Abstract: A method for driving a non-linear load element. On account of the non-linear interrelationship between the voltage and the current at the load element and the related non-linear dependence of the power loss on the quantities “voltage” and “current”, an adjustment of the switching speed only on the basis of the power loss in the switching element cannot be carried out with non-linear load elements without being confronted with undesirable switching losses and related electromagnetic noise fields. Therefore, the load current currently flowing in the load element is picked up in addition to the currently determined power loss in the switching element, and the switching speed of the switching element is controlled in dependence on the determined power loss and on the current picked up. The switching speed can be optimally adjusted when driving the non-linear load elements by means of PWM.

Abstract: Power supply apparatus with overload protection comprising a switch responsive to an input signal for switching between an ON-state for supplying current from a source of power to a load and an OFF-state for interrupting the supply of current to the load, and protection means responsive to an overload condition to switch the switch to the OFF-state. The protection means is responsive to a first overload condition during an initial phase after the switch switches to the ON-state so as to switch the switch back to the OFF-state and maintain the switch in the OFF-state. The protection means is subsequently responsive to a second overload condition if the first overload condition is not detected during the initial phase so as to switch the switch to the OFF-state and subsequently switch the switch back to the ON-state after an interval of time.

Abstract: A control unit for triggering a plurality of electric loads with a plurality of input signals, wherein the electric loads are triggered by pulse width modulated signals, and the input signals are PWM signals. A method is described with which the control unit triggers a plurality of electric loads with a plurality of input signals. The control unit includes controllable switching provisions, wherein these switching provisions connect at least one load respectively with one of at least two different PWM inputs. A method is described for triggering a plurality of electric loads with the aid of the control unit.

Abstract: Power switching apparatus comprising switch means having a control terminal and output terminals for connection in series between a power supply and a load. The switch means is responsive to a control signal applied to the control terminal to switch between an ON-state in which it supplies power supply current from the power supply through the output terminals to the load and an OFF-state in which it interrupts the supply of power through the output terminals to the load.

Abstract: A method is intended to make it possible to drive a PTC electrical load element with a switching unit with the highest possible operational reliability. For this purpose, the electric current is switched off if a predetermined current threshold value is exceeded, the magnitude of the current threshold value being determined from the operating parameters of the load element.

Abstract: Power switching apparatus comprising switch means having a control terminal and output terminals for connection in series between a power supply and a load. The switch means is responsive to a control signal applied to the control terminal to switch between an ON-state in which it supplies power supply current from the power supply through the output terminals to the load and an OFF-state in which it interrupts the supply of power through the output terminals to the load.

Abstract: The invention relates to a procedure for testing the function of a lamp circuit, consisting of at least one lamp, by measuring the current and voltage. Here, a resistance value is taken into account which is specified as a polynomial of at least the 1st order, preferably of the 3rd order, depending on the effective measured voltage on the lamp circuit, whereby the parameters of the polynomial are determined by a quantity of measurements which at least corresponds to the order of the polynomial, under operating conditions which are known to differ, and the specific resistance value or a value derived from it are compared with a specified value. It is particularly advantageous that when the parameters are standardised to the nominal power by multiplying the parameters by the nominal power, uniform average values with acceptable deviations are found over wide ranges of lamps with a different nominal power.

Abstract: Power supply apparatus with overload protection comprising a switch responsive to an input signal for switching between an ON-state for supplying current from a source of power to a load and an OFF-state for interrupting the supply of current to the load, and protection means responsive to an overload condition to switch the switch to the OFF-state. The protection means is responsive to a first overload condition during an initial phase after the switch switches to the ON-state so as to switch the switch back to the OFF-state and maintain the switch in the OFF-state. The protection means is subsequently responsive to a second overload condition if the first overload condition is not detected during the initial phase so as to switch the switch to the OFF-state and subsequently switch the switch back to the ON-state after an interval of time.

Abstract: A method for controlling electrical light sources, in particular, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) by pulse width modulation of a supply voltage is disclosed, whereby the supply voltage or a parameter dependent thereon, for example the current or the electrical power, is measured and the pulse width is controlled as a function thereof. According to the invention, for the light source a characteristic curve for the brightness is generated as a function of the supply voltage or the parameter dependent thereon and, from the measured supply voltage or the parameter dependent thereon, an actual brightness value is determined with the characteristic curve and is compared with a given brightness value and the pulse width controlled as a function thereof.

Abstract: The invention introduces a method for the production of an output signal having a predefined average size from a relatively larger input signal by pulse-width modulated connection of the input signal, wherein the pulse-width modulation has a predefined number of discrete, adjustable pulse widths within a pulse width and each pulse width corresponds to a specific average output-signal size. A super frame consisting of at least two successive pulses is chosen in order to produce an output signal which has an average size and which does not correspond to one of the discretely adjustable pulse widths. At least two pulses inside the super frame have a different pulse width such that the average output signal size corresponds to the predefined size.

Abstract: Disclosed is for controlling a light source by pulse width modulation of a supply voltage. The supply voltage, or a parameter dependent thereon, is measured and the pulse width is controlled as function of the measured value. The supply voltage or parameter is measured at least twice during the pulse and may be cyclically measured. The pulse width of the current or a subsequent pulse is matched to the recorded value of the supply voltage or the parameter. A total value is generated from all of the measured values and compared with a given value and the pulse width of subsequent pulses are matched as function of the difference between the total value and the given value.

Abstract: Disclosed are a transmitting device and a method for operating the transmitting device. The device includes long wave antennas, a multiplexer for activating an antenna, a power amplifier connected to a group of antennas and control unit for regulating the transmitter current.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for pulse width modulated control of a plurality of load elements, particularly during supply of the load elements from a common supply system in motor vehicles. The load elements are controlled in a time staggered manner with respect to one another, more particularly in a phase staggered manner within a common pulse width. Switch loads and high frequency interferences in the supply lines and the corresponding emissions can thus be reduced. The invention also discloses a circuit arrangement in which a corresponding phase staggered control is achieved with only one counter.

Abstract: A procedure for triggering a load element using an electronic switch element is presented, in which voltage on the load element is controlled with a maximum specified increase. The increase does not remain constant, but is controlled via the switching procedure in dependence on the effectively occurring power loss or a value which is dependant on it (Ua/Ubat), preferably in several phases, whereby preferably at the beginning and the end of the switch-over procedure in the phase where the output voltage changes, the increase is selected as being low relative to the increase in the middle phase, since as a result, the power loss is only insignificantly raised, yet the high-frequency interferences can be noticeably dampened.