Abstract: A circuit configuration detects zero-crossings and/or a brownout condition. The circuit configuration contains a zero-crossing detection circuit, a brownout detection circuit, an isolation and digitization circuit connected to the zero-crossing detection circuit and the brownout detection circuit, and a filtering circuit connected to the isolation and digitization circuit. The single circuit configuration can be used for detecting zero-crossings of single-phase and multi-phase systems as well as ascertaining a brownout condition of either the single-phase or the multi-phase systems.

Abstract: In order to determine an operating temperature of an electric motor which is fed via an inverter, the inverter is first of all permanently assigned to an electric motor. Following calibration of measured value of at least one operating parameter of the electric motor by the assigned inverter on the production line of the electric motor and inverter, at least one measured value of at least one operating parameter of the electric motor is then acquired by the assigned inverter during operation of the electric motor and the operating temperature of the electric motor is determined using this at least one measured value and the calibration result from the assigned inverter.

Abstract: A diagnostic circuit is configured for connecting to a unit under test that has a load and a sinusoidal source. The diagnostic circuit includes a voltage sensing device that has an input for sensing a signal, a first terminal for connecting to the load, a second terminal for connecting to the sinusoidal source, and a relay connected between the first and second terminals for connecting the sinusoidal source to the load. Clamping diodes are provide for clamping a sinusoidal signal and include a first clamping diode connected between a D/C voltage source and the input and a second clamping diode connected between ground and the input. A resistor is connected between the D/C voltage source and the first terminal. The diagnostic circuit verifies the operational functionality of the load, related wiring and connections.

Abstract: A domestic appliance has an operator control apparatus with at least one operator control element, and has a door for closing a functional area of the domestic appliance on which at least one handle apparatus for opening and closing the door is arranged. For the purpose of ergonomic operator control, the operator control apparatus is arranged at least partially in the immediate vicinity of a holding region of the handle apparatus so that a user can operate the operator control apparatus with the same hand with which he is holding the handle apparatus for opening or closing the door. There is also provided a method for setting an operator control program of a domestic appliance.

Abstract: A rotary knob operator control apparatus for an electrical domestic appliance has a mounting board on a side of an operator control panel facing away from a user, a first electrode configuration on the mounting board and a substantially annular operator control element on a side of the operator control panel facing toward the user. The operator control element has a second electrode configuration and a holding device for the operator control element on the operator control panel. The operator control element rotates about an axis perpendicular to the operator control panel. The operator control element is latched relative to the operator control panel in predefined rotary positions by a latching device, so the second electrode configuration on the operator control element is oriented in a predefined manner relative to the first electrode configuration. An electrical domestic appliance having at least one rotary knob operator control apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: An operator control apparatus of an electronic domestic appliance contains an operator control panel on that side of the operator control apparatus which faces a user, at least one electrically conductive sensor element on that side of the operator control panel which is averted from the user, and a printed circuit board with at least one electrically conductive contact area which is arranged on that side of the printed circuit board which faces the operator control panel so as to be associated with the at least one sensor element. In this case, the at least one sensor element and the at least one contact area of the printed circuit board are connected to one another by an adhesive which is electrically conductive at least in the connection direction.

Abstract: An LED-based lighting system is operated with a time-based process. The LEDs are first turned on by energizing the system at full power. After a predetermined time period, which is selected so that the junction temperature of the LEDs does not reach a critical temperature, the current supply is ramped down to a steady-state supply. The steady-state current is maintained as long as the light is turned on. When the light is turned on the next time and the LEDs have not cooled down all the way, as determined by the time that has expired since the LEDs were last lit, the full-power time period is shortened accordingly.

Abstract: The invention specifies a method for fault identification when driving a polyphase motor by means of a frequency converter, wherein, in a rest state, the frequency converter controls the phase voltages of the polyphase motor and the phase currents of the polyphase motor are measured. In this case, provision is made for, then in the rest state, the phase currents or current variables derived therefrom to be adjusted by closed-loop control to a predetermined setpoint current variable, for the frequency converter to be controlled so as to output an interference voltage variable for the phase voltages, for the response of the adjustment by closed-loop control to the interference voltage variable to be observed, and for a conclusion to be drawn regarding a fault of the frequency converter and/or the phases of the polyphase motor from the response of the closed-loop control. The cited method allows for largely loss-free detection of faults in the drive system of a polyphase motor.

Abstract: An apparatus for opening and/or closing a door of a domestic appliance, such as, for example, an oven, a refrigerator and the like, has a drive apparatus for the automatic opening and/or closing of the door and an actuating device which is operable by a user for activating the drive apparatus in order to open or to close the door.

Abstract: A circuit configuration for operating a household device contains a power supply connector, an electrical load that is connected via a power connection cable to the power supply connector, and a controller for an endangering component. The controller is connected via a power connection cable to the power supply connector. A device for switching the controller on and off is arranged between the controller and the power supply connector. Safety equipment for disconnecting the controller from the power supply connector is arranged between the power supply connector and the device for switching. In order to supply the controller with electrical power even when the safety equipment is active, the electrical load is connected between the power supply connector and the safety equipment. A connecting cable is provided that connects the controller via the electrical load to the power supply connector, and in which the device for switching is arranged.

