Abstract: An ultrasonic measuring device includes an ultrasonic transducer without voltage converter having two transducer terminals to which an alternately reversible control voltage can be applied for emitting an ultrasonic burst signal in a control phase and to which an evaluation voltage is applied in a reception phase. The ultrasonic transducer decays in a decay phase between the control phase and the reception phase. A control unit generates the control voltage. The control unit comprises a full bridge circuit with two half bridge circuits, each comprising two semiconductor driving switches, which are connected to the two terminals of the ultrasonic transducer. An evaluation unit is provided with two input terminals, each of which is connected to the terminals of the ultrasonic transducer via a connection line. Voltage limiting elements in the two terminal lines limit the voltage applied to the input terminals of the amplifier.

Abstract: Disclosed is a driver stage for activating a first ultrasonic transducer and a method for the operation thereof. The driver stage comprises a first charge pump or power source and a first capacitor. The driver stage also comprises first means for charging the first capacitor with electrical energy from the charge pump and second means for connecting the first capacitor and ultrasonic transducer to different polarities. The first means do not charge the first capacitor with energy from the charge pump or power source when the first capacitor is connected to the ultrasonic transducer by the second means.

Abstract: A self-testing measuring system includes at least three modes: an operating mode and at least two test modes. In a third test mode, a digital signal generating unit stimulates the digital input circuit directly by means of test signals. In a second test mode, the digital signal generating unit stimulates the analogue signal string and the digital input circuit by means of test signals. In a first test mode, the digital signal generating unit stimulates the analogue signal string, the measuring unit (typically an ultrasound transducer) and the digital input circuit by means of test signals, thereby allowing this signal string to be tested. In the operating mode, the digital signal generating unit stimulates the analogue signal string, the measuring unit (typically an ultrasound transducer) and the digital input circuit by means of output signals, thereby allowing the signal string to be monitored for parameter compliance.

Abstract: Disclosed is a driver stage for activating a first ultrasonic transducer and a method for the operation thereof. The driver stage comprises a first charge pump or power source and a first capacitor. The driver stage also comprises first means for charging the first capacitor with electrical energy from the charge pump and second means for connecting the first capacitor and ultrasonic transducer to different polarities. The first means do not charge the first capacitor with energy from the charge pump or power source when the first capacitor is connected to the ultrasonic transducer by the second means.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting an erroneous bus node address allocation in data bus systems with auto addressing using an addressing current, such as LIN data bus systems with auto addressing. The method comprises performing auto addressing of the n bus nodes, causing an addressing current to be supplied by a bus node, sensing the data bus current by the bus nodes and determining a bus node-specific bus current measurement value, deciding, whether an addressing current flows through the respective bus node, and determining a bus node-specific addressing current presence value, transmitting the bus node-specific bus current measurement value and/or the bus node-specific addressing current presence value from the bus node to the bus master, forming a supply bus node-specific result vector from the received bus node-specific addressing current presence values, and comparing the supply bus node-specific result vector and a supply bus node-specific expectation vector.

Abstract: A self-testing measuring system includes at least three modes: an operating mode and at least two test modes. In a third test mode, a digital signal generating unit stimulates the digital input circuit directly by means of test signals. In a second test mode, the digital signal generating unit stimulates the analogue signal string and the digital input circuit by means of test signals. In a first test mode, the digital signal generating unit stimulates the analogue signal string, the measuring unit (typically an ultrasound transducer) and the digital input circuit by means of test signals, thereby allowing this signal string to be tested. In the operating mode, the digital signal generating unit stimulates the analogue signal string, the measuring unit (typically an ultrasound transducer) and the digital input circuit by means of output signals, thereby allowing the signal string to be monitored for parameter compliance.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting an erroneous bus node address allocation in data bus systems with auto addressing using an addressing current, such as LIN data bus systems with auto addressing. The method comprises performing auto addressing of the n bus nodes, causing an addressing current to be supplied by a bus node, sensing the data bus current by the bus nodes and determining a bus node-specific bus current measurement value, deciding, whether an addressing current flows through the respective bus node, and determining a bus node-specific addressing current presence value, transmitting the bus node-specific bus current measurement value and/or the bus node-specific addressing current presence value from the bus node to the bus master, forming a supply bus node-specific result vector from the received bus node-specific addressing current presence values, and comparing the supply bus node-specific result vector and a supply bus node-specific expectation vector.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasonic measuring system (10), in particular for measuring distance and/or as a parking aid in vehicles, having an electroacoustic ultrasonic transducer (12) which has a oscillating element (14), does not have a voltage converter, can be alternately operated as an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver and has a signal connection (16), which is used either as an input or as an output of the ultrasonic transducer (12), and an earth connection (18) which is connected to earth, and a control and evaluation unit (20) for exciting the oscillating element (14) of the ultrasonic transducer (12) to emit ultrasonic waves for operating the ultrasonic transducer (12) during a transmission interval for the purpose of subsequently deactivating the excitation of the oscillating element (14) and attenuating the latter during a decay phase and for receiving and processing ultrasonic waves in a reception interval.

Abstract: The invention relates to a self-testing measuring system (SS) which may have at least three modes: an operating mode and at least two test modes. In a third test mode, a digital signal generating unit (DSO) stimulates the digital input circuit (DSI) directly by means of test signals, thereby allowing this signal string to be tested. In a second test mode, the digital signal generating unit (DSO) stimulates the analogue signal string (DR, AS) and the digital input circuit (DSI) by means of test signals, thereby allowing this signal string to be tested. In a first test mode, the digital signal generating unit (DSO) stimulates the analogue signal string (DR, AS), the measuring unit (TR) (typically an ultrasound transducer) and the digital input circuit (DSI) by means of test signals, thereby allowing this signal string to be tested and monitored for parameter compliance, in particular in respect of signal amplitudes.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasonic measuring system (10), in particular for measuring distance and/or as a parking aid in vehicles, having an electroacoustic ultrasonic transducer (12) which has a oscillating element (14), does not have a voltage converter, can be alternately operated as an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver and has a signal connection (16), which is used either as an input or as an output of the ultrasonic transducer (12), and an earth connection (18) which is connected to earth, and a control and evaluation unit (20) for exciting the oscillating element (14) of the ultrasonic transducer (12) to emit ultrasonic waves for operating the ultrasonic transducer (12) during a transmission interval for the purpose of subsequently deactivating the excitation of the oscillating element (14) and attenuating the latter during a decay phase and for receiving and processing ultrasonic waves in a reception interval.