Watercraft

In a watercraft, a storage device stores area information including position information regarding a specified area. A controller compares a current position of a watercraft main body obtained by a global navigation satellite system receiver to the position information related to the specified area. The controller controls the watercraft main body in accordance with a normal mode when the current position of the watercraft main body is within the specified area. The controller controls the watercraft main body in accordance with a limited mode in which at least a portion of a plurality of functions of the watercraft main body are limited in comparison with the normal mode when the current position of the watercraft main body is not within the specified area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a watercraft including a global navigation satellite system (hereinafter referred to as “GNSS”).

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, it has been proposed that a watercraft be provided with a receiver device for a GPS or other GNSS. For example, Laid-open Japanese Patent Application Publication 11-43093 discloses a small watercraft having a GPS antenna installed on a deck member.

Regulations regarding watercraft vary depending on the country and/or region. For example, regulations regarding the amount of harmful substances contained in exhaust gas do not exist in some countries or regions and amounts to which harmful emissions are restricted vary from country to country and region to region. Consequently, manufacturers manufacture watercrafts to different specifications depending on the destinations where they intend to sell the watercrafts and, in each country or region, they sell watercrafts manufactured to specifications compliant with the regulations of that particular country or region. However, once a watercraft has been introduced into the market, the watercraft is sometimes exported to a country or region other than the destination the manufacturer intended. In such a case, the watercraft ends up being used in a country or region having regulations with which the watercraft does not comply.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the present invention prevent and suppress the occurrence of watercrafts being used in countries or regions having regulations with which the watercrafts do not comply.

A watercraft according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a watercraft main body, a GNSS receiver, a storage device, and a controller. The GNSS receiver is installed on the watercraft main body and receives position information regarding the watercraft main body. The storage device stores area information including position information related to a specified area. The controller compares a current position of the watercraft main body obtained by the GNSS receiver to the position information related to the specified area. The controller controls the watercraft main body in accordance with a normal mode when the current position of the watercraft main body is within the specified area. The controller is configured to control the watercraft main body in accordance with a limited mode in which at least a portion of a plurality of functions of the watercraft main body are limited in comparison with the normal mode when the current position of the watercraft main body is not within the specified area.

With a watercraft according to the present preferred embodiment of the present invention, the watercraft main body is controlled in the normal mode when the watercraft main body is positioned within the specified area. Meanwhile, the watercraft is controlled in the limited mode when the watercraft is positioned outside the specified area. Thus, by storing area information in which a destination for which the watercraft is intended is provided as the specified area, at least a portion of the functions of the watercraft main body will be limited when the watercraft is used in an area outside the intended destination. In this way, the occurrence of watercrafts being used in countries or regions having regulations with which the watercrafts do not comply can be prenveted and suppressed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A watercraft according to preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1is a sectional view showing an overall configuration of a watercraft100according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2is a block diagram showing a control system of the watercraft100. The watercraft100preferably is a so-called personal watercraft (PWC), for example. The watercraft100includes a watercraft main body1shown inFIG. 1and an ECU10(engine control unit) shown inFIG. 2.

As shown inFIG. 1, the watercraft main body1includes a hull body2, an engine3, and a jet propulsion unit5. The hull body2includes a deck2aand a hull2b. An engine room2cis provided inside the hull body2. The engine3and a fuel tank6are housed inside the engine room2c. A seat7is attached to the deck2a. The seat7is arranged above the engine3. A steering mechanism8that steers the hull body2is arranged in front of the seat7.

The engine3preferably is, for example, an inline, four-cylinder, four-stroke engine. The engine3includes a crankshaft31. The crankshaft31is arranged to extend in a longitudinal direction. As shown inFIG. 2, the watercraft main body1includes a starter motor21, a fuel injection device22, a throttle valve23, and an ignition device24. The starter motor21starts the engine3. The fuel injection device22is configured to inject fuel into a combustion chamber of the engine3. An amount of air-fuel mixture delivered to the combustion chamber is adjusted by varying an opening degree of the throttle valve23. The ignition device24ignites fuel inside the combustion chamber. Although not depicted inFIG. 2, a fuel injection device22and an ignition device24are provided on each cylinder of the engine3. In this preferred embodiment, a common throttle valve23is provided with respect to all of the cylinders of the engine3. however, it is acceptable if a separate throttle valve23is provided with respect to each of the cylinders of the engine3.

