Abstract: A circuit arrangement for monitoring an alternating voltage signal includes a comparator configured to receive the alternating voltage signal or a signal obtained from the alternating voltage signal at a first comparator input and output a comparator signal at a comparator output. The circuit arrangement further includes a zero crossing detector configured to receive a reference signal or a signal obtained from the reference signal at a monitoring input and generate a detector signal at an output of the zero crossing detector. The circuit arrangement further includes a logic circuit including a first timing element connected downstream of the zero crossing detector for generating a first clock signal and a second timing element connected downstream of the zero crossing detector for generating a second clock signal.

Abstract: A device, having a safe state, is coupleable to a communication bus. The device includes a first logic unit; a second logic unit; a monitoring circuit; a transmission unit; and a first test line. The device is adapted such that the first logic unit communicates with a bus via the transmission unit in a communication phase and the monitoring circuit emits a monitoring signal to the transmission unit upon a fault so that the transmission unit blocks the communication. The first and/or the second logic unit is coupled to the monitoring circuit via the first test line so as to emit a first test signal to the monitoring circuit.

Abstract: A device, having a safe state, is coupleable to a communication bus. The device includes a first logic unit; a second logic unit; a monitoring circuit; a transmission unit; and a first test line. The device is adapted such that the first logic unit communicates with a bus via the transmission unit in a communication phase and the monitoring circuit emits a monitoring signal to the transmission unit upon a fault so that the transmission unit blocks the communication. The first and/or the second logic unit is coupled to the monitoring circuit via the first test line so as to emit a first test signal to the monitoring circuit.

Abstract: A circuit for protection against overvoltages includes an input side to which an input voltage can be applied, an output side at which an output voltage can be tapped, an overvoltage protection element which is connected in parallel with the input side and which is configured to, when an overvoltage pulse occurs at the input side, conduct at least part of the overvoltage pulse away via a first current path, and a protective transistor which is connected in parallel with the output side. When an overvoltage pulse occurs at the input side, the protective transistor changes from a closed mode into an open mode forming a second current path parallel to the first current path along the protective transistor so that substantially the rest of the overvoltage pulse can be conducted away via the second current path.

Abstract: A circuit for protection against overvoltages includes an input side to which an input voltage can be applied, an output side at which an output voltage can be tapped, an overvoltage protection element which is connected in parallel with the input side and which is configured to, when an overvoltage pulse occurs at the input side, conduct at least part of the overvoltage pulse away via a first current path, and a protective transistor which is connected in parallel with the output side. When an overvoltage pulse occurs at the input side, the protective transistor changes from a closed mode into an open mode forming a second current path parallel to the first current path along the protective transistor so that substantially the rest of the overvoltage pulse can be conducted away via the second current path.

Abstract: A data transmission device for serial, synchronous transmission of data includes a master device and a slave device which can be linked by at least one data transmission line and a clock signal line. The master and slave devices can be linked by an additional ready signal line for transmitting a ready signal from the slave device to the master device. When the slave device has completed a data reading operation, a ready signal can be generated for the master device. The master device is able to initiate a further writing operation to the slave device only after receiving the ready signal from the slave device. Suppression of interference by the slave device may be enhanced.

Abstract: A coupling piece for carrying out digital transmissions between an electrical interface of a first device and an electrical interface of a second device. The devices each use different voltage levels for distinguishing between the two logical states “high” and “low”. An internal circuit is provided for converting the voltage levels of the first device to the voltage levels of the second device, which correspond to the state. The higher voltage level is conveyed to this internal circuit by one of the two devices so that the low level can be converted to the higher level. The internal circuit carries out the conversions using a switching process.

Abstract: The circuit configuration for storage management and for the execution of user programs in small control units using a microcontroller (2). A microcontroller (2) has a central processing unit, a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory and an interface. An additional non-volatile readable and writeable memory unit is configured as a serial memory unit and is,connected to the microcontroller as a separate unit via the interface. Different methods are described, for executing user programs using the circuit configuration. In a first method, the entire user program is read out from the separate memory and is serially interpreted by the microcontroller. In a second method, the entire user program is copied into and afterward directly interpreted by an internal memory of the microcontroller during the runup phase of the flow of control.

Abstract: The invention relates to an input circuit for relatively high-current alternating current-signals to be monitored. Said input circuit is provided with a capacitor (C) at the input side for supplying a relatively high input current on the basis of an AC supply voltage (L1) by the switched off device (1; 2) to be monitored. At the input side a discharge circuit (23) is provided in parallel for quickly detecting any changes of state of the device (1; 2) to be monitored. Said discharge circuit has a small discharge resistance (Rc) vis-à-vis the input resistance (Re). The discharge circuit (23) is further provided with a switch element (S3) that is blocked when the current supply voltage (L1) and the threshold voltage (Ustyp) to be recognized have the same polarity and that is conductive when they are of different polarity.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a defined amplitude threshold value of a signal formed by alternating voltage and a circuit for carrying out such a method.

Abstract: A circuit configuration for a direct-voltage power pack of an electronically controlled switching device, particularly of a small programmable control system, which is externally supplied with voltage, having an arithmetic-logic unit, signal inputs and signal outputs. This circuit has a back-up supplier for the backup supply of the supply voltage and a detector for detecting the input voltage which is not backed up, the detector interacting with the arithmetic-logic unit in such a way that, in response to any voltage failure, the signal inputs are reliably prevented from being read in.