Adaptable electronic control unit interface

Abstract

The invention relates to an adaptable electronic control unit interface. The electronic control includes a housing and an interface extending across the housing. A circuit board disposed in the housing includes a frequency input pin operatively coupled with the interface and an analog input pin operatively coupled with the interface. The first conductive trace is operatively coupled with the frequency input pin. The second conductive trace is operatively coupled with the analog input pin. A microcontroller is mounted on the circuit board and includes a selectively configurable input operatively coupled with at least one of the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace. The microcontroller is configured to process at least one of a frequency signal received via the frequency input pin and an analog signal received at the analog input pin.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to adaptable and configurable interfaces for electronic control units (ECUs) and related devices, systems and processes. Background Art

[0002] Electronic control units (ECUs) may be provided in applications such as vehicle systems, engine systems, power generation systems, and other industrial equipment or systems. ECU design faces several constraints and limitations including on configurability, adaptability, and flexibility to support a variety of applications and features, as well as limitations on input / output (I / O) pins, mechanical package size, PCB density, and other constraints and limitations. There remains a significant need for the unique apparatus, process, and system of the present disclosure. Summary of the invention

[0003] For the purpose of clearly, concisely and precisely describing the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the manner and process of making and using the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, and to enable the practice, making and use of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to certain exemplary embodiments, including the embodiments illustrated in the various figures, and specific language will be used to describe the exemplary embodiments. However, it should be understood that no limitation of the scope of the present invention is thereby created, and the present invention includes and protects such changes, modifications and further applications of the exemplary embodiments as would occur to a person skilled in the art.

[0004] Some embodiments include apparatus including a configurable ECU interface. Some embodiments include unique processes involving a configurable ECU interface. Some embodiments include unique systems including a configurable ECU interface. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram depicting certain aspects of an example prime mover system in an example operating environment.

[0006] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram depicting certain aspects of an example electronic control system.

[0007] Figure 3 is a flow chart describing certain aspects of an example system configuration process.

[0008] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram depicting certain aspects of an example sensor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] refer to Figure 1, illustrates an example system 100 that includes a prime mover system 110 (also referred to herein as system 110) and at least a portion of one or more loads 109. System 100 can be provided in several forms, including, for example, in the form of a vehicle or vehicle drive train (e.g., a highway vehicle or highway vehicle drive train or an off-highway vehicle or off-highway vehicle drive train), a work machine or a work machine drive train, a generator set or a generator set drive train, or a hydraulic fracturing rig or a hydraulic fracturing rig drive train, to name a few non-limiting examples. It should be appreciated that system 100 may include several other components that will occur to those skilled in the art with the benefit and insight of this disclosure.

[0010] In the illustrated example, the system 110 is configured and provided as an internal combustion engine system, including an intake air treatment system 112, an engine 114, an exhaust system 116, a fuel system 158, and an electronic control system 130. It should be appreciated that the system 110 may include several other components that will occur to one of skill in the art with the benefit and insight of this disclosure. In other example embodiments, the system 110 may be configured and provided as another type of prime mover system, such as, for example, a hybrid combustion engine-electric prime mover system, a battery electric prime mover system, a fuel cell prime mover system, or another type of prime mover system.

[0011] The intake air treatment system 112 may include one or more air handling ducts, air filters, compressors (such as the compressor of a turbocharger or supercharger), coolers (such as a supercharger air cooler, which may be, for example, an air-to-air type or an air-to-liquid type, an intercooler, and / or an aftercooler), and sensors (such as temperature sensors, pressure sensors, mass flow sensors, and other types of sensors), among other components.

