Patent ID: 8905814

Claim:
An apparatus for controlling speed of a battery-powered motor-driven radio controlled vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a microprocessor having a memory; a power interface coupled to the microprocessor; a motor interface coupled to the microprocessor; a motor controller software contained in the memory and configured to apply power over the motor interface by controlling the timing and duration of voltage pulses; a dual-use connector coupled to the microprocessor, wherein the dual-use connector is removably coupleable to a first radio controlled vehicle component in a first configuration condition, and wherein the dual use-connector is removably coupleable to a programming cable in a second configuration condition to activate a programming mode; a programming update software contained in the memory and configured to receive update parameters for the motor controller software contained in the memory, wherein the update parameters are received when the dual-use connector is in the second configuration; and a port determination software contained in the memory that is configured to monitor one or more signals present on the dual-use connector and to determine, based on the one or more signals, that the dual use-connector is removably coupled to the programming cable in the second configuration condition.