Abstract: In a safety switch off of an electric consumer in a vehicle, the current consumption of the consumer is monitored in its active state by a main monitoring unit with respect to a safety switch off threshold which, when reached or exceeded, results in switching off the electronic switch. In a further operating state, in which the current consumption of the line leading to the consumer is lower than in its active state, the current consumption is monitored by an auxiliary monitoring unit with respect to the rate of changes. When the consumer is in the further operating state, the main monitoring unit is deactivated or operated in standby mode. When the consumer is in the further operating state, the main monitoring unit is activated, when the rate of changes in the current consumption reaches a threshold value and/or falls short of or exceeds a voltage range.

Abstract: A method switches off an electrical consumer in a vehicle, which is connected to a supply line provided with an electronic switch. The method includes: monitoring a current consumption of the consumer in a monitoring mode with respect to a safety switch-off threshold, and when the switch-off threshold is exceeded or fallen short of, switching off the electronic switch, switching a main monitoring unit from the standby mode to the monitoring mode when an amplitude of a dynamic change of the current consumption of the consumer reaches or exceeds a first threshold value, and monitoring the current consumption of the consumer in the standby mode by an auxiliary monitoring unit, and when the first threshold value is reached or exceeded, triggering the switching of the main monitoring unit from the standby mode to the monitoring mode.

Abstract: A method for starting up an electronic circuit for an airbag system is provided. The system includes a first transformer, a second transformer, a charging device, and an energy reserve device. A supply voltage is applied to the first transformer. The first transformer is controlled in a first start-up phase of the electronic circuit to output a first voltage. The charging device is controlled in a second start-up phase of the electronic circuit, such that the energy reserve device is brought to at least approximately 90% of the first voltage. The second transformer is controlled in a third start-up phase of the electronic circuit such that a second voltage that is higher than the first voltage is present at an output of the second transformer, and a third voltage that is higher than the first voltage is present at an output of the charging device.

Abstract: In a safety switch off of an electric consumer in a vehicle, the current consumption of the consumer is monitored in its active state by a main monitoring unit with respect to a safety switch off threshold which, when reached or exceeded, results in switching off the electronic switch. In a further operating state, in which the current consumption of the line leading to the consumer is lower than in its active state, the current consumption is monitored by an auxiliary monitoring unit with respect to the rate of changes. When the consumer is in the further operating state, the main monitoring unit is deactivated or operated in standby mode. When the consumer is in the further operating state, the main monitoring unit is activated, when the rate of changes in the current consumption reaches a threshold value and/or falls short of or exceeds a voltage range.

Abstract: A device for supplying at least two LED chains with electricity detects and then signals an interruption in the current path through the LED chains. A sub-device, in the event of a short circuit of an LED within a first LED chain, brings about a detection and/or a subsequent signalling of an interruption of the current path within another LED chain of these at least two LED chains. The associated method comprises the steps of detecting the short circuit of an individual LED in a first LED chain and of interrupting, as a result, the flow of current through at least one other LED chain and subsequently detecting this interruption of the flow of current through the other LED chain by means of the interruption detection system already existing as required.

Abstract: A device for supplying at least two LED chains with electricity detects and then signals an interruption in the current path through the LED chains. A sub-device, in the event of a short circuit of an LED within a first LED chain, brings about a detection and/or a subsequent signalling of an interruption of the current path within another LED chain of these at least two LED chains. The associated method comprises the steps of detecting the short circuit of an individual LED in a first LED chain and of interrupting, as a result, the flow of current through at least one other LED chain and subsequently detecting this interruption of the flow of current through the other LED chain by means of the interruption detection system already existing as required.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a watchdog for monitoring a processor. The watchdog sends messages to the processor which subsequently sends back its own status information and optionally the status information of system components and the test results thereof at predetermined times as answers to the watchdog. The watchdog comprises at least one result memory in the form of, e.g., a shift register in which the watchdog records the history of the answers and examines patterns in erroneous answers. The recording is generated by a trigger event which can be the reception of individual answers and/or the end of scheduled reception time periods. According to the patterns, signalizations are carried out on the processor and/or other system components, which optionally introduce measures and adapt their structure and/or the implemented programs and/or the priority of said implementations.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a watchdog for monitoring a processor. The watchdog sends messages to the processor which subsequently sends back its own status information and optionally the status information of system components and the test results thereof at predetermined times as answers to the watchdog. The watchdog comprises at least one result memory in the form of, e.g., a shift register in which the watchdog records the history of the answers and examines patterns in erroneous answers. The recording is generated by a trigger event which can be the reception of individual answers and/or the end of scheduled reception time periods. According to the patterns, signalizations are carried out on the processor and/or other system components, which optionally introduce measures and adapt their structure and/or the implemented programs and/or the priority of said implementations.

Abstract: The apparatus for supplying at least one consumer with electrical energy or for providing electrical power for at least one consumer from an on-board motor vehicle electrical system is provided with a control circuit, which is designed as an IC and has an input by means of which electrical energy can be supplied to the control circuit from the on-board motor vehicle electrical system, and having at least a first output and a second output, wherein a consumer can be supplied with electrical energy from the on-board motor vehicle electrical system by the control circuit by means of each of said two outputs, or the control circuit can provide electrical power for a consumer by means of said outputs, at least one external resistor, which is arranged outside the IC, for emitting possible lost electrical power outside the IC, wherein firstly the external resistor is connected to the second output of the control circuit, and secondly the consumer can be connected to the external resistor.

Abstract: A circuit is disclosed for supplying energy to a sequential circuit of typically non-linear loads by a current source. The load is preferably a series circuit of light emitting diodes (LEDs). Said current-operated load, preferably a LED series circuit, consisting of one to N elements is partially short-circuited and thus dimmed.

Abstract: The apparatus for supplying at least one consumer with electrical energy or for providing electrical power for at least one consumer from an on-board motor vehicle electrical system is provided with a control circuit, which is designed as an IC and has an input by means of which electrical energy can be supplied to the control circuit from the on-board motor vehicle electrical system, and having at least a first output and a second output, wherein a consumer can be supplied with electrical energy from the on-board motor vehicle electrical system by the control circuit by means of each of said two outputs, or the control circuit can provide electrical power for a consumer by means of said outputs, at least one external resistor, which is arranged outside the IC, for emitting possible lost electrical power outside the IC, wherein firstly the external resistor is connected to the second output of the control circuit, and secondly the consumer can be connected to the external resistor.

Abstract: A circuit is disclosed for supplying energy to a sequential circuit of typically non-linear loads by a current source. The load is preferably a series circuit of light emitting diodes (LEDs). Said current-operated load, preferably a LED series circuit, consisting of one to N elements is partially short-circuited and thus dimmed.

Abstract: The electrical apparatus (10) for transmitting electrical energy in a clocked manner or with clocked transmission of electrical energy is provided with an input (32) and also an output (34) and a docked switch (26) which is connected between the input (32) and the output (34). The apparatus (10) further has a drive unit (28) for docking the switch (26) by pulse-width modulation with a fundamental frequency at which drive pulses (38) follow one another. The pulse-width modulation can be operated by periodic clocking during in each case only one drive pulse group comprising a variable, predefinable number of successive drive pulses (38) or drive intervals and therefore at a subharmonic of the fundamental frequency, wherein the minimum permissible minimum number and the maximum permissible maximum number of drive pulses (38) or intervals in the drive pulse group are selected to the exclusion of subharmonics which lie within predefinable subfrequency bands which are below the fundamental frequency.