Abstract: A solar module has a solar generator for generating electrical power, and an inverter for feeding the electrical power produced by the solar generator into a power supply system or to one or more loads. An input load is connected in parallel with the solar generator. A control apparatus controls the operation of the inverter such that it measures a difference voltage between the loaded and the unloaded solar generator, weights this difference voltage with a factor, and operates the inverter only when the weighted difference voltage corresponds at most to a threshold voltage.

Abstract: A method is specified for fault identification when operating a rotating-field motor by means of a pulse-controlled inverter, wherein electromagnetic state variables of the rotating-field motor are determined by means of a mathematical model in space-vector form, and wherein the pulse-controlled inverter is operated electronically using space-vector variables. In this case, the invention provides that, during the operation of the rotating-field motor, the space vector of an uncontrolled state variable of the rotating-field motor is formed, in that the space vector that is formed is analyzed for a spectral component at twice the frequency of the rotating field, and in that, if the spectral component at twice the frequency is present, a partial turns short is deduced in the stator windings.

Abstract: A method of operating an inverter for converting direct voltage into alternating voltage. The inverter has direct-voltage terminals and alternating-voltage terminals and a plurality of power switching elements that are clocked at high-frequency connected between the d.c. and a.c. terminals. The high-frequency clocking of the power switching elements of the inverter is switched off around a zero transition of the alternating current or the alternating voltage for a period which depends on the direct voltage present at the direct-voltage terminals of the inverter and/or the output power of the inverter. No current is generated during time intervals with a poor efficiency.

Abstract: A method controls a three-phase converter with a voltage intermediate circuit by pulse-width modulation for supplying a polyphase system, in particular a three-phase machine. The converter is operated with at least two different modulation methods which are selected from among the group of modulation methods which includes single-phase switching, two-phase switching and three-phase switching, and for chageovers to be made between the at least two different modulation methods depending on the operating state of the polyphase system.

Abstract: A diagnostic circuit for trouble shooting electronic control units of appliances includes a voltage sensing and signal generation device with an input/output and an input. The circuit includes first terminals for connecting to the load and second terminals for connecting to the two lines of the sinusoidal source. One of the first terminals is connected to the input/output, and another one of the first terminals is connected to the input. A relay is connected between one of the second terminals and the input/output. Another relay is connected between another one of the second terminals and the input. A first diode pair with clamping diodes is connected to the input/output, and a second diode pair first diode pair with clamping diodes is connected to the input.

Abstract: A control apparatus for an electrical domestic appliance with a component that presents a danger to the user and a protection component for protecting the user against a danger presented by the dangerous component, has a control device monitoring the operating states of the dangerous component and the protection component and also to activate and/or deactivate the protection component. A protection device prevents a deactivation of the protection component by the control device outside a deactivation operating range of the dangerous component, in which range deactivation of the protection component is permissible. The control apparatus also has a protection-device monitoring device that initiates a deactivation of the protection component within a simulation operating range of the dangerous component within which the operating state of the dangerous component does not present a danger to the user and which range is outside the deactivation operating range.

Abstract: An inductive touch sensing circuit having sensitivity compensation is provided. A digital processor controls a variable amplifier signal source that is synchronized to the key selection. This configuration provides closed loop control of the strength of each key's excitation signal for each of a plurality of inductive touch sensors or key switch assembly, so that the system can adaptively provide different strength excitation signals to each of the different key switch assemblies. In this way, the inductive touch sensing circuit can compensate for the effects of age, temperature, environment and varying key geometries and tolerances, using the excitation signal delivered by the drive circuit.

Abstract: A digital signal is sent by a one-wire digital input/output unit of a one-wire IR communication system at the side of the dedicated device to an IR transmitting element, a working range is established in which the IR signal is sent, which is received at the side of the target device by an IR receiving element of the one-wire IR communication system of the target device, and the IR signal is sent by the one-wire digital input/out of the IR system across the main communication trunk to the modules of the target device.

Abstract: A method for operating an electric motor with at least two motor terminals that are driven by a control device contains the steps of short-circuiting of at least two of the motor terminals of the electric motor by the control device; measurement of the motor phase currents at the short-circuited motor terminals; and identification of a standstill of the electric motor if a magnitude and/or a frequency of the motor phase currents measured lies below a predefined limit value. In the case of such a reliable identification of the standstill of the electric motor, an enable signal can then advantageously be generated in order, by way of example, to enable access to an apparatus driven by the electric motor.

Abstract: A motor controller for controlling at least one electric motor has an operating signal generator for generating an operating control signal for the at least one electric motor and also a sound signal generator for generating a sound control signal. A mixer superimposes the sound control signal on the operating control signal in order to obtain a control signal for the at least one electric motor. It is then possible to dispense with loudspeakers and the like in the appliance which contains an electric motor with such a motor controller in order to output, for example, signal tones which indicate an operating state of the appliance to the user.