Restraining system and method

• US 20070057494A1
• Filed: 11/13/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Achatz, Klaus, Baur, Richard, Weidner, Marcus, Rauh, Helmut
• Granted Patent: US 7,513,526 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01034 Controlling a plurality of restraint devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01272 Belt tensioners
• 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

A restraint system, in particular for a motor vehicle, includes a restraint device, to be activated in at least two steps; a sensor unit for sensing activation-relevant vehicle and operating data; a control device for processing the activation-relevant vehicle and operating data; as well as an ignition unit for driving the actuators for activating the at least one restraining device. To increase the safety of such a restraining device, at least two independently switched ignition units are provided such that, when one ignition unit fails, the activation of the restraint device in at least one step is guaranteed by the other ignition unit.

Claims

1. A restraint system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

at least one restraint device activatable in at least two stages;

a control device for processing activation-relevant operating data of the vehicle;

at least two independently switched ignition units coupled with the control device, wherein the at least two independently switched ignition units are operably configured such that, if one ignition units fails, activation of the at least one restraint device in at least one stage is performed by the other ignition unit.

2. The restraint system according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor unit for sensing activation-relevant operating data and providing said activation-relevant operating data to said control device.

3. The restraint system according to claim 1, wherein each of the two ignition units has a plurality of individual ignition end stages, wherein the individual ignition end stages are assigned to each ignition unit of a number of different restraint devices.

4. The restraint system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one restraint device is an airbag.

5. The restraint system according to claim 3, wherein the at least one restraint device is an airbag.

6. The restraint system according to claim 1, wherein at least two restraint devices in the form of airbags are provided, the at least two independently switched ignition units being each provided with at least two ignition end stages, wherein the at least two independently switched ignition units are electrically coupled such that the at least two ignition end stages are assigned to one ignition unit of the various airbags.

7. The restraint system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one restraint device is a seatbelt having a seatbelt tightener.

8. The restraint system according to claim 3, wherein the at least one restraint device is a seatbelt having a seatbelt tightener.

9. The restraint system according to claim 7, wherein at least two restraint devices in the form of a seatbelt having a seatbelt tightener are provided, the at least two independently switched ignition units each having at least two ignition end stages, wherein the at least two independently switched ignition units are electrically coupled together such that the at least two ignition end stages are assigned to one ignition unit of the various seatbelts having seatbelt tighteners.

10. A motor vehicle restraint system, comprising:

a two stage activated restraint device, each stage being activated by a respective triggering unit;

first and second independently switched ignition units operably configured such that if the first ignition unit fails, the second ignition unit activates at least one stage of the two stage restraint device.

11. The restraint system according to claim 10, wherein the two stage restraint device is an airbag.

12. The restraint system according to claim 10, wherein the two stage restraint device is a seatbelt having a seatbelt tightener.

13. The restraint system according to claim 10, further comprising:

a second two stage restraint device;

wherein each of the first and second ignition units includes two ignition end stages, the two ignition end stages of the first and second ignition units being electrically configured such that one ignition end stage of each ignition unit is assigned to the restraint device and another ignition end stage of each ignition unit is assigned to the second restraint device.

14. A method of operating a vehicle restraint system having a two stage restraint device, the method comprising the acts of:

upon receiving an activation signal, attempting to activate at least one stage of the restraint device via a first ignition unit; and

upon failing to activate the at least one stage of the restraint device, activating the at least one stage of the restraint device via a second independently switched ignition unit.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the restraint device is an airbag.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the restraint device is a seatbelt having a seatbelt tightener.