Method of operating an electronic controller to operate a plurality or output devices

Abstract

An electronic controller is operated according to a method which efficiently generates output signals to a relatively large number of output devices, yet which utilizes only a relatively small amount of programming code to accomplish this. The electronic controller is responsive to various input signals for generating output signals on a bus line to a plurality of latches, each of which contains a plurality of output lines which are connected to operate the output devices. The electronic controller initially inputs the number of output lines per latch contained in the electronic control system as a variable B. Then, the number of a selected output device (designated as a variable A) is divided by the number of output lines per latch B. The result of this division is expressed in the form of an integer C plus a remainder D. The integer C designates the latch which controls the operation of the selected output device, while the remainder D designates the specific selected output device within that latch. Thus, the electronic controller generates the appropriate output signal on the bus line to the latches.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.