EP4378041A1

EP4378041A1 - Monitoring assembly, and system comprising a monitoring assembly

Info

Publication number: EP4378041A1
Application number: EP22751756.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Simon STRUCK-SÜSSMEIER; Herbert Kastenmeyer; Sudarsan Vedantha
Original assignee: Truma Geraetetechnik GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Truma Geraetetechnik GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2021-07-29
Filing date: 2022-07-21
Publication date: 2024-06-05
Also published as: AU2022317189A1; US20240345141A1; WO2023006587A1; CN117716592A; DE102021119739A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a monitoring assembly (14) for monitoring a supply signal of an electrically operated component (12), the monitoring assembly (10) comprising a monitoring circuit (20) and a control and evaluation unit (22) assigned to the monitoring circuit (20). At least one galvanically isolated connection is provided between the monitoring circuit (20) and the control and evaluation unit (22). The monitoring circuit (20) has at least one threshold-value-dependent component which generates a current signal depending on an applied supply voltage. The supply voltage is an alternating voltage. The at least one threshold-value-dependent component is designed to generate a current signal when the supply voltage is above a first threshold value. The control and evaluation unit (22) is designed to evaluate the at least one transmitted output signal in order to determine a fault state. The control and evaluation unit (22) is designed to output a drive signal when the fault state has been determined. The invention also relates to a system (10).

Description

Truma Gerätetechnik GmbFI & Co. KG Our reference: T15296 WO Hl / sc

Monitoring assembly and system with a monitoring assembly

The invention relates to a monitoring assembly for monitoring a supply signal of an electrically operated component. Furthermore, the invention relates to a system with an electrically operated component and a monitoring assembly.

Monitoring assemblies that have a monitoring circuit, which is also called a network monitoring circuit, are usually used in electronic systems to monitor a supply signal from at least one electrically operated component. The electrically operated component can be an electronic component, ie a component that requires the supply signal in order to be able to operate.

For example, such monitoring assemblies are used in air-conditioning systems, in particular air-conditioning systems in vehicles and motorhomes. The supply of a component of the air conditioning system can then be monitored by means of the monitoring assembly, for example a compressor of the air conditioning system, which can also be referred to as an air conditioning system compressor.

The monitoring assemblies known from the prior art usually have complex circuits that require a large number of components, as a result of which the monitoring circuits in the open position are complicated and expensive. In addition, the risk of failure of the entire monitoring assembly increases with each component used in the monitoring assembly. Simple approaches for the monitoring assemblies are also known from the prior art, but they only provide insufficiently accurate or reliable monitoring results, so that they are not used for high-quality applications. From other technical areas, for example in the field of electric or hybrid vehicles, it is known, among other things, to monitor a battery required for driving the electric or hybrid vehicle, ie the DC voltage present in the battery. Such monitoring emerges, inter alia, from DE 102010040 031 B4.

A method is known from JP H03-35170 A, in which only the duration of crossings of the supply signal through a defined voltage range around zero are measured, ie the duration of the zero crossings, from which frequency information is to be derived.

In this respect, the object of the invention is to enable reliable and cost-effective detection of faulty states in the supply signal of an electrically operated component, in particular to detect dips in the supply signal of the electrically operated component.

The object is achieved by a monitoring assembly for monitoring a supply signal of an electrically operated component. The monitoring assembly includes a monitoring circuit and a control and evaluation unit assigned to the monitoring circuit. At least one galvanically isolated connection is provided between the monitoring circuit and the control and evaluation unit. The monitoring circuit has at least one threshold-dependent component that is set up to generate a current signal as a function of a supply voltage of the supply signal that is present. The supply voltage or the supply signal is an AC voltage. The monitoring circuit is set up to transmit at least one output signal to the control and evaluation unit, which corresponds to the current signal generated by the at least one threshold-value-dependent component. The at least one threshold-dependent component is designed such that it generates a current signal when the supply voltage is above a first threshold value. The control and evaluation unit is set up to evaluate the at least one transmitted output signal in order to determine an error state. The control and evaluation unit is also set up to output a control signal when the error state has been determined. With the monitoring module according to the invention, it is therefore possible to detect dips in the supply signal reliably and inexpensively, since few components are required in the monitoring circuit for this purpose. The dips in the supply signal can be dips in the voltage, ie the voltage value, and/or dips in the frequency of the supply signal—in particular an AC voltage signal.

With the help of the monitoring module, it is fundamentally possible to prevent an unexpected failure of the electrically operated component, for example a blocking of a component of an air conditioning system such as the compressor, since the error status is detected in good time so that a response can be made. The unexpected failure of the electrically powered component typically results in high inrush currents flowing when the electrical component is returned to service, which in turn can cause an existing fuse to blow. Ultimately, manual intervention by the operator must take place in order to put the electrically operated component or a device comprising the component back into operation.

