Operation control system for vehicular air bag system

• US 5,390,951 A
• Filed: 06/21/1993
• Issued: 02/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Iyoda, Motomi
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DICKSON, PAUL N
• Application Number:
  US08/079,380
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730 A, 280/734, 280/735, 180/274, 180/279, 180/282, 307/10.1, 307/121, 340/436
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0152 using strain gauges

Abstract

An operation control system to be used with a vehicular air bag system having an air bag and an inflator comprises an inhibit circuit for preventing a useless expansion of the air bag and inhibiting the later operation of the air bag by detecting that a touch sensor already has its contacts closed, when the ignition switch acting as a main switch for an igniting circuit of the squib of the inflator is switched from OFF to ON, if the contacts of the touch sensor are closed when the ignition switch is OFF. Also comprised is an acceleration type collision sensor acting as a second collision sensor for causing the air bag to be expanded if an acceleration detected exceeds a predetermined level, even if in the inhibited state by the inhibit circuit. Further comprised are a timer for releasing the inhibited state by the inhibit circuit after the state has been held for a predetermined time period, and a unit for releasing the inhibited state if there is detected a vehicular state in which the air bag can be operated.

Claims

1. An operation control system to be used with a vehicular air bag system for protecting an occupant of a vehicle against an impact of a vehicular collision by expanding a first air bag, comprising:

a first collision sensor for detecting a deformation of a body of said vehicle during said vehicular collision;

a first inflator for producing and feeding a gas to said first air bag, when said first inflator is electrically energized and ignited;

a main switch of said vehicle for feeding an electric current to electrically energize said first inflator in a closed position of said main switch;

first inhibit means for inhibiting said electrical energization of said first inflator when said first collision sensor detects said deformation of said body of said vehicle while said main switch is in an open position; and

an acceleration sensor for detecting an acceleration in said body of said vehicle due to said vehicular collision;

wherein said first inflator is electrically energized irrespective of said inhibition by said first inhibit means when said acceleration sensor detects said acceleration due to said vehicular collision.

7. An operation control system according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle includes a plurality of doors, said system further comprising:

a plurality of air bags including said first air bag;

a plurality of collision sensors including said first collision sensor;

a plurality of inflators including said first inflator; and

a plurality of inhibit means including said first inhibit means;

said plurality of air bags, said plurality of collision sensors, said plurality of inflators, and said plurality of inhibit means each being respectively disposed inside said plurality of doors of said vehicle.

2. An operation control system to be used with a vehicular air bag system for protecting an occupant of a vehicle against an impact of a vehicular collision by expanding an air bag, comprising:

a collision sensor for detecting a deformation of a body of said vehicle during said vehicular collision;

an inflator for producing and feeding a gas to said air bag, when said inflator is electrically energized and ignited;

a main switch of said vehicle for feeding an electric current to electrically energize said inflator in a closed position of said main switch;

inhibit means for inhibiting said electrical energization of said inflator when said collision sensor detects said deformation of said body of said vehicle while said main switch is in an open position;

a timer for releasing said inhibition of said electrical energization of said inflator after said electrical energization of said inflator has been inhibited for a predetermined time period after said main switch is placed in said closed position; and

inhibition release signal output means for outputting an inhibition release signal to release said inhibition of said electrical energization of said inflator by said inhibit means when a predetermined state of said vehicle is detected.

3. An operation control system according to claim 2, wherein said inhibition release signal output means includes means for outputting said inhibition release signal when a running state of said vehicle is detected in a predetermined state.

4. An operation control system according to claim 2, wherein said inhibition release signal output means includes means for outputting said inhibition release signal when a driving state of said engine of said vehicle is detected in a predetermined state.

5. An operation control system according to claim 2, further comprising:

an automatic transmission mounted on said vehicle; and

a shift lever for selecting a plurality of ranges of said automatic transmission, said plurality of ranges including a parking range;

wherein said inhibition release signal output means includes means for outputting said inhibition release signal when said shift lever is selected into any of said plurality of ranges other than said parking range.

6. An operation control system according to claim 2, wherein said inhibition release signal output means includes means for outputting said inhibition release signal when a running state of said vehicle and a driving state of an engine of said vehicle individually come into predetermined states.

8. An operation control system according to claim 2, wherein said inhibition release signal output means includes means for outputting said inhibition release signal when a shift lever of an automatic transmission of said vehicle is selected into a position other than a parking position.