Patent ID: 7538511

Claim:
A modular trolling motor system comprising: a trolling motor; a trolling motor communication bus; and a plurality of modules connected to the trolling motor communication bus and capable of transmitting and receiving data over the trolling motor communication bus relating to control of operation of the trolling motor, the modules including: a motor controller module for controlling operation of the electric trolling motor based upon data received over the bus, wherein the motor controller module controls at least one of steering and speed of the electric trolling motor; and a user interface module for receiving user inputs for controlling the trolling motor; wherein each module includes a bus connector to allow it to be connected to the bus; wherein the bus is a serial data bus; wherein electrical power is supplied to modules through the bus connectors; wherein the motor controller module acts as a network master to periodically request data from other modules connected to the bus; and wherein the network master maintains a listing of modules connected to the bus, and wherein each module has a unique address on the bus.