Glow time control device

• US 9,790,912 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2013
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Habermann, Viktoria, Schillinger, Wolf-Rdiger
• Primary Examiner(s): Dallo, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bacon, Anthony L
• Application Number:
  US14/382,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20150101556A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,713 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 31/125 Fuel
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 19/021 characterised by power delivery controls
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 19/023 Individual control of the glow plugs
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 19/027 Safety devices, e.g. for diagnosing the glow plugs or the related circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 11/006 in case of too high or too low voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/082 by feedback from the output to the control circuit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

The present invention relates to a glow time control device (100) for controlling glow rods (206-209) in a vehicle (200). The glow time control device (100) comprises a control unit (IC1), at least two power transistors (T1, T4) and a protective circuit (T6, T7). The control unit (IC1) comprises a control output (GG1) for emitting a control signal, a supply voltage input (VCC) and a supply voltage output (VDD). The control unit (IC1) provides an output voltage at the supply voltage output (VDD) depending on a voltage at the supply voltage input (VCC). A corresponding glow rod control output (G1, G4) is assigned to each of the power transistors (T1, T4) and the control inputs of the power transistors (T1, T4) are coupled to the control output (GG1). The protective circuit (T6, T7) comprises a protective circuit output which is coupled to the control inputs of the power transistors (T1, T4), and an input which is coupled to the supply voltage output (VDD). The protective circuit adjusts a predefined potential at the protective circuit output if the output voltage of the control unit (IC1) is below a predefined value.

Claims

1. A glow control unit for actuating glow pencils in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a control unit having a control output for emitting a control signal,

a supply-voltage input, and

a supply-voltage output, whereby the control unit is configured to provide an output voltage at the supply-voltage output as a function of the voltage at the supply-voltage input;

at least two power transistors, each of which is associated with a glow pencil control output and whose control inputs are coupled to the control output of the control unit; and

a protective circuit having a protective circuit output that is coupled to the control inputs of the at least two power transistors, and having an input that is coupled to the supply-voltage output of the control unit,

whereby the protective circuit is configured to set a prescribed potential at the protective circuit output if the output voltage of the control unit is below a prescribed value.

2. The glow control unit according to claim 1, whereby the prescribed potential is a potential that blocks the at least two power transistors.

3. A vehicle, comprising:

at least one glow pencil, and

a glow control unit according to claim 1, which is coupled to the at least one glow pencil.