Conti Temic Microelectronic Gmbh

Continental Automotive Gmbh

Jochen Zwick

Uli Joos

Josef Schnell

Christian Voss

Robert W Adams

Nicolai Jeutner

The system, which provides a control signal, includes an over-current control unit, a time clock that provides a periodic time signal, and a clock generator unit that includes a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal. The first input terminal is coupled to the time clock and the output terminal is coupled to the over-current control unit. The first input terminal of the clock generator unit receives the periodic time signal and the second input terminal of the clock generator unit receives a modification signal. The clock generator unit generates a clock signal based on the periodic time signal and the modification signal. The output terminal of the clock generator unit provides the clock signal to the over-current control unit, and the over-current control unit provides a control signal based on the clock signal.

System and method for providing a control signal

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.

Method for driving non-linear load elements based on load current

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.

Method for controlling an electrical light source by pulse width modulation

The function of a lamp circuit is tested by measuring the current and voltage. A resistance value is taken into account which is specified as a polynomial of at least the 1st order depending on the effective measured voltage on the lamp circuit. The parameters of the polynomial are determined by a quantity of measurements which correspond 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.

Procedure for testing the function of a lamp circuit

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.

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Markdorf, Germany

Jochen Zwick