Sgs-thomson Microelectronics S.r.l.

Magneti Marelli S.p.a.

Industrie Magneti Marelli Spa

Paolo Mastella

Vanni Poletto

Pietro De Filippis

Giampietro Maggioni

Franco Salerno

Valerio Giorgetta

Stefania Chicca

Mirco Contucci

Angelo Crespi

A circuit comprises a measurement resistor in series with a heater, a detector circuit for providing a signal indicative of the current flowing in the resistor, switching devices for controlling the connection of the heater to a voltage source and the connection of the measurement resistor in the supply circuit comprising the source and the heater, and a control unit arranged to drive the switching devices in a manner such that each time the heater is activated, the measurement resistor is kept disconnected from the supply circuit of the heater for a predetermined period of time and the measurement resistor is then connected in the supply circuit of the heater.

Heater control circuit

A circuit for diagnosing the state of a load connected to a driver includes a DMOS transistor interposed between a terminal of the load and voltage comparator circuits. The DMOS transistor limits the maximum voltage input to the comparators to thereby reduce the circuit area occupied by the comparators and consequently to reduce the cost of the diagnosis circuit.

Circuit for diagnosing the state of an electrical load

The interface circuit has a single input terminal for receiving an analog or digital control signal indicative of the required speed of rotation of the motor. The type of input signal is recognised by means of comparator circuits. The input signal is processed differently according to its nature in order, in any case, to output an analog signal acceptable by the regulation and control circuit which pilots the motor.

Interface circuit for generating and analogue signal to control the

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Camino, Italy

Paolo Mastella