Fail-safe apparatus and method for disposal of automobile pyrotechnic safety devices
First Claim
1. A method for disposing of a pyrotechnic safety device, said method comprising:
- providing an electronic control unit comprising a primary control unit and an auxiliary control unit, wherein said auxiliary control unit comprises a safing mode and a scrap mode;
enabling said scrap mode, when said auxiliary control unit receives a first predetermined signal from said primary control unit;
arming said auxiliary control unit only if a second predetermined signal is received by said auxiliary control unit from said primary control unit, when said auxiliary control unit is operating in said scrap mode; and
deploying at least one pyrotechnic device by sending a deployment signal to said at least one pyrotechnic device while said auxiliary control unit is armed.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for disposing of a pyrotechnic safety device includes providing an electronic control unit having a primary control unit and an auxiliary control unit. The auxiliary control unit includes a safing mode and a scrap mode, and operates in the safing mode in an initial state. The auxiliary control unit is switched from the safing mode to the scrap mode when the primary control unit sends a first predetermined signal. The auxiliary control unit is armed only if it receives a second predetermined signal from the primary control unit while the auxiliary control unit is operating in the scrap mode. The primary control unit sends the first and second predetermined signals to the auxiliary control unit based on signals the primary control unit receives from an external source. The primary control unit then disposes of a pyrotechnic safety device (PSD) by sending a deployment signal to the PSD based on another signal received from the external source.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for disposing of a pyrotechnic safety device, said method comprising:
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providing an electronic control unit comprising a primary control unit and an auxiliary control unit, wherein said auxiliary control unit comprises a safing mode and a scrap mode; enabling said scrap mode, when said auxiliary control unit receives a first predetermined signal from said primary control unit; arming said auxiliary control unit only if a second predetermined signal is received by said auxiliary control unit from said primary control unit, when said auxiliary control unit is operating in said scrap mode; and deploying at least one pyrotechnic device by sending a deployment signal to said at least one pyrotechnic device while said auxiliary control unit is armed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for disposing of a pyrotechnic safety device, said method comprising:
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providing an electronic control unit comprising a primary control unit and an auxiliary control unit, wherein said auxiliary control unit comprises a safing mode and a scrap mode; sending a disposal seed from an auxiliary control unit to said primary control unit, when said auxiliary control unit is operating in said scrap mode; calculating a disposal key based on said disposal seed; arming said auxiliary control unit when said auxiliary control unit receives said disposal key from said primary control unit; and deploying at least one pyrotechnic device by sending a deployment signal to said at least one pyrotechnic device while said auxiliary control unit is armed. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of disposing of a pyrotechnic safety device, said method comprising:
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providing an electronic control unit comprising a primary control unit and an auxiliary control unit, wherein said auxiliary control unit comprises a safing mode and a scrap mode; arming said auxiliary control unit only if a first predetermined signal is received by said auxiliary control unit from said primary control unit, when said auxiliary control unit is operating in said scrap mode; deploying a first pyrotechnic device when said primary control unit receives a first disposal signal from an external source; disarming said auxiliary control unit; rearming said auxiliary control unit only if a second disposal signal is received by said primary control unit; and deploying a second pyrotechnic device when said primary control unit receives said second disposal signal from said external source. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 23)
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22. A system for disposing of a pyrotechnic safety device, comprising:
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an electronic control unit comprising an auxiliary control unit and a primary control unit, wherein said primary control unit is in electronic communication with said auxiliary control unit, and said auxiliary control unit is configured to operate in a safing mode and a scrap mode; a pyrotechnic safety device in electronic communication with said auxiliary control unit and said primary control unit; an external signal unit in electronic communication with said primary control unit and not in electronic communication with said auxiliary control unit; wherein said auxiliary control unit is configured to change from said safing mode to said scrap mode when said auxiliary control unit receives a first predetermined signal from said primary control unit, and said auxiliary control unit is configured to arm said pyrotechnic safety device when said auxiliary control unit receives a second predetermined signal from said primary control unit and said auxiliary control unit is operating in said scrap mode.
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Specification