Method for actuating a safety device for vehicle occupants
First Claim
1. A method of actuating a passenger restraint device mounted on a motor vehicle, comprising the following steps:
- directing electric current from a voltage source to an actuating device to actuate the restraint device;
storing energy from the voltage source in a storage device, and if the voltage source is disconnected from the actuating device, directing electric current from the storage device to the actuating device to actuate the restraint device; and
measuring the energy stored within the storage device, and if the energy level of the storage device falls below a predetermined level, interrupting the flow of electric current to the actuating device to maintain a substantially predetermined amount of energy stored within the storage device to actuate other actuating devices.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of actuating a safety device for vehicle occupants, wherein the safety device has several tripping devices coupled to a capacitor and to passenger restraint devices, such as air bags, seat belts, or the like. The energy supplied by the capacitor to a tripping device is measured upon actuation of that device. If the energy supplied exceeds a predetermined limit, the flow of electric current from the capacitor to the respective tripping device is interrupted. Thus, if an actuated tripping device shunts, the energy of the capacitor is not drained by the shunt, and the capacitor maintains an energy level sufficient to actuate the other tripping devices.
19 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of actuating a passenger restraint device mounted on a motor vehicle, comprising the following steps:
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directing electric current from a voltage source to an actuating device to actuate the restraint device; storing energy from the voltage source in a storage device, and if the voltage source is disconnected from the actuating device, directing electric current from the storage device to the actuating device to actuate the restraint device; and measuring the energy stored within the storage device, and if the energy level of the storage device falls below a predetermined level, interrupting the flow of electric current to the actuating device to maintain a substantially predetermined amount of energy stored within the storage device to actuate other actuating devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4)
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3. A method as defined in claim 3 further comprising the following steps:
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measuring the voltage across the actuating device upon actuating the restraint device; and if there is a voltage across the actuating device, interrupting the flow of electric current thereto.
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5. A method of actuating a vehicular passenger restraint device comprising the following steps:
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directing electric current from a storage device to an actuating device to actuate the actuating device and in turn the passenger restraint device; measuring the energy supplied by the storage device to the actuating device; and if the energy supplied to the actuating device is greater than a predetermined amount, interrupting the flow of electric current to the actuating device to maintain a substantially predetermined amount of energy within the storage device to actuate other actuating devices. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for actuating a vehicular safety device comprising:
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at least two passenger restraint devices, the restraint devices being actuated to protect passengers in the vehicle; an electric storage device coupled to the passenger restraint devices, the electric storage device being adapted to direct electric current to the passenger restraint devices to actuate the passenger restraint devices; and first means for generating output signals indicative of the energy supplied by the electric storage device to a respective passenger restraint device upon actuating the passenger restraint device; and second means responsive to the output signals of the first means for interrupting the flow of electric current to a respective passenger restraint device upon an output signal exceeding a predetermined value to maintain a substantially predetermined amount of energy within the electric storage device to actuate the other passenger restraint devices. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for actuating a plurality of passenger restraint devices mounted on a motor vehicle comprising:
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an electric storage device coupled to the passenger restraint devices to supply electric current thereto to actuate the restraint devices; first means for monitoring the energy supplied by the storage device to a respective restraint device and for generating output signals indicative thereof; and second means responsive to the output signals of the first means for interrupting the flow of electric current from the electric storage device to a restraint device upon the level of the output signals exceeding a predetermined level to maintain a sufficient amount of energy in the storage device to actuate the other restraint devices. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for actuating a plurality of passenger restraint devices mounted on a motor vehicle comprising:
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an electric storage device coupled to the passenger restraint devices to supply electric current thereto to actuate the devices; a first volt meter coupled to the electric storage device to generate output signals indicative of the voltage across the storage device; a control unit coupled to the first volt meter and the passenger restraint devices, the control unit being adapted to compare the output signals of the first volt meter to corresponding reference values upon actuation of a restraint device and, if an output signal is less than a corresponding reference value, to interrupt the flow of electric current to the respective restraint device, and thus maintain sufficient energy in the storage device to actuate other restraint devices. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification