Integrated regulator, in particular a voltage regulator, and a control unit for occupant protection means

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9651963-B2
Application number	US-201314406069-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 14, 2013
Priority date	Jun 6, 2012
Publication date	May 16, 2017
Grant date	May 16, 2017

Abstract

An integrated regulator is described, in particular a voltage regulator for occupant protection means in a vehicle, including a regulating element, which converts an input signal into an output signal having a predefined value, and a trigger circuit, which activates the regulating element to generate the output signal having the predefined value. A configuration circuit is provided, which receives and evaluates at least one configuration signal and deactivates the regulating element as a function of the evaluation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An integrated regulator, comprising:
a regulating element that converts an input signal into an output signal having a predefined value;
a trigger circuit that activates the regulating element to generate the output signal having the predefined value; and
a configuration circuit that receives and evaluates at least one configuration signal and deactivates the regulating element as a function of the evaluation;
wherein the configuration circuit is configured to lock a detected logic state of the at least one configuration signal and to store the detected logic state in a status memory.

2. The integrated regulator as recited in claim 1 , wherein the integrated regulator is a voltage regulator for an occupant protection arrangement in a vehicle.

3. An integrated regulator, comprising:
a regulating element that converts an input signal into an output signal having a predefined value;
a trigger circuit that activates the regulating element to generate the output signal having the predefined value; and
a configuration circuit that receives and evaluates at least one configuration signal and deactivates the regulating element as a function of the evaluation;
wherein the at least one configuration signal is generatable with the aid of a pin configuration,
wherein a corresponding connecting pin is fixedly connected to ground to generate a first logic signal level for the at least one configuration signal, and
wherein the corresponding connecting pin is left unused to generate a second logic signal level for the at least one configuration signal.

4. The integrated regulator as recited in claim 3 , further comprising:
a pull-up circuit situated one of inside and outside the integrated regulator and for bringing the connecting pin which is left unused to the second logic signal level.

5. The integrated regulator as recited in claim 1 , wherein the configuration circuit includes a comparator for evaluating the at least one configuration signal, the comparator comparing the at least one configuration signal to a reference voltage.

6. An integrated regulator, comprising:
a regulating element that converts an input signal into an output signal having a predefined value;
a trigger circuit that activates the regulating element to generate the output signal having the predefined value; and
a configuration circuit that receives and evaluates at least one configuration signal and deactivates the regulating element as a function of the evaluation;
wherein the configuration circuit includes a comparator for evaluating the at least one configuration signal, the comparator comparing the at least one configuration signal to a reference voltage, and
wherein the comparator is configured to activate a switching element as a function of the comparison to deactivate the regulating element.

7. The integrated regulator as recited in claim 6 , wherein the switching element includes a switching transistor.

8. The integrated regulator as recited in claim 1 , wherein the configuration circuit carries out the evaluation of the at least one configuration signal during a system initialization.

9. The integrated regulator as recited in claim 3 , wherein the configuration circuit locks a detected logic state of the at least one configuration signal and stores the detected logic state in a status memory.

10. The integrated regulator as recited in claim 1 , wherein the trigger circuit activates the regulating element as a function of a feedback signal to generate the output signal having the predefined value.

11. The integrated regulator as recited in claim 10 , further comprising:
at least one integrated voltage divider having a predefined divider ratio to generate the feedback signal from the output signal.

12. A control unit for activating an occupant protection arrangement in a vehicle, comprising:
a regulator system to regulate at least one voltage in the control unit, wherein the regulator system includes at least one integrated regulator, which includes:
a regulating element to convert an input signal into an output signal having a predefined value;
a trigger circuit to activate the regulating element to generate the output signal having the predefined value; and
a configuration circuit to receive and evaluate at least one configuration signal and to deactivate the regulating element as a function of the evaluation;

wherein the configuration circuit is configured to lock a detected logic state of the at least one configuration signal and to store the detected logic state in a status memory.

13. The control unit as recited in claim 12 , wherein the configuration circuit includes a comparator for evaluating the at least one configuration signal, the comparator comparing the at least one configuration signal to a reference voltage, and wherein the comparator is configured to activates a switching element as a function of the comparison to deactivate the regulating element.

14. The control unit as recited in claim 12 , wherein the at least one configuration signal is generatable with a pin configuration, wherein a corresponding connecting pin is fixedly connected to ground to generate a first logic signal level for the at least one configuration signal, and wherein the corresponding connecting pin is left unused to generate a second logic signal level for the at least one configuration signal.

15. The integrated regulator as recited in claim 1 , wherein the configuration circuit includes a comparator for evaluating the at least one configuration signal, the comparator comparing the at least one configuration signal to a reference voltage, and wherein the comparator is configured to activates a switching element as a function of the comparison to deactivate the regulating element.

16. The integrated regulator as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one configuration signal is generatable with a pin configuration, wherein a corresponding connecting pin is fixedly connected to ground to generate a first logic signal level for the at least one configuration signal, and wherein the corresponding connecting pin is left unused to generate a second logic signal level for the at least one configuration signal.

Assignees

• Bosch Gmbh Robert

Inventors

• List Carsten
• Schumacher Hartmut
• Sievers Falko

Classifications

• G05F1/56 Primary

  using semiconductor devices in series with the load as final control devices (G05F1/461 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60R21/017 Primary

  including arrangements for providing electric power to safety arrangements {or their actuating means, e.g. to pyrotechnic fuses or electro-mechanic valves} · CPC title

• G05F5/00

  Systems for regulating electric variables by detecting deviations in the electric input to the system and thereby controlling a device within the system to obtain a regulated output · CPC title

• G05F1/575 Primary

  characterised by the feedback circuit · CPC title