In contrast, the monitoring assembly according to the invention ensures that the supply signal of the electrically operated component is continuously monitored, as a result of which the electrically operated component can be switched off in a controlled manner if a fault condition is detected. Flier this avoids the high currents when restarting or starting up, which are otherwise necessary. In this respect, it is possible due to the continuous monitoring by means of the monitoring assembly according to the invention, to switch off the electrically operated component in a controlled manner and to switch it on again in a correspondingly controlled manner, with tripping of the fuse being able to be avoided. Switching off and on can take place automatically, i.e. without manual intervention.

The at least one galvanically isolated connection between the monitoring circuit and the control and evaluation unit can be implemented by an optocoupler, so that the control and evaluation unit is galvanically isolated from a supply voltage. Flierdurch the control and evaluation unit is protected against overvoltages or voltage peaks of the supply signal, which in the monitoring circuit is processed. The galvanically isolated connection between the monitoring circuit and the control and evaluation unit therefore represents appropriate protective insulation, which is used, for example, to separate public power supplies.

The threshold-dependent component, which is provided in the monitoring circuit, can be in the form of a Zener diode, which allows a current to flow depending on the applied voltage, ie generates a corresponding current signal. The first threshold value at which the monitoring circuit, in particular the entire monitoring assembly, is intended to detect an error state can be set via the specific design of the corresponding threshold-value-dependent component, ie the Zener diode.

For example, the error state is detected when the supply signal falls below the first threshold value, because then there is no longer any current flow or no current signal is generated.

The threshold-dependent component of the monitoring circuit accordingly generates a current flow that is dependent on the applied voltage, so that a current flow is present depending on the design of the threshold-value-dependent component if the supply signal has a sufficiently high supply voltage. If the threshold-value-dependent component does not generate a current signal, this means that the voltage value of the supply signal is below the first threshold value or is not sufficient for the operation of the electrically operated component. If no current signal is generated, there is also no corresponding output signal which is transmitted to the control and evaluation unit.

The control and evaluation unit recognizes this error condition due to the missing output signal, which means that the control and evaluation unit can output the activation signal in order to switch off the electrically operated component in a targeted and controlled manner or to remove it from the supply, i.e. to separate it from the supply. In this way, blocking of the electrically operated component or of a further component which interacts with the electrically operated component can be effectively prevented. In particular, the control and evaluation unit uses a reference signal to determine whether an output signal is present. In this respect, the control and evaluation unit can have at least one comparator, at the inputs of which the reference signal and the output signal are present if the output signal is present, ie in the case that the threshold-dependent component allows a current flow.

However, the threshold-dependent component of the monitoring circuit can also generate a current signal with a strength, as a result of which a proportional output signal is transmitted to the control and evaluation unit. The control and evaluation unit compares the output signal obtained with the reference signal in order to identify whether the output or current signal is greater or less than the reference signal. If the output or current signal is smaller than the reference signal, an error condition is present, for example, namely an (at least brief) interruption of the supply signal or an undervoltage.

The monitoring of an AC voltage, as is the case here, differs fundamentally from the monitoring of a DC voltage, as is the case with a battery, for example a vehicle battery.

One aspect provides that the monitoring circuit has two threshold-dependent components. In particular, the two threshold-dependent components are connected to one another in anti-serial fashion. The two threshold-dependent components can each be in the form of Zener diodes. Due to the back-to-back arrangement of the two threshold-dependent components, the threshold-dependent components can be provided in a correspondingly polarity-controlled manner for a respective low wave of the supply signal designed as an alternating voltage signal. The back-to-back arrangement of the two threshold-dependent components, in particular the two Zener diodes, ensures that, depending on the respective flare wave, i.e. positive flare wave or negative flare wave, one of the two threshold-value-dependent components in flow mode and the other of the two threshold-value-dependent components in particular Operating range of the corresponding threshold-dependent component is operated, for example in Zener voltage operation. In principle, a symmetrical trapezoidal output voltage of the anti-serially arranged threshold-value-dependent components can result in the case of a supply signal present as an alternating voltage.

A further aspect provides that the monitoring circuit is set up to generate two current signals based on the supply signal or to transmit two output signals to the control and evaluation unit, which correspond to the generated current signals. Because of the two output signals or the two current signals, it is possible for the control and evaluation unit to monitor the frequency of the supply signal in addition to monitoring the level of the supply signal.