[0012] The engine 114 can be provided in several forms, and typically includes a cylinder block and a cylinder head coupled to the cylinder block, the cylinder block including a plurality of cylinders. The cylinder head typically includes an intake port, an intake valve configured to selectively open and close the intake port, an exhaust port, an exhaust valve configured to selectively open and close the exhaust port, an injector hole, a fuel injector disposed in the injector hole, a spark plug hole, and a spark plug disposed in the spark plug hole. A plurality of pistons can be provided in corresponding cylinders in a plurality of cylinders. A crankshaft can be coupled to a plurality of pistons and configured to translate the reciprocating motion of a plurality of pistons to provide a torque for driving one or more loads 109, and the load 109 can include an internal load of the system 110 (such as an oil pump, a valve mechanism, a fuel pump, and other loads of the engine 114, and an accessory load of the system 110). It should be appreciated that the system 110 may include several other components that would be expected by those skilled in the art with the benefit and insight of the present disclosure.

[0013] The exhaust system 116 may include one or more exhaust treatment conduits, a turbine (such as a turbine of a turbocharger), after-treatment components (such as an oxidation catalyst, certain filters, a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst, and / or other catalysts and after-treatment components), and sensors (such as temperature sensors, pressure sensors, oxygen or lambda sensors, mass flow sensors, and other types of sensors), among other components.

[0014] Fuel system 158 may be configured and provided as a high pressure common rail fuel injection system including a plurality of fuel injectors in fluid communication with a common fuel rail that supplies fuel to the plurality of fuel injectors at a relatively high pressure. Fuel may be supplied to the common fuel rail by a high pressure pump that in turn may be supplied by a relatively low pressure fuel circuit including a boost pump that may be immersed in a tank containing a fuel storage tank.

[0015] The ECS 130 preferably includes one or more programmable microcontrollers of a solid-state, integrated circuit type and one or more non-transitory memory media configured to store instructions executable by the one or more microcontrollers. For the purposes of this application, the term microcontroller should be understood to also cover microprocessors and other types of integrated circuit processors. The ECS 130 is in operational communication with sensors or controllers of the intake air treatment system 112, the engine 114, the exhaust system 116, and the fuel system 158, and can be adapted and configured to control the operation of and / or receive input from sensors or controllers of the intake air treatment system 112, the engine 114, the exhaust system 116, and the fuel system 158. The ECS 130 is in operational communication with one or more system sensors 102 of the system 100, and can be adapted and configured to control the operation of and / or receive input from one or more system sensors 102 of the system 100, which can include, for example, a throttle position sensor or an accelerator position sensor. It should be appreciated that Figure 1 The control relationships between the aforementioned components are conceptually depicted using dashed arrows, and may be implemented using various communication hardware and protocols, such as one or more controller area networks (CAN) or other communication components.

[0016] ECS130 can be implemented in any of several ways, which combine or distribute control functions across one or more control units in various ways. ECS130 can execute operational logic that defines various control, management and / or regulation functions. The operational logic can be in the form of dedicated hardware, such as a hard-wired state machine, an analog computing machine, programming instructions and / or different forms that a person skilled in the art would think of. ECS130 can be provided as a single component or a collection of operationally coupled components; and can be composed of digital circuits, analog circuits, or a mixed combination of these types. When in a multi-component form, ECS130 can have one or more components that are remotely located relative to other components in a distributed arrangement. ECS130 may include multiple processing units that are arranged to operate independently, operate in a pipeline processing arrangement, operate in a parallel processing arrangement, etc. It should be further appreciated that ECS130 and / or any of its constituent components may include one or more signal conditioners, modulators, demodulators, arithmetic logic units (ALUs), central processing units (CPUs), limiters, oscillators, control clocks, amplifiers, signal conditioners, filters, format converters, communication ports, clamps, delay devices, memory devices, analog-to-digital (A / D) converters, digital-to-analog (D / A) converters, and / or various circuits or components as would occur to one of skill in the art to perform the desired communications.

[0017] Figure 1 100 , an operating environment 99 is also depicted. As described above, during typical operation of the system 100, ambient air 91 of the operating environment 99 is received as an input to the system 100, and treated exhaust 93 from the system 100 is released to the operating environment 99. In some embodiments, one or more loads 109 may at least partially comprise a portion of the operating environment 99. For example, in embodiments in which the system 100 is provided in the form of a generator set or a generator set drive train, in addition to load components that are an integral part of the system 100 even if they are small, the one or more loads 109 may include loads at various nodes in the distributed power network. As another example, in embodiments in which the system 100 is provided in the form of a vehicle or a vehicle drive train, in addition to load components that are an integral part of the system 100 even if they are small, the one or more loads 109 may include forces such as wind, gravity, road friction, and other environmental load components.