The jet propulsion device5is driven by the engine3and draws in water from around the hull body2and shoot the water out. As shown inFIG. 1, the jet propulsion unit5includes an impeller shaft50, an impeller51, an impeller housing52, a nozzle53, a deflector54, and a reverse bucket55. The impeller shaft50is arranged to extend rearward from the engine room2c. A frontward portion of the impeller shaft50is coupled to the crankshaft31through a coupling portion33. A rearward portion of the impeller shaft50passes through a water suction portion2eof the hull body2and out through the inside of the impeller housing52. The impeller housing52is connected to a rearward portion of the water suction portion2e. The nozzle53is arranged rearward of the impeller housing52.

The impeller51is attached to a rearward portion of the impeller shaft50. The impeller51is arranged inside the impeller housing52. The impeller51rotates together with the impeller shaft50and draws in water from the water suction portion2e. The impeller51shoots the drawn water rearward from the nozzle53. The deflector54is arranged rearward of the nozzle53. The deflector54is configured to change a movement direction of water shot from the nozzle53to a leftward or a rightward direction. The reverse bucket55is arranged rearward of the deflector54. The reverse bucket55is configured to change the movement direction of water shot from the nozzle53and diverted by the deflector54to a frontward direction.

As shown inFIG. 2, the watercraft main body includes such operating members as a start operation member41, a throttle operation member42, a shift operation member43, and an assistance function operation member44. The operating members are configured to be operated by an operator. The start operation member41is used to start the engine3. The start operation member41is, for example, a start switch. The throttle operation member42is used to increase or decrease a rotational speed of the engine3. The throttle operation member42increases and decreases the rotational speed of the engine3by varying an opening degree of the throttle valve23. The throttle operation member42is, for example, a throttle lever. The shift operation member43changes between forward propulsion and reverse propulsion of the watercraft main body1. The shift operation member43changes between forward propulsion and reverse propulsion of the watercraft main body1by varying a position of the reverse bucket55. The shift operation member43is, for example, a shift lever. The assistance function operation member44is, for example, an operating member to change between execution and termination of an assistance function. Examples of an assistance function operation member44include a no-wake mode switch and a cruise control switch. The assistance function will be explained later.

The ECU10controls the engine3. The ECU10is an example of a controller according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. When the start operation member41is operated, the ECU10drives the starter motor21and the engine3starts. The watercraft main body1includes a speed sensor45and an engine speed sensor46, as shown in FIG.2., preferably as well as other sensors not shown in the figures, for example. The speed sensor45detects a speed of the watercraft main body1. The engine speed sensor46detects a rotational speed of the engine3. The other sensors include, for example, sensors to detect an external air temperature, a water temperature, and an oil temperature. The ECU10controls the engine3based on information detected by these sensors.

The ECU10executes an assistance function in response to an operation of the aforementioned operation members. Examples of an assistance function include a reverse control, a no-wake mode, and a cruise control. The reverse control is a control configured to control the engine3such that the rotational speed of the engine3does not exceed a prescribed rotational speed when the watercraft main body1is propelled in reverse by the reverse bucket55. The ECU10executes the reverse control when the shift operation member43is arranged in a reverse propulsion position. The no-wake mode is a control configured to execute a low-speed travelling state while maintaining a predetermined engine rotational speed. The ECU10executes the no-wake mode when a no-wake mode switch is turned on. The cruise control is a control configured to hold the engine at a rotational speed that existed when an operating member (cruise control switch) was operated. The ECU10executes the cruise control when a cruise control switch is turned on.

As shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the watercraft main body1includes an indicating device47. The indicating device47presents information related to the watercraft100. The indicating device47preferably is, for example, a liquid crystal monitor.FIG. 3is an example of an indicating device47. InFIG. 3, the indicating device47is depicted indicating all of the content that can be indicated simultaneously. The indicating device47includes a first indicating portion61, a second indicating portion62, and a third indicating portion63. The first indicating portion61indicates a speed of the watercraft main body1and a rotational speed of the engine3. More specifically, the first indicating portion61switches between displaying an analog speedometer and an analog tachometer.

The second indicating portion62includes a digital speedometer64and an hour/voltage indicating portion65. The digital speedometer64indicates a speed of the watercraft main body1in a digital format. When one of the aforementioned assistance functions is executed, the digital speedometer64indicates the speed in a flashing manner to inform an operator that the assistance function is being executed. The hour/voltage indicating portion65switches between indication of a cumulative operating time of the engine3and a voltage of a battery. The second indicating portion62also displays a fuel gauge66and a variety of warning lamps67ato67e. The fuel gauge66indicates an amount of fuel remaining. The warning lamps67ato67einclude a remaining fuel amount warning67a, an overheat warning67b, a check engine warning67c, a catalytic converter warning67d, and an oil warning67e. The remaining fuel amount warning67ailluminates when the amount of fuel remaining is low. The overhead warning illuminates when an engine temperature has become excessively high. The check engine warning67cilluminates when a sensor failure, a severed sensor connection, or other abnormality is detected. The catalytic converter warning67dilluminates when a temperature of a catalytic converter (not shown) serving to clean an exhaust gas discharged from the engine3has become excessively high. The oil warning67eilluminates when a pressure of an engine oil has become excessively low.

The third indicating portion63is configured to selectively indicate a variety of information regarding the watercraft main body1. Specifically, the third indicating portion63is configured to switch between states of displaying, for example, an average speed, an elapsed time, and a traveled distance. The third indicating portion63also indicates a direction in which the watercraft main body1is moving. More specifically, the third indicating portion63displays such words as “NORTH,” “EAST,” “SOUTH,” “WEST,” “N-EAST,” “S-EAST,” “N-WEST,” and “S-WEST.” The third indicating portion also indicates such information as an external air temperature, a water temperature, and a fuel consumption rate.

As shown inFIG. 2, the watercraft main body1includes a GNSS receiver68and a storage device69. The GNSS receiver68receives position information related to the watercraft main body1. The storage device69is configured to store area information including position information related to a specified area. More specifically, the area information includes a GNSS coordinate system indicating a specified area. For example, as shown inFIG. 4, a specified area A1is a destination for which the watercraft100is intended. In other words, the specified area A1is a sales region where the watercraft100is scheduled to be used. The ECU10is configured to compare a current position of the watercraft main body1obtained by the GNSS receiver68to the position information of the specified area A1. The ECU10controls the watercraft main body1in accordance with a normal mode when the current position of the watercraft main body1is within the specified area A1. The ECU10controls the watercraft main body1in accordance with a limited mode when the current position of the watercraft main body1is not within the specified area A1. In the limited mode, the ECU10limits at least a portion of the functions of the watercraft main body in comparison with the normal mode. At least one of the function limitations (1) to (4) explained below is imposed during the limited mode. It is also acceptable if all of the function limitations (1) to (4) are imposed or if a combination of a portion of the function limitations (1) to (4) is imposed.

(1) Prohibition of Starting the Engine3

In the limited mode, the ECU10prohibits starting the engine3. The start prohibition of the engine3is accomplished by, for example, not driving the starter motor21. The start prohibition of the engine3can also be accomplished by stopping the fuel injection device22from injecting fuel. The start prohibition of the engine3can also be accomplished by limiting an amount of fuel injected by the fuel injection device22to an amount that is too small to enable the engine3to be started. The start prohibition of the engine3can also be accomplished by stopping the ignition device24from igniting. The start prohibition of the engine3can also be accomplished by limiting a throttle opening degree of the throttle valve23to an opening degree that is too small to enable the engine3to be started.