In particular, the two current signals are assigned to half-waves of the supply signal present as an alternating voltage. The positive half-cycle is assigned, for example, to the first current signal or the first output signal, whereas the negative half-cycle of the supply signal in the form of an alternating voltage is assigned to the second current signal or the second output signal. As a result, the two half-waves can be evaluated separately, so that independent level monitoring is possible for each of the half-waves. In addition, a joint evaluation of the two half-waves of the supply signal present as AC voltage is possible in order to determine, for example, the mains frequency or half-wave time ratio of the two half-waves.

The control and evaluation unit can be set up to determine the duration of the output signals assigned to the two half-waves in order to determine the mains frequency and/or the half-wave time ratio of the supply signal. The respective duration of the two half-wave-dependent signals is recorded in order to obtain the mains frequency or the half-wave time ratio. The two output signals that are assigned to the half-waves are compared with a corresponding reference voltage in the control and evaluation unit. For this purpose, the control and evaluation unit can each have a comparator, with a first comparator being assigned to the first output signal and a second comparator being assigned to the second output signal, in particular an input of the respective comparators. In principle, the at least one comparator is associated with a counter that counts at a constant frequency. As soon as the counter has reached a fixed value that is assigned to a defined period of time, the failure of the supply signal can be signaled here. In order to reset the counter, the output of the comparator is assigned to the counter. In this respect, the counter can always be reset when the comparator determines that an output signal is present. A tolerance can be set via the counter, in particular the defined time period, in order to tolerate brief voltage dips in the supply signal.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the control and evaluation unit comprises two comparators, with the two comparators each being associated with a low wave of the supply signal present as an AC voltage. In other words, the two comparators each process one flanking wave of the two flanking waves of the supply signal present as an AC voltage, that is to say the two current signals. In this respect it is possible to evaluate each of the two flub waves separately from one another, in particular to compare them with the reference signal by means of the corresponding comparator.

In general, the control and evaluation unit can be set up to determine at least the duration of a low wave of the supply signal in the form of an AC voltage, in particular by evaluating the at least one transmitted output signal. As explained above, the monitoring circuit outputs at least one output signal, in particular two output signals. The control and evaluation unit processes the at least one output signal in such a way that the duration of the low wave is determined. Additionally, the at least one counter can be provided, which determines the duration of the at least one half-wave-dependent signal, ie the corresponding output signal.

In particular, the duration of the flanking wave of the supply signal embodied as an AC voltage includes both the duration of a rising flank of the flanking wave and the duration of a falling flank of the flanking wave. Accordingly, it is provided that both the rising section of the flapping wave, ie the rising edge, and the falling section of the flapping wave, ie the falling edge, of the respective flapping wave are taken into account when the duration the corresponding half-wave is determined by the control and evaluation unit. As already explained, the control and evaluation unit processes the output signal of the monitoring circuit, which is assigned to the corresponding half-wave, ie the half-wave-dependent signal.

In principle, it is therefore provided that the supply signal, which is present as an alternating voltage, is converted into a current signal, for example by means of the monitoring circuit, in particular the at least one threshold-dependent component. The current signal obtained in this way is then processed further, in particular by the monitoring circuit, in order to obtain the at least one output signal. The at least one output signal has accordingly been obtained based on one of the two half-waves of the supply signal present as an AC voltage.

The monitoring circuit can output at least one output signal, in particular two output signals, which is or are transmitted to the control and evaluation unit.

The control and evaluation unit in turn determines the duration of the respective output signal or of the half-wave of the supply signal present as AC voltage on which the corresponding output signal is based.

For this purpose, the control and evaluation unit includes at least one comparator, which compares the output signal received with a reference signal in order to be able to determine the duration.

When evaluating the at least one output signal, both the duration of a rising edge of the underlying half-wave and the duration of a falling edge of the underlying half-wave are taken into account, in particular also a peak section of the underlying half-wave, which connects the rising edge and the falling edge. This applies in an analogous manner to both half-waves if two output signals are present and are evaluated by the control and evaluation unit.

In this respect, the duration of a rising section, a subsequent apex section and a subsequent falling section of the half-wave can be determined, namely in the case of a positive half-wave. Furthermore, can the duration of a descending section, a subsequent apex section and a subsequent rising section of the half cycle can be determined, namely in the case of a negative half cycle.

In this respect, both the period duration and the duration of the zero crossing are measured during the evaluation by means of the control and evaluation unit.

This results in great robustness against short-term deviations and disturbances, even if the reaction time is slower than with methods that are exclusively based on the evaluation of the zero crossing.

According to a further aspect, two galvanically isolated connections are provided between the monitoring circuit and the control and evaluation unit assigned to the monitoring circuit. The two galvanically isolated connections can each be in the form of an optocoupler, which ensures that the control and evaluation unit is galvanically isolated from the monitoring circuit.

In particular, the two galvanically isolated connections are designed to transmit the output signals associated with the two half-waves separately from one another to the control and evaluation unit. This makes it possible for the output signals or current signals assigned to the half-waves of the supply signal to be evaluated separately from one another in order to determine the mains frequency or the half-wave time ratio.

A further aspect provides that the monitoring circuit has a protection element and a fuse assigned to the protection element. The protective element can be a varistor, ie a voltage-dependent resistor. The protective element is used to protect the electrically operated component from overvoltages, the protective element being protected by the associated fuse.

According to one aspect, the control and evaluation unit has a supply interface for the energy supply, with the supply interface being assigned a sensor which is set up to record at least one characteristic of the energy supply. The energy supply of the control and evaluation unit can also be referred to as an internal supply, with the control and evaluation unit being designed in such a way that it still works even if the supply voltage is too low for the electrically operated component. The internal supply signal is measured accordingly via the sensor. The energy supply or the internal supply takes place, for example, via an AC/DC converter that is assigned to the supply interface of the control and evaluation unit, via which the control and evaluation unit is correspondingly supplied with energy. The sensor is in turn assigned to this supply interface in order to monitor the energy supply.

The AC/DC converter is connected to the control and evaluation unit via a voltage divider, for example. In particular, it can be determined whether the output voltage of the AC/DC converter is below a specific threshold value.

In particular, the control and evaluation unit is set up to detect a failure of the fuse, ie the fuse assigned to the protection element, based on the recorded characteristics of the energy supply and the output of the monitoring circuit. For this purpose, the control and evaluation unit evaluates whether an internal network signal from the voltage detection is missing, with the internal supply of the control and evaluation unit being given via the supply interface, which is interpreted as an implicit indication of the failure of the fuse of the protection element. The energy supply of the control and evaluation unit, which takes place via a power pack or an AC/DC converter, keeps the control and evaluation unit running even if there is no longer a signal via the monitoring circuit. Therefore, no second power supply is necessary.

For example, the monitoring circuit no longer delivers a signal at less than approx. 80 V from the supply, while the AC/DC converter assigned to the control and evaluation unit still works up to 60 V and thus keeps the control and evaluation unit functional. Short-term complete failures of the supply can be intercepted by internal energy storage via capacitors.

In any case, it is possible to determine whether the power is supplied via the AC/DC converter and whether (at the same time) there is a signal from the monitoring circuit. If, for example, an energy supply via the AC/DC Be possible converter, which is associated with a voltage that would actually result in operation of the monitoring circuit, so a failure of the fuse can be detected if no signal from the monitoring circuit is received.

In this case, the control and evaluation unit can output a control signal in order to transmit the corresponding error state. Furthermore, the control and evaluation unit can control a user interface which signals to the user that the monitoring assembly or the device comprising the monitoring assembly needs to be serviced. In this way it can be ensured in a simple manner that a failure of the protective element, for example due to an overload, does not go undetected but is corrected accordingly.

A further aspect provides that the assembly has a power pack with an AC/DC converter, with the power pack being assigned a sensor that detects a voltage value at the output of the power pack and transmits it to the control and evaluation unit. In particular, the voltage value is a low voltage level. The signal detected by the sensor can be used for extended monitoring of the supply signal in order to obtain a more detailed statement with regard to an error condition of the supply signal.

In one embodiment, the power pack with the AC/DC converter is used to supply energy to the control and evaluation unit and is connected to the aforementioned supply interface, for example.

According to one aspect, the aforementioned sensor for the internal supply signal is designed as a voltage divider. Therefore, as an aspect, it is preferably provided that the output of the power pack, preferably the output of the AC/DC converter, is connected to the control and evaluation unit via a voltage converter as a sensor. This is used to determine whether the supply voltage continues to drop below the lower threshold value.

In particular, the AC/DC converter is set up to output an output voltage up to a second threshold value for the supply signal, the second threshold value being below the first threshold value. With In other words, the AC/DC converter is designed in such a way that the output voltage only drops to a critical value below the undervoltage reported by the monitoring circuit for the operation of the electrically operated component, resulting in the second voltage threshold value, which is used when monitoring the supply signal can be used additionally.