[0018] refer to Figure 2, illustrates an example implementation of the ECS 130. In the illustrated example, the ECS 130 includes an electronic control unit (ECU) 210. The ECU 210 includes a housing 212 and an ECU interface 217 (also referred to herein as the interface 217). The housing 212 surrounds and encloses an ECU interior 214 that contains a plurality of electronic control components. The interface 217 extends across the housing 212 and includes a plurality of interface pins 207 that are conductively accessible at an exterior 204 of the housing 212 and conductively accessible at an interior 214 of the housing 212.

[0019] A circuit board 215 is contained within the housing 212. The circuit board 215 is operatively coupled to the input signal conditioning circuit 220 and the microcontroller 250, and may also be operatively coupled to other input and output signal circuits and other integrated circuits and discrete components. The input signal conditioning circuit 220 may include a plurality of conductive traces that may be integrally formed with the circuit board 215 (e.g., using deposition, etching, lamination, machining, masking, photoresist, and / or other formation techniques) and operatively coupled to the circuit board 215 through such integral formation. The input signal conditioning circuit 220 may also include a plurality of discrete circuit components that may be mounted or attached to the circuit board (e.g., by surface mounting, through-hole mounting, or other attachment techniques) and thereby operatively coupled to the circuit board 215. The microcontroller 250 may be mounted or attached to the circuit board 215 (e.g., by surface mounting, through-hole mounting, or other attachment techniques) and thereby operatively coupled to the circuit board 215.

[0020] The input signal conditioning circuit 220 is operatively coupled to one interface pin 207a of the plurality of interface pins 207 of the ECU interface 217, and is also operatively coupled to an analog input pin 253 of the microcontroller 250 and a frequency input pin 254 of the microcontroller 250. The interface pin 207a may be selectively operatively coupled to the sensor 107 via the connector 119 of the wiring harness 117, and they are Figure 1 Although depicted in an operably coupled state, it should be appreciated that the wiring harness 117 may also be decoupled from the interface pins 207a.

[0021] The input signal conditioning circuit 220 of the circuit board 215 includes a conductive trace 221 that is operatively coupled to the interface pin 207a via the circuit board input terminal 219 and is operatively coupled to ground through a first resistor-capacitor (RC) network 229 that includes a capacitor 224 and a resistor 226. The capacitor 224 is operatively coupled to the conductive trace 221 and to ground and is configured to provide electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection to the input signal conditioning circuit 220. It should be appreciated that the configuration of a capacitor disclosed herein, such as capacitor 224 and other capacitors disclosed herein, refers to its capacitance value, and may also refer to other electrical characteristics, such as voltage rating or current rating, and physical characteristics, such as temperature rating and size, as well as other characteristics.

[0022] Resistor 226 is operatively coupled to conductive trace 221 and ground, and is configured in a pull-down configuration to provide a default reference voltage for input signal conditioning circuit 220. In other embodiments, resistor 226 may be operatively coupled to conductive trace 221 and a voltage source, and may be configured in a pull-up configuration to provide a default reference voltage for input signal conditioning circuit 220. It should be appreciated that the configuration of a resistor, such as resistor 226 and other resistors disclosed herein, refers to its resistance value, and may also refer to other electrical characteristics, such as voltage rating or current rating, and physical characteristics, such as temperature rating and size, among other characteristics.

[0023] The input signal conditioning circuit 220 includes a conductive trace 241, which is operatively coupled to the conductive trace 221 through an RC network 249 and is operatively coupled to a frequency input pin 254 of the microcontroller 250. The RC network 249 includes a resistor 246 and a capacitor 244. The resistor 246 is operatively coupled to the conductive trace 221 and the conductive trace 241. The capacitor 244 is operatively coupled to the conductive trace 241 and to ground. The resistor 246 and the capacitor 244 are configured to provide low pass filtering to the input signal provided to the frequency input pin 254. The resistor 246 is also configured to provide input current limiting to the frequency input pin 254 of the microcontroller 250.

