Method for operating a microcomputer apparatus

Abstract

A method for operating a microcomputer apparatus includes provisioning an electrical reference voltage that is independent of an electrical supply voltage, continuously comparing a defined level of the electrical reference voltage with the electrical supply voltage, and performing a defined operation with the microcomputer apparatus for at least one defined ratio between the defined level of the electrical reference voltage and the electrical supply voltage. The provisioning and the continuous comparing involves using a functional module of the microcomputer apparatus.

Claims

1. A method for operating a microcomputer apparatus, comprising: provisioning an electrical reference voltage that is independent of an electrical supply voltage; continuously comparing a defined level of the electrical reference voltage with the electrical supply voltage; and performing a defined operation with the microcomputer apparatus for at least one defined ratio between the defined level of the electrical reference voltage and the electrical supply voltage, wherein the provisioning and the continuous comparing involves using a functional module of the microcomputer apparatus, wherein the defined operation is switching an electrical apparatus to a standby state, and wherein the microcomputer apparatus is included in the electrical apparatus.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the defined operation is performed when the electrical supply voltage is below a defined threshold value.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: outputting a control signal to an electronic device.

4. An electrical apparatus comprising: a mains power supply; and a microcomputer apparatus electrically connected to the mains power supply, wherein the electrical apparatus is configured to be switched to a defined state according to an operating method that is carried out by the microcomputer apparatus, wherein the operating method includes (i) provisioning an electrical reference voltage that is independent of an electrical supply voltage, (ii) continuously comparing a defined level of the electrical reference voltage with the electrical supply voltage, and (iii) performing a defined operation with the microcomputer apparatus for at least one defined ratio between the defined level of the electrical reference voltage and the electrical supply voltage, and wherein the provisioning and the continuous comparing involves using a functional module of the microcomputer apparatus, and wherein the defined operation is switching the electrical apparatus to a standby state.

5. The electrical apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: an electronic device associated with the microcomputer apparatus and the mains power supply, wherein a threshold value for the electrical supply voltage for the microcomputer apparatus is configured based on a requirement of the electronic device in respect of the mains power supply.

6. The electrical apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the electronic device is configured to produce a synchronization signal.

7. The electrical apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the threshold value and/or the electrical reference voltage is configured to be adjusted in a defined manner.

8. The electrical apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the electrical apparatus is an electric tool.

9. A computer program product comprising: a computer-readable storage medium including: a plurality of instructions that when executed by a microcomputer apparatus of an electrical apparatus causes the microcomputer apparatus to perform the following acts: (i) provisioning an electrical reference voltage that is independent of an electrical supply voltage, (ii) continuously comparing a defined level of the electrical reference voltage with the electrical supply voltage, and (iii) performing a defined operation with the microcomputer apparatus for at least one defined ratio between the defined level of the electrical reference voltage and the electrical supply voltage, and wherein the provisioning and the continuous comparing involves using a functional module of the microcomputer apparatus, wherein the defined operation is switching the electrical apparatus to a standby state.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a basic illustration of an embodiment of the electrical apparatus according to the disclosure; and

(2) FIG. 2 shows a basic sequence of an embodiment of the method according to the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(3) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an electrical apparatus 20 according to the disclosure. It can be seen that the electrical apparatus 20 has a first connection 22 and a second connection 23 that can be used to connect the electrical apparatus 20 to an electrical AC voltage U.sub.N, for example 110 V or 220 V and 50 Hz or 60 Hz. In addition, the electrical apparatus 20 comprises a power supply unit 21 that transforms the electrical mains voltage U.sub.N into an electrical supply voltage U at a level of 5 V DC voltage, for example. Sometimes, it may be the case that the power supply unit 21 generates variable voltage levels for changing mains conditions, so that disadvantageously there are not always, as desired, constantly 5 V available at the output of the power supply unit 21.

(4) The electrical supply voltage U supplies power to a microcomputer apparatus 10 (e.g. a microcontroller, microprocessor, etc.) and an electronic device 24. By way of example, the electronic device 24 may be in the form of a device for producing a synchronization signal for the electrical apparatus 20. Further assemblies of the electrical apparatus 20, which are likewise supplied with the electrical supply voltage U, are not shown. A drop below a level of the electrical supply voltage U can entail undesirable, undefined operation of the electrical apparatus 20 as a whole on account of a malfunction in the electronic device 24. By way of example, the electrical apparatus 20 may be in the form of electronics for an electric tool, which usually has a large number of peripheral modules.

