Abstract: A remote control device can be provided in a watercraft equipped with at least three outboard motors for operating the outboard motors by remote control. The remote control device can have a pair of shift levers and can be provided with a detection device for detecting positions of the shift levers. A remote control-side ECU can control the outboard motors 11 by signals from the detection device. The remote control-side ECU can include a plurality of ECUs corresponding to the outboard motors. The detection device can include a plurality of detection devices for the outboard motors disposed on the sides of the stern of a hull and one for the outboard motor disposed between the side outboard motors. Each of the detection devices can be connected to a respective one of the remote control-side ECUs.

Abstract: An watercraft can include a steering unit including a steering member and a steering shaft, a propulsion system, a power output control mechanism for controlling the power output to the engine, a manually operated power output adjusting mechanism for adjusting the power output control mechanism, the power output adjusting mechanism being mounted on the steering wheel unit.

Abstract: A shift cutout control system is provided that can comprise a shift mechanism, an engine electronic control unit, a remote controller, and an ignition control means. The shift mechanism can switch a rotation of a propeller shaft into one of a neutral, forward, and reverse drive state. The propeller shaft can be driven by an output power of an engine. The engine electronic control unit can control a drive state of the engine. The remote controller can transmit a control signal to the engine electronic control unit to achieve a target drive state. The ignition control means can initiate an ignition cutout in the engine when an operating position signal from a lever position detector indicates that a control lever is in a neutral position and a shift position signal from a shift position detector indicates that a shift position is not in neutral.

Abstract: A remote control system for controlling a propulsion unit of a watercraft includes a plurality of remote controller side ECUs, all of which have the same construction in one embodiment. Each remote controller side ECU includes ECU discriminating terminal sections and an ECU determining section for determining a role of each remote controller side ECU based upon signals provided by the ECU discriminating terminal sections. The ECU determining section determines a role of the particular remote controller side ECU based upon the signals provided by the ECU discriminating terminal sections when the remote controller side ECU starts operating. The ECU determining section also reads out the most proper one of first through sixth exclusive use sections, which define the function of the ECU's role. A determination result is stored in first, second and third EPROMs so as to be used to determine the role.

Abstract: In a drawing method, all information on a pattern to be drawn on a drawing surface, represented by first vector-graphic data of a drawing-coordinate-system, is transmitted to an exposure drawing apparatus having a plurality of optical modulation elements. The first vector-graphic data is converted to second vector-graphic data of an exposing-coordinate-system that conforms to the exposure drawing apparatus, and the second vector-graphic data is converted to raster-graphic data of the exposing-coordinate-system. Finally, the drawing surface is multi-exposed for drawing the pattern, based on the raster-graphic data to control the exposure by the optical modulation elements.

Abstract: An electronic control device on an internal combustion engine side connected to an abnormal internal combustion engine detects an abnormality and outputs the abnormal signal; the target throttle opening angle signal is transmitted to the electric throttle actuator to set a throttle opening angle of an abnormal internal combustion engine to a predetermined opening angle; the abnormal signal is transmitted to the electronic control devices on a remote control device side of a normal internal combustion engine; and the electronic control devices on a remote control device side of a normal internal combustion engine, on receiving the abnormal signal, transmit the target throttle opening angle signal to the electronic control devices on an internal combustion engine side of a normal internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A remote control apparatus for controlling multiple propulsion units of a boat is provided. The remote control apparatus, in one embodiment, comprises a body having a first control lever and a second control lever. An electronic control unit is disposed within the body of the remote control apparatus and comprises a storage device and a contact member. The storage device can store a correction value for claibrating the control levers, while the contact member determines when correction values can be entered into the storage device when the contact member is in an enabled state. The remote control apparatus can be calibrated before the apparatus is installed on the boat, thereby eliminating the need for an operator to calibrate the remote control apparatus. A boat having the remote control apparatus described herein and a method for storing a calibration value for the control lever are also provided.

Abstract: A remote control unit can be used for a boat having a plurality of propulsion units to perform output adjustment and tilt/trim angle adjustment of the propulsion units. Operating levers can be capable of forward and backward rotational movement to effect shift operation and throttle operation of the propulsion units and can be respectively provided upright on a left side surface and right side surface of a body. A plurality of tilt/trim angle adjustment switches can correspond to respective propulsion units and can be provided at positions where they can be operated with fingertips of a hand resting on a palm portion of a top surface of the body with the fingertips pointing generally forward. The palm portion of the top surface can be free of switches.

Abstract: A remote control device for controlling a watercraft propulsion device of a watercraft having an engine that generates propulsive power can have a plurality of remote control device side ECUs. All of the plurality of remote control device side ECUs can have the same construction. Each remote control device side ECU can have an ECU discriminating terminal section, an ECU determining section configured to determine a role of the respective remote control device side ECU based upon a signal provided from the ECU discriminating terminal section, and an exclusive use section configured to operate based upon a signal provided from the ECU determining section to execute a function corresponding to the role that is specifically assigned.

Abstract: An outboard motor control system can have a first PTT switch and a second PTT switch in a first steering station and in a second steering station respectively, and a third PTT switch in a location outside of a boat hull. Operation instruction given by each PTT switch can be input to a first microcomputer of a first ECU. The first microcomputer can determine if the inputted operation instruction is to be sent to the outboard motor, based on which PTT switch the operation instruction came from, whether the main switch is ON or OFF, and which steering station has precedence in boat control.

