System for vehicle safety devices

• US 5,018,763 A
• Filed: 07/16/1990
• Issued: 05/28/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Airbag Systems Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Zexel Corporation
• Inventors: Okano, Masami, Takeuchi, Kunihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRAYSAY, TAMARA L
• Application Number:
  US07/552,706
• Time in Patent Office: 316 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728, 280/734, 280/735, 180/268, 180/271, 180/282, 340/436, 340/438, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0173 Diagnostic or recording means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 using microprocessors or computers

Abstract

In a vehicle safety system having a warning buzzer an inductance element of the buzzer is also used as a coil element for stepping up voltage in a voltage step-up circuit of an energy reservoir in which the electric energy required for actuating an electrically fired actuator of a safety device is stored in a capacitor of large capacity. The voltage step-up circuit is adapted to produce a high output voltage in response to the application of an appropriate ON/OFF signal. In the case where it is detected that an abnormal condition has arisen in the system, a signal having an audible frequency component is applied to the voltage step-up circuit, whereby the buzzer operates to generate a warning sound.

Claims

1. A vehicle safety system having a safety device for protecting a vehicle occupant from a vehicle collision, said safety device being rendered operative when a vehicle collision has occurred, said system comprising:

a warning buzzer for producing a warning sound;

an energy supply circuit means for supplying electric energy for actuating an electrically fired element of the safety device, said energy supply circuit means having a voltage step-up circuit means in which an inductance element of said warning buzzer is incorporated so as to act as a coil element for generating a back electromotive force for a voltage step-up in response to an ON/OFF voltage signal;

a checking means for checking whether or not there is an abnormal condition in said system; and

an applying means responsive to said checking means for applying a signal with at least an audible frequency component to said voltage step-up circuit means when an abnormal condition has occurred in said system, whereby said warning buzzer produces a warning sound in accordance with the audible frequency component.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said energy supply circuit means further comprises a capacitor of large capacity which is charged by a high output voltage signal produced in response to the ON/OFF voltage signal by said voltage step-up circuit means, and the electric energy can be supplied from the capacitor to the electrically fired element at the time of a vehicle collision.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said checking means is for checking whether or not charging/discharging characteristics of the capacitor are abnormal.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said applying means has means for generating a pulse signal including an audible frequency signal component, and means for applying the pulse signal as the ON/OFF voltage signal to said voltage step up circuit means when an abnormal condition has occurred in the system.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said applying means has means for generating a pulse signal whose frequency is within the audible frequency range, and means for applying the pulse signal as the ON/OFF voltage signal to said voltage step-up circuit means when an abnormal condition has occurred in the system.

6. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system further comprises a warning light which is turned on when the occurrence of an abnormal condition is detected by said checking means.

7. A vehicle safety system for protecting a vehicle occupant from a vehicle collision when a vehicle collision has occurred, said system comprising:

a safety device for protecting a vehicle occupant from a shock produced by a vehicle collision, said safety device having an electrically fired element;

a warning buzzer for producing a warning sound;

a first generating means for generating a first signal which is an ON/OFF signal with a frequency higher than the audible frequency range;

an energy supply circuit means for supplying electric energy necessary for actuating the electrically fired element, said energy supply circuit means having a voltage step-up circuit means in which an inductance element of said warning buzzer is incorporated so as to act as a coil element for generating a back electromotive force for a voltage step-up in response to the first signal;

a controlling means for supplying the electric energy to the electrically fired element when a vehicle collision has occurred;

a checking means for checking whether or not there is an abnormal condition in said system; and

an applying means responsive to said checking means for applying a signal with at least an audible frequency component to said voltage step-up circuit means when an abnormal condition has occurred in said system, whereby said warning buzzer produces a warning sound in accordance with the audible frequency component.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said controlling means has a current control means for controlling a current flowing from said energy supply circuit means to the electrically fired element, and means for controlling said current control means so as to allow the electric energy to be supplied to the electrically fired element when a vehicle collision has occurred.

9. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said applying means has a second generating means for generating a second signal which is an ON/OFF signal with at least an audible frequency component, and means responsive to said checking means for supplying the second signal to said voltage step-up circuit means in place of the first signal.