Post collision restraints control module

• US 20030139864A1
• Filed: 01/24/2002
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Schondorf, Steven Yellin, Kula, Paul Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 7,158,870 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01177 Misdeployment, e.g. during assembly, disassembly, accident salvage or recycling
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01184 Fault detection or diagnostic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over

Abstract

A restraints control module (RCM) for a vehicle is provided including a memory device. The memory device stores a deployment time of a deployment event. A controller is electrically coupled to the memory device and deploys a restraint in response to a collision signal and stores the deployment time in the memory device. A method of time stamping and indicating a deployment event within an automotive vehicle, having a RCM, is also provided.

Claims

1. A restraints control module (RCM) for a vehicle comprising:

a memory device for storing a deployment time of a deployment event; and

a controller electrically coupled to said memory device, said controller determining when to deploy a restraint and storing said deployment time.

2. A module as in claim 1 wherein said controller stores in said memory device a deployment time comprising at least one of:

start time, duration, and end time.

3. A module as in claim 1 wherein said controller stores in said memory device a fault time corresponding to said deployment time.

4. A module as in claim 3 further comprising a comparator electrically coupled to said controller, said comparator comparing said deployment time with a fault time and determining whether said fault time corresponds with said deployment time.

5. A module as in claim 4 further comprising an indicator electrically coupled to said controller and indicating when a deployment time corresponds with a fault time.

6. A module as in claim 5 wherein said indicator comprises at least one of:

a pulsating indicator, a light bulb, an LED, a fluorescent light, an audible signal, a visual signal, a 7-segment display, an analog gage, a digital meter, a video system, and a hazard light.

7. A module as in claim 1 further comprising an indicator electrically coupled to said controller, said indicator continuously indicating that the RCM has been on a vehicle that has been involved in a collision, until such time when the RCM is serviced or replaced.

8. A module as in claim 1 further comprising an indicator electrically coupled to said controller, said indicator permanently indicating that the RCM has been on a vehicle that has been involved in a collision.

9. A module as in claim 1 wherein said controller stores in said memory device a restraint power draw value during said deployment event.

10. A module as in claim 1 wherein information stored in said memory device is uneraseable, unresettable, and unoverwritable.

11. A module as in claim 1 wherein the controller stores RCM operating time in said stored device.

13. A module as in claim 11 wherein said indicator continuously indicating that the RCM has been on a vehicle that has been involved in a collision.

14. A module as in claim 11 further comprising a comparator electrically coupled to said controller, said comparator comparing said deployment time with a fault time and determining whether said fault time corresponds with said deployment time.

15. A module as in claim 11 wherein information stored in said memory device is uneraseable, unresettable, and unoverwritable.

17. A method as in claim 15 wherein storing a deployment time comprises storing a deployment time comprising at least one of:

start time, duration, and end time.

18. A method as in claim 15 further comprising indicating whether the RCM has been on a vehicle that has been involved in a collision.

19. A method as in claim 15 further comprising storing a fault time.

20. A method as in claim 19 further comprising indicating when said deployment time corresponds with said fault time.

21. A method as in claim 19 further comprising indicating cause of said fault time.

22. A method as in claim 15 further comprising storing restraint power draw during the deployment event.

23. A method as in claim 15 further comprising continuously indicating a fault in response to the deployment event.

12. A restraints control module (RCM) for a vehicle comprising:

an indicator;

a memory device for storing a deployment start time of a deployment event;

a controller electrically coupled to said indicator and said memory device, said controller determining when to deploy a restraint and storing said deployment start time and duration in said memory device;

said controller storing a fault time in said memory device and signaling said indicator when said fault time corresponds to said deployment start time and duration.

16. A method of time stamping and indicating a deployment event within an automotive vehicle having a RCM, said method comprising:

sensing a collision;

generating a collision signal in response to said collision;

deploying a restraint in response to said collision signal; and

storing a deployment time.