Abstract: An outboard motor of a watercraft can include a shifting mechanism for performing gear shifting among forward, neutral, and reverse positions. A shift actuator can be configured to drive the shifting mechanism. A shift position sensor can be configured to detect a position of the shift actuator with respect to the forward, neutral, and reverse positions. A controller can be configured to control the shift actuator in accordance with a signal provided from the shift position sensor. A start-regulation circuit can have a plurality of semiconductor devices configured to deactivate a starting motor of the engine when a starting switch of the engine is turned on in a state where a position other than neutral is detected by the shift position sensor.

Abstract: A shift device for a boat is operated by a shift lever. Movement of the shift lever causes movement of a mechanical actuator. The device comprises means for detecting the positions of the shift lever at specified time intervals and means for obtaining by calculation an estimated time at which the shift lever will reach an operation end position based on the data from the means for detecting. Means for controlling the drive speed of the actuator also are provided. The shift device corresponds the completion of shift lever movement to the completion of shifting by timing the actuator movement to encourage shifting at the time the shift lever is anticipated to stop movement.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a pattern has a light-modulating unit, a scanner, a pattern data processor, a light modulating controller, a position-error detector, and a correction value calculator. The pattern data processor generates band-pattern data corresponding to each scanning band on the basis of pattern data matching a preceding pattern that is repeatedly and regularly formed on the photo-sensitive material. The position-error detector detects a position-error of the preceding pattern relative to a pattern area. The correction value calculator calculates an alignment correction value in each pattern area on the basis of the position-error, so as to overlay the pattern on the preceding pattern. The pattern data processor corrects the band-pattern data in accordance with the alignment correction value while classifying each exposure data of the band-pattern data into a corresponding pattern area.

Abstract: A remote control operation unit can have a remote control shift lever through which a boat operator can remotely select between forward, neutral, and reverse drive modes. A boat propulsion unit can have a shift switching device for shifting and a shift actuator for operating the shift switching device. A controller can be configured to control the operation of the shift actuator in response to the operation amount of the remote control shift lever. The controller can also be configured to control the shift actuator such that the shift actuator achieves a first target position that is a position beyond a reference position (N target) of the shift actuator where a dog clutch is in the middle of a neutral range, when the remote control shift lever has been shifted from either a forward position or a reverse position to a neutral position.

Abstract: A control method can be provided for a watercraft that has three or more outboard motors mounted thereon side by side with each other. Two control levers which are primarily provided for shift and throttle controls of respective two of the outboard motors located on the outer-most sides make shift and throttle controls of all the outboard motors. A control range of the respective control levers includes a forward range, a reverse range and a neutral range between the forward and reverse ranges. The method can include, when both of the control levers are placed at a preset position in the respective neutral ranges, setting a shift position of an outboard motor located between the outer-most sides at a forward position or a reverse position, and setting a throttle opening of the outboard motor at a preset opening.

Abstract: A boat can be provided with an electrically controlled outboard motor, or other type of propulsion unit, for producing thrust according to an operation of a remote control unit provided in a hull of the boat. The remote control ECU which can output a remote control operation signal can be provided in the remote control unit. An engine ECU which can receive the remote control operation signal and control the outboard motor, can be provided in the outboard motor. The remote control unit and the outboard motor can have respective connectors directly connected to each other via a DBW CAN cable.

Abstract: A watercraft includes a remote control device disposed on a side of a hull for maneuvering the watercraft, and a plurality of outboard motors disposed on a side of a stem of the hull for generating thrust under control of the remote control device. A remote control body of the remote control device encloses a plurality of first remote control side ECUs for controlling the respective outboard motors. The respective first remote control side ECUs are connected to each other through an ECU communication line enclosed in the remote control body and the respective first remote control side ECUs communicate operational information.

Abstract: A boat can include batteries, a generator, a remote control unit provided in a hull, and an outboard motor controlled through the remote control unit so as to generate thrust. The batteries and the generator can be connected to the remote control unit and the outboard motor via power supply cables. The remote control unit and the outboard motor can be connected via drive by wire controller area network (“DBW CAN”) cables . At least two systems of power supply cables and at least two systems of DBW CAN cables can also be provided.

Abstract: A watercraft is controllable by either a main station or a substation. A main-side remote control device is disposed in the main station. A sub-side remote control device is disposed in the substation. An outboard motor for generating propulsion force is controlled by the main-side remote control device or the sub-side remote control device. The sub-side remote control device is connected to the main-side remote control device by wiring, and the main-side remote control device is connected to the outboard motor by a network.

Abstract: A power supply system for a watercraft propulsion device which ensures stable power supply to operating devices in the watercraft propulsion device. The power supply system for a watercraft propulsion device preferably includes an operating-system drive control circuit for driving and controlling operating mechanisms in the watercraft propulsion device and a battery for supplying power to the operating mechanisms via a power source circuit. The power source circuit preferably includes a plurality of separate independent batteries that are connected to the power source circuit, and a power supply control circuit is provided to supply power to the operating mechanisms using one of the batteries to be selected according to both battery conditions.