In principle, the control and evaluation unit can be set up to determine the duration of a failure of the at least one output signal, with the control and evaluation unit being set up to compare the duration with a defined period of time in order to detect the fault condition if the duration of the failure is longer than the defined time span. As explained above, this can be done in a simple manner via the counter which is associated with the comparator and whose output signal can be reset when a corresponding output signal from the monitoring circuit is present at its input. This corresponds to basic monitoring by means of the monitoring module, since the defined period of time defines a period after which the monitoring module only responds or which is still tolerated by the monitoring module. In other words, the control and evaluation unit does not emit the activation signal if the determined duration of the failure of the at least one output signal, i.e. the response of the basic monitoring, takes place for a period of time that is less than the defined period of time, since the corresponding failure is still in the intended tolerance range. However, if the at least one output signal fails for a period longer than the defined period of time, the error state is detected and the activation signal is output in order to switch off the electrically operated component or a component assigned to the electrically operated component or the higher-level device in a targeted manner or to shut down.

A further aspect provides that the control and evaluation unit is set up to detect the fault condition if the output voltage fails and the at least one output signal fails at the same time, in particular independently of the duration of the failure of the at least one output signal. This represents an extended monitoring, in which the corresponding error state is already detected and a control signal is output when the failure of the output signal as well as the failure the output voltage of the AC/DC converter are present at the same time, in particular independently of the duration of the failure of the at least one output signal.

This means that the fault condition is detected even if the duration of the failure of the at least one output signal is still within the defined period of time. This is because the AC/DC converter has the second threshold up to which the output voltage is output, the second threshold has a lower voltage level than the first threshold, so if the output voltage and the output signal fail at the same time, the voltage level of the supply signal is below the second threshold value, which indicates a very low supply voltage, which results in an error condition.

The object is also achieved according to the invention by a system which includes an electrically operated component, for example a component of an air conditioning system such as a compressor, and a monitoring assembly of the aforementioned type. The electrically operated component is connected to the monitoring assembly via a switching element. The switching element can be a relay, for example a semiconductor relay. This ensures that the control and evaluation unit can be electrically isolated both from the monitoring circuit and from the electrically operated component, provided that the switching element is designed accordingly.

In principle, the switching element can be controlled by the control and evaluation unit when the error state is detected. This means that the activation signal to be output by the control and evaluation unit can be output to the switching element, which ensures that the electrically operated component or a component assigned to the electrically operated component is switched off in a controlled manner.

In other words, the monitoring assembly is set up to activate the switching element depending on a detected error state of the supply signal of the electrically operated component in order to interrupt the supply via the switching element in a controlled manner. This ensures that the electrically operated Component or a component interacting with the electrically operated component is avoided.

Alternatively, the activation signal can be used to directly switch off the electrically operated component or a component assigned to the electrically operated component in a controlled manner.

In principle, it is possible, due to the controlled and targeted switching off, to later switch on or start up the corresponding component again in a controlled and targeted manner, with excessively high inrush currents being avoided.

In general, it is possible with the monitoring module to make a statement about the mains voltage, ie the level of the mains voltage, and the mains frequency of the supply signal that is supplied to the electrically operated component.

In addition, the monitoring assembly can be used to determine the status of the protective element, in particular the status of the fuse assigned to the protective element.

In addition, the monitoring board can be adjusted in the field, i.e. without changing the hardware, by setting parameters that are used for monitoring, for example the defined time period.

Due to its simple design, the monitoring module ensures that it reacts quickly to dips in the supply signal, for example voltage and/or frequency dips, while at the same time there is a tolerance for short-term or minor dips.

Further advantages and properties of the invention result from the following description and the drawings to which reference is made. In the drawings show:

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a system according to the invention, which includes a monitoring assembly according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of the monitoring assembly according to the invention, FIG. 3a shows a schematic representation of the control and evaluation unit used in the monitoring assembly according to a first embodiment,

FIG. 3b shows a schematic representation of the control and evaluation unit used in the monitoring assembly according to a second embodiment, and

FIG. 4 is an overview that illustrates the different scenarios when monitoring using the monitoring assembly according to the invention.

A system 10 is shown in FIG.

The electrically operated component 12 is operated via a supply voltage or a supply signal from a supply 18, with the monitoring assembly 14 monitoring the supply signal.

The electrically operated component 12 is connected to the supply 18 via the switching element 16 so that the electrically operated component 12 can be separated from the supply 18 .

In particular, the switching element 16 is a relay, for example a semiconductor relay, so that a galvanic isolation of the electrically operated component 12 from the supply 18 is possible.

The monitoring assembly 14 includes a monitoring circuit 20, a control and evaluation unit 22 associated with the monitoring circuit 20, and a power pack 24, which includes an AC/DC converter 26, which will be discussed further below.

