Control system and method of operating a control system
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a machine having a first device and a second device, using a single pin from a control device, the method comprising;
- generating a drive signal having a frequency parameter and a duty cycle parameter,wherein the first device is responsive to the frequency parameter and the second device is responsive to the duty cycle parameter;
determining whether or not a fault condition in the machine exists, andif a fault condition exists, setting the duty cycle parameter of the drive signal to a first duty cycle value and applying the drive signal to the single pin, andif no fault is detected, setting the duty cycle parameter of the drive signal to a second duty cycle value and applying the drive signal to the single pin.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic control unit suitable for a motorcycle provides diagnostic support, tachometer drive and warning lamp drive all multiplexed onto one pin and driven by a single driver circuit. In a diagnostics mode, the pin is connected to diagnostic equipment. When a diagnostic test has been completed, a tachometer drive signal is output on the pin, the drive signal having a duty cycle set high enough to illuminate the warning lamp if a fault condition is detected by on-board sensors. By combining multiple functions onto a single pin with a single driver circuit, the cost of implementing an engine control unit may be reduced compared with existing arrangements which require separate pins and drivers for each function.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a machine having a first device and a second device, using a single pin from a control device, the method comprising;
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generating a drive signal having a frequency parameter and a duty cycle parameter, wherein the first device is responsive to the frequency parameter and the second device is responsive to the duty cycle parameter; determining whether or not a fault condition in the machine exists, and if a fault condition exists, setting the duty cycle parameter of the drive signal to a first duty cycle value and applying the drive signal to the single pin, and if no fault is detected, setting the duty cycle parameter of the drive signal to a second duty cycle value and applying the drive signal to the single pin. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A control device for controlling a machine, having a first device and a second device, and for providing multiple control functions on a single pin of the control device,
wherein the control device comprises a controller arranged to generate a drive signal, having a frequency parameter and a duty cycle parameter; -
wherein the first device is responsive to the frequency parameter and the second device is responsive to the duty cycle parameter; wherein the controller is arranged to detect a fault condition; and wherein the drive signal has a duty cycle parameter which is varied depending on whether or not the fault condition is detected. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification