Control Unit For Triggering a Personal Protection Arrangement

• US 20090096429A1
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Schumacher, Hartmut
• Granted Patent: US 8,659,269 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/163
• 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 control unit for triggering the personal protection arrangement, including a first semiconductor module that is configured to make available various supply voltages and to charge an energy reserve, and including at least one second semiconductor module that is likewise configured to charge the energy reserve, the first and the second semiconductor module each having a semiconductor support.

Claims

1-8. -8. (canceled)

9. A control unit for triggering a personal protection arrangement, comprising:

a first semiconductor module that is configured to make available supply voltages and to charge an energy reserve; and

at least one second semiconductor module that is configured to charge the energy reserve;

wherein the first semiconductor module and the second semiconductor module each include a semiconductor support.

10. The control unit of claim 9, wherein the first semiconductor module and the second semiconductor module are configured to charge the energy reserve to a voltage level of the vehicle battery.

11. The control unit of claim 9, wherein the first semiconductor module includes a voltage down-converter for making available a first supply voltage for at least one first sensor coupled to the control unit, and wherein the second semiconductor module derives the first supply voltage from a voltage level of the vehicle battery and supplies therewith at least one second sensor coupled to the control unit.

12. The control unit of claim 9, wherein the second semiconductor module includes a circuit for detecting a failure of the vehicle battery.

13. The control unit of claim 12, wherein the second semiconductor module is coupled to the first semiconductor module so that upon a failure of the vehicle battery, the first semiconductor module interrupts charging and instead supplies the at least one second sensor with the first supply voltage.

14. The control unit of claim 13, wherein the first semiconductor module is configured to charge the energy reserve to a superelevated voltage, and upon failure of the vehicle battery blocks a voltage up-converter for generation of the superelevated voltage.

15. The control unit of claim 9, wherein the first semiconductor module and the second semiconductor module include a respective circuit for linking the sensors, controlling switches, controlling firing circuits, and communicating with data lines.