Abstract: A voltage regulator connected to a microcomputer is switched from main power to standby power by a monitoring integrated circuit in response to a switch off by the control circuit after receiving a switch off command, from an ignition switch, and only after the computer has been reset. The monitoring integrated circuit has a plurality of circuit elements including a circuit element which generates a control signal for switching the voltage regulator to a state producing a standby voltage which powers the microprocessor to save the information in the microprocessor memory. Preferably the circuit element generating the control signal is an operational amplifier whose output is fed by a time delay network which delays switching of the voltage regulator.

Abstract: A circuit for neutralizing very fast current fluctuations in a power consumer circuit, such as an integrated circuit having a pair of input or output conductors includes a bipolar transistor 17 whose collector is connected via a parallel connection of a semiconductor diode and a resistor to one of the conductors. The emitter of the transistor is grounded and the base is connected to the other conductor. Another parallel connection of a diode and a resistor is connected between the two conductors to bias the transistor to a preset current when a standard current of a constant magnitude flows through the consumer circuit. If current surges or breaks occur in the standard current, the preset current flowing through the collector resistor undergoes corresponding changes and a compensating current is very fast loaded to the conductors through the capacitance of the barrier layer of the p-n junction of the collector diode to neutralize the changes of the standard current.

Abstract: The voltage developed by a primary winding of an ignition coil is supplied to a voltage divider for furnishing an analog signal of reduced amplitude for evaluation on an analog basis, which reduced amplitude analog signal is averaged by a capacitor connected between the voltage divider tap and ground. The capacitor eliminates the undesired effect of voltage spikes, but is not large enough to interfere with the measurement of voltages exceeding the ignition-initiating primary winding voltage value. The same reduced primary winding voltage is supplied through an input resistor to one input of a differential amplifier connected to operate as a switch having hysteresis and having a reference voltage applied to it such that the output will be the provision of a steady voltage having a duration corresponding to the spark discharge duration, for subsequent digital evaluation.