schoenli@ittral.UUCP (Dick Schoenling) (08/31/84)
Dear Michael Sean Irishman & Co.,
Sooooooo, you want to build a micro-p based engine control?
Boy, have you got a fish to fry!!!!!!
Motorola, Inc. has an entire division devoted to precisely
what you want to do. They don't have access to USENET as a
company, but perhaps there are a few individuals that have
their own access to the NET, via one of the universitys
in the area. The area I speak of is Chicago. More particulary,
Schaumburg, which is where Motorola is. To be exact, it's:
Motorola, Inc.
Automotive & Industrial Electronics Group (AIEG)
1299 East Algonquin Road
Schaumburg, Illinois 60196
ATTN: Engine Controls
They design(in Schaumburg) and manufacture(in Seguin, Texas) Electronic
Engine Emissions Control's, Electronic Ignitions, Instrumentation
that would make Flash Gordon proud, and all kinds of other stuff.
How do I know all this? Well, I was there a week one day. Actually
it was four years, so I know a little bit about it. And anyone that
claims to know more than that is either a certified, card carrying
genius, a wizard, or lying. Since I haven't outlived my non-disclosure
agreements I can't discuss anything recent but I will tell you what I
know about the pitfalls and practices.
The environment can go from sub zero(Farenheit) to well over 200 degrees(F)
in a matter of a minute or two. If the temperature shock doesn't get
whatever poor little component that's under the hood, then there is
the vibration, dust, dirt, water(in all its various forms), gasoline,
oil(crankcase and transmission),salt and cinders for you Yankee's,
and enough solvents to eat through steel. You've got "about" 12VDC
to play with. The only place you aren't going to get 12VDC noise
spikes is right on the battery( anything goes during ignition).
Ground is a relative term in a constantly moving(or else its not running)
body that is completely(usually) isolated(electrically speaking)
from terra firma. Ground loops are not fun. The smaller the car,
the less ground plane you've got, and you've still got to distribute
all that noise. There is also a lot of plastic in the most inconvenient
places in a car these days. This is getting rather long, so I'll end
with one last word of warning... Put VERY thick glass between you and
any CRT's in your instrument panel. If you want more serious info,
post the net, and I'll try to answer if I see it.
ittvax!ittral!schoenli(ng)
Damn, truncating computers!