Robert Boschgmbh

Klaus Hueser

Bernd Bodig

Achim Herzog

Apparatus for controlled switching of a microcomputer to standby mode

A circuit for neutralizing very fast current fluctuations in a power consumer circuit, such as an integrated circuit having a pair of input or output conductors includes a bipolar transistor 17 whose collector is connected via a parallel connection of a semiconductor diode and a resistor to one of the conductors. The emitter of the transistor is grounded and the base is connected to the other conductor. Another parallel connection of a diode and a resistor is connected between the two conductors to bias the transistor to a preset current when a standard current of a constant magnitude flows through the consumer circuit. If current surges or breaks occur in the standard current, the preset current flowing through the collector resistor undergoes corresponding changes and a compensating current is very fast loaded to the conductors through the capacitance of the barrier layer of the p-n junction of the collector diode to neutralize the changes of the standard current.

Circuit for compensating very fast current fluctuations

The voltage developed by a primary winding of an ignition coil is supplied to a voltage divider for furnishing an analog signal of reduced amplitude for evaluation on an analog basis, which reduced amplitude analog signal is averaged by a capacitor connected between the voltage divider tap and ground. The capacitor eliminates the undesired effect of voltage spikes, but is not large enough to interfere with the measurement of voltages exceeding the ignition-initiating primary winding voltage value. The same reduced primary winding voltage is supplied through an input resistor to one input of a differential amplifier connected to operate as a switch having hysteresis and having a reference voltage applied to it such that the output will be the provision of a steady voltage having a duration corresponding to the spark discharge duration, for subsequent digital evaluation. The tap of the voltage divider that provides the analog output voltage for the system is subjected to a clamping action provided by another voltage divider of low ohm value connected across a 5-volt source and having its tap connected to the tap of the first mentioned voltage divider by a diode, so that primary winding voltages above the spark-initiating voltage will be measured on a reduced scale, while the differential amplifier and other integrated circuits are prevented from having overvoltages applied to them. The circuit is therefore suited for economical manufacture in so-called hybrid technology.

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Stuttgart, Germany

Klaus Hueser