Engine Synchronous Pulse Generation

The main purpose of the RPG card is to simulate an engine rotation and produce pulse trains synchronized on angular engine positions. This feature is called Engine Synchronous Pulse Generation (ESPG) and is controlled both from the CPU model and the FPGA module of the card.

The pulse trains are referenced to the cycle duration which is typically 720degrees.

The main parameter supplied by the user and used in the calculation of the pulse trains is the RPM value of the Engine Speed set in the RPM/RP8 tab of the run-time panel.

Pulse train outputs

Thirteen outputs channels are available for pulse trains :

• eight Reference Pulse outputs (RP1:8), 
• four CAM phasing outputs (CAM1:4),
• one TDC (Top Dead Center) signal.

The pulse trains of these signals are calculated from a pre-defined pattern selected among a set of patterns supplied in a MAT-file at the load of the model. The pattern selection can be changed at run-time via the RPM/RP8 and RPP/PS tabs of the run-time panel (see Note)

• The patterns consist of a series of start/end position in degrees or start position/time duration values.
• For each signal, a pre-defined maximum number of pulses from the selected pattern is generated. 

For each signal, an angular offset in degrees, or Phasing value, can be applied to the pulse train :

• The phasing values of the reference pulse RP1:8 and TDC channels are typically set to 0 degrees.
• The Phasing values of the four CAM signals are supplied via the CAM Phasing tab of the RPG run-time panel.
• The pattern selection of signal RP8 can be disabled by activating the RP8 bypass control in the RPM/RP8 tab of the RPG run-time panel, which then allows specifying the Phasing and number of pulses of the pattern to be produced at the RP8 pin.

Advanced features like Negative speeds, Slow-To-Stop sequences, Pattern Position Switching sequences and time-based pulses are supported by ESPG feature and configured via the STS Sequence and RPP/PS table of the RPG run-time panel.

The page CAM and RP signals electrical characteristics provide specific information on each of these channels. The TDC is a 0-5V signal.

Reference signals

In addition to the pulse trains, two reference signals are produced in order to monitor the engine position :

• Reset : this output produces a pulse at the 0 degree of the engine rotation
• HIRES : this signal is a pulse train with 50% duty cycle. The rising edges of the pulses are aligned with engine position changes of typically 0.1 deg.
  

These two signals are 0-5V outputs.