[0024] The input signal conditioning circuit 220 includes a conductive trace 231, which is operatively coupled to the conductive trace 221 through an RC network 239 and is operatively coupled to an analog input pin 253 of the microcontroller 250. The RC network 239 includes a resistor 236 and a capacitor 234. The resistor 236 is operatively coupled to the conductive trace 221 and the conductive trace 231. The capacitor 234 is operatively coupled to the conductive trace 231 and ground. The conductive trace 23 is also operatively coupled to the analog input pin 253 of the microcontroller 250. The resistor 236 and the capacitor 234 are configured to provide low pass filtering to the input signal provided to the analog input pin 253. The resistor 236 is also configured to provide input current limiting to the analog input pin 253 of the microcontroller 250.

[0025] The sensor 107 may be configured and provided in the form of a frequency output sensor or an analog output sensor. In some embodiments, the sensor 107 may include a throttle position sensor or an accelerator pedal position sensor. Figure 4 As illustrated in , the frequency output sensor 507 can be configured to provide a frequency output 527 that is proportional to the position of the component 517 monitored by the sensor 507. In the illustrated example, the component 517 is configured and provided as an angle-adjustable component whose angular position (θ) is variable and the frequency output is proportional to the angular position (θ). It should be appreciated that in other embodiments, other position variables as well as other non-position sensing variables can be sensed by the sensor 507.

[0026] like Figure 4 As further illustrated in FIG. 6 , the analog output sensor 607 can be configured to provide an analog output 627 proportional to the position of the component 617 monitored by the sensor 607. In the illustrated example, the component 617 is configured and provided as an angle-adjustable component whose angular position (θ) is variable and the analog output 627 (in the illustrated embodiment, an analog voltage v) is proportional to the angular position (θ). It should be appreciated that in other embodiments, other position variables as well as other non-position sensing variables can be sensed by the sensor 607.

[0027] The microcontroller 250 may be configured to process at least one of a frequency signal received via the frequency input pin 254 and an analog signal received at the analog input pin 253. For example, the calibration 252 may be stored in a non-transitory memory of the microcontroller 250 or associated with the microcontroller 250 and may be configured to cause the microcontroller 250 to process one of the frequency signal and the analog signal.

[0028] refer to Figure 3, illustrates an example system configuration process 300 (also referred to herein as process 300) that may be performed by or in connection with an electronic control system (such as ECS 130) or another electronic control system, such as microcontroller 250 or another microcontroller. Process 300 initiates at start operation 302 and proceeds to operation 304, which reads one or more microcontroller calibrations, such as calibration 252 or another microcontroller calibration.

[0029] From operation 304, process 300 proceeds to conditional 306, which evaluates whether the analog calibration is set, for example, whether the calibration read at operation 304 is configured to cause the microcontroller to process and operate using analog inputs, such as the analog inputs received at analog input pin 253. If conditional 306 evaluates to positive, process 300 proceeds to operation 308.

[0030] At operation 308, the microcontroller performs an analog input check. For example, operation 308 may include the microcontroller otherwise controlling a system such as system 100 so that, in the case of a properly functioning system, an analog input is received at an analog input pin such as analog input pin 253, and operating the microcontroller to detect and process such input. From operation 308, process 300 proceeds to condition 310.

[0031] Condition 310 evaluates whether the analog input check passes, e.g., whether the microcontroller receives the analog input and / or whether the microcontroller receives the expected value of the analog input. If condition 310 evaluates to positive, process 300 proceeds to operation 312, which sets the analog input condition to active. From operation 312, process 300 proceeds to end operation 390, and may be subsequently repeated or called.