The monitoring assembly 14 is coupled to the supply 18 via the monitoring circuit 20, so that the monitoring circuit 20 picks up and monitors the supply signal provided by the supply 18, in particular with regard to the voltage value and/or the frequency of the supply signal. The monitoring circuit 20 is shown in more detail in Figure 2, from which it can be seen that the monitoring circuit 20 has a protective element 28 in the form of a varistor ("VDR") and a fuse 30 associated with the protective element 28, which serve to protect against an overvoltage from the electrically operated assembly Keep 12 away, so as to protect the electrically operated component 12 from the overvoltage.

In addition, the monitoring circuit 20 includes two threshold-dependent components 32, 34, which are designed as Zener diodes. The two threshold-dependent components 32, 34 are arranged back-to-back in this case, as a result of which the supply signal can be rectified.

In principle, at least one current signal is provided via the threshold value-dependent components 32, 34, which current signal depends on the voltage value of the supply signal. This means that when there is a supply voltage that is above a first threshold value, a corresponding current signal is provided, which can be transmitted from the monitoring circuit 20 to the control and evaluation unit 22, in particular in the form of an output signal.

In this case, the first threshold value can be predefined on the basis of the corresponding design of the components 32, 34 which are dependent on the threshold value.

At least one galvanically isolated connection 36 is provided between the control and evaluation unit 22 and the monitoring circuit 20 in order to electrically isolate the control and evaluation unit 22 from the monitoring circuit 20, in particular from the applied supply voltage, which is provided by the supply 18.

In the embodiment shown, the control and evaluation unit 22 is connected to the monitoring circuit 20 via two galvanically isolated connections 36, each of which is in the form of an optocoupler, as can be seen from FIG.

There is a connection to the power pack 24 and in particular to the AC/DC converter 26 via the resistors R2 and R3. Both resistors R2, R3 thus form the supply interface of the control and evaluation unit 22. In this respect, the control and evaluation unit 22 has a supply interface 37 for supplying energy.

Output signals which correspond to two current signals which are provided by the monitoring circuit 20 are forwarded to the control and evaluation unit 22 via the two optocouplers.

As is clear from Figure 2, the monitoring circuit 20 is designed in such a way that the two half-waves of the supply signal, which is present as an AC voltage signal, are assigned current signals which are transmitted separately from one another to the control and evaluation unit 22, namely by means of the output signals which are transmitted through the optocoupler be transmitted.

The control and evaluation unit 22 thus receives the two output signals from the monitoring circuit 20, the control and evaluation unit 22 evaluating the two output signals in order to detect an error condition in the supply signal.

FIG. 3a shows, by way of example, that the control and evaluation unit 22 compares the output signals received with a reference signal.

For this purpose, the control and evaluation unit 22 has a first comparator 38 and a second comparator 40 which receive the first output signal or the second output signal, provided these are generated by the monitoring circuit 20 .

The two comparators 38, 40 are therefore set up to compare the voltage level of the respective half-cycle of the supply signal with the reference signal. A corresponding level monitoring for the respective half-waves can thereby be made possible.

The level monitoring can be carried out by the first threshold value, which is set by the threshold-dependent components 32, 34. As described above, a current signal is only generated when the voltage level of the supply voltage is above the first threshold value. Accordingly, the output signal of the associated half-wave of the supply signal or no output signal is present at the respective input of the corresponding comparator 38, 40, for example the positive input, if the voltage level is below the first threshold value.

If no output signal from the monitoring circuit is present at the corresponding input of the comparator 38, 40, the comparator 38, 40 switches over accordingly on the basis of the reference signal present at the other input.

In addition, the two comparators 38, 40, in particular their outputs, are each assigned a counter 42, 44 in the embodiment shown, via which the duration of the half-wave-dependent signals, ie the respective output signals, can be determined. The counters 42, 44 count the output signal of the respective comparator 38, 40 at a defined frequency in order to determine the duration of the half-wave-dependent signals. In other words, the two counters 42, 44 are used so that a separate analysis of both half-waves is possible.

This makes it possible for the mains frequency or half-wave time ratio to be monitored in addition to the level monitoring in order to detect a corresponding error state of the supply signal.

FIG. 3b shows an alternative embodiment of the control and evaluation unit 22, which saves more resources than that in FIG. 3a, since only one counter 42 is provided. The two comparators 38, 40 are connected on the output side to a corresponding OR link 46, which is therefore arranged between the counter 42 and the comparators 38, 40. This makes it possible to reset the counter 42 if, for example, there is no output signal from the monitoring circuit 20 at any of the inputs of the comparators 38, 40, since both outputs of the comparators 38, 40 are coupled to the counter 42 via the OR link 46.

