Abstract: A system or circuit for simulating a potentiometer, thermistor, or the like. A pulse stream, having a duty cycle which is varied as a changing pulse width or as a differing number of time slices per time period, may be input to the system. The pulse stream to a transistor or switch-like mechanism may allow a controlled connection of a fixed value resistor to a reference voltage or ground to provide various resultant values of impedance or resistance. A measuring circuit connected to the output of the system may determine a value which is of the fixed value resistor divided by the duty cycle of the pulse train effectively controlling the connection of the resistor to ground. One or more additional circuits may be connected in parallel to achieve greater accuracy.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for automatically controlling the mode of an output that can be coupled to one of several types of actuators or the like. In one illustrative embodiment, an actuator controller is provided that can automatically detect what controlled mode an output of the controller should be set, and set the controlled mode accordingly. In some cases, the actuator controller may monitor a measure related to the resistance of the load, and set the controlled mode of the output to a first controlled mode if the measure that is related to the resistance of the load is below a threshold value, and set the controlled mode of at least selected outputs to a second controlled mode if the measure that is related to the resistance of the load is above a threshold value. The controlled modes may, in some cases, correspond to a current controlled mode and a voltage controlled mode, but this is not required.

Abstract: A system or circuit for simulating a potentiometer, thermistor, or the like. A pulse stream, having a duty cycle which is varied as a changing pulse width or as a differing number of time slices per time period, may be input to the system. The pulse stream to a transistor or switch-like mechanism may allow a controlled connection of a fixed value resistor to a reference voltage or ground to provide various resultant values of impedance or resistance. A measuring circuit connected to the output of the system may determine a value which is of the fixed value resistor divided by the duty cycle of the pulse train effectively controlling the connection of the resistor to ground. One or more additional circuits may be connected in parallel to achieve greater accuracy.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for automatically controlling the mode of an output that can be coupled to one of several types of actuators or the like. In one illustrative embodiment, an actuator controller is provided that can automatically detect what controlled mode an output of the controller should be set, and set the controlled mode accordingly. In some cases, the actuator controller may monitor a measure related to the resistance of the load, and set the controlled mode of the output to a first controlled mode if the measure that is related to the resistance of the load is below a threshold value, and set the controlled mode of at least selected outputs to a second controlled mode if the measure that is related to the resistance of the load is above a threshold value. The controlled modes may, in some cases, correspond to a current controlled mode and a voltage controlled mode, but this is not required.