[0032] If condition 310 evaluates to negative, process 300 proceeds to operation 314, which sets simulated input error to true. From operation 312, process 300 proceeds to end operation 390 and may be subsequently repeated or called. In some embodiments, process 300 may alternatively proceed from operation 314 to operation 318.

[0033] If condition 306 evaluates to negative, process 300 proceeds to condition 316, which evaluates whether the frequency calibration is set, for example, whether the calibration read at operation 304 is configured to cause the microcontroller to process and operate using the frequency input received at frequency input pin 254. If condition 316 evaluates to negative, process 300 proceeds to operation 326, which sets the calibration error condition equal to true. From operation 326, process 300 proceeds to end operation 390, and can be subsequently repeated or called.

[0034] If condition 316 evaluates to positive, process 300 proceeds to operation 318. At operation 318, the microcontroller performs a frequency input check. For example, operation 318 may include the microcontroller otherwise controlling a system such as system 100 so that, in the case of a properly functioning system, a frequency input is received at an analog frequency pin such as frequency input pin 254, and operating the microcontroller to detect and process such input. From operation 318, process 300 proceeds to condition 320.

[0035] Condition 320 evaluates whether the frequency input check passes, e.g., whether the microcontroller receives the frequency input and / or whether the microcontroller receives the expected value of the frequency input. If condition 320 evaluates to positive, process 300 proceeds to operation 322, which sets the frequency input condition to active. From operation 322, process 300 proceeds to end operation 390, and may be subsequently repeated or called.

[0036] If condition 320 evaluates to negative, process 300 proceeds to operation 324, which sets frequency input error to true. From operation 322, process 300 proceeds to end operation 390, and may be subsequently repeated or invoked.

[0037] If condition 306 evaluates to negative, process 300 proceeds to condition 316, which evaluates whether the frequency calibration is set, for example, whether the calibration read at operation 304 is configured to cause the microcontroller to process and operate using the frequency input received at frequency input pin 254. If condition 316 evaluates to negative, process 300 proceeds to operation 326, which sets the calibration error condition equal to true. From operation 326, process 300 proceeds to end operation 390, and can be subsequently repeated or called.

[0038] As illustrated by this detailed description, the present disclosure contemplates multiple embodiments including the following examples. A first example embodiment is an electronic control system comprising: an electronic control unit comprising a housing and an interface, the interface extending through the housing and comprising a plurality of interface pins accessible from the outside of the housing and configured to be conductively coupled to one or more connectors; a circuit board disposed in the housing and comprising a plurality of conductive traces; a microcontroller mounted on the circuit board and comprising an analog input pin and a frequency input pin; and an input signal conditioning circuit comprising a first conductive trace of the circuit board operatively coupled to a first pin of the plurality of interface pins and operatively coupled to ground via a first resistor-capacitor (RC) network, a second conductive trace operatively coupled to the first conductive trace via a second RC network and operatively coupled to the analog input pin of the microcontroller, and a third conductive trace operatively coupled to the first conductive trace via a third RC network and operatively coupled to the frequency input pin of the microcontroller; wherein the microcontroller is selectively configurable to process a frequency signal received at the frequency input pin via a first pin of the plurality of interface pins and the input signal conditioning circuit, and an analog signal received at the analog input pin via a first pin of the plurality of interface pins and the input signal conditioning circuit.

[0039] A second example embodiment includes the features of the first example embodiment, wherein the first RC network includes a first capacitor configured to provide electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection.

[0040] A third example embodiment includes the features of the first example embodiment, wherein the first RC network includes a first resistor configured to provide an input reference voltage detectable by the microcontroller.

[0041] A fourth example embodiment includes the features of the first example embodiment, wherein the second RC network comprises a low pass filter including a second resistor operatively coupled to the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace and a second capacitor operatively coupled to the second conductive trace and ground.

[0042] The fifth example embodiment includes the features of the first example embodiment, wherein the third RC network comprises a low pass filter including a third resistor operatively coupled to the first conductive trace and the third conductive trace and a third capacitor operatively coupled to the second conductive trace and ground.

