Abstract: The proposal relates to a device for protecting an electrical and/or electronic component, arranged on a carrier substrate, from electrostatic discharges, an overvoltage occurring in the case of discharge at a carrier-substrate contact element connected to the component being diverted to a ground connection, bypassing the component. It is proposed that the protective device include a first electroconductive structure conductively connected to the jeopardized contact element, and a second electroconductive structure arranged adjacent to the first structure on the carrier substrate and conductively connected to the ground connection.

Abstract: A connector arrangement of a control system with a controller in a motor vehicle is designed so that it can be manufactured advantageously and is reliable in operation.To do so, the connector arrangement and the respective controller are designed so that several separate connector sockets with externally accessible contact elements are arranged on the controller, which is mounted on the vehicle's internal combustion engine as a surface-mounted controller, some of the contact elements being designed as high-current contact elements which are connected directly to one another through busbars running inside the controller.The respective mating connectors can be connected to the connector sockets, the mating connectors being electrically connected to components of the vehicle over cable harnesses or cable segments, where a first mating connector connected to cable segments is composed of partial mating connectors which can be handled independently of one another.

Abstract: Method and device for monitoring a load, which can be driven by means of an output stage as a function of the control signals of a control unit, the output stage carrying out fault monitoring and emitting an appropriate fault signal, wherein faults are detected only when at least one further condition is satisfied in addition to the fault signal.

Abstract: A method and a device for testing control units are presented, serving the purpose of operation and quality testing of automotive control units. The method comprises event control of individual test steps with defined signals from and to the test unit, thus reducing the test time. The method, furthermore, encompasses a test with square wave signals applied to the control unit, which are recognized by the control unit and read out to the test unit, thus increasing the depth of the test.