Configuring the Mini Input Module

Updated on Mar 4, 2026

You can configure the CAN output and channel settings on the MIM with VBOX Setup. To do this you have to connect the MIM to a PC with a serial connection (RLCAB001).

Connect the DATA1 socket on the MIM to a PC using the RLCAB001 cable and power up the MIM using a suitable 12 V power source. Run VBOX Setup software, available from the VBOX Automotive website.

Hardware connection drawings - MIM01_PC

 

Select the correct COM port that the MIM is connected to (check device manager to confirm). The MIM should then connect to VBOX Setup software and display the current configuration set within the unit.

You will see the following Menus available in the panel on the left-hand side of the window.

Click on a Menu to view the information about the settings in it.

MIM_Setup_General

Connection

Selected com port, refresh and disconnect buttons.

MIM_Setup_General_Connection

Connection

Selected com port, refresh and disconnect buttons.

MIM_Setup_General_Connection

Module Information

The unit type, serial number and installed firmware version of the connected unit and the software version currently in use.  

MIM_Setup_General_ModuleInformation

Module Information

The unit type, serial number and installed firmware version of the connected unit and the software version currently in use.  

MIM_Setup_General_ModuleInformation

Load Configuration

Load settings from a Racelogic setting file (.RSF). 

MIM_Setup_General_Load

Load Configuration

Load settings from a Racelogic setting file (.RSF). 

MIM_Setup_General_Load

Save Configuration

Save settings into a Racelogic setting file (.RSF). This allows setups to be kept for future use.

MIM_Setup_General_Save

Save Configuration

Save settings into a Racelogic setting file (.RSF). This allows setups to be kept for future use.

MIM_Setup_General_Save

Language

Select an operating language. 

MIM_Setup_General_Language

Language

Select an operating language. 

MIM_Setup_General_Language

Write to Unit

After making changes to the setup, you must click the Write to unit button to load the settings to the MIM.

MIM_Setup_General_WriteToUnit

Write to Unit

After making changes to the setup, you must click the Write to unit button to load the settings to the MIM.

MIM_Setup_General_WriteToUnit

MIM_Setup_Settings_RacelogicPolled

Mode #

In the settings tab, you can configure the MIM into one of three CAN modes to suit different applications.

MIM_Setup_Settings_Mode
Racelogic Polled

Use this mode if the MIM is used with a Racelogic VBOX.  All the CAN parameters will be set to work with the Racelogic VBOX CAN protocol.  No other parameters need be set and they will not have any effect.

Operation Mode

MIM_Setup_Settings_RacelogicPolled_OperationMode.svg

  • Mini Input Module
    Select the Mini input module mode if you are using any connections except connecting to a sound level meter or weather station for pass-by noise testing.
  • Sound Level Meter(s) and Weather Station only
    Select the Sound Level Meter(s) and Weather Station only mode if you are doing Pass-By Noise testing with a dual-MIM setup or a single-MIM setup with a weather station.
  • Sound Level Meter(s) only
    Select the Sound Level Meter(s) only mode if you are using a sound level meter for pass-by noise testing.
User Polled

MIM_Setup_Settings_UserPolled.svg

The User Polled mode allows you to use your own data logging system to poll the module for data using the CAN bus. In this way, the output timing of the sensor can be synchronised with other CAN information.

The following parameters will all be used and must be configured:

  • Baud rate (user-selectable).
  • Extended Identifiers (on or off).
  • Request Identifiers (identifiers used to request data from the sensor).
  • Response Identifiers (identifiers used to transmit data from the sensor).

Baud Rate

The Baud Rate option sets the bit rate of the CAN message transmission.
The available baud rate options are:

  • 1 Mbit/s
  • 500 kbit/s (default)
  • 250 kbit/s
  • 125 kbit/s
MIM_Setup_Settings_BaudRate.svg

Data Format

The Data Format option sets the format in which data is transmitted in stand-alone mode.

The available format options are:

  • 32-bit float
  • Signed 32-bit integer
  • Unsigned 32-bit integer
  • Signed 16-bit integer
  • Unsigned 16-bit integer
  • Racelogic float
MIM_Setup_Settings_DataFormat.svg

Extended Identifiers

You can enable extended identifiers by ticking the Use extended identifiers box. 