[0043] A sixth example embodiment includes the features of the first example embodiment, wherein the microcontroller is selectively configurable to process the frequency signal or the analog signal in response to a calibration stored in a non-transitory memory medium.

[0044] A seventh example embodiment includes the features of the sixth example embodiment, wherein the microcontroller is configured to automatically test for the presence or absence of one of the frequency signal and the analog signal indicated by the calibration.

[0045] An eighth example embodiment is a process comprising: providing an electronic control unit comprising: a housing and an interface, the interface extending through the housing and comprising a plurality of interface pins accessible from the outside of the housing and configured to be conductively coupled to one or more connectors; a circuit board disposed in the housing and comprising a plurality of conductive traces; a microcontroller mounted on the circuit board and comprising an analog input pin and a frequency input pin, and an input signal conditioning circuit comprising a first conductive trace of the circuit board operatively coupled to a first pin of the plurality of interface pins and operatively coupled to ground via a first resistor-capacitor (RC) network, a second conductive trace operatively coupled to the first conductive trace via a second RC network and operatively coupled to the analog input pin of the microcontroller, and a third conductive trace operatively coupled to the first conductive trace via a third RC network and operatively coupled to the frequency input pin of the microcontroller; optionally configuring the microcontroller to process a frequency signal received at the frequency input pin via a first pin of the plurality of interface pins and the input signal conditioning circuit and an analog signal received at the analog input pin via a first pin of the plurality of interface pins and the input signal conditioning circuit; and selectively processing the frequency signal or the analog signal using the microcontroller.

[0046] A ninth example embodiment includes the features of the eighth example embodiment, including protecting the microcontroller from electrostatic discharge (ESD) using a first capacitor of the first RC network.

[0047] A tenth example embodiment includes the features of the eighth example embodiment, including providing a reference voltage to a microcontroller using a first resistor of a first RC network.

[0048] An eleventh exemplary embodiment includes the features of the eighth exemplary embodiment, including low pass filtering an input received at the first interface pin using a second RC network and providing the resulting filtered input to an analog input pin of a microcontroller.

[0049] A twelfth exemplary embodiment includes the features of the eighth exemplary embodiment, including low pass filtering the input received at the first interface pin using a third RC network and providing the resulting filtered input to a frequency input pin of the microcontroller.

[0050] The thirteenth exemplary embodiment includes the features of the eighth exemplary embodiment, including utilizing a microcontroller to process the calibration stored in the non-transitory memory medium to effectively configure the microcontroller to process the frequency signal or the analog signal.

[0051] A fourteenth example embodiment includes the features of the thirteenth example embodiment, including operating the microcontroller to test one of the frequency signal and the analog signal indicated by the calibration.

[0052] The fifteenth example embodiment is a device comprising: a circuit board comprising a plurality of conductive traces; a microcontroller mounted on the circuit board and comprising an analog input pin and a frequency input pin; and an input signal conditioning circuit comprising a first conductive trace of the circuit board operatively coupled to an input terminal of the circuit board and operatively coupled to ground via a first resistor-capacitor (RC) network, a second conductive trace operatively coupled to the first conductive trace via a second RC network and operatively coupled to the analog input pin of the microcontroller, and a third conductive trace operatively coupled to the first conductive trace via a third RC network and operatively coupled to the frequency input pin of the microcontroller; wherein the microcontroller is optionally configurable to process frequency signals and analog signals.

[0053] The sixteenth exemplary embodiment includes the features of the fifteenth exemplary embodiment, wherein the first RC network comprises is configured to provide electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection.

[0054] The seventeenth example embodiment includes the features of the fifteenth example embodiment, wherein the first RC network is configured to provide an input reference voltage detectable by the microcontroller.

[0055] An eighteenth example embodiment includes the features of the fifteenth example embodiment, wherein the second RC network is configured to provide low pass filtering of an input received at the input terminal and provided to the analog input pin.

[0056] A nineteenth example embodiment includes the features of the fifteenth example embodiment, wherein the third RC network is configured to provide low pass filtering of an input received at the input terminal and provided to the frequency input pin.

