Control unit and method for pulse width modulated control

• US 8,310,112 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2007
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Joos, Uli, Michael, Thomas, Schnell, Josef, Rössler, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Deberadinis, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US12/519,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20100141032A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,796 Days
• Field of Search: 307/140
• US Class Current: 307/140
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/06 Sealing strips sealing arrangements for vehicle windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors, or similar devices B60J10/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/008 Plural converter units for generating at two or more independent and non-parallel outputs, e.g. systems with plural point of load switching regulators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/156 with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators

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.

Claims

1. A control unit for controlling a plurality of electric loads,

wherein the loads are triggered by pulse width modulated signals, and

wherein the control unit comprises a plurality of pulse width modulated (PWM) inputs, each with a PWM signal,

wherein controllable switching means are provided, wherein with the aid of the switching means, at least one load can be connected respectively with one of at least two different PWM inputs.

2. A control unit according to claim 1, wherein for at least one group of loads, an individual PWM input is provided and a global PWM input is provided, wherein due to the switching means, each load of the group of loads is connected either with a respective individual PWM input or with the global PWM input.

3. A control unit according to claim 1, wherein at least two loads can be synchronously triggered by a PWM input.

4. A control unit according to claim 1, wherein the connection with one of at least two PWM inputs can be separately conducted for each load, independently of all other loads.

5. The triggering of electric loads with a control unit according to claim 1.

6. Motor vehicles with a control unit according to claim 1.

7. A method for triggering a plurality of electric loads comprising the steps of:

triggering electric loads by pulse width modulated signals, and

triggering electric loads with a plurality of PWM inputs with one PWM signal respectively,

wherein at least one load is connected respectively with one of at least two different PWM inputs.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein at least two loads are synchronously triggered by a PWM input.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein at least two loads are triggered synchronously by a PWM input with different phasing.

10. A method according to claim 7, wherein the connection with one of at least two PWM inputs is conducted separately for each load independently of all other loads.

11. The triggering of electric loads with a control unit according to the method of claim 7.

12. Motor vehicles having a control unit using the method of claim 7.