Air bag disabler control circuit

• US 5,544,914 A
• Filed: 12/27/1994
• Issued: 08/13/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Borninski, Thomas E., Boran, Colm P., Niesluchowski, Matt A., Simmons, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Application Number:
  US08/456,275
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 180/274, 180/282, 180/271, 180/287, 307/10.1, 340/436, 340/438, 340/440, 340/669
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01564 Manually or key-actuated inhibition switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0173 Diagnostic or recording means therefor

Abstract

A control circuit (46) for an air bag disabling system (16,22) includes a resistive test load (66) arranged in parallel with the resistive elements of the air bag (48) and in some embodiments includes a fuse (64) in series with the resistive test load (66), the resistive test load providing for the operation of the vehicle air bag system independent of the disabling effected by the disabling system and the fuse providing indication of operation of the air bag disabling system.

Claims

1. A control circuit for an air bag disabling system for an automotive vehicle having an ignition key cylinder and having an air bag mounted in an instrument panel in the vehicle and activated to inflate a cushioning bag in response to a condition sensed by an acceleration sensor operatively carried with the vehicle, the disabling system control circuit comprising:

a source of electrical power mounted in the vehicle;

a switch electrically connected to said source of electrical power and to the air bag assembly and selectively movable between a first position interconnecting said source of electrical power and the air bag to enable activation of the air bag assembly and a second position preventing said activation; and

a resistive test load substantially equivalent to the resistive load of the air bag assembly connected electrically in parallel with said air bag and wherein in said first position said switch is electrically disconnected from said resistive test load.

2. A control circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein in said first position said switch is electrically electrically interconnected said source of electrical power and said resistive test load.

3. A control circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein in said second position said switch is electrically connected to said sourwe of electrical power and said resistive test load.

4. A control circuit as defined in claim 1, and further comprising a fuse electrically connected in series between said switch and said resistive test load.

5. A control circuit as defined in claim 4, wherein said fuse is operative to effect disconnection between said switch and said resistive test load.

6. A control circuit as defined in claim 1, and further comprising a signal light operatively connected to said switch and wherein movement of said switch to said second position electrically interconnects said source of electric power in both said signal light and said resistive test load.

7. A control circuit as defined in claim 3, and further comprising a fuse electrically connected in series between said switch and said resistive test load.

8. A control circuit as defined in claim 7, wherein said fuse is operative to effect disconnection between said switch and said resistive test load.

9. A control circuit for an air bag disabling system for an automotive vehicle having an ignition key cylinder operated by an ignition key having a plurality of bits and having an air bag assembly mounted in an instrument panel in the vehicle and activated to inflate a cushioning bag in response to a condition sensed by an acceleration sensor operatively carried with the vehicle, the control circuit comprising:

a source of electrical power mounted in the vehicle;

a switch electrically connected to said source of electrical power and to the air bag assembly and selectively movable between a first position interconnecting said source of electrical power and the air bag assembly to enable activation of the air bag assembly and a second position preventing said activation;

a resistive test load substantially equivalent to the resistive load of the air bag connected electrically and parallel with said air bag;

a fuse electrically connected in series between said switch and said resistive test load and wherein said fuse is operative to effect disconnection between said switch and said resistive test load.

10. A control circuit as defined in claim 9, and further comprising a signal light operatively connected to said switch and wherein movement of said switch to said second position electrically interconnects said source of electrical power in both said signal light and said resistive test load.