Device for preventing overvoltage-induced damage caused by fault propagation in safety-relevant systems

A device for controlling a safety-relevant electronic system, comprising:

• a power supply having at least one voltage regulator, wherein said power supply being supplied with a battery voltage during operation at a first supply potential input terminal and supplying a first supply voltage at a first supply potential output terminal being lower than the battery voltage;
• a safety-relevant control unit;
• a microcontroller for generating a first control signal, being provided at a first control output of said microcontroller for processing by way of said safety-relevant control unit, wherein said microcontroller being supplied with the first supply voltage at a second supply potential input terminal of said microcontroller, said microcontroller further having a first data port;
• a monitoring unit for generating a second control signal, being provided at a second control output of said monitoring unit for processing by way of said safety-relevant control unit, said monitoring unit being supplied with the first supply voltage at a third supply potential input terminal of said monitoring unit, said monitoring unit further containing a second data port, wherein said third supply potential input terminal, said second control output and said second data port of said monitoring unit being configured to be voltage-proof with respect to the battery voltage;
• a communication link disposed between said first data port of said microcontroller and said second data port of said monitoring unit;
• and
• all said inputs and said outputs of said monitoring unit configured to be voltage-proof with regard to the battery voltage.