Method and device for triggering at least one firing element for a restraining means in a motor vehicle

• US 20030040860A1
• Filed: 09/27/2002
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Zelger, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 6,804,596 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01075 between the airbag control unit and pyrotechnic fuses or equivalent actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/017 including arrangements for providing electric power to safety arrangements or their actuating means, e.g. to pyrotechnic fuses or electro-mechanic valves

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for triggering at least on firing element (6, 7, 8) for restraining means in a motor vehicle. In said method and device a firing command (3) is transmitted from a control unit (2) to a firing device (5) for the firing elements. The firing command (3) is subsequently repeatedly n-fold, whereby n is at least equal to 1. The n+1 transmitted firing commands are evaluated in the firing device and once the last of the n+1 firing commands has been transmitted, the firing elements are triggered.

Claims

1. A method for firing at least one firing element (6, 7, 8) for a restraining means in a motor vehicle having the steps:

a firing command (3) is transmitted from a control device (2) to a firing device (5) for the firing element or elements,

the transmission of the firing command (3) from the control device to the firing device is repeated n times, n being at least equal to one,

the n +1 transmitted firing command (3) are evaluated in the firing device (5), and

the firing elements are fired by the firing device after the last of the n+1 firing commands has been transmitted.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the firing of the firing element or elements (6, 7, 8) is repeated at least once.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the firing element or elements (6, 7, 8) is/are fired successively.

4. A device for firing at least one firing element (6, 7, 8) for a restraining means in a motor vehicle having a control device (2) for generating n+1 identical firing commands (3),

a firing device (5) for firing the firing element or elements (6, 7, 8) by connecting a firing signal to the firing element or elements (6, 7, 8), and

a transmission device (4) for the transmission of the firing commands (3) from the control device (2) to the firing device (5),

the firing element or elements (6, 7, 8) is/are not fired by the firing device (5) until the last of the n+1 firing commands (3) has been transmitted.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4, in which the control device is a delay device (14, 20, 21, 22, 28, 29, 30) for delaying the firing signal (3), the delay device (14, 20, 21, 22, 28, 29, 30) being triggered by the first firing command, and having a delay which is longer than the time which is necessary for the transmission of all the firing commands (3).

6. The device as claimed in claim 4 or 5, in which the control device (2) outputs coded firing commands (3), and the firing device (5) has a firing command decoder (12, 19, 27) for decoding the firing commands.

7. The device as claimed in claim 4, 5 or 6, in which the firing device (5) fires a plurality of firing elements (6, 7, 8) in succession.