control device for an electrical vacuum pump and method for activating an electrical vacuum pump

Abstract

A control device for an electrical vacuum pump includes: a determination unit designed for the purpose of detecting an operating parameter of the electrical vacuum pump, which is dependent on an operating duration of the electrical vacuum pump, and detecting a controlled variable for the electrical vacuum pump, a switching unit designed for the purpose of activating or deactivating the electrical vacuum pump as a function of a comparison of the controlled variable to at least one setpoint value, and a regulating unit designed for the purpose of changing the at least one setpoint value of the controlled variable as a function of the operating parameter.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A control device for an electrical vacuum pump, comprising:
 a determination unit configured to (i) detect an operating parameter of the electrical vacuum pump, wherein said operating parameter is dependent on one of an operating duration or a temperature of the electrical vacuum pump, and (ii) detect a controlled variable for the electrical vacuum pump;   a switching unit configured to one of activate or deactivate the electrical vacuum pump as a function of a comparison of the controlled variable to at least one setpoint value; and   a regulating unit configured to change the at least one setpoint value as a function of the operating parameter.   
     
     
         12 . The control device as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a runtime counter configured to (i) ascertain the operating parameter, wherein said operating parameter is dependent on a percentage total operating duration of the electrical vacuum pump, and (ii) provide the operating parameter to the determination unit.   
     
     
         13 . The control device as recited in  claim 12 ,
 wherein the runtime counter is configured to (i) increment the operating parameter at uniform time intervals while the switching unit maintains the electrical vacuum pump in the activated state, and (ii) decrement the operating parameter at uniform time intervals while the switching unit maintains the electrical vacuum pump in the deactivated state.   
     
     
         14 . The control device as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the controlled variable is a partial vacuum generated by the electrical vacuum pump, the at least one setpoint value includes an upper threshold value, and the switching unit is configured to turn off the electrical vacuum pump when the partial vacuum exceeds the upper threshold value. 
     
     
         15 . A system, comprising:
 an electrical vacuum pump configured to generate a partial vacuum for a brake booster in a motor vehicle; and   a control device configured to activate the electrical vacuum pump, wherein the control device includes:
 a determination unit configured to (i) detect an operating parameter of the electrical vacuum pump, wherein said operating parameter is dependent on one of an operating duration or a temperature of the electrical vacuum pump, and (ii) detect a controlled variable for the electrical vacuum pump; 
 a switching unit configured to one of activate or deactivate the electrical vacuum pump as a function of a comparison of the controlled variable to at least one setpoint value; and 
 a regulating unit configured to change the at least one setpoint value as a function of the operating parameter. 
   
     
     
         16 . A method for activating an electrical vacuum pump, comprising:
 detecting an operating parameter of the electrical vacuum pump, wherein said operating parameter is dependent on one of an operating duration or a temperature of the electrical vacuum pump;   detecting a controlled variable for the electrical vacuum pump;   changing at least one setpoint value for the controlled variable as a function of the detected operating parameter;   comparing the detected controlled variable to the at least one setpoint value to generate a control signal; and   changing the operating state of the electrical vacuum pump as a function of the control signal.   
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the at least one setpoint value is reduced by a predetermined amount if the operating parameter exceeds a parameter threshold value. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the at least one setpoint value is continuously lowered with an increase of the operating parameter. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the controlled variable is a partial vacuum generated by the electrical vacuum pump, the at least one setpoint value includes an upper threshold value, and the change of the operating state includes a shutdown of the electrical vacuum pump when the partial vacuum exceeds the upper threshold value. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the operating parameter is an operating temperature of the electrical vacuum pump.