Abstract: A control unit for activating a personal protection device of a vehicle. The control unit includes a compute module, which is in one-piece and which includes a first area including a permanently wired processing structure and a second area including a programmable processing structure, the compute module being designed to carry out a processing instruction for activating the personal protection device in at least the second area.

Abstract: A circuit for processing a wake-up signal, which is usable for activating electrical devices. The circuit includes an evaluation circuit, which checks an applied wake-up signal for its validity, and an output driver circuit, which outputs a processed wake-up signal when the evaluation circuit evaluates the applied wake-up signal as valid. The evaluation circuit has a comparator, which compares the applied wake-up signal to at least one threshold value for the evaluation. The evaluation circuit includes an input circuit and a switchable constant voltage source via which at least one criterion for evaluating the applied wake-up signal is adjustable in each case. The comparator is a multi-channel, integrated comparator circuit, and the individual channels of the integrated comparator circuit evaluating one criterion of an applied wake-up signal in each case.

Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle electrical system that is provided for supplying at least one restraint system. In the method, in addition to monitoring the vehicle electrical system voltage, at least one further indicator is monitored as an indicator. A critical supply state of the restraint system is detected by evaluating these indicators and the efficiency of the used DC voltage switching converters is reduced by at least one measure, so that a supply current for at least one restraint system is reduced by the at least one restraint system. A release condition is requested prior to implementing the at least one measure.

Abstract: A method for recognizing the breakdown of an energy reserve device of at least two energy reserve devices of a device for protecting the occupants of a vehicle. The method includes: charging the at least two energy reserve devices to a test voltage level; ascertaining an ambient temperature of the at least two energy reserve devices; acquiring the (overall) capacitance of the at least two energy reserve devices; recognizing the breakdown of an energy reserve device as a function of a floating mean value, which is a function of the ascertained ambient temperature, for the (overall) capacitance and of the acquired (overall) capacitance; updating a floating mean value as a function of the ascertained ambient temperature and the acquired overall capacitance.

Abstract: A method to charge a personal-protection-device energy store for operating a personal protection device of a vehicle. The method includes a step of reading in a voltage value of a source energy store of the vehicle. In addition, the method includes a step of ascertaining a charging current for charging the personal-protection-device energy store with power from the source energy store, the charging current being ascertained, using the voltage value read in; and using the charging current for charging the personal-protection-device energy store.

Abstract: A control unit for activating a personal protection device of a vehicle. The control unit includes a one-piece compute module, which includes a first area including a permanently wired processing structure and a second area including a programmable processing structure, the compute module being designed to carry out a processing instruction for activating the personal protection device in at least the second area.

Abstract: A multi-line supply unit for a vehicle control unit, including at least two supply lines each connected to a vehicle voltage source at the input and brought together at a common node at the output; and a protective device, including, in each of the supply lines, at least one first damping diode looped into the supply lines in the forward direction, between the vehicle voltage source and the node; and an operating method for such a multi-line supply unit. At least one switch element is looped into each of the supply lines, respectively, in parallel with the damping diode, respectively; an evaluation and control unit measuring and evaluating a line voltage at the inputs of the supply lines, respectively, and measuring and evaluating a reverse-polarity-protected supply voltage at the common node, and controlling the switch elements in the supply lines as a function of the evaluation, using corresponding control signals.

Abstract: A circuit for processing a wake-up signal, which is usable for activating electrical devices. The circuit includes an evaluation circuit, which checks an applied wake-up signal for its validity, and an output driver circuit, which outputs a processed wake-up signal when the evaluation circuit evaluates the applied wake-up signal as valid. The evaluation circuit has a comparator, which compares the applied wake-up signal to at least one threshold value for the evaluation. The evaluation circuit includes an input circuit and a switchable constant voltage source via which at least one criterion for evaluating the applied wake-up signal is adjustable in each case. The comparator is a multi-channel, integrated comparator circuit, and the individual channels of the integrated comparator circuit evaluating one criterion of an applied wake-up signal in each case.

Abstract: A multi-line supply unit for a vehicle control unit, including at least two supply lines each connected to a vehicle voltage source at the input and brought together at a common node at the output; and a protective device, including, in each of the supply lines, at least one first damping diode looped into the supply lines in the forward direction, between the vehicle voltage source and the node; and an operating method for such a multi-line supply unit. At least one switch element is looped into each of the supply lines, respectively, in parallel with the damping diode, respectively; an evaluation and control unit measuring and evaluating a line voltage at the inputs of the supply lines, respectively, and measuring and evaluating a reverse-polarity-protected supply voltage at the common node, and controlling the switch elements in the supply lines as a function of the evaluation, using corresponding control signals.

