Safety apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- an actuatable safety device for protecting an occupant of a vehicle;
at least a pair of ignitable pyrotechnic transmission lines, one end of each pyrotechnic transmission line being connected to said safety device, ignition of either pyrotechnic transmission line effecting actuation of said safety device;
signal means for providing a signal;
conduit means coupled at one end to said signal means for receiving said signal from said signal means and extending through one pyrotechnic transmission line, through at least a portion of the actuatable safety device, and through the other pyrotechnic transmission line, said conduit means conducting said signal received from said signal means;
sensor means coupled to the other end of said conduit means for sensing receipt of said signal conducted through said conduit means; and
indicator means responsive to said sensor means for indicating a change in said signal conducted through said conduit means.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus is provided for monitoring the operability of at least a pair of pyrotechnic transmission lines connected to an actuatable safety device. The apparatus includes a conduit in the form of an optical fiber, which extends through one pyurotechnic transmission line, through the actuatable safety device, and through the other pyrotechnic transmission line. One end of the conduit is coupled to a signal source for receiving a signal from the signal source. The signal is directed through the conduit. A sensor coupled at the other end of the conduit senses receipt of the signal directed through the conduit. If the sensor senses the signal directed through the conduit has decreased to or below a predetermined level, then an indicator operates to warn of a break or interruption in at least one of the pyrotechnic transmission lines.
51 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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an actuatable safety device for protecting an occupant of a vehicle; at least a pair of ignitable pyrotechnic transmission lines, one end of each pyrotechnic transmission line being connected to said safety device, ignition of either pyrotechnic transmission line effecting actuation of said safety device; signal means for providing a signal; conduit means coupled at one end to said signal means for receiving said signal from said signal means and extending through one pyrotechnic transmission line, through at least a portion of the actuatable safety device, and through the other pyrotechnic transmission line, said conduit means conducting said signal received from said signal means; sensor means coupled to the other end of said conduit means for sensing receipt of said signal conducted through said conduit means; and indicator means responsive to said sensor means for indicating a change in said signal conducted through said conduit means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus comprising;
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an actuatable airbag inflator for, when actuated, inflating an airbag to protect an occupant of a vehicle during a collision condition; an actuatable seat belt pretensioner for, when actuated, rotating a spool of a seat belt retractor in a belt retraction direction; a first ignitable pyrotechnic transmission line having one end connected to said actuatable airbag inflator for, when ignited, actuating said airbag inflator; a second ignitable pyrotechnic transmission line having one end connected to said actuatable seat belt pretensioner for, when ignited, actuating said seat belt pretensioner; firing manifold means connected to the other end of said first ignitable pyrotechnic transmission line and to the other end of said second ignitable pyrotechnic transmission line for receiving a firing signal indicative of a vehicle collision, said first and second pyrotechnic transmission lines igniting in response to said firing manifold means receiving said firing signal and thereby actuating said seat belt pretensioner and said airbag inflator to protect the occupant of the vehicle during the collision; means for monitoring the operability of said first and second pyrotechnic transmission lines, said monitoring means including signal means for providing a signal and including conduit means coupled at one end to said signal means for receiving said signal from said signal means and extending through said first pyrotechnic transmission line, through at least a portion of said actuatable airbag inflator, through at least a portion of said actuatable seat belt pretensioner, and through said second pyrotechnic transmission line, said conduit means directing said signal received from said signal means therethrough; and said monitoring means including sensor means coupled to the other end of said conduit means for sensing receipt of said signal directed through said conduit means and including indicator means responsive to said sensor means for indicating a change in said signal directed through said conduit means. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. An apparatus comprising;
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actuatable means for, when actuated, providing protection for the occupant of a vehicle during a collision condition; a first ignitable pyrotechnic transmission line having one end connected to said actuatable means for, when ignited, actuating said actuatable means; a second ignitable pyrotechnic transmission line having one end connected to said actuatable means for, when ignited, actuating said actuatable means, said actuatable means actuating in response to either one or both of said first and second pyrotechnic transmission lines igniting; firing manifold means connected to the other end of said first ignitable pyrotechnic transmission line and to the other end of said second ignitable pyrotechnic transmission line for receiving a firing signal indicative of a vehicle collision, said first and second pyrotechnic transmission lines igniting in response to said firing manifold means receiving said firing signal and thereby actuating said actuatable means to protect the occupant of the vehicle during the collision; means for monitoring the operability of said first and second pyrotechnic transmission lines, said monitoring means including signal means for providing a signal and including conduit means coupled at one end to said signal means for receiving said signal from said signal means and extending through said first pyrotechnic transmission line, through at least a portion of said actuatable means, and through said second pyrotechnic transmission line, said conduit means directing said signal received from said signal means therethrough; and said monitoring means including sensor means coupled to the other end of said conduit means for sensing receipt of said signal directed through said conduit means and including indicator means responsive to said sensor means for indicating a change in said signal directed through said conduit means. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification