Abstract: An electric drive device (1) comprises a motor converter circuit (3) according to the invention, which includes an intermediate circuit capacitor (16). The intermediate circuit capacitor (16) comprises a parallel circuit of several ceramic capacitors (24). The ceramic capacitors (24) have a lower dissipative resistance and enable better heat removal, so that the motor converter circuit (3) has a comparatively longer service life.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a system controlled by a processor utilizes an integrated monitoring unit independent of the processor but integrated together with the processor in an integrated circuit, as well as a watchdog unit for preventing measures that influence the system. The watchdog unit is cyclically reset by the integrated monitoring unit.

Abstract: 1. Method for operating a system controlled by a processor.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for detecting knocking combustion in an internal combustion engine, by evaluating the ionic current signal sensed in the combustion chamber, is especially adapted to correct or compensate the ionic current signal for longterm variations arising therein, for example due to variations in the composition of the fuel as a result of contamination with metallic components or the like. Thereby, erroneous knock recognition is prevented. To achieve this, a frequency-filtered time-sampled knocking component integral of the ionic current signal generated in the present combustion cycle is multiplied by a correction value determined from at least one integral value of the ionic current signal generated during at least one prior combustion cycle.

Abstract: A method of recognizing knocking combustion in an internal combustion engine involves sensing an ionic current in the combustion chamber and providing a corresponding ionic current signal, detecting the signal during a pertinent time window and band-pass filtering the signal for a pertinent frequency range characteristic of knocking phenomena, integrating the signal to provide a present integral value, and then comparing the present integral value to a lower knocking threshold and a higher knocking threshold. If the present integral value exceeds the lower knocking threshold but does not exceed the higher knocking threshold, the combustion is identified as a knocking combustion. If the present integral value exceeds the higher knocking threshold, the value is essentially disregarded as being implausible, and the combustion is identified either as non-knocking, or as the same combustion condition, i.e. either knocking or non-knocking, that had been determined in the previous combustion cycle.