Patent Abstract:
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.

Full Description:
[0001]     This application claims the benefit of prior filed, co-pending Ser. No. 60/656,047, filed Feb. 24, 2005, entitled ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL PROGRAMMING. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for programming an electronic speed control and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for programming an electronic speed control through an RX receive control port.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Radio controlled models, such as airplanes, helicopters, boats and cars, are known in the art. Battery-powered RC models include a battery, a direct current (DC) motor, a radio receiver, and an electronic speed control. Electronic speed controls for DC motors typically include a microprocessor with a memory or firmware. Most electronic speed controls are preprogrammed at the manufacturer for a particular application and with a fixed set of instructions or functions. These electronic speed controls typically have no means for reprogramming the memory. Other electronic speed controls may include programmable memory such as EEPROM or flash memory and a dedicated programming port to enable updating of the software functions or to correct programming errors.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention provides a method and apparatus for reprogramming an electronic speed control (“ESC”) through the receive (“RX”) port of an electric radio controlled model vehicle.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]      FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of a radio controlled model control circuit.  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram of an electronic speed control circuit interfaced with a programmer.  
         [0007]      FIG. 3  is a circuit diagram of the ESC programmer interface.  
         [0008]      FIG. 4  is a circuit diagram of another embodiment of the ESC programmer interface.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0009]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram of a radio controlled model control circuit is generally indicated by reference numeral  10 . RC model control circuit  10  includes an electronic speed controller (ESC)  12 , a power supply such as a battery  14 , a DC motor  16  a radio receiver circuit  18  and an antenna  20 . Radio receiver  18  is connected to the electronic speed controller  12  through line  22  and connector  24 . In a typical application, the components of the radio controlled model control circuit  10  are mounted in a radio controlled model such as an airplane, for example. The antenna  20  and receiver  18  receive control commands from a transmitter (not shown) under the control of a user, and transmit the commands to the electronic speed controller  12  via line  22  through a three-pin connector  24 . Electronic speed controller  12  includes a microprocessor, program memory and associated electronic components (not shown). In response to commands received from the receiver  18 , the electronic speed controller  12  applies power from battery  14  to DC motor  16 . Electronic speed controller  12  controls the timing and duration of voltage pulses applied to the DC motor  16  as necessary in response to the commands sent from the transmitter.  
         [0010]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a programmer adapter  26  may be connected to the electronic speed controller  12  using the same connector  24  and an adapter cable  28  to reprogram the electronic speed controller  12 , discussed in detail hereinbelow. Programmer  26  may connect to a USB or serial port, for example, on a personal computer  30  via cable  32 .  
         [0011]     In greater detail referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , programmer  26  includes a bidirectional signal line  34  connected to a send buffer  36  and a receive buffer  38 . A directional signal line  40  is connected to each of the buffers  36  and  38  to enable or disable the respective buffer. Power on lines  42  and  44  and ground on line  46  may be provided through the USB cable  32  from the USB port on the personal computer  30 , or may be supplied by the battery  14  connected to ESC  12 , for example.  
         [0012]     The electronic speed controller  12  includes a microprocessor  47 , and an ESC interface  48 . The ESC interface  48  includes a buffer circuit similar to the buffer circuit for the programmer  26 . A receive buffer  50  and a send buffer  52  are connected to a bidirectional signal line  54  from programmer  26  and a signal line  56  from the microprocessor  47 . A direction signal line  58  is connected to each of the buffers  50  and  52  to enable or disable the respective buffer.  
         [0013]     To reprogram the firmware in the ESC  12 , the battery  14  may be disconnected from the ESC  12 . The programmer  26  is connected to a USB or serial port of computer  30  with cable  32 . Cable  28  is then connected to connector  24  of the ESC  12 .  
