Sheathed-element glow plug unit and system for operating a plurality of sheathed-element glow plugs

Abstract

A sheathed-element glow plug unit includes an input for connecting the sheathed-element glow plug unit to a control line, via which a sheathed-element glow plug of the sheathed-element glow plug unit is able to be controlled. The sheathed-element glow plug unit has an output, via which at least one further sheathed-element glow plug unit is able to be connected to the control line.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . A sheathed-element glow plug unit, comprising:
 an input configured to connect the sheathed-element glow plug unit to a control line, via which a sheathed-element glow plug of the sheathed-element glow plug unit is controllable; and   an output, via which at least one further sheathed-element glow plug unit is connectable to the control line.   
   
   
       18 . The sheathed-element glow plug unit according to  claim 17 , further comprising a local control unit. 
   
   
       19 . The sheathed-element glow plug unit according to  claim 17 , further comprising a local control unit arranged as at least one of (a) a microcontroller and (b) an application-specific integrated circuit. 
   
   
       20 . The sheathed-element glow plug unit according to  claim 17 , further comprising a communications unit. 
   
   
       21 . The sheathed-element glow plug unit according to  claim 17 , further comprising a position-evaluation unit including at least one of (a) a resistive, (b) an inductive, and (c) a capacitive component switchable between the input and the output. 
   
   
       22 . The sheathed-element glow plug unit according to  claim 21 , further comprising a voltage measurement device configured to determine at least one of (i) a voltage dropping at the at least one of (a) the resistive, (b) the inductive, and (c) the capacitive component and (ii) a voltage between a connection of the at least one of (a) the resistive, (b) the inductive, and (c) the capacitive component and at least one of (a) a reference potential and (b) a ground potential. 
   
   
       23 . The sheathed-element glow plug unit according to  claim 17 , wherein a grounded connection of the sheathed-element glow plug is permanently connected with a ground potential within the sheathed-element glow plug unit, and an operating-voltage connection of the sheathed-element glow plug is connectable to the input. 
   
   
       24 . The sheathed-element glow plug unit according to  claim 17 , further comprising a voltage measurement device configured to determine at least one of (a) a voltage applied between the input and the output, (b) a voltage applied between the input and a reference potential, and (c) a voltage applied between the output and a reference potential. 
   
   
       25 . The sheathed-element glow plug unit according to  claim 17 , further comprising an energy-supply unit configured to at least one of (a) store electrical energy supplied to the sheathed-element glow plug unit via the control line and (b) supply electrical energy to at least one of (a) components of the sheathed-element glow plug unit, (b) a control unit, and (c) a local control unit. 
   
   
       26 . A system for operating a plurality of sheathed-element glow plugs, comprising:
 a central glow control device;   at least two sheathed-element glow plug units, each including a sheathed-element glow plug;   wherein, via a control line, the central glow control device is connected only to a first sheathed-element glow plug unit, and additional sheathed-element glow plug units are switched in series to the first sheathed-element glow plug unit.   
   
   
       27 . The system according to  claim 26 , wherein control signals for an operation of the sheathed-element glow plug units and electrical energy for at least one of (a) supply of components of the sheathed-element glow plug units and (b) supply of the sheathed-element glow plugs are transmittable via the control line. 
   
   
       28 . The system according to  claim 26 , wherein at least one sheathed-element glow plug unit includes:
 an input configured to connect the sheathed-element glow plug unit to the control line, via which a sheathed-element glow plug of the sheathed-element glow plug unit is controllable; and   an output, via which at least one further sheathed-element glow plug unit is connectable to the control line.   
   
   
       29 . A method for operating a plurality of sheathed-element glow plug units, each sheathed-element glow plug unit including a sheathed-element glow plug, a central glow control device arranged to control the sheathed-element glow plug units, comprising:
 acting upon, by the glow control device, a first sheathed-element glow plug unit, directly connected to the glow control device via a control line, with a corresponding control signal; and   if appropriate, forwarding the control signal to additional sheathed-element glow plug units connected in series to the first sheathed-element glow plug unit.   
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the control line is connected through the first sheathed-element glow plug unit to additional sheathed-element glow plug units to forward the control signal. 
   
   
       31 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein each sheathed-element glow plug unit determines its position in the series connection of the sheathed-element glow plug units. 
   
   
       32 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein at least one of (a) diagnosis reports and (b) status reports from a sheathed-element glow plug unit are transmitted to the central glow control device. 
   
   
       33 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the control line is used to at least one of (a) supply consumers with electrical energy and (b) to supply the sheathed-element glow plugs.