When this option is disabled, the CAN identifier type will be standard (11 bit). When this option is enabled the CAN identifier type will be extended (29 bit). 

The identifier type should be set to match the CAN data logging equipment that the module is connected to.

The standard identifier type allows 2048 different CAN message identifiers or message “names”. 

The Extended Identifier type allows 436207616 different CAN message identifiers. 

MIM_Setup_Settings_ExtendedIdentifiers.svg

Conversion Identifier

The Conversion Identifier will only be applied in the User Polled mode.

When the module receives this identifier with zero data bits it will sample its inputs. This is set as a separate command to a data request identifier, giving the module time to make a data conversion before having to send the data on the CAN bus.

MIM_Setup_Settings_Conversion identifier.svg

Pack Data

Byte-packing can be used to reduce the number of CAN messages required to transmit the MIM data.

When this is disabled, each of the eight channels will be sent using a separate CAN Identifier message with a Data Length Code (DLC) of 4 bytes.

When this is enabled, channels will be combined into pairs for transmission over CAN, each message will have a DLC of 8 as shown in the table below:

MIM_Setup_Settings_Packdata.svg
CAN ID First 4 Data Bytes Last 4 Data Bytes
CAN ID set for Channel 1 Channel 1 Data Channel 2 Data
CAN ID set for Channel 3 Channel 3 Data  Channel 4 Data
CAN ID set for Channel 5 Channel 5 Data Channel 6 Data
CAN ID set for Channel 7 Channel 7 Data Channel 8 Data
Timed

MIM_Setup_Settings_Timed.svg

The Timed mode makes the module send CAN data at intervals determined by the Timer value. 

The following parameters are all used in this mode and so they must be configured:

  • Timer (time interval in milliseconds between output data).
  • Baud rate (user-selectable).
  • Extended Identifiers (off or on).
  • Response Identifiers (identifiers used to transmit data from the sensor).

Baud Rate

The Baud Rate option sets the bit rate of the CAN message transmission.
The available baud rate options are:

  • 1 Mbit/s
  • 500 kbit/s (default)
  • 250 kbit/s
  • 125 kbit/s
MIM_Setup_Settings_BaudRate.svg

Data Format

The Data Format option sets the format in which data is transmitted in stand-alone mode.

The available format options are:

  • 32-bit float
  • Signed 32-bit integer
  • Unsigned 32-bit integer
  • Signed 16-bit integer
  • Unsigned 16-bit integer
  • Racelogic float
MIM_Setup_Settings_DataFormat.svg

Extended Identifiers

You can enable extended identifiers by ticking the Use extended identifiers box. 

When this option is disabled, the CAN identifier type will be standard (11 bit). When this option is enabled the CAN identifier type will be extended (29 bit). 

The identifier type should be set to match the CAN data logging equipment that the module is connected to.

The standard identifier type allows 2048 different CAN message identifiers or message “names”. 

The Extended Identifier type allows 436207616 different CAN message identifiers. 

MIM_Setup_Settings_ExtendedIdentifiers.svg

Conversion Identifier

The Conversion Identifier will only be applied in the User Polled mode.

When the module receives this identifier with zero data bits it will sample its inputs. This is set as a separate command to a data request identifier, giving the module time to make a data conversion before having to send the data on the CAN bus.

MIM_Setup_Settings_Conversion identifier.svg

Timer

The timer value is in milliseconds (ms).  The smaller the value the more frequent the data is sent.

You can enter a value between 0 and 65535.

Note:

We recommend that the minimum value is 10. A value below 10 can cause the data values to be repeated on successive cycles.  

If you enter a value of 0, the MIM will change it to 1 after the next power cycle. 

You can calculate the frequency output as follows:
Freq = (1/Timer) * 1000

The Timer value for a required frequency can be calculated as follows:
Timer = (1/Freq) * 1000

The following table shows some example Timer values against the frequency output:

MIM_Setup_Settings_Timer.svg
Timer Value Frequency
10 100
50 20
100 10
400 2.5
1000 1

Pack Data

Byte-packing can be used to reduce the number of CAN messages required to transmit the MIM data.

