Serious Controller Ideas

[archiver]

Posted by Joe Johnson, Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.

Posted on 5/15/99 7:22 PM MST


In Reply to: Serious Controller Ideas posted by Joe Johnson on 5/15/99 7:02 PM MST:



I know that veterans will say this is a step backwards, but I beg to differ.

I envision a bunch of relay modules similiar to the Innovation FIRST Victors.

Power and motor leads would be exactly like the Victors.

I would suggest that a tri-color LED be used to indicate the state of the input signals (again, like what is done on the Victors).

Annother idea would be to have the fuses built right into the relay module (but let's make them circuit breakers instead, okay?)


The FWD/REV/OFF state would be controlled by either optically isolated digital IO or perhaps even using a PWM channel.

The Digital IO method would be simpler to implement (both inside the Relay Module and also on the RX board), but I sort of like the idea that all the motors would be controlled the same way (00 = REV, 254 = FWD, 127 = OFF)

Perhaps the clever folks at Innovation FIRST would make both types of inputs available.


My main reason for requesting the remote relay modules is that it would totally remove high current applications from the RX board.

In addition, high current relays could be used, allowing ALL motors to be run with relays rather than just the seat, window and Globe motors.

The reason I like this is that it would be a step in the right direction.

One of the trickier bits of the FIRST board to duplicate is that high current area. Getting the high current stuff in a package off the main board will get us that much closer to an 'off the shelf' controller.

Comments.

Joe J.