In principle, the comparators 38, 40, the at least one counter 42 and, if provided, the OR link 46 are implemented in a microcontroller that is configured accordingly. In general, it is provided that an interrupt signal is generated by the control and evaluation unit 22 when the supply has failed. Before that, everything is done on the hardware side, so that evaluation software with regard to half-wave monitoring is initially not used for the evaluation.

In principle, the control and evaluation unit 22, in particular the respective first inputs of the comparators 38, 40, is connected to the monitoring circuit 20, in particular to the outputs of the optocouplers, as can be seen from FIGS.

In this respect, the output side of the first optocoupler can be connected to an input of the first comparator 38, e.g. the positive input, and the second optocoupler can be connected to an input of the second comparator 40, e.g. the positive input, on the output side, so that the output signals to the comparators 38, 40 to be directed. The respective other inputs of the comparators 38, 40 receive the reference signal.

The control and evaluation unit 22 also receives a signal from the power pack 24 , in particular a sensor 48 which is assigned to the power pack 24 and which detects an output voltage of the AC/DC converter 26 . The voltage value is in particular an output voltage level of the power pack 24.

The power pack 24 basically serves to supply the control and evaluation unit 22 with electrical energy and can therefore also be referred to as an internal supply.

In other words, the sensor 48 is also assigned to the supply interface 37 of the control and evaluation unit 22, the sensor 48 being set up to record at least one characteristic of the energy supply.

The AC/DC converter 24 is designed to output an output voltage up to a second threshold value for the supply signal, the second threshold value being below the first threshold value, which is assigned to the monitoring circuit 20, in particular the threshold-dependent components 32, 34. In this respect, an output voltage is also provided via the AC/DC converter 24, which can be used, for example, to supply the control and evaluation unit 22, even if the monitoring circuit 20 would have already detected an error state.

In this respect, the control and evaluation unit 22 receives a plurality of information or sensor signals that can be used to identify the faulty state of the supply signal in order to reliably detect it accordingly.

In particular, the control and evaluation unit 22 is set up to determine the duration of the failure of the at least one output signal, with this being compared with a defined period of time in order to detect the error state. In other words, the control and evaluation unit 22 ascertains how long no current signal has been transmitted by the monitoring circuit 20, the corresponding duration being compared with the defined period of time.

The defined period of time represents a tolerance range that tolerates brief interruptions in the current signal as uncritical, so that unnecessary triggering of the monitoring assembly 14 is avoided.

Only when the output signal of the monitoring circuit 20 is not transmitted for a period of time that is greater than the defined period of time is a corresponding error state detected, as a result of which the control and evaluation unit 22 outputs the activation signal.

The two aforementioned scenarios are shown in FIG. 4 correspondingly for “1” and “2”, with the defined period of time T in the first case “1” divided by the duration

"ti _ 1" was not exceeded, but "2" was exceeded in the second case by the duration

"ti_2" does, which is why the control signal "failure detected" was output in the second case "2".

In addition, FIG. 4 shows a further scenario “3” in which an error state is already detected, although the basic monitoring carried out by the monitoring circuit 20 has not transmitted the output signal for a period that is below the defined time span T.

The error status was nevertheless recognized, since it was already recognized at the same time that the output voltage of the AC/DC converter 24 is interrupted, which means that it can be concluded that the voltage provided by the supply signal is also below the second threshold value, which is implemented by the AC/DC converter 24 .

In this respect, it is determined that the voltage level of the supply signal is below both threshold values, which is why the error state is present, which should result in the electrically operated component 12 being switched off in a defined and controlled manner.

The activation signal is therefore already output after the time "ti_A", although this time is well below the defined time span T. The control and evaluation unit 22 controls the switch 16 accordingly, for example, in order to electrically isolate the electrically operated component 12 from the supply 18 .

Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the control and evaluation unit 22 directly controls the electrically operated component 12 or a component that interacts with the electrically operated component 12 in order to switch off or shut down the latter in a controlled manner. For this purpose, a control line 50 can be provided, which is shown in broken lines in FIG.

With the monitoring assembly 14 according to the invention, it is basically possible for the control and evaluation unit 22 to be completely galvanically isolated from the supply 18, provided that the power pack 24 and the switching element 16 are designed accordingly. This is because there is a galvanically isolated connection between the monitoring circuit 20 and the control and evaluation unit 22 . In addition, the monitoring circuit 20 is designed in a correspondingly simple manner, as a result of which it is not susceptible to errors.

Furthermore, it is possible with the monitoring assembly 14 to output a statement regarding the mains voltage, in particular the voltage value of the mains voltage, the mains frequency and the status of the protective element 28 provided in the monitoring circuit 20 or its fuse 30 . Furthermore, a tolerance for short-term or minor changes in the supply signal can be implemented, so that unnecessary triggering of the monitoring assembly 14 is avoided.

