Control unit for a load

• US 20030028300A1
• Filed: 08/01/2002
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Stangl, Herbert
• Granted Patent: US 7,096,104 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/0573 power driven arrangements, e.g. electrical

Abstract

Control unit for a load, in particular for a sliding sunroof control of a vehicle, having a microprocessor and having an integrated voltage regulator for generating the supply voltage of the microprocessor from the battery voltage of an on-board battery, in which case, in order to switch on the microprocessor the latter is fed its supply voltage by means of a wake-up pulse for a predetermined switch-on duration and said supply voltage is maintained as long as the microprocessor outputs trigger signals.

Claims

1. A control unit for a load, in particular for a sliding sunroof control of a vehicle, comprising:

a microprocessor,

an integrated voltage regulator for generating the supply voltage of the microprocessor from the battery voltage of an on-board battery,

a switching element which is arranged between the on-board battery and the voltage regulator,

an input having wake-up capability, to which a wake-up pulse can be fed for the switch-on of the microprocessor, and which thereupon switches on the switching element for a predetermined switch-on duration by means of a control signal, as a result of which the microprocessor is fed its supply voltage by the voltage converter for said predetermined switch-on duration, wherein the microprocessor outputs trigger signals as long as it is fed its supply voltage and an oscillator assigned to it generates a processor clock signal, and

a dynamic link, which maintains the switching state of the switching element as long as trigger signals are fed to it.

2. The control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a wake-up pulse is generated when the switch for the load is actuated.

3. The control unit for a sliding sunroof control of a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a wake-up pulse is generated when the vehicle is opened by means of remote control.

4. The control unit for a sliding sunroof control of a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a wake-up pulse is generated when the ignition of the vehicle is switched on.

5. The control unit for a sliding sunroof control of a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a wake-up pulse is generated when the switch for the sliding sunroof control is actuated.

6. Method of operating a microprocessor for controlling a device, comprising the steps of

providing a power source;

coupling the power source for a predetermined time with the microprocessor upon activation of a wake-up signal;

executing a program in the microprocessor which activates the device and which during execution extends the predetermined time thereby coupling the power source with the microprocessor.

7. Method as in claim 6, wherein the power source is further coupled for the predetermined time with an oscillator for supplying a clock signal for the microprocessor.

8. Method as in claim 6, wherein the wake-up signal is generated when the switch for the device is actuated.

9. Method as in claim 6, wherein the method is used for a sliding sunroof control of a vehicle and wherein the wake-up pulse is generated when the vehicle is opened by means of remote control.

10. Method as in claim 6, wherein the method is used for a sliding sunroof control of a vehicle and wherein the wake-up pulse is generated when the ignition of the vehicle is switched on.

11. Method as in claim 6, wherein the method is used for a sliding sunroof control of a vehicle and wherein the wake-up pulse is generated when the switch for the sliding sunroof control is actuated.

12. A control unit for a load comprising:

a microprocessor comprising first output for controlling the load and a second output,

a power supply unit,

a switching element which is arranged between the power supply and the microprocessor,

a wake-up circuit controlling the switching element, wherein the wake-up circuit activates the switching element for a predetermined time upon receipt of an input signal,

a dynamic link comprising an input coupled with the second output and an output for controlling the switching element.

13. The control unit as in claim 12, wherein the wake-up circuit is a monostable multivibrator.

14. The control unit as in claim 12, wherein the dynamic link is a monostable multivibrator.

15. The control unit as in claim 12, further comprising an oscillator for supplying a clock signal for the microprocessor.

16. The control unit as in claim 12, further comprising a voltage regulator coupled between the switch and the microprocessor.

17. The control unit as in claim 16, wherein the voltage regulator comprises a reset output coupled with a reset input of the microprocessor.

18. The control unit as in claim 12, further comprising a key switch for generating the wake-up signal.

19. The control unit as in claim 18, wherein the key switch comprises an input coupled with the power supply unit and an output coupled with an input of the microprocessor and wherein the input of the microprocessor is coupled with an input of the wake-up circuit.