Abstract: A method of protecting an electrical load (L) connectable to an electrical power source (B) via a switch (S), in the event of short circuit of the load (L), comprises the following steps of: connecting the load (L) to the electrical power source (B) by a first switching-on of the switch (S), detecting an output current (IA) of the switch (S), switching off the switch (S), when the output current (IA) exceeds an overcurrent threshold (IA_S) and/or a predetermined period of time (TD) has elapsed since the first switching-on of the switch (S), detecting an output voltage (UA) of the switch (S), determining an output voltage difference (AUA) of the output voltage (UA) between a predetermined first point in time (T1) and a predetermined second point in time (T2) after the first point in time (T1), a second switching-on of the switch (S), when the output voltage difference (AUA) is negative and has an absolute value that is less than an upper output voltage difference threshold (AUA_S1), and/or the switch (S) was s

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of and an apparatus for controlling a plurality of load elements in a motor vehicle, wherein corresponding load current pulses for the load elements are so produced that they overlap at least in the region of their rising and falling edges and wherein the configuration in respect of time of the load current pulses is controlled in such a way that a substantially constant overall current is also afforded from the total of the load current pulses of all load elements in the region of the rising and falling edges of the load current pulses.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of and an apparatus for controlling a plurality of load elements in a motor vehicle, wherein corresponding load current pulses for the load elements are so produced that they overlap at least in the region of their rising and falling edges and wherein the configuration in respect of time of the load current pulses is controlled in such a way that a substantially constant overall current is also afforded from the total of the load current pulses of all load elements in the region of the rising and falling edges of the load current pulses.