Claims

patent claims

1. Monitoring assembly for monitoring a supply signal of an electrically operated component (12), wherein the monitoring assembly (10) comprises a monitoring circuit (20) and a control and evaluation unit (22) assigned to the monitoring circuit (20), wherein at least one galvanically isolated connection ( 36) is provided between the monitoring circuit (20) and the control and evaluation unit (22) assigned to the monitoring circuit (20), the monitoring circuit (20) having at least one threshold-dependent component (32, 34) which is set up to generate a current signal depending on an applied supply voltage of the supply signal, which is an alternating voltage, the monitoring circuit (20) being set up to transmit at least one output signal to the control and evaluation unit (22), which output signal corresponds to that of the at least one threshold-dependent component (32, 34) generated Stromsign al corresponds to, wherein the at least one threshold-dependent component (32, 34) is designed in such a way that it generates a current signal when the supply voltage is above a first threshold value, wherein the control and evaluation unit (22) is set up, the at least one transmitted output signal evaluate in order to determine an error condition, and wherein the control and evaluation unit (22) is set up to output a control signal when the error condition has been determined.

2. Monitoring assembly according to Claim 1, characterized in that the monitoring circuit (20) has two threshold-dependent components (32, 34), in particular the two threshold-dependent components (32, 34) being connected to one another in anti-series fashion.

3. Monitoring assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the monitoring circuit (20) is set up to generate two current signals based on the supply signal or two transmit output signals to the control and evaluation unit (22) which correspond to the current signals generated, the two current signals being assigned to half-waves of the supply signal present as an alternating voltage, the control and evaluation unit (22) being set up to measure the duration of the two half-waves to determine associated output signals in order to determine the mains frequency and/or the half-wave time ratio of the supply signal.

4. Monitoring assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control and evaluation unit (22) comprises two comparators (38, 40), wherein the two comparators (38, 40) are each assigned to a half-wave of the AC supply signal present.

5. Monitoring assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control and evaluation unit (22) is set up to determine at least the duration of a half-wave of the AC voltage supply signal, in particular by evaluating the at least one transmitted output signal.

6. The monitoring assembly as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the duration of the half-cycle of the supply signal in the form of an AC voltage includes both the duration of a rising edge of the half-cycle and the duration of a falling edge of the half-cycle.

7. Monitoring assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two galvanically isolated connections (36) are provided between the monitoring circuit (20) and the control and evaluation unit (22) assigned to the monitoring circuit (20), in particular the two galvanically isolated connections (36) which transmit the output signals assigned to the two half-waves separately to the control and evaluation unit (22).

8. Monitoring assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the monitoring circuit (20) has a protective element (28), in particular a protective element (28) designed as a varistor, and a fuse (30) assigned to the protective element (28).

9. Monitoring assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control and evaluation unit (22) has a supply interface (37) for the energy supply, wherein the supply interface (37) is assigned a sensor (48) which is configured to have at least one To record the characteristics of the energy supply.

10. Monitoring assembly according to Claim 9, insofar as dependent on Claim 8, characterized in that the control and evaluation unit (22) is set up to indicate a failure of the fuse (30) based on the detected characteristics of the energy supply and the output of the monitoring circuit (20). detect.

11. Monitoring assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the monitoring assembly (14) has a power supply (24) with an AC / DC converter (26), wherein the power supply (24) is associated with a sensor (48), the detects a voltage value at the output of the power pack (24) and transmits it to the control and evaluation unit (22), in particular the voltage value being a low-voltage level.

12. Monitoring assembly according to claim 11, characterized in that the AC/DC converter (24) is set up to output an output voltage up to a second threshold value for the supply signal, the second threshold value being below the first threshold value.

13. Monitoring assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control and evaluation unit (22) is set up to determine the duration of a failure of the at least one output signal, wherein the control and evaluation unit (22) is set up, the duration with a defined period of time in order to detect the error condition if the duration of the failure is longer than the defined period of time.

14. Monitoring assembly according to Claim 12 or Claim 13, insofar as it relates back to Claim 12, characterized in that the control and evaluation unit (22) is set up to detect the error state if a failure of the output voltage and a failure of the at least one output signal are present at the same time, in particular independently of the duration of the failure of the at least one output signal.

15. System comprising an electrically operated component (12) and a monitoring assembly (14) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrically operated component (12) is connected to the monitoring assembly (14) via a switching element (16), wherein the monitoring assembly ( 14) is set up to detect the switching element (16) as a function of one

Faulty state of the supply signal of the electrically operated component (12) to control in order to interrupt the supply via the switching element (16) in a controlled manner.