Sensor assembly for use in a vehicle equipped with a gas bag restraint system

• US 3,889,232 A
• Filed: 08/13/1973
• Issued: 06/10/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lon E. Bell
• Original Assignee: Lon E. Bell
• Inventors: Bell, Lon E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Waring, Alvin H.
• Application Number:
  US05/387,720
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 340/52H,53,61,262 180/91,103,104 200/61.45R 307/1R
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/135 by making use of contacts which are actuated by a movable inertial mass

Abstract

A crash sensor assembly disposed in a vehicle equipped with a gas bag restraint system and the method of using the sensor to activate the restraint system. The assembly comprises a deceleration sensor switch means and a second sensor switch means which are both closed upon collision of the vehicle. Upon closing of these switch means a signal is sent to an activation means which initiates gas bag inflation. A continuity comparator means sends a signal to a circuit breaking means in the event that one but not both switch means closes to deactivate the assembly.

Claims

1. A crash sensor assembly disposed in a vehicle comprising:

an electrical signal generating means;

a deceleration sensor switch means in electrical communication with said signal generating means;

a second sensor switch means in electrical communication with said signal generating means;

an actuating means, in electrical communication with said second sensor switch means and said deceleration sensor switch means, to activate a gas bag restraint system disposed in said vehicle upon closing of both said second and said deceleration switch means;

a continuity comparator means, in electrical communication with said second sensor switch means and said deceleration sensor switch means, the comparator means including means to electrically sense and generate an output signal when one of said switch means is closed for longer than a predetermined time interval before the other switch means closes; and

a circuit breaking means, disposed in electrical communication with said continuity comparator means responsive to said output signal for deactivating said crash sensor assembly upon receipt of said output signal sent to it by said continuity comparator means.

2. An assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said continuity comparator means comprises a time delay switch means provided with means to delay transmission of said signal to said circuit breaking means for a preset period of time following closing of one of said switch means.

3. An assembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein said time delay switch means includes a first capacitor connected between ground and said second sensor switch means through a first resistor, a first transistor having its base connected to a junction between said capacitor and said resistor and its collector-emitter circuit grounded through a second resistor, a second transistor having its base connected in series with the collector of said first transistor and its collector-emitter circuit in series with said signal generating means and grounded through a thermal resistor of said circuit breaking means, and a third transistor having its base connected to said signal generating means through a second capacitor and to said deceleration sensor switch means through a third resistor, its collector connected to ground and its emitter connected through a fourth resistor to a junction in series with and between the base of said second transistor and the collector of said first transistor, said base of said third transistor being decoupled from said actuator means by a diode.

4. An assembly in accordance with claim 3 wherein said circuit means additionally includes a fuse link disposed adjacent to said thermal resistor and adapted to become open upon application of voltage to said thermal resistor.

5. An assembly, in accordance with claim 1 including indicator means, in electrical communication with said circuit breaking means, activated by a signal transmitted by said circuit breaking means upon deactivation of said assembly.

6. An assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein said indicator means includes a first transistor having its base connected to said signal generating means through at least two separate paths, one of said paths containing said second sensor switch means and another of said paths containing a resistor, and its collector-emitter circuit in series with the series combination of a second transistor and an alarm means, said second transistor having its base-emitter circuit in series with and between the emitter of said first transistor and said alarm means and its collector-emitter circuit in series with and between said signal generating means and said alarm means, and a bias resistor connected between ground and each of said deceleration sensor switch means and said actuator means.

7. An assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein said indicator means comprises a warning light which is illuminated upon activAtion of said indicator means.

8. An assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein said indicator means comprises a buzzer which is sounded upon activation of said indicator means.

9. An assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second sensor switch means comprises a plurality of sensors disposed on said vehicle, each of said sensors including a pair of electrically conductive members separated by a compressible electrically non-conductive material, the first of said electrically conductive members being connected to said signal generating means and the second of said electrically conductive members being connected to each of said continuity comparator means and the series combination of said circuit breaking means and said actuator means.

10. An assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said deceleration sensor switch means comprises an electrically conductive mass disposed in said vehicle in electrical communication with said electrical signal generating means, an electrically conductive contact means in electrical communication with each of said continuity comparator means and the series combination of said actuator means and said circuit breaking means and a non-conductive biasing means connected to said mass and said contact means and adapted to bias said mass away from said contact member, whereby said mass is adapted for displacement into contact with said contact member in response to forces resulting from a predetermined deceleration of said vehicle.

11. An assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said second sensor switch means comprises a crush sensor means.

12. An assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second sensor switch means comprises a plurality of sensors.

13. An assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said deceleration sensor switch means comprises a plurality of sensors.