10 — VEHICLE CONTROL LANGUAGE (VCL)
Curtis 1239E-1269E Manual, os 37.0 RevA – May 2021
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pg. 108
e proportional driver (Driver 5, Pin 2) is dierent from Drivers 1–4. It can be controlled in two
ways: with the proportional driver processing function (see Figure 20) or with the VCL Put_PWM()
function. e VCL statement Put_PWM(PWM5, 16383) will result in a 50% PWM output on pin 2
only if the parameter PD Enable is set to O.
Control of the two digital outputs (Digital Outputs 6 and 7) is done using the VCL functions Set_
Digout() and Clear_Digout().
Set_DigOut(DigOut6)
will set Digital Output 6 On (active). VCL can monitor the present value of a digital output driver:
the bit variable Digx_Output (where “x” is the digital output channel number) is automatically lled
with the present value of the driver output (On or O ).
It is important to note that all outputs are active Low. With 100% PWM or an output of “On,” the
FET or transistor will be pulling hard to ground. A DVM on the output will measure near 0 V.
Potentiometer Inputs
ese controllers have two potentiometer inputs, which are typically used for throttle and brake.
Many features (mapping, acceleration rates, etc.) are built in as 1313/1314 programmer parameters.
Still, there are times that these potentiometer inputs may be needed for other functions such as
steering angle or height sensing, or simply as data inputs. e standard way to input pot information
is to set the parameter rottle Type (or Brake Type) to an appropriate value of 1–4 as described in
the rottle Type wiring, rottle and Brake menus. When set to a value of 1–4, the resulting signal
chain can operate without the use of any VCL.
However, if an OEM wishes to control the throttle (or brake) signal chain in VCL or use the throttle
(or brake) inputs for signals that are not throttle (or brake) signals, then the rottle Type (or Brake
Type) should be set to a value of 5. Setting the parameter rottle Type (or Brake Type) to a value of
5 changes the routing of the appropriate signal chain (either throttle or brake) and allows the VCL
programmer access to the rottle Pot (or Brake Pot) output variables; see Figure 18.
Using the Setup_Pot() function, executed at the beginning of a VCL program, will define the
potentiometer input connection(s) as THREE_WIRE (uses Pot High and Pot Low connections),
TWO_ WIRE (variable resistor, or rheostat, uses Pot Low but no connection to Pot High), or ONE_
WIRE (a voltage input, no connection to either Pot High or Pot Low).
THREE_WIRE potentiometer connections are the same as the 3-wire potentiometer connections
shown in Figure 8 for rottle Type 2.
TWO_WIRE potentiometer connections are the same as the 2-wire potentiometer connections
shown in Figure 7 for rottle Type 1.
ONE_WIRE potentiometer connections are the same as the Voltage Source or Current Source
connections shown in Figure 8 for rottle Type 2.
Note that the Setup_Pot() function will only work (and is only needed) if the corresponding Type is
set to 5 (rottle Type = 5 or Brake Type = 5).
Setup_Pot(THROTTLE_POT,THREE_WIRE)
will set up the throttle pot input for wiring using all three connections (pins 15, 16, 18).
To set up the brake pot input for use in VCL, use the Brake_Pot constant in place of the ottle_Pot
constant in the Setup_Pot function.
Setup_Pot(BRAKE_POT,TWO_WIRE)
will set up the brake pot input for wiring using two connections (pins 17, 18).
Quick Links:
rottle Type Selection p.22-25
ree-Wire/Type 1 p.22
Two-Wire/Type 2 p.23
One-Wire/Voltage p.23-p.24
Figure 18 p.112
Figure 20 p.116
rottle menu p.49
Brake menu p.51
Setup_Pot ( ) p.128