         [0014]     When power is applied to the ESC  12  on line  44 , the ESC  12  determines the function of the port  24 , i.e., whether it is connected to the receiver  18  or connected to the programmer  26 . If the signal on line  54  is an activation signal such as a consistent high voltage, then the ESC  12  is connected to the programmer  26  and will enter a programming mode. The consistent high level is generated by the pull-up resistor  60  on line  42  and connected to line  54 . If a high voltage signal is not detected by the ESC  12  on line  54 , then the ESC  12  is connected to the receiver  18  and will use the port  24  as a normal, unidirectional RX port by setting the direction line  58  on the ESC  12  low. The power  44  and ground  46  lines through the RX port  24  are used to power the ESC  12  and set a consistent ground level.  
         [0015]     Once the ESC  12  enters the programming mode, the signal line  54  is treated as a single wire bidirectional bus. The PC  30  initiates all communications with the ESC  12  through the programmer  26 . Either the ESC  12  or the programmer  26  may put data on line  54  by actively pulling it to ground to indicate a low signal or by going into a high-Z state and allowing the pull-up resistor  60  on line  42  to pull the line  54  to a high signal level. Because there is no common clock signal between the ESC  12  and the PC  30 , data is input on line  54  and read from line  54  in a predetermined sequence. The PC  30  is responsible for negotiations and control of the ESC  12 .  
         [0016]     Communication over the bus  54  is accomplished using data packets. All packets begin with a synchronization start field, followed by a packet identifier. The packet identifier indicates the type of packet such as a token, data or handshake, for example. An address field specifies the function, via its address, that is either the source or destination of a data packet, followed by the endpoint field. A data field includes an integral number of bytes depending on the packet identifier. A cyclic redundancy check or checksum field is used to ensure that the data is transmitted and received correctly.  
         [0017]     When power is detected by the ESC  12  on line  54 , the ESC  12  sends out a start or connect byte of data on line  54  and waits for a response from PC  30 . If a response is not received within a predetermined amount of time, such as  10  milliseconds for example, the ESC  12  sends another byte of data on line  54 . This continues until the PC  30  responds or a maximum number of retries is exceeded, for example.  
         [0018]     More particularly, when the programmer  26  is initially connected to the ESC  12  through RX port  24 , the PC  30  waits to receive the start or connect byte from the ESC  12 . Once the start or connect byte is received, the PC  30  sends a 16-byte data packet to the ESC  12 .  
         [0019]     Typically, the first data packet includes instructions to reprogram or update the communication software on the ESC  12 , for example. Once the task is completed, the ESC  12  sends an acknowledgment along with a checksum. If the checksum is incorrect, the PC  30  ignores the response from the ESC  12  and sends the same data packet again.  
         [0020]     Once the communication software in the ESC  12  is updated, if necessary, the motor controller software may be updated. Some of the commands that may be sent from the PC  30  to the ESC  12  include Erase Flash to erase the contents of the flash memory beginning at a specified memory address and Program Flash to program the flash memory with program data beginning at a specified memory address, for example.  
         [0021]     Using the RX port  24  and programmer  26  interface, program parameters or settings stored in the firmware on the ESC  12  may be modified using software loaded on the personal computer  30 . Parameters such as the cutoff voltage, cutoff type, brake type, throttle type, soft start, motor settings, current, pulse frequency and rotation direction may be modified or adjusted, for example.  
         [0022]     User upgradeable firmware on the ESC  12  allows the user to incorporate product improvements into existing controllers without returning the controller to the manufacturer or purchasing another controller. The user may add new functionality to the controller for a specific application or may reconfigure the controller for another application and use such as changing from airplane firmware to helicopter or race car firmware, for example. Additionally, bug fixes and upgrades may be easily, quickly and inexpensively distributed to end users.  
         [0023]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , another embodiment of an ESC programmer interface circuit is illustrated. In both the programmer  80  and ESC  82 , a MOS FET transistor  84  and  86 , respectively, each with an open drain output  88  and  90 , respectively, is used to drive an RX signal line  92 . Components corresponding in function to components designated in  FIGS. 1-3  are designated with the same reference numerals with the addition of the “a” notation. As described hereinabove for line  54 , line  92  is a bidirectional bus for communication between the ESC  12  and the PC  30 .  
         [0024]     It should be understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7