Universal signal processing system and method

• US 9,917,502 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2015
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delta Systems Inc.
• Original Assignee: Delta Systems Inc.
• Inventors: McMahon, Michael, Kirbawy, Isaac
• Primary Examiner(s): Laxton, Gary L
• Application Number:
  US14/950,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20160226369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/228 Warning displays
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/02 Circuit arrangements for generating control signals
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0848 with means for detecting successful engine start, e.g. to stop starter actuation
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0003 Details of control, feedback or regulation circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/14 Arrangements for reducing ripples from dc input or output
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/219 in a bridge configuration

Abstract

One aspect of the present disclosure can include an electronic signal processing system and method used in a control system (e.g., for hour meter functionality, intelligent start/stop functionality, etc.). The system can include a rectifier component to receive a voltage input from an operation source during use. The voltage input can indicate that an engine is running. The rectifier component to convert the voltage input to a positive voltage input. The system can also include a constant current component to receive the positive voltage input from the rectifier circuit and to control a current based on the positive voltage input. The system can also include an optical component to provide an output based on the current and to communicate the output to a microcontroller during use of the operation source. For example, electronic signal processing methods and apparatuses are also described.

Claims

1. An control system comprising:

an electronic signal processing system configured to convert a plurality of voltage input types to an output type comprising;

a rectifier component to receive a voltage input from an operation source of a power equipment device during use of the power equipment device, the voltage input indicating an engine of the power equipment device is running, and to convert the voltage input to a positive voltage input, wherein the voltage input is one of the plurality of voltage input types;

a constant current component to receive the positive voltage input from the rectifier circuit and to control a current based on the positive voltage input;

an optical component to provide an output signal of the output type based on the current; and

a microcontroller to perform a functionality related to control of the engine of the power equipment device during the use of the operation source based on the output signal.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the optical component comprises:

a light emitting diode (LED) to receive the current and to emit light based on the current; and

an optical detector to detect the light emitted by the LED and to communicate the output signal based on the light emitted by the LED to the microcontroller during use of the operation source of the power equipment machine.

3. The control system of claim 2, wherein the optical component isolates a battery ground from the constant current component and the LED.

4. The control system of claim 1, further comprising a filter component coupled to the electronic signal processing system to remove noise from the output signal that is communicated to the microcontroller.

5. The control system of claim 1, wherein the rectifier component comprises a bridge rectifier circuit comprising a plurality of diodes.

6. The control system of claim 1, wherein the constant current component comprises a Zener diode, at least two resistors, and at least one transistor.

7. The control system of claim 1, wherein the operation source comprises at least one of an electronic fuel pump, an electronic fuel injector, a magneto, and a signal from an electronic control unit.

8. The control system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of voltage input types comprises a positive high voltage, a negative high voltage, a positive low voltage, and a negative low voltage.

9. The control system of claim 1, wherein the voltage input is at least one of a pulsed voltage or a constant voltage.

10. A method comprising:

receiving, at a rectifier component of an electronic signal processing system, a voltage input from an operation source of a power equipment device during use of the power equipment device, the voltage input indicating an engine of the power equipment device is running, wherein the electronic signal processing system is configured to convert a plurality of voltage input types to an output type, and wherein the voltage input is one of the plurality of voltage input types;

converting, by the rectifier component, the voltage input to a positive voltage input;

controlling, by a constant current component of the electronic signal processing system, a current provided to an optical component of the electronic signal processing system based on the positive voltage input;

providing, by the optical component, an output signal of the output type based on the current; and

communicating, by the optical component, the output signal to a microcontroller during use of the operation source,

wherein the microcontroller performs a functionality related to control of the engine of the power equipment device in response to receiving the output signal.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the communicating further comprises:

receiving, by a light emitting diode (LED) of the optical component, the current;

emitting, by the LED, light based on the current;

detecting, by an optical detector of the optical component, the light emitted by the LED; and

providing, by the optical detector, the output signal based on the light emitted by the LED.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising isolating, by the optical component, a battery ground from the constant current component.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising removing, by a filter component of the electronic signal processing system, noise from the output that is communicated to the microcontroller.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the voltage input comprises a negative voltage or a positive voltage.

15. An electronic signal processing device comprising:

a rectifier component to receive a voltage input from an operation source of a power equipment device during use of the power equipment device, the voltage input indicating an engine of the power equipment device is running, and to convert the voltage input to a positive voltage input, wherein the electronic signal processing device is configured to convert a plurality of voltage input types to an output type, and wherein the voltage input is one of the plurality of voltage input types;

a constant current component to receive the positive voltage input from the rectifier circuit and to control a current based on the positive voltage input; and

an optical component to provide an output signal of the output type based on the current and to communicate the output to a microcontroller during the use of the operation source,

wherein the microcontroller performs a functionality related to control of the engine of the power equipment device based on the output signal.

16. The electrical signal processing device of claim 15, wherein the rectifier component comprises a bridge rectifier circuit comprising a plurality of diodes.

17. The electrical signal processing device of claim 15, wherein the constant current component comprises a Zener diode, at least two resistors, and at least one transistor.

18. The electrical signal processing device of claim 15, wherein the optical component comprises:

a light emitting diode (LED) to receive the current and emits light based on the current; and

an optical detector to detect the light emitted by the LED and to send the output signal based on the light emitted by the LED to the microcontroller during the use of the operation source.

19. The electrical signal processing device of claim 18, wherein the optical component isolates a battery ground from the intersection between the constant current component and the LED.

20. The electrical signal processing device of claim 15, wherein the voltage input types comprise a positive high voltage, a negative high voltage, a positive low voltage, and a negative low voltage.