When this is disabled, each of the eight channels will be sent using a separate CAN Identifier message with a Data Length Code (DLC) of 4 bytes.

When this is enabled, channels will be combined into pairs for transmission over CAN, each message will have a DLC of 8 as shown in the table below:

MIM_Setup_Settings_Packdata.svg
CAN ID First 4 Data Bytes Last 4 Data Bytes
CAN ID set for Channel 1 Channel 1 Data Channel 2 Data
CAN ID set for Channel 3 Channel 3 Data  Channel 4 Data
CAN ID set for Channel 5 Channel 5 Data Channel 6 Data
CAN ID set for Channel 7 Channel 7 Data Channel 8 Data

Each input channel has a dropdown associated with it to configure channel-specific attributes. Select a channel to configure it.

You can select between:

  • Voltage_1 to Voltage_8
  • TC1/TC2
  • Freq_Tag
  • Freq
  • Revs

You can find more information about the ports here.

MIM_Setup_Channels
Scale and Offset #

For more information on calculating scale and offset, click here.

Request and Response Identifiers #

The Request Identifiers only have an effect in User Polled CAN Mode. If a CAN message is received by the MIM01 that matches a Request Identifier then the MIM01 will respond by sending the corresponding channel data on the corresponding Response Identifier. Note: All channels can be set to the same Request Identifier, if desired – this means that on receipt of a single CAN message the MIM01 will respond with all channels of data. The Response Identifiers MUST all be different.

In Timed Mode the channel data will be sent at intervals with the corresponding Response Identifier – the Request Identifiers have no effect.

When using Standard Identifiers the maximum value for the identifiers is $7FF. Entering a value higher than this may result in unexpected results.

Setup Parameters Table #
ParameterOptionsComments
CAN ModeRacelogic Polled modeVBOX compatible mode.In this mode no other parameter has any effect.
User Polled modeBaud Rate must be set.Extended Identifiers must be set.Request Identifiers must be set.Response Identifiers must be set.
Timed modeTimer must be set.Baud Rate must be set.Extended Identifiers must be set.Response Identifiers must be set.
Timer (ms)(message interval in ms)Minimum value is 10 (100 Hz) – below this value data may be erroneous.If the Timer value is set to 0 ms and Timed CAN Mode is on then Timer value will be changed to 1 ms.
Baud Rate (kbit/s)1000 kbit/sIf a Baud Rate value other than those specified is entered it will be changed to a default value of 500 kbit/s.
500 kbit/sIf a Baud Rate value other than those specified is entered it will be changed to a default value of 500 kbit/s.
250 kbit/sIf a Baud Rate value other than those specified is entered it will be changed to a default value of 500 kbit/s.
125 kbit/sIf a Baud Rate value other than those specified is entered it will be changed to a default value of 500 kbit/s.
Extended IdentifiersFalse/Standard (11 bit)Request and Response Identifier range is 0 – 0x7FF (0 – 2047).
True/Extended (29 bit)Request and Response Identifier range is 0 – 0x19FFFFFF (0 – 436207615).
Digital Input Channel Settings #

The digital input channels include names and units for each channel, an 'edge detection' option that determines whether the frequency is measured from the RISING or FALLING edge of the signal and a Mode option. The available options will differ depending on the selected digital input channel as illustrated in the table below.

Digital Input 1Digital Input 2Digital Input 3
NameNameName
UnitsUnitsUnits
Mode
Changes the input mode of the digital channel.

Event Marker / Frequency / Pulse
Mode
Changes the input mode of the digital channel.

Frequency/Pulse
Pulse/Rev
Changes the input mode of the digital channel.
ScaleScale
Edge
This contains two options that determine whether the frequency is measured from the RISING or FALLING edge of the signal.

(only in frequency mode)
Edge
This contains two options that determine whether the frequency is measured from the RISING or FALLING edge of the signal.

(only in frequency mode)
Active
High or Low, this determines whether the input trigger state is logged in an inverted or non-inverted state, see the table below.

(only in event marker mode)