[0057] A twentieth example embodiment includes the features of the fifteenth example embodiment, wherein the microcontroller is selectively configurable to process the frequency signal or the analog signal in response to a calibration stored in the non-transitory memory medium.

[0058] The twenty-first example embodiment includes the features of the fifteenth example embodiment, including an electronic control unit comprising a housing and an interface, the interface extending through the housing and including a plurality of interface pins accessible from outside the housing and configured to be conductively coupled to one or more connectors; a circuit board contained in the housing and one of a plurality of input pins operatively coupled to a first pin of the plurality of interface pins.

[0059] It should be understood that terms such as "non-transitory memory," "non-transitory memory medium," and "non-transitory memory device" refer to several types of devices and storage media that can be configured to store information such as data and instructions that can be read or executed by a processor or other component of a computer system, and that such terms include and encompass a single or unitary device or medium that stores such information, multiple devices or media that store respective portions of such information across or between multiple devices or media, and multiple devices or media that store multiple copies of such information across or between multiple devices or media.

[0060] It should be understood that terms such as "determine," "determined," "determined," and the like, when utilized in connection with a control method or process, an electronic control system or controller, an electronic control, or components or operations of the foregoing, include, without limitation, operations or calculations of parameters or values, obtaining parameters or values ​​from a lookup table or using a lookup operation, receiving parameters or values ​​from a data link or network communication, receiving an electronic signal (e.g., a voltage, frequency, current, or pulse width modulated (PWM) signal) indicating a parameter or value, receiving an output of a sensor indicating a parameter or value, receiving other output or input indicating a parameter or value, reading a parameter or value from a memory location on a computer-readable medium, receiving a parameter or value such as a run-time parameter, and / or receiving a parameter or value that can be calculated to interpret a parameter, and / or by reference to a default value that is interpreted as a parameter value.

[0061] Although example embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the foregoing description, the same are considered to be illustrative and not restrictive in nature, and it should be understood that only certain example embodiments are shown and described, and it is desired to protect all changes and modifications within the spirit of the claimed invention. It should be understood that although the use of words such as better, more preferably, preferred, or more preferred utilized in the above description indicates that the features described in this way may be more desirable, it may not be necessary, and embodiments lacking the same features may be considered to be within the scope of the present invention, and the scope is defined by the following claims. In reading the claims, it is intended that when words such as "one", "an", "at least one", or "at least a portion" are used, unless specifically stated otherwise in the claim, it is not intended to limit the claim to only one item. When the language "at least a portion" and / or "a portion" is used, unless specifically stated otherwise, the item may include a portion and / or the entire item.

Claims

1. An electronic control system, comprising: an electronic control unit comprising a housing and an interface extending through the housing and comprising a plurality of interface pins accessible from an exterior of the housing and configured to conductively couple with one or more connectors; a circuit board disposed in the housing and comprising a plurality of conductive traces; a microcontroller mounted on the circuit board and comprising an analog input pin and a frequency input pin; and an input signal conditioning circuit comprising a first conductive trace of the circuit board operatively coupled to a first pin of the plurality of interface pins and operatively coupled to ground through a first resistor-capacitor (RC) network, a second conductive trace operatively coupled to the first conductive trace through a second RC network and operatively coupled to the analog input pin of the microcontroller, and a third conductive trace operatively coupled to the first conductive trace through a third RC network and operatively coupled to the frequency input pin of the microcontroller; The microcontroller may optionally be configured to process a frequency signal received at the frequency input pin via the first of the plurality of interface pins and the input signal conditioning circuit, and an analog signal received at the analog input pin via the first of the plurality of interface pins and the input signal conditioning circuit. 2 . The electronic control system of claim 1 , wherein the first RC network comprises a first capacitor configured to provide electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection. 3 . The electronic control system of claim 1 , wherein the first RC network includes a first resistor configured to provide an input reference voltage detectable by the microcontroller.

