Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for switching power transistors in a power transistor circuit. The power transistors each have a gate, which is driven sequentially by at least three control values in the case of a switch-on sequence and/or a switch-off sequence. A switchover occurs between the control values at specific times. The specific times are determined or modified by a controller, which is driven by a Miller plateau detector for detecting a Miller plateau in a gate-source voltage of the respective power transistor.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus for a three-phase brushless DC motor. The motor control apparatus comprises a power converter which has, for each phase of the brushless DC motor, an electrical half-bridge having two electronic switches, and an application-specific integrated circuit for actuating the electronic switches of the power converter. The application-specific integrated circuit can be controlled by a programmable control unit in a normal mode, has a first interface for receiving an error signal signaling a malfunction and is designed to change the power converter to a defined final operating state independently of the programmable control unit after receiving the error signal.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an electronic control unit (ECU) for a vehicle. The ECU includes a 12V-domain controlling an electric load supplied with a first supply voltage and a 48V-domain controlling an electric load supplied with a second supply voltage. Both domains are arranged on a single printed circuit board (PCB) and are galvanically isolated from each other and connected with each other by a galvanically isolated data interface that transfers data between the domains according to a half-duplex or a full-duplex communication protocol. The 48V-domain includes a 48V-microcontroller and a 48V-power supply supplying the 48V-microcontroller, where the 48V-power supply is powered by the first supply voltage from the 12V-domain via a galvanically isolated supply interface.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus for a three-phase brushless DC motor. The motor control apparatus comprises a power converter which has, for each phase of the brushless DC motor, an electrical half-bridge having two electronic switches, and an application-specific integrated circuit for actuating the electronic switches of the power converter. The application-specific integrated circuit can be controlled by a programmable control unit in a normal mode, has a first interface for receiving an error signal signaling a malfunction and is designed to change the power converter to a defined final operating state independently of the programmable control unit after receiving the error signal.

Abstract: A device for actuating and/or monitoring a brushless DC motor, preferably for safety-relevant applications, preferably while operating or controlling a vehicle or components of a vehicle and a method for reliably checking the functional capability of the device are provided. The device can be actuated by a motor control unit by using a control signal for actuating and/or monitoring a brushless direct current motor by using a converter circuit includes a switching-off apparatus, a driver circuit which acts on the converter circuit and a testable diagnosis unit for monitoring the device and/or the converter circuit and/or the brushless direct current motor. The switching-off apparatus acts on the driver circuit. The testable diagnosis unit can be tested for a malfunction by using a testing command transmitted by the motor control unit.

Abstract: A device for actuating and/or monitoring a brushless DC motor, preferably for safety-relevant applications, preferably while operating or controlling a vehicle or components of a vehicle and a method for reliably checking the functional capability of the device are provided. The device can be actuated by a motor control unit by using a control signal for actuating and/or monitoring a brushless direct current motor by using a converter circuit includes a switching-off apparatus, a driver circuit which acts on the converter circuit and a testable diagnosis unit for monitoring the device and/or the converter circuit and/or the brushless direct current motor. The switching-off apparatus acts on the driver circuit. The testable diagnosis unit can be tested for a malfunction by using a testing command transmitted by the motor control unit.

Abstract: A method recognizes a wire-break fault during operation of a brushless DC motor. A switch-on delay duration of a transition of an electrical phase potential that rests on the stator winding phase from a switch-off potential to a switch-on potential and a switch-off delay duration of the transition of the phase potential from the switch-on potential to the switch-off potential are detected for a stator winding phase of the stator winding of the motor during each pulse width modulation cycle period. Moreover, a lower deviation limit is defined for a deviation of detected switch-off delay durations from detected switch-on delay durations. A wire-break fault is deduced if the deviations of the detected switch-off delay durations from the detected switch-on delay durations fall below the lower deviation limit.

Abstract: A method recognizes a wire-break fault during operation of a brushless DC motor. A switch-on delay duration of a transition of an electrical phase potential that rests on the stator winding phase from a switch-off potential to a switch-on potential and a switch-off delay duration of the transition of the phase potential from the switch-on potential to the switch-off potential are detected for a stator winding phase of the stator winding of the motor during each pulse width modulation cycle period. Moreover, a lower deviation limit is defined for a deviation of detected switch-off delay durations from detected switch-on delay durations. A wire-break fault is deduced if the deviations of the detected switch-off delay durations from the detected switch-on delay durations fall below the lower deviation limit.