January 23, 2004:

Auto-up windows circuit

I have recently been designing and making a circuit to give me auto-up windows on GBMINI; it is tricky to hold the toggle switch up to close the window on a cold day while driving away from a toll booth, changing gear, steering, etc, etc. The fact that English & European MINIs offer auto-up windows is an additional incentive.
Originally, while trying to crack the rear fog light functionality in the MINI last year, I had hoped to discover the auto-up function too – but it appears that the MINI software is protected by both “SA” flags and some sort of “country code”.
So I made a circuit which simulates holding the window up toggle switch closed for a while, to allow the window to close; the MINI circuits detect when the window is closed and switch the motor off to prevent damage. I used a special “double-click” of the switch to guard against someone else accidentally and unexpectedly activating the new feature.

(click the pic for more details)