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: Control circuitry for the load voltage of a safety-relevant load is sensitive to values of the load voltage outside a safe voltage range. The control circuitry includes a seventh node, a reference potential, a dominant main control circuit, and a non-dominant emergency control circuit. The seventh node is part of the dominant main control circuit, and not part of the non-dominant emergency control circuit. The load voltage of the safety relevant load drops between the seventh node and the reference potential. The dominant main control circuit includes the load voltage as a control parameter, whereas the non-dominant emergency control circuit does not. In the event of an uninterrupted dominant main control circuit, the load voltage depends on the load voltage, and in the event of an interrupted dominant main control circuit, does NOT depend on the load voltage but is controlled nevertheless.

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.