(5) The disclosure provides for a functional module 11 that is arranged within the microcomputer apparatus 10 to provide an electrical reference voltage U.sub.REF that forms a threshold value for the supply voltage U and that matches voltage requirements of the electronic device 24. Continuously, e.g. timed at intervals of clock cycles of the microcomputer apparatus 10, a ratio between the reference voltage U.sub.REF and the supply voltage U is ascertained, and in the event that the supply voltage U is below a predefined threshold value U.sub.S a predefined operation is performed by the microcomputer apparatus 10. In this case, by way of example, a defined actuation or control signal can be output to the electronic device 24. As a result, by way of example, the electronic device 24, which is in the form of a device for producing the synchronization signal, can be deactivated, which means that no further synchronization signals are output.

(6) Advantageously, the reference voltage U.sub.REF of the microcomputer apparatus 10 is not dependent on a level of the electrical supply voltage U, which means that said reference voltage U.sub.REF is always generated essentially without alteration, regardless of all the relevant voltage fluctuations in the electrical supply voltage U that, as mentioned above, may arise on the power supply unit 21.

(7) Preferably, a threshold value U.sub.S for the supply voltage U is stipulated or defined such that, at least if said threshold value U.sub.S of the supply voltage U is observed, all the function groups, including the electronic device 24 of the electrical apparatus 20, still function in a reliable manner and, as a result, trouble-free normal operation of the electrical apparatus 20 is ensured. For this reason, the threshold value U.sub.S is normally stipulated slightly above said function threshold for the electronic device 24, e.g. input by programming into a software program for the microcomputer apparatus 10.

(8) The electrical apparatus 20 in the form of electronics for an electric tool may comprise various peripheral assemblies or elements that ensure reliable functioning of the electric tool.

(9) Said threshold value U.sub.S is thus defined in advance such that all of the existent function groups for the electronics of the electric tool work perfectly, and said reference voltage U.sub.REF is set once.

(10) The disclosure can advantageously be used to put the electronics into a safe, defined state (for example a standby state) in the event of a drop in the electrical supply voltage U below the threshold value U.sub.S and thereby to ensure a continuously defined mode of operation of the electric tool. State can preferably be understood to mean a state of a state machine, i.e. a state which is implemented in software and that then deactivates actuation of a motor, for example.

(11) FIG. 2 shows a basic sequence for an embodiment of the method according to the disclosure:

(12) In a first step S1, an electrical reference voltage U.sub.REF, which is independent of an electrical supply voltage U, is provided.

(13) In a second step S2, continuous comparison of a defined level P of the reference voltage U.sub.REF with the electrical supply voltage U is carried out.

(14) In a third step S3, a defined operation is carried out by the microcomputer apparatus 10 for at least one defined ratio between the level P of the reference voltage U.sub.REF and the supply voltage U, with a functional module 11 of the microcomputer apparatus 10 being used for performing steps S1 and S2.

(15) Preferably, the method is implemented for the microcomputer apparatus 10 by software, and in this way it is a simple matter to adjust the threshold value U.sub.S of the supply voltage U or level P of the reference voltage U.sub.REF. Simple modification of the defined operations to be carried out in each case when a defined ratio between the reference voltage U.sub.REF and the supply voltage U is reached is therefore possible. Advantageously, when the provided level of the supply voltage U is reached again, it is possible to reset the standby mode to a normal mode of the electrical apparatus 20.

(16) In summary, the present disclosure proposes a method that can be used to put an electric apparatus into a safe defined state when the supply voltage is too low. This advantageously takes place at a time before an unforeseeable functionality of an electronic device prompts erroneous operation of the electrical apparatus. Advantageously, an internal functional module in a microcomputer apparatus can be used for this purpose, which advantageously allows external wiring measures and hence space and cost to be saved. On the basis of an implementation in software, respective associated defined operations of the microcomputer apparatus can be designed very flexibly for certain conditions between a reference voltage U.sub.REF and the supply voltage U, said microcomputer apparatus also providing for the electrical apparatuses to be returned to the normal mode, for example.

(17) Although the disclosure has been described using an example of an electric tool, it goes without saying that the disclosure can be used for any types of DC- and AC-powered electrical apparatuses with peripheral electronics.

(18) A person skilled in the art will thus modify and/or combine the features of the disclosure in a suitable manner without departing from the essence of the disclosure.