Patent ID: 7596436

Claim:
An electronic control device for controlling an operation of motor vehicle components, comprising: a microcontroller for providing at least one control signal for controlling at least one component to be controlled during an operation of a motor vehicle, said microcontroller operating within a first permissible predefined operating voltage range; at least one output stage connected to receive the control signal and configured to selectively activate and deactivate the component to be controlled based on the control signal; a first voltage monitoring device operating in the first permissible operating voltage range, said first voltage monitoring device monitoring at least one particular operating voltage of the control device and disabling or resetting said output stage if the at least one monitored operating voltage exceeds a predetermined first limit voltage, the first limit voltage being selected within the first permissible operating voltage range; and a second voltage monitoring device operating in a second permissible operating voltage range extending beyond the first permissible operating voltage range, said second voltage monitoring device monitoring the at least one operating voltage and disabling or resetting said output stage if the at least one monitored operating voltage exceeds a predetermined second limit voltage, the second limit voltage lying within the first permissible operating voltage range and being greater than the first limit voltage.