Device and method for controlling an output stage for an actuator in a vehicle

A device for controlling an output stage for an actuator or a solenoid valve for a vehicle, comprising:

• an enable terminal to receive an enable signal via an interface to an application unit, wherein the enable signal assumes an enable state for enabling a control of the output stage and a disable state for disabling the control of the output stage;
• suppression terminals to receive suppression signals via interfaces to monitoring units, wherein the suppression signals assume authorization states for authorizing the control of the output stage and suppression states for suppressing the control of the output stage;
• an output terminal configured as an interface to the output stage;
• and
• a linking unit configured to provide a control signal for controlling the output stage to the output terminal if the enable signal has the enable state, and the suppression signals have the authorization states.

A method for controlling an output stage for an actuator or a solenoid valve for a vehicle, the method comprising:

• receiving an enable signal via an interface to an application unit, wherein the enable signal assumes an enable state for enabling a control of the output stage and a disable state for disabling the control of the output stage;
• receiving a first suppression signal via an interface to a monitoring unit, wherein the first suppression signal assumes a first authorization state for authorizing the control of the output stage and a first suppression state for suppressing the control of the output stage;
• receiving a second suppression signal via an interface to a voltage monitoring unit, wherein the second suppression signal assumes a second authorization state for authorizing the control of the output stage and a second suppression state for suppressing the control of the output stage;
• and
• providing a control signal for controlling the output stage at an output terminal serving as an interface to the output stage if the enable signal has the enable state, the first suppression signal has the first authorization state and the second suppression signal has the second authorization state.

An actuator circuit for a vehicle, comprising:

• a device for controlling an output stage for an actuator or a solenoid valve for a vehicle, including:
• an enable terminal to receive an enable signal via an interface to an application unit, wherein the enable signal assumes an enable state for enabling a control of the output stage and a disable state for disabling the control of the output stage;
• a first suppression terminal to receive a first suppression signal via an interface to a monitoring unit, wherein the first suppression signal assumes a first authorization state for authorizing the control of the output stage and a first suppression state for suppressing the control of the output stage;
• a second suppression terminal to receive a second suppression signal via an interface to a second monitoring unit, wherein the second suppression signal assumes a second authorization state for authorizing the control of the output stage and a second suppression state for suppressing the control of the output stage;
• an output terminal configured as an interface to the output stage;
• and
• a linking unit to provide a control signal for controlling the output stage to the output terminal if the enable signal has the enable state, the first suppression signal has the first authorization state and the second suppression signal has the second authorization state;
• an application unit for providing the enable signal to the enable terminal of the device;
• a monitoring unit for providing the first suppression signal to the first suppression terminal of the device;
• a voltage monitoring unit for providing the second suppression signal to the second suppression terminal of the device;
• and
• the output stage, wherein a terminal of the output stage is connected to the output terminal of the device.