[Diy_efi] Microcontroller based Auto Related Projects

Thu Nov 1 01:04:31 UTC 2012

For me 5v operation is a must have so to be able to work with the widest 
range of sensors possible without additional burden of resistor 
dividers. The MPC555x is a $30 uC, you are doing some high end stuff, 
for high end stuff priorities are different, if you need to work with 5v 
sensors the cost of 0.1% or better tolerance resistors or an external 
ADC is probably not an issue. Originally we were talking about uCs in 
the same league as the 8 bit PICs, AVRs, and perhaps as high as ARM 
Cortex M3/M4.

Regards

Alan To

On 10/31/2012 5:41 AM, Bill Shaw wrote:
> The operating voltage is not a significant decision factor when 
> choosing an automotive microprocessor.  The MPC5554 we are using has a 
> 1.3 volt core and 3.3 volt I/O.  It is an awesome automotive 
> microprocessor,  but the array of peripherals and registers would be a 
> bit daunting for the uninitiated.
>
> Best,
>
> Bill
>
> On 10/31/2012 12:16 AM, Alan To wrote:
>> It is a 3.3v chip and you really want 5v operation for automotive. 
>> The new Arduino Due will be a trainwreck, an epic one.
>>
>> On 10/30/2012 6:47 PM, xyz Q wrote:
>>>
>>> There's an ARM based Arduino. What would you say about that for a 
>>> choice?
>>>
>>> On Oct 31, 2012 1:22 PM, "Avery Nisbet" <anisbet at gmail.com 
>>> <mailto:anisbet at gmail.com>> wrote:
>>>
>>>     1.  Most of the hack a day projects are by IT/computer sci guys that
>>>     look down on getting their hands dirty with cars. If you look deeply
>>>     at some of the projects they will have really shoty electrical
>>>     engineering in them. Some of them are pure hacks and would not
>>>     work in
>>>     a production sense.  Some are pretty decent.
>>>
>>>     2. Pics from an architecture point of view kinda suck. They were not
>>>     designed for use with stack based compilers(One working register).
>>>     The Motorola stuff was some of the 1st used in the automotive space.
>>>     The architecture lends itself to use with a compiler.  They are
>>>     designed for the harsher automotive environment.  Some will say they
>>>     have nicer hardware peripherals.  I would say some of the
>>>     peripherals
>>>     were designed specifically for the automotive market. There is
>>>     also a
>>>     pretty big code base to look at.  Oh and mostly anyone who went to
>>>     school for software or hardware who is older than say 30 was
>>>     forced to
>>>     learn 6800(68HC11) or 68000 assembly language.  This usually
>>>     involved
>>>     getting ahold of the purple data books motorola gave away for free
>>>     that were well enough written so you could get your class work
>>>     or real
>>>     work done. I probably have 2 or 3 copies of the 68HC11 books laying
>>>     around somewhere. This being said there are many other options today
>>>     and I would look to ARM or AVR before I looked at PIC.  ARM is
>>>     already
>>>     dominating the cheap 32bit market and is pretty easy to pick up.
>>>     This
>>>     will help in the job search later. AVR's are pretty good for the
>>>     8bit
>>>     scene.  GCC supports them and ATMEL makes some automotive
>>>     environment
>>>     parts.
>>>
>>>     3.  Go get yourself an Arduino(or other uC of choice), BIP373(OR GM
>>>     ignition module) and some optoisolators.  Then build a distributor
>>>     and/or crank trigger based ignition system. Then try turning
>>>     that into
>>>     a full engine management solution using the peak and hold add in
>>>     board
>>>     by Jbperf. Start researching the mega squirt schematics at the
>>>     timing
>>>     input(tach) and the ignition output. Build those circuite on a bread
>>>     board and test on a bench. Then move them on to your test engine. It
>>>     could be a lawn mower engine or a V8 monster. Read up on timing
>>>     advance and program the Arduino to do a simple RPM only based timing
>>>     curve.  Then add a MAP and/or TPS sensors and add load as a
>>>     factor of
>>>     your timing curve.  Then engine temp to add some cold start
>>>     advantages
>>>     and you have all the sensors needed to do open loop EFI.  After
>>>     adding
>>>     injectors you could add a wide band O2 sensor such as the LC-1 from
>>>     innovative motor sports or just a heated narrow band for cruze.
>>>
>>>
>>>     -Avery
>>>
>>>
>>>     On Mon, Oct 29, 2012 at 8:13 PM, xyz Q <xyzqhtc at gmail.com
>>>     <mailto:xyzqhtc at gmail.com>> wrote:
>>>     > Hi, I've been on the list for some time, on and off mainly
>>>     reading bits,
>>>     > trying to find some interesting ideas. Unfortunately I was 10
>>>     years too
>>>     > late, when this forum had been in its prime.
>>>     >
>>>     > So here are my first set of questions that I hope on getting
>>>     some answers,
>>>     > hopefully.
>>>     >
>>>     > 1. Why are there so little auto related uc based projects and
>>>     ideas out
>>>     > there on the net? Look at hackaday.com <http://hackaday.com>,
>>>     for example. Many projects, talented
>>>     > people but all they do is prove a point that some thing can be
>>>     done. But
>>>     > guess what hardly something is really useful. I may have
>>>     missed some good
>>>     > worth while so please put them here if you know.
>>>     >
>>>     > 2. If PICs are so popular, why are Motorola MCUs popular with
>>>     auto projects?
>>>     > In terms of features aren't they on the same "level"?
>>>     >
>>>     > 3. The way I see to learn microcontroller based EMS or
>>>     ignition is to look
>>>     > at it piece by piece. Megasquirt is great but it's hard to
>>>     learn a complete
>>>     > system. Aren't there any web sites (I've seen DIYEFI) that
>>>     have info on say
>>>     > ignition control, RPM handling with an MCU or other basic
>>>     control concepts
>>>     > that can form the basis for EMS/Ign. related projects. I'd
>>>     like to learn the
>>>     > basics and if there are specific approaches to this, I'd like
>>>     to hear your
>>>     > side of the story. It would be helpful.
>>>     >
>>>     > Thanks and regards to all on the forum. Some projects here are
>>>     really nice
>>>     > and inspiring.
>>>     >
>>>     > Nik.
>>>     >
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