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.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
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.
13 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