the central screw to translate axially relative to the rotor and the output shaft to reciprocate relative to the housing.

Abstract: An electric actuator comprises a housing and an output shaft reciprocatingly received by the housing. There is a screw assembly disposed within the housing and coupled to the output shaft. The screw assembly includes a plurality of annular rollers and a central screw received by the annular rollers. The annular rollers are rotatable about the central screw. There is a motor which includes a stator and a rotor. The rotor has an inner bore which engages the annular rollers. Rotation of the rotor causes the central screw to translate axially relative to the rotor and the output shaft to reciprocate relative to the housing.

Abstract: An electric actuator comprises a housing and an output shaft reciprocatingly received by the housing. There is a screw assembly disposed within the housing and coupled to the output shaft. The screw assembly includes a plurality of annular rollers and a central screw received by the annular rollers. The annular rollers are rotatable about the central screw. There is a motor which includes a stator and a rotor. The rotor has an inner bore which engages the annular rollers. Rotation of the rotor causes the central screw to translate axially relative to the rotor and the output shaft to reciprocate relative to the housing.

Abstract: There is provided a mounting assembly for a marine vessel having a pair of stern-mounted propulsion units. The assembly includes a moo pair of angle-setting members which forwardly angle the propulsion units towards a bow of the marine vessel when each propulsion unit is at the center of its total steering range. Each propulsion unit has a line of action of its propulsion force. The lines of action of the propulsion units intersect each other between a center of rotation of the marine vessel and a stern of the marine vessel when the propulsion units are steered forwardly towards each other.

Abstract: A method of adjusting engine throttle in an electronic shift and throttle system comprises determining a position of a control lever which allows an operator to manually control throttle functions. A throttle command is calculated based on the position of the control lever. The throttle command is adjusted in response to an input received from an input means. The position of the control lever remains constant as the throttle command is being adjusted.

Abstract: A steering apparatus includes a rotatable steering shaft having an exterior, an input end for connecting a steering member and an output end for connecting to at least one steerable wheel of a vehicle. An electric motor is operatively connected to the steering shaft for rotating the steering shaft. The shaft is magnetized and serves as a torque sensor transducer. At least one magnetic field sensor is adjacent to the exterior of the steering shaft. The steering shaft and the at least one magnetic field sensor form a torque sensor for sensing torque applied to the steering shaft by the manually operable steering member and provide a signal to operate the electric motor to assist steering of the steering shaft by the manually operable steering member.

Abstract: The present invention relates a tilt and trim sensor apparatus having a housing and a shaft rotatably mounted to the housing. The apparatus includes a magnet connected to one of the housing and the shaft. The apparatus includes a transducer connected to another of the housing and shaft. The transducer is disposed adjacent to the magnet for sensing the position of the magnet and is operable to generate an output representative of an angular position of the magnet. The apparatus has a microprocessor for sensing gauge display input requirements. The apparatus has output circuitry for outputting a signal based on the output of the transducer that is in accordance with the gauge display input requirements.

Abstract: There is provided a linear actuator. The linear actuator has a mounting member. The linear actuator has an output member constrained to move linearly with respect to the mounting member along a linear axis. The linear actuator includes a motor assembly pivotally mounted on the mounting member. The motor assembly has a pivotal actuator member which is pivotally connected to the output member. The motor assembly is capable of moving the output member along the linear axis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a start-protection system for an engine of a marine vessel. The engine has gears and a shift actuator for operatively shifting the gears. The system includes a first position sensor disposed to operatively sense whether the engine is in a forward, neutral or a reverse gear position. The first position sensor generates a signal representative of the gear position. The system includes a second position sensor adjacent to a shift control which controls shift functions of the engine. The second position sensor generates a signal representative of the position of the shift control. The system includes processing means. The processing means are configured to receive the signals of the position sensors, determine the gear position and the position of the shift control and enable the engine to start upon determining that both the shift control and the engine are in neutral positions.

Abstract: A rotary actuator comprises a housing with an output shaft extending from the housing. There is a magnet disposed on the output shaft and the output shaft is coupled to an actuator arm. A motor rotates the output shaft. A position sensor mounted on a circuit board determines the position of the output shaft based on the position of the magnet. A position of the actuator arm may be determined based on the rotating position of the output shaft.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a start-protection system for an engine of a marine vessel. The engine has gears and a shift actuator for operatively shifting the gears. The system includes a first position sensor disposed to operatively sense whether the engine is in a forward, neutral or a reverse gear position. The first position sensor generates a signal representative of the gear position. The system includes a second position sensor adjacent to a shift control which controls shift functions of the engine. The second position sensor generates a signal representative of the position of the shift control. The system includes processing means. The processing means are configured to receive the signals of the position sensors, determine the gear position and the position of the shift control and enable the engine to start upon determining that both the shift control and the engine are in neutral positions.

Abstract: A rotary actuator comprises a housing with an output shaft extending from the housing. There is a magnet disposed on the output shaft and the output shaft is coupled to an actuator arm. A motor rotates the output shaft. A position sensor mounted on a circuit board determines the position of the output shaft based on the position of the magnet. A position of the actuator arm may be determined based on the rotating position of the output shaft.

Abstract: The present invention relates a tilt and trim sensor apparatus having a housing and a shaft rotatably mounted to the housing. The apparatus includes a magnet connected to one of the housing and the shaft. The apparatus includes a transducer connected to another of the housing and shaft. The transducer is disposed adjacent to the magnet for sensing the position of the magnet and is operable to generate an output representative of an angular position of the magnet. The apparatus has a microprocessor for sensing gauge display input requirements. The apparatus has output circuitry for outputting a signal based on the output of the transducer that is in accordance with the gauge display input requirements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a linear actuator. The linear actuator has a mounting member. The linear actuator has an output member constrained to move linearly with respect to the mounting member along a linear axis. The linear actuator includes a motor assembly pivotally mounted on the mounting member. The motor assembly has a pivotal actuator member which is pivotally connected to the output member. The motor assembly is capable of moving the output member along the linear axis.

Abstract: A method of adjusting engine throttle in an electronic shift and throttle system comprises determining a position of a control lever which allows an operator to manually control throttle functions. A throttle command is calculated based on the position of the control lever. The throttle command is adjusted in response to an input received from an input means. The position of the control lever remains constant as the throttle command is being adjusted.

Abstract: An electric power steering control system for a vehicle that has a steering device coupled by a steering assembly to at least one tire steered by the steering device. The control system controls a current in a motor for generating torque applied to the steering assembly. The control system comprises a feed-forward component that generates a torque target signal representative of the torque applied by the motor to the steering assembly. The torque target signal is proportional to a multiplication of a steering torque from the steering device. There is also a sensor component that senses the motor current and provides a motor current signal. A motor control component receives the torque target signal and the sensed motor signal. The motor current signal is driven towards a value wherein the torque target signal is equal to a multiplication factor of the motor current signal.

Abstract: A steering apparatus includes a rotatable steering shaft having an exterior, an input end for connecting a steering member and an output end for connecting to at least one steerable wheel of a vehicle. An electric motor is operatively connected to the steering shaft for rotating the steering shaft. The shaft is magnetized and serves as a torque sensor transducer. At least one magnetic field sensor is adjacent to the exterior of the steering shaft. The steering shaft and the at least one magnetic field sensor form a torque sensor for sensing torque applied to the steering shaft by the manually operable steering member and provide a signal to operate the electric motor to assist steering of the steering shaft by the manually operable steering member.

Abstract: A hydraulic steering system comprises two hydraulic actuators, each having two actuator ports. There is a helm for steering the system in a first direction and a second direction. The helm is operatively connected to a helm pump. The helm is operatively connected to a first actuator port and a second actuator port. There is a power hydraulic steering pump hydraulically connected to a third of the actuator ports and a fourth of the actuator ports. There is a sensor capable of detecting steering of the system. The sensor is operatively connected with the power steering pump such that the power steering pump pumps hydraulic fluid towards the third of the actuator ports when the helm is steered in the first direction and pumps hydraulic fluid towards the fourth of the actuator ports when the helm is steered in the second direction.