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US 7,589,437 B2Granted
Control unit in a vehicle
AssigneeRobert Bosch GmbH
InventorsRalf Henne, Achim Henne
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A control unit in a vehicle is provided in which power is supplied via a converter that provides an electrical isolation. For the data exchange with external components and other components in the control unit that are not electrically isolated, the component isolated by this electrical isolation is additionally connected to a coupling element that likewise provides an electrical isolation.
Claims14
An airbag control unit for a vehicle, comprising:
- an internal ground;
- an integrated circuit, wherein at least one component of the integrated circuit is connected to the internal ground;
- a converter having an electrical isolation from a main electrical system of the vehicle, wherein the converter is configured for supplying an electrically isolated supply voltage to the at least one component of the integrated circuit, and wherein the converter is connected to the internal ground to provide electrical isolation of the internal ground from the main electrical system of the vehicle;
- and
- at least one coupling element having an electrical isolation from the main electrical system, wherein the coupling element is configured to be connected to the integrated circuit and transmit data solely within the airbag control unit.
2 more elements
An airbag control unit, comprising:
- an integrated circuit;
- a first dc-to-dc converter having input terminals configured to receive a vehicle battery voltage and a vehicle ground, and output terminals configured to provide a first internal supply voltage and an internal ground to the integrated circuit, wherein the output terminals are electrically isolated from any vehicle components carrying the vehicle battery voltage and any components carrying the vehicle ground;
- a second dc-to-dc converter having input terminals configured to receive the vehicle battery voltage, and output terminals configured to provide a second internal supply voltage;
- an electronics component configured to receive the second internal supply voltage;
- and
- a coupling element configured to exchange data solely within the control unit, wherein the coupling element exchanges data between the integrated circuit and the electronics component in a manner in which the integrated circuit remains electrically isolated from the electronics component.
3 more elements
A vehicle airbag control system, comprising:
- an integrated circuit;
- a dc-to-dc converter having input terminals configured to receive a vehicle battery voltage and a vehicle ground, and output terminals configured to provide a first internal supply voltage and an internal ground to the integrated circuit, wherein the output terminals are electrically isolated from any vehicle components carrying the vehicle battery voltage and any components carrying the vehicle ground,
- wherein the dc-to-dc converter is configured to receive the vehicle battery voltage in response to a closing of an ignition lock switch;
- and
- a coupling element configured to transmit data to the integrated circuit in a manner in which the integrated circuit remains electrically isolated from a component at another end of the data transmission, wherein the coupling element exchanges data solely within the airbag control system.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.