Method for controlling a low consumption mode of an electronic circuit unit, control device, and motor vehicle

A method for controlling an electronic switching unit, the method comprising:

• supplying an electrical operating current via a current path to the electronic switching unit;
• generating a consumption signal by a measuring device located in the current path as a function of an amperage of the electrical operating current;
• based on the consumption signal, selecting a low-consumption mode from a plurality of predefined low-consumption modes as a function of current operating strategy and a stage of a plurality of stages associated with the low-consumption mode, wherein the plurality of stages correspond with reducing the amperage of the electrical operating current in different amounts;
• transmitting, from a circuit-external power control unit to the electronic switching unit, an activation command for activating the low-consumption mode in the selected stage;
• upon transmitting the activation command, based on a signal indicating a state of an energy management function of the circuit-external power control unit corresponding to the selected low-consumption mode, comparing the amperage of the electrical operating current with a preconfigured amperage threshold value for the selected low-consumption mode;
• based on the comparison indicating the amperage of the electrical operating current being above the preconfigured amperage threshold value for the selected low-consumption mode, initiating a predetermined emergency measure to reduce the amperage of the electrical operating current applying another stage of the plurality of different stages;
• and
• based on the comparison indicating the amperage of the electrical operating current being below the preconfigured amperage threshold value for the selected low-consumption mode, deactivating the circuit-external power control unit.

A control device, comprising:

• an electronic switching unit;
• a power control unit;
• a current path for supplying the electronic switching unit with an electrical operating current;
• and
• a measuring device located in the current path, wherein the measuring device is configured to generate a consumption signal as a function of an amperage of the electrical operating current,
• wherein the power control unit is configured to:
• based on the consumption signal, select a low-consumption mode from a plurality of predefined low-consumption modes as a function of current operating strategy and a stage of a plurality of stages associated with the low-consumption mode, wherein the plurality of stages correspond with reducing the amperage of the electrical operating current in different amounts,
• transmit, from a power control unit to the electronic switching unit, an activation command for activating the low-consumption mode in the selected stage,
• upon transmitting the activation command, based on a signal indicating a state of an energy management function of the power control unit corresponding to the selected low-consumption mode, compare the amperage of the electrical operating current with a preconfigured amperage threshold value for the selected low-consumption mode,
• based on the comparison indicating the amperage of the electrical operating current being above the preconfigured amperage threshold value for the selected low-consumption mode, initiate a predetermined emergency measure to reduce the amperage of the electrical operating current applying another stage of the plurality of different stages, and
• based on the comparison indicating the amperage of the electrical operating current being below the preconfigured amperage threshold value for the selected low-consumption mode, deactivate the power control unit.

A motor vehicle, comprising:

• at least one control device that comprises:
• an electronic switching unit;
• a power control unit;
• a current path for supplying the electronic switching unit with an electrical operating current;
• and
• a measuring device located in the current path, wherein the measuring device is configured to generate a consumption signal as a function of an amperage of the electrical operating current,
• wherein the power control unit is configured to:
• based on the consumption signal, select a low-consumption mode from a plurality of predefined low-consumption modes as a function of current operating strategy and a stage of a plurality of stages associated with the low-consumption mode, wherein the plurality of stages correspond with reducing the amperage of the electrical operating current in different amounts,
• transmit, from a power control unit to the electronic switching unit, an activation command for activating the low-consumption mode in the selected stage,
• upon transmitting the activation command, based on a signal indicating a state of an energy management function of the power control unit corresponding to the selected low-consumption mode, compare the amperage of the electrical operating current with a preconfigured amperage threshold value for the selected low-consumption mode,
• based on the comparison indicating the amperage of the electrical operating current being above the preconfigured amperage threshold value for the selected low-consumption mode, initiate a predetermined emergency measure to reduce the amperage of the electrical operating current applying another stage of the plurality of different stages, and
• based on the comparison indicating the amperage of the electrical operating current being below the preconfigured amperage threshold value for the selected low-consumption mode, deactivate the power control unit.