IP Library Granted Patent US 12,206,402
Granted Patent B2
US 12,206,402 · App. 18/061,751 · Granted Jan 21, 2025

Control unit for an electrical load, in particular for a motor vehicle

Inventors: Jan Frederik Buthke (Lippstadt, DE); Jan Schmaeling (Muenden, DE); Martin Strauch (Brilon, DE)
Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
H03K17/6877
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,206,402
App. No.
18/061,751
Granted
Jan 21, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A control unit has an input with a positive and negative connectors. The control unit also includes an output and with an electronic switch. The switch has a first connector, a second connector and a control connector, and has an on-state resistance between its first and second connector that depends on a control voltage at the control connector of the switch. The first connector is connected to the connector for the positive potential of the input, the second connector is connected to the connector for the positive potential of the output, and the control connector is connected to a trigger circuit. A second controllable switch is also included with a first connector connected to the second connector of the first switch, a second connector connected to the control connector of the first switch, and a control connector connected to the connector for the negative potential of the input.

Claims (22)

1. A control unit(S) for an electrical load, the control unit comprising:

an input including a connector for a positive potential of a supply voltage provided by the voltage source and a connector for a negative potential of the supply voltage;

an output including at least one connector for connecting a positive potential to an electrical load (L);

a first electronic switch with a first connector, a second connector, and a control connector, wherein:

the first connector of the first switch is connected to the connector for the positive potential of the input;

the second connector of the first switch is connected to the connector for the positive potential of the output; and

the control connector of the first switch is connected to a trigger circuit;

a second electronic switch that has a first connector, a second connector, and a control connector, wherein:

the first connector of the second switch is connected to the second connector of the first switch;

the second connector of the second switch is connected to the control connector of the first switch; and

the control connector of the second switch is connected to the connector for the negative potential of the input; and

a third electronic switch with a first connector, a second connector, and a control connector, wherein:

the first connector of the third switch is connected to the connector for the negative potential of the input,

the second connector of the third switch is connected to the control connector of the second switch; and

the control connector of the third switch is connected to the connector for the positive potential of the input.

2. The control unit in accordance with claim 1 , further including a diode inserted between the second connector of the first electronic switch and the first connector of the second electronic switch, the anode of which diode is connected to the first connector of the second electronic switch.

3. The control unit in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first electronic switch is a MOSFET and the first connector of the first electronic switch is a drain and the second connector of the first electronic switch is a source of the MOSFET.

4. The control unit in accordance with claim 3 , wherein the MOSFET is a normal blocking N-channel MOSFET.

5. The control unit in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the second electronic switch is a bipolar transistor and the first connector of the second electronic switch is an emitter and the second connector of the second electronic switch is a collector.

6. The control unit in accordance with claim 5 , wherein the bipolar transistor is an NPN transistor.

7. The control unit in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the third electronic switch is a MOSFET and the first connector of the third electronic switch is a drain and the second connector of the third electronic switch is a source of the MOSFET.

8. The control unit in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the MOSFET is a normal blocking N-channel MOSFET.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2024
From: BUTHKE, JAN FREDERIK; SCHMAELING, JAN; STRAUCH, MARTIN
To: HELLA GMBH & CO. KGAA
Reel/Frame 069598/0511 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2020 114 698.1 · Jun 3, 2020 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTEP2021063884 · May 25, 2021
Related Publication 20230095450A1 · Mar 30, 2023
References Cited (5)
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US 7889477B2 · Neubarth · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 11579645B2 · Richmond · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20110188164A1 · Desrochers · 2011 [cited by examiner]