CONTROL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TRIGGERING PASSENGER PROTECTION MEANS FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20110260554A1
• Filed: 07/07/2008
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Schumacher, Hartmut
• Granted Patent: US 9,975,509 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/116
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/40 Control modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0104 Communication circuits for data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343

Abstract

A control device and a method for triggering a passenger protection arrangement for a vehicle are provided, an interface being provided that is used to receive at least one signal whose amplitude is a function of the vehicle battery voltage or a substitute voltage that takes its place. Furthermore, a trigger circuit is provided that triggers the passenger protection arrangement as a function of at least one signal. The interface has a circuit that derives at least one switching threshold from a supply voltage produced in the control device (substitute voltage that is retained for a certain amount of time in the autarchy case/under-supply case/contact problems) to detect the at least one signal, and one switching threshold that is directly derived from the battery voltage (standard), or from the amplitude of the bus voltage.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A control device for triggering a passenger protection arrangement for a vehicle, comprising:

an interface for receiving at least one signal whose amplitude depends on the vehicle battery voltage;

a trigger circuit, which triggers the passenger protection arrangement as a function of the at least one signal;

wherein the interface includes a circuit that derives at least one switching threshold from one of a supply voltage produced in the control device and from the amplitude to detect the at least one signal.

12. The control device of claim 11, wherein a supply module produces the supply voltage as a digital level.

13. The control device of claim 12, wherein the interface forms an integrated circuit with the circuit and the supply module.

14. The control device of claim 11, wherein the at least one switching threshold at a first comparator is produced by the supply voltage being applied to an input of the first comparator via at least one first resistor and at least one first diode, the vehicle battery voltage also being applied at this input.

15. The control device of claim 11, further comprising:

a second comparator, wherein the at least one switching threshold from the supply voltage is applied to its first input; and

a third comparator, wherein the vehicle battery voltage for forming the at least one switching threshold is provided to its first input.

16. The control device of claim 11, further comprising:

a hysteresis circuit to produce the at least one switching threshold.

17. The control device of claim 11, wherein the interface has a pull-up circuit for transmitting data.

18. The control device of claim 17, wherein the pull-up circuit conducts the supply voltage to a transmission line via at least one second resistor and at least one second diode.

19. A method for triggering a passenger protection arrangement for a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving at least one signal via an interface, an amplitude of the at least one signal being a function of the vehicle battery voltage;

detecting the at least one signal by deriving at least one switching threshold from one of a supply voltage produced in the control device and the amplitude; and

triggering the passenger protection arrangement as a function of the at least one signal.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least one switching threshold is used as a hysteresis.