4. The electronic control system of claim 1 , wherein the second RC network comprises a low pass filter including a second resistor operatively coupled to the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace and a second capacitor operatively coupled to the second conductive trace and ground.

5. The electronic control system of claim 1 , wherein the third RC network comprises a low pass filter including a third resistor operatively coupled to the first conductive trace and the third conductive trace and a third capacitor operatively coupled to the second conductive trace and ground.

6. The electronic control system of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is selectively configurable to process the frequency signal or the analog signal in response to a calibration stored in a non-transitory memory medium.

7. The electronic control system of claim 6, wherein the microcontroller is configured to automatically test for the presence or absence of one of the frequency signal and the analog signal indicated by the calibration.

8. A process comprising: An electronic control unit is provided, comprising: a housing and an interface extending through the housing and comprising a plurality of interface pins accessible from an exterior of the housing and configured to conductively couple with one or more connectors, a circuit board disposed in the housing and comprising a plurality of conductive traces; a microcontroller mounted on the circuit board and including an analog input pin and a frequency input pin, and an input signal conditioning circuit comprising a first conductive trace of the circuit board operatively coupled to a first pin of the plurality of interface pins and operatively coupled to ground through a first resistor-capacitor (RC) network, a second conductive trace operatively coupled to the first conductive trace through a second RC network and operatively coupled to the analog input pin of the microcontroller, and a third conductive trace operatively coupled to the first conductive trace through a third RC network and operatively coupled to the frequency input pin of the microcontroller; The microcontroller is selectively configured to process a frequency signal received at the frequency input pin via the first of the plurality of interface pins and the input signal conditioning circuit, and an analog signal received at the analog input pin via the first of the plurality of interface pins and the input signal conditioning circuit; and The frequency signal or the analog signal can be selectively processed by the microcontroller.

9. The process of claim 8, comprising protecting the microcontroller from electrostatic discharge (ESD) using the first capacitor of the first RC network.

10. The process of claim 8, comprising providing a reference voltage to the microcontroller using a first resistor of the first RC network.

11. The process of claim 8, comprising low pass filtering an input received at the first interface pin using the second RC network and providing the resulting filtered input to the analog input pin of the microcontroller.

12. The process of claim 8, comprising low pass filtering an input received at the first interface pin using the third RC network and providing the resulting filtered input to the frequency input pin of the microcontroller.

13. The process of claim 8, comprising processing, with the microcontroller, a calibration stored in a non-transitory memory medium to effectively configure the microcontroller to process the frequency signal or the analog signal.

14. The process of claim 13, comprising operating the microcontroller to test one of the frequency signal and the analog signal indicated by the calibration.

15. An apparatus comprising: a circuit board comprising a plurality of conductive traces; a microcontroller mounted on the circuit board and comprising an analog input pin and a frequency input pin; as well as an input signal conditioning circuit comprising a first conductive trace of the circuit board operatively coupled to an input terminal of the circuit board and operatively coupled to ground through a first resistor-capacitor (RC) network, a second conductive trace operatively coupled to the first conductive trace through a second RC network and operatively coupled to the analog input pin of the microcontroller, and a third conductive trace operatively coupled to the first conductive trace through a third RC network and operatively coupled to the frequency input pin of the microcontroller; The microcontroller may optionally be configured to process frequency signals and analog signals.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first RC network comprises a transistor configured to provide electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first RC network is configured to provide an input reference voltage detectable by the microcontroller.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second RC network is configured to provide low pass filtering for an input received at the input terminal and provided to the analog input pin.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the third RC network is configured to provide low pass filtering for an input received at the input terminal and provided to the frequency input pin.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the microcontroller is selectively configurable to process the frequency signal or the analog signal in response to a calibration stored in a non-transitory memory medium.

21. The device according to claim 15 comprises an electronic control unit, which includes a housing and an interface, wherein the interface extends through the housing and includes a plurality of interface pins accessible from outside the housing and is configured to be conductively coupled to one or more connectors; a circuit board, which is contained in the housing and one of the plurality of input pins is operatively coupled to a first pin of the plurality of interface pins.

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