(2) Limitation of an Assistance Function

Although the assistance functions explained previously can be used in the normal mode, the ECU10limits the actuation of assistance functions in the limited mode. For example, in the limited mode, the ECU10does not start the cruise control even if the cruise control switch is depressed. Or, in the limited mode, the ECU10does not execute reverse control even if the shift operation member43is arranged in the reverse propulsion position. Or, in the limited mode, the ECU10does not start the no-wake mode even if the no-wake mode switch is depressed.

(3) Limitation of Engine Performance

In the limited mode, the ECU10limits the rotational speed of the engine3such that the rotational speed of the engine3does not exceed a prescribed rotational speed. The limitation of the rotational speed of the engine3is accomplished by, for example, not allowing the amount of fuel injected by the fuel injection device22to exceed a prescribed amount. The limitation of the rotational speed of the engine3can also be accomplished by offsetting an ignition timing at which the ignition device24executes ignition from an ignition timing used in the normal mode. The limitation of the rotational speed of the engine3can be accomplished by limiting a number of times the ignition device24ignites. That is, the limitation of the rotational speed of the engine3can be accomplished by reducing a number spark ignitions executed by the ignition device24to a smaller number than is executed in the normal mode. Furthermore, the limitation of the number of ignitions can be accomplished by not executing an ignition at any of one or more cylinders or by reducing the number ignitions executed at any of one or more cylinders. The limitation of the rotational speed of the engine3can also be accomplished by not allowing the opening degree of the throttle valve23to exceed a prescribed opening degree.

In the limited mode, it is also acceptable if the ECU10limits a speed of the watercraft100such that the speed does not exceed a prescribed speed. The limitation of the speed of the watercraft100is accomplished by, for example, not allowing the amount of fuel injected by the fuel injection device22to exceed a prescribed amount. The limitation of the speed of the watercraft100can also be accomplished by offsetting an ignition timing at which the ignition device24ignites from an ignition timing used in the normal mode. The limitation of the speed of the watercraft100can also be accomplished by limiting a number of times the ignition device24ignites. The limitation of the speed of the watercraft100can also be accomplished by not allowing the opening degree of the throttle valve23to exceed a prescribed opening degree.

(4) Limitation of Content Indicated on the Indicating Device47

In the limited mode, the ECU10does not display at least a portion of the items displayed on the indicating device47during the normal mode. Examples of items not displayed during the limited mode include the analog speedometer and the analog tachometer of the first indicating portion61and the digital speedometer64of the second indicating portion62. It is also acceptable for the items not displayed during the limited mode to be the indicators serving to inform an operator that an assistance function is being executed. In such a case, during the limited mode, the digital speedometer64will not flash even if the assistance function is being executed. It is also acceptable for the items not displayed during the limited mode to be the information displayed on the third indicating portion63. In such a case, during the limited mode, an average speed, an elapsed time, a traveled distance, a direction of the watercraft main body1, an external air temperature, a water temperature, a fuel consumption rate, etc., are not indicated on the third indicating portion63.

The ECU10is configured to display warning indications warning of abnormalities of the watercraft main body1even if the limited mode is in effect. Thus, even in the limited mode, the warning lamps67ato67eare displayed when an abnormality occurs in the watercraft100.

The ECU10is configured to compare a current position of the watercraft main body1obtained by the GNSS receiver68to the position information of the specified area A1when the start operation member41is operated. The ECU10then determines whether to control the watercraft main body1in the normal mode or the limited mode. While the watercraft main body1is being operated, the ECU10maintains the current operating mode, i.e., does not change the control mode, even if the current position of the watercraft main body1changes from a position inside the specified area A1to a position outside the specified area A1or from a position outside the specified area A1to a position inside the specified area A1.

