Abstract: The invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for controlling a plurality of mutually communicating actuators, each of the actuators having at least one signal sensor for determining the state of the actuator, with at least one control apparatus generating, in accordance with the state of at least one of the actuators, control signals used for driving controllers of the actuators. In order to avoid overheating of the individual actuators or the control apparatus in case of a large number of actuations by a user, it is provided to determine the temperature of the actuators and the control apparatus cooperating with the actuators and, in case a predetermined temperature threshold value is exceeded in an actuator or the control apparatus, to generate a control signal for non-driving the controllers of the actuators until the excessive temperature detected drops below the temperature threshold value by a defined temperature value.

Abstract: A monolithic integrated multiple mode circuit having an output stage, a transfer gate, a control circuit arrangement, and a well contacting region where a well potential may be applied, the multiple mode circuit adapted to be controlled into an output stage mode or an input stage mode by means of control data.

Abstract: A protection circuit for the prevention of program interruptions of electrical equipment controlled on the basis of program step clocks, by too frequent occurrences of non-maskable interrupt signals. This protection circuit comprises a controllable interrupt signal passage circuit which, depending on an output signal of a control signal source, can be controlled to a state permitting the passage of the non-maskable interrupt signal or to a state blocking said signal. The control signal source comprises a clock counter with overflow resetting function, by means of which program step clock pulses can be counted starting from a predetermined initial counting value until a predetermined overflow counting value is reached. The control signal source comprises furthermore an interrupt signal counter the counting value of which can be increased by each non-maskable interrupt event and decreased each time the overflow counting value of the clock counter is reached.

Abstract: For eliminating the emphasis given an audio signal in the transmitter, an audio signal processor of an audio device (e.g., a car radio) contains a low-pass filter. In order to attenuate the spurious higher-frequency signal fractions in case of poor reception and accordingly low received field strength, the cutoff frequency of the low-pass filter is shifted in the direction of lower frequencies in accordance with a received field strength signal when the field strength becomes lower. In order to avoid external adjusting components and save pins on the IC chip, the field strength signal is supplied to an analog-to-digital converter and the latter supplies a digital signal to a low-pass filter whose cutoff frequency is variable. For this purpose the low-pass filter contains a number of integrated components one of which is connected or disconnected by a digit place of the digital signal in each case.

Abstract: A control circuit adapted to be switched to a standby mode during periods without control requirement and to be repeatedly reset during the standby mode of operation for a short wake-up period each to a full mode of operation. The control circuit comprises a standby oscillator that is operative also in the standby mode and that is adjusted during wake-up periods.

Abstract: A filter circuit adjustably decreases or increases the amplitude of audio signals in a predetermined frequency range. The filter circuit includes a filter module having an RC network with at least one frequency-response-determining RC member whose resistor component R is realized in SC technology. A setting device is connected to the filter module such that its setting determines the frequency response of the SC filter. The setting device renders possible a neutral setting in which the effective audio signal path of the filter circuit circumvents the filter module so that no decrease or increase of the amplitude of individual frequency portions takes place. Furthermore, an audio signal processor comprises at least one audio signal input, at least one audio signal output, and at least one control input.

Abstract: Driver and overload protection circuit for an electrical switch means. Switching control pulses with a minimum edge duration are fed to a two stage comparator circuit having first, lower and second, higher comparator threshold values. When the lower comparator threshold value is exceeded by a switching control pulse, the electrical switch means is rendered conducting. There is provided an overload detection circuit which, upon detection of overload of the electrical switch means, effects switching off of the same. For avoiding that turning on spikes upon each turning on of the electrical switch means, for example when switching capacitive loads, lead to deactivation of the switch means, any overload signal of the overload detector means is blocked as long as the instantaneous voltage value of the particular switching control pulse is not above the upper comparator threshold.

Abstract: In a stereo decoder, channel separation takes place with the aid of a demodulator to acquire signals for stereo operation. At low received field strength there is a continuous switchover to mono operation for each channel in the demodulator. For this purpose a switch is located in a signal path between input and output of the demodulator and driven by a PWM signal whose pulse-width repetition rate determines whether solely mono operation, solely stereo operation or a mixture of the two takes place. For generating the PWM signal, the field strength signal is compared with a triangular signal. To permit the switchover points between stereo and mono operation to be aligned by the manufacturer in accordance with the amplitude of the field strength signal, the apparatus contains two limit storage registers in which digital limit signals are set from outside.

Abstract: An electric muting circuit for soft muting of an audio signal is shown. It comprises a digitally controllable attenuation circuit having an audio signal input, an audio signal output and a control signal input and also comprises an up/down counter having a clock pulse input fed with clock pulses to be counted, a counting control input fed with a counting control signal controlling counting start and counting stop, and a count signal output from which a digital count signal is available and which a digital count signal input of the attenuation circuit.