Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a potential terminal (14), a ground output (22) and a processing unit (12) with a potential input (20). A ground loss detection device (27) includes a first ground loss detection line area (24) connecting the ground output to a first ground potential terminal (28) and a second ground loss detection line area (26) connecting the ground output to a second ground potential terminal (30). An operating voltage generation unit generates a predefined operating voltage between the potential input and the ground output based on a supply voltage present at the potential terminal. A first voltage detection device detects a voltage between the potential input and the first ground potential terminal. A second voltage detection device detects a voltage between the potential input and the second ground potential terminal. A third voltage detection device detects a voltage between the potential input and the ground output.

Abstract: A process tests an operability of a circuit breaker device (18, 20, 34) to establish/sever a connection of two circuit areas (36, 38, 40, 42). The circuit breaker device includes a MOSFET (44) with a source terminal (46) connected with a circuit area, a drain terminal (48) connected with a circuit area, and a gate terminal (50) with a gate voltage applied by an associated gate driver device (52) to switch into a connection switching state connecting the two circuit areas during a connection phase. The gate voltage is monitored during the connection phase, a base voltage being applied to the source terminal or/and to the drain terminal during the connection phase is monitored. If a difference between the gate voltage and the base voltage falls below a predefined reference difference during the connection phase, it is determined that a circuit defect is present in the MOSFET.

Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a potential terminal (14), a ground output (22) and a processing unit (12) with a potential input (20). A ground loss detection device (27) includes a first ground loss detection line area (24) connecting the ground output to a first ground potential terminal (28) and a second ground loss detection line area (26) connecting the ground output to a second ground potential terminal (30). An operating voltage generation unit generates a predefined operating voltage between the potential input and the ground output based on a supply voltage present at the potential terminal. A first voltage detection device detects a voltage between the potential input and the first ground potential terminal. A second voltage detection device detects a voltage between the potential input and the second ground potential terminal. A third voltage detection device detects a voltage between the potential input and the ground output.

Abstract: A process tests an operability of a circuit breaker device (18, 20, 34) to establish/sever a connection of two circuit areas (36, 38, 40, 42). The circuit breaker device includes a MOSFET (44) with a source terminal (46) connected with a circuit area, a drain terminal (48) connected with a circuit area, and a gate terminal (50) with a gate voltage applied by an associated gate driver device (52) to switch into a connection switching state connecting the two circuit areas during a connection phase. The gate voltage is monitored during the connection phase, a base voltage being applied to the source terminal or/and to the drain terminal during the connection phase is monitored. If a difference between the gate voltage and the base voltage falls below a predefined reference difference during the connection phase, it is determined that a circuit defect is present in the MOSFET.