As shown inFIG. 2, the watercraft main body1includes a notifying device70to urge caution to an operator. In the limited mode, the ECU10controls the notifying device70to notify an operator that the current position of the watercraft main body1is outside the specified area A1. The notifying device70is configured to emit a sound to urge caution to an operator. In the limited mode, the ECU10is controls the notifying device70to constantly emit the sound. The constant sound emission mentioned here does not exclude a buzzer sound or other sound emitted intermittently, for example. It is also acceptable if the notifying device70is configured to display a warning indication on the indicating device47instead of emitting a sound. It is also acceptable if the notifying device is configured to both emit a sound notification and display a warning indication.

A watercraft100according to this preferred embodiment is controlled in the normal mode when the watercraft100is positioned inside the specified area A1. Meanwhile, the watercraft100is controlled in the limited mode when the watercraft100is positioned outside the specified area A1. Thus, when the watercraft100is used in an area other than an intended destination, at least a portion of the functions of the watercraft100are limited. In this way, use of the watercraft100in countries or regions having regulations with which the watercraft does not comply is suppressed and prevented.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment described above. Various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Although the watercraft100presented in the preceding preferred embodiment preferably is a personal watercraft, it is acceptable for a watercraft according to various preferred embodiments of the present invention to be a sport boat. A watercraft according to various preferred embodiments of the present invention is preferably a small watercraft, such as a water jet propulsion watercraft, for example. The indicating device is not limited to a liquid crystal monitor and it is acceptable for the indicating device to be a device configured to present information using another method. The displayed items and layout of the indicating device are not limited to the displayed items and layout of the previously explained indicating device47and it is acceptable for them to be changed.

In the previously explained preferred embodiment, the ECU10is configured to compare a current position of the watercraft main body1obtained by the GNSS receiver68to the position information of the specified area A1when the start operation member41is operated. However, it is acceptable for the ECU10to continuously execute a determination of whether to control the watercraft main body1in the normal mode or the limited mode while the watercraft main body1is being operated. In such a case, while the watercraft main body1is being operated, the ECU10changes the current operating mode if the current position of the watercraft main body1changes from a position inside the specified area A1to a position outside the specified area A1or from a position outside the specified area A1to a position inside the specified area A1.

It is acceptable if, as shown inFIG. 5A, the area information includes position information related to a secondary specified area A2that is different from the specified area A1. In such a case, the ECU10controls the watercraft main body1in accordance with a first limited mode when the current position of the watercraft main body1is within the secondary specified area A2. In the first limited mode, at least a portion of the functions of the watercraft main body1are limited in comparison with the normal mode. Meanwhile, the ECU10controls the watercraft main body1in accordance with a second limited mode when the current position of the watercraft main body1is within neither the specified area A1nor the secondary specified area A2. In the second limited mode, the functions of the watercraft main body1are limited even more than in the first limited mode. For example, the number of limited items is larger in the second limited mode than in the first limited mode. It is also acceptable if a degree of limitation is larger in the second limited mode than in the first limited mode. More specifically, the limitation could be strengthened in stages as the watercraft main body1moves farther away from the specified area A1, i.e., the intended destination. For example, it is acceptable that the limitation is set such that the aforementioned assistance functions are limited in the first limited mode and starting the engine is prohibited in the second limited mode. It is also acceptable that the limitation is set such that the rotational speed of the engine3is limited in the first limited mode and starting the engine is prohibited in the second limited mode.

It is acceptable if, as shown inFIG. 5B, the area information includes position information related to a limited speed area A3that is contained in the specified area A1. In such a case, the ECU10controls the engine3such that a speed of the watercraft main body1does not exceed a prescribed speed limit when the current position of the watercraft main body1is within the limited speed area A3. It is also acceptable if the ECU10controls the engine3such that the rotational speed of engine does not exceed a prescribed rotational speed limit when the current position of the watercraft main body1is within the limited speed area A3. Additionally, it is also acceptable if a plurality of limited speed areas A3are contained within the specified area A1shown inFIG. 5A.