Electronic speed control programming
A method and apparatus for programming an electronic speed controller for a radio controlled model including a programmer for interfacing a personal computer to the RX port of the electronic speed controller. The electronic speed controller software may be updated, modified or replaced through the RX port.
1. An apparatus for controlling speed in a radio controlled vehicle including a battery and a motor, the apparatus comprising:
an electronic speed controller for applying power from the battery to the motor of the radio controlled vehicle, wherein said electronic speed controller includes a microprocessor and a radio receiver port and the radio receiver port is configured to be removably coupled to a radio receiver for receiving control signals from a remote controller; and
a programmer adapter configured to be removably coupled to the radio receiver port of the electronic speed controller for transferring program parameters to the microprocessor;
wherein the microprocessor is configured to execute instructions for detecting when the programmer adapter is coupled to the radio receiver port.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein power received through said battery is applied to said motor by controlling timing and duration of voltage pulses.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an interface circuit included in said electronic speed controller, wherein said interface circuit is coupled to said radio receiver port and wherein said interface circuit is coupled to said microprocessor.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the radio receiver port comprises a bidirectional line.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the programmer adapter comprises a personal computer port operable to be removably coupled to a personal computer.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein said program parameters are received from a personal computer.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said received program parameters comprise one or more of soft start, throttle type, brake type, motor settings, pulse frequency and rotation direction.
8. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the radio receiver port is a three wire interface, and wherein one of the three wires is the bidirectional line.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said microprocessor is operable to execute instructions for receiving command instructions.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the command instructions include instructions operable to perform functions comprising one or more of communications, motor control, erase flash memory, product improvement, product upgrade and reconfiguration of motor control application.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said microprocessor is operable to initiate communication between the microprocessor and the programmer adapter.