How to Evaluate an ECU for Suitability to My System: Diagnostic Needs
The difficulty with diagnostics is in the definition.
- Do the diagnostics report simple wire harness shorts and opens checks?
- Do the diagnostics report ECU pin function checks and possible intermediate stuck at voltage checks?
- Do the diagnostics perform initial checks at power-on, or real-time and run-time checks of the internal ECU health and function?
- Are the diagnostics the complex rationality and long-term diagnostics of system (not just ECU)... View More
Misfire detection with OpenECU
An engine misfire can be defined as a combustion event where the air fuel mixture within a cylinder fails to ignite properly. The most common causes of misfire are:
- Incorrect air/fuel ratio, generally caused by a lean mixture
- Weak/missing spark due to wear of ignition system components
- Mechanical damage to the engine such as leaking gaskets, piston rings, etc, causing a loss in compression
- Loss of power
- Increased fuel consumption
- Increased hydrocarbon emissions from the unburnt fuel
- Catalytic converter damage
Misfire... View More
BLDC Control Architecture – Part One
This article provides an overview of the hardware and software architecture of a sinusoidal field oriented controller for a brushless DC motor (BLDC). Brushless DC motors are becoming much more common in automotive applications due to their improvements in performance, efficiency, and reliability over brushed motors.
A brushless motor has to be commutated electronically, meaning that power must be applied to each of the 3 phase windings at just the right time as the rotor spins. This requires an inverter which... View More