Abstract: A method for transmitting a data packet from a sensor to a controller via a peripheral sensor interface includes transmitting the data packet from the sensor via the sensor interface in a time window of a transmission period of a sensor interface operating mode which is synchronized by the controller. The data packet is re-transmitted by the sensor within the transmission period in at least one additional time window of the transmission period.

Abstract: A protective device for a trip circuit for a personal protection device for a vehicle, the trip circuit having an ignition device, a high-side end stage, and a low-side end stage. The protective device has a high-side interface for contacting the protective device to a high-side terminal and a low-side interface for contacting the protective device to a low-side terminal of the ignition device, a suppressor diode that is connected between the high-side interface and a second voltage potential; and at least one first diode that is connected between the low-side interface and the second voltage potential.

Abstract: An energy supply device for an occupant protection system is described, including an ignition energy supply device and a back-up supply device, the ignition energy supply device including an ignition energy store, which is chargeable via a first charge circuit from a first system voltage to a reserve voltage, the ignition energy store being suitable for providing a high ignition energy in the range of 0.1 kW to 2.5 kW for at least one restraint means for a short time period of 0.5 ms to 2 ms. The back-up supply device includes a back-up energy store, which is chargeable via a second charge circuit from a system voltage to a back-up voltage, the back-up energy store having an energy density value higher than the ignition energy store by a factor of 10 to 50 and being suitable for providing the supply energy in the range of 1 W to 10 W for the passenger protection system in the event of a supply interruption for a predefined time period of at least 5 s.

Abstract: A method for monitoring an energy reserve for a safety device for a vehicle includes the task of evaluating a change of a voltage present in the energy reserve between a starting value suitable for operating the safety device and a test voltage value suitable for operating the safety device to monitor the energy reserve.

Abstract: A method to charge a personal-protection-device energy store for operating a personal protection device of a vehicle. The method includes a step of reading in a voltage value of a source energy store of the vehicle. In addition, the method includes a step of ascertaining a charging current for charging the personal-protection-device energy store with power from the source energy store, the charging current being ascertained, using the voltage value read in; and using the charging current for charging the personal-protection-device energy store.

Abstract: A protective device for a trip circuit for a personal protection device for a vehicle, the trip circuit having an ignition device, a high-side end stage, and a low-side end stage. The protective device has a high-side interface for contacting the protective device to a high-side terminal and a low-side interface for contacting the protective device to a low-side terminal of the ignition device, a suppressor diode that is connected between the high-side interface and a second voltage potential; and at least one first diode that is connected between the low-side interface and the second voltage potential.

Abstract: A method for recognizing a usability of a control device of a safety device in a vehicle includes: applying a voltage to the control device; acquiring a voltage curve or a current curve at the control device; and recognizing a usability of the control device as a function of the acquired voltage curve or of the acquired current curve. In particular, the correct polarity of an inductive actuator having a freewheeling diode is recognized, because in the case of incorrect polarity the inductive actuator is bridged by the freewheeling diode.

Abstract: An integrated circuit having a housing in a control unit provides at least two voltage levels, has a watchdog for monitoring a processor, performs an evaluation of at least one acceleration signal to enable at least one ignition output stage, and has at least one first interface for connecting to at least one sensor situated outside the control unit.

Abstract: A device for providing an activation voltage for a safety unit for a vehicle. The device includes a supply terminal for applying a first supply voltage potential, an activation terminal for outputting the activation voltage, and a control terminal for reading in a control signal. In addition, the device includes a pass-through switch that is connected between the supply terminal and the activation terminal, a first control switch, a second control switch, and a third control switch that includes a control input that is connected to the control terminal.

Abstract: A monitoring device for an ignition circuit for a personal protection device for a vehicle. The ignition circuit activates the personal protection device when an ignition voltage is present that exceeds a voltage threshold value and/or an ignition current is present that exceeds a current threshold value. The monitoring device has a control device and a voltage source connected via a voltage source terminal of the control device. The control device is connected via a high-side ignition circuit terminal to a first supply terminal of the ignition circuit and via a low-side ignition circuit terminal to a second supply terminal of the ignition circuit. The monitoring device is fashioned such that a no-load voltage of a high-side current source of the control device situated between the voltage source terminal and the high-side ignition circuit terminal corresponds at least to the voltage threshold value.

Abstract: A method for transmitting a data packet from a sensor to a controller via a peripheral sensor interface includes transmitting the data packet from the sensor via the sensor interface in a time window of a transmission period of a sensor interface operating mode which is synchronized by the controller. The data packet is re-transmitted by the sensor within the transmission period in at least one additional time window of the transmission period.