# US 8,541,959 B2 · System and method for providing a control signal > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,541,959 B2 - Document ID: US8541959B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/054,595 - Filed: 2009-03-20 - Published: 2011-06-16 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2008-07-28 - Assignees: Continental Automotive GmbH - Applicants: Robert Adams; Uli Joos; Josef Schnell; Jochen Zwick - Inventors: Robert Adams; Uli Joos; Josef Schnell; Jochen Zwick - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8541959B2 ## CPC - H02M 3/156: with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators - H05B 39/02: Switching on, e.g. with predetermined rate of increase of lighting current - H05B 39/047: {with pulse width modulation from a DC power source} - H05B 41/2856: {against internal abnormal circuit conditions} - H02M 1/32: Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## Abstract The system, which provides a control signal, includes an over-current control unit, a time clock that provides a periodic time signal, and a clock generator unit that includes a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal. The first input terminal is coupled to the time clock and the output terminal is coupled to the over-current control unit. The first input terminal of the clock generator unit receives the periodic time signal and the second input terminal of the clock generator unit receives a modification signal. The clock generator unit generates a clock signal based on the periodic time signal and the modification signal. The output terminal of the clock generator unit provides the clock signal to the over-current control unit, and the over-current control unit provides a control signal based on the clock signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for providing a control signal, the system comprising: an over-current control unit; a time clock providing a periodic time signal; and a clock generator unit including a first input terminal coupled to said time clock to receive the periodic time signal, a second input terminal receiving a modification signal, and an output terminal coupled to said over-current control unit; said clock generator unit generating a clock signal based on the periodic time signal and the modification signal; said output terminal of said clock generator unit providing the clock signal to said over-current control unit; and said over-current control unit providing a control signal based on the clock signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the control signal corresponds to a current-threshold value dependent on a maximum load condition. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, comprising: an output driver coupled to said over-current control unit, said output driver providing current pulses to a load based on the control signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system according to claim 3, comprising: a pulse width modulation controller; said output driver including an input terminal coupled to said pulse width modulation controller; said pulse width modulation controller providing signal-pulses with a predetermined duty cycle to said output driver. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system according to claim 4, wherein: said output driver includes a switch having a first position in which the current pulses are provided to the load; and said switch is set to said first position if a value of current pulses resulting from the signal pulses of said pulse width modulation controller is below a current-threshold value of said over-current control unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The system according to claim 3, wherein the load is a bulb. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The system according to claim 4, wherein: the load is a bulb; said clock generator unit includes an AND-Gate with a first input that is connected to said pulse width modulation controller and a second input that is connected to said time clock; and said clock generator unit includes an output providing an output signal that combines the signal-pulses of said pulse width modulation controller that are received by said first input of said AND-Gate and the periodic time signal of said time clock that is received by said second input of said AND-Gate in order to synchronize the periodic time signal of said time clock with the signal-pulses of said pulse width modulation controller to ensure that the bulb is turned on and said switch is not destroyed in case of an overload. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The system according to claim 3, wherein: said output driver includes an output terminal that is coupled to said second input terminal of said clock generator unit; and said output driver provides a feedback signal to said clock generator unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8, wherein: said clock generator unit includes a switch responsive to the feedback signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8, wherein: said clock generator unit has a first operating state in which said clock generator unit provides the periodic time signal as the clock signal; and said clock generator unit has a second operating state in which said clock generator unit provides a modified periodic time signal as the clock signal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system according to claim 10, wherein the modified periodic time signal is the periodic time signal divided by n, and n is an integer greater than 1. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system according to claim 10, wherein: said switch switches said clock generator unit between the first operating state and the second operating state. ### Claim 13 (depends on 3) The system according to claim 3, wherein the load is an incandescent bulb. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein said clock generator unit has an operating mode in which the clock signal generated by said clock generator unit is the periodic time signal provided by said time clock. ### Claim 15 A method for providing a control signal, the method which comprises: providing a periodic time signal from a time clock; receiving the periodic time signal at a first input terminal of a clock generator unit, and receiving a modification signal at a second input terminal of the clock generator unit; generating a clock signal based on the periodic time signal and the modification signal; providing the clock signal from an output terminal of the clock generator unit to an over-current control unit; and providing a control signal from the over-current control unit based on the clock signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the control signal provided by the over-current control unit corresponds to a current-threshold value dependent on a maximum load condition. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, which comprises providing an operating mode in which the clock signal from the output terminal of the clock generator unit is the periodic time signal provided by the time clock. ### Claim 18 A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising: a computer program stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium, the computer program, when executed by a processor, carrying out or controlling a method including: providing a periodic time signal from a time clock; receiving the periodic time signal at a first input terminal of a clock generator unit, and receiving a modification signal at a second input terminal of the clock generator unit; generating a clock signal based on the periodic time signal and the modification signal; providing the clock signal from an output terminal of the clock generator unit to an over-current control unit; and providing a control signal from the over-current control unit based on the clock signal.