Method and device for checking a control device

1. A method for checking a control device comprising an actuator for operating an actuating element in a cooling system of an internal combustion engine and a sensor for reading a position of the actuating element, wherein the control device is part of a closed-loop control circuit for controlling a variable, the method comprising:

actuating the actuator with a predetermined control signal while the closed-loop control circuit is deactivated so that the actuation does not affect the controlled variable;

determining a profile of the actuating position which is read by the sensor; and

determining the functioning of the mechanical coupling of the actuator to the actuating element on the basis of the predetermined control signal and the determined profile.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising determining a defect in the mechanical coupling if the determined profile deviates from a predetermined profile associated with the predetermined control signal by more than a predetermined amount.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

determining a dynamic parameter of the mechanical coupling based on the determined profile, and

determining a defect in the mechanical coupling if the determined parameter deviates from a predetermined parameter by more than a predetermined amount.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the parameter comprises mechanical damping.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the parameter comprises mechanical inertia.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the closed-loop control circuit comprises a temperature control means for a cooling system for cooling an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle, and actuation is performed when the internal combustion engine is turned off.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the actuation is performed when the cooling system is also turned off.

8. An apparatus for checking a control device comprising an actuator for operating an actuating element in a cooling system of an internal combustion engine and a sensor for reading a position of the actuating element, wherein the control device is part of a closed-loop control circuit for controlling a variable, the apparatus comprising:

a processing device configured to actuate the actuator with a predetermined control signal while the closed-loop control circuit is deactivated, so the actuator does not affect the controlled variable;

a reading device configured to determine a profile of the actuating position which is read by the sensor; and

the processing device further configured to determine the functioning of the mechanical coupling of the actuator to the actuating element based on the predetermined control signal and the determined profile.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a memory storing a predetermined profile of the actuating position associated with the control signal, and wherein the processing device is configured to detect a defect in the mechanical coupling if the determined profile deviates from the stored profile by more than a predetermined amount.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processing device is configured to:

determine a dynamic parameter of the mechanical coupling based on the determined profile, and

determine a defect in the mechanical coupling if the determined parameter deviates from a predetermined parameter by more than a predetermined amount.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the parameter comprises mechanical damping.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the parameter comprises mechanical inertia.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the closed-loop control circuit comprises a temperature control means for a cooling system for cooling an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle, and the processing device is configured to actuate the actuator when the internal combustion engine is turned off.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the processing device is configured to actuate the actuator when the cooling system is also turned off.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program product for checking a control device comprising an actuator for operating an actuating element in a cooling system of an internal combustion engine and a sensor for reading a position of the actuating element wherein the control device is part of a closed-loop control circuit for controlling a variable, the computer program product comprising instructions and executable by a processor to:

actuate the actuator with a predetermined control signal while the closed-loop control circuit is deactivated, so the actuator does not affect the controlled variable;

determine a profile of the actuating position which is read by the sensor; and

determine the functioning of the mechanical coupling of the actuator to the actuating element on the basis of the predetermined control signal and the determined profile.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the instructions are executable to determine a defect in the mechanical coupling if the determined profile deviates from a predetermined profile associated with the predetermined control signal by more than a predetermined amount.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the instructions are executable to:

determine a dynamic parameter of the mechanical coupling based on the determined profile, and

determine a defect in the mechanical coupling if the determined parameter deviates from a predetermined parameter by more than a predetermined amount.