Activating device in a passenger protection apparatus
First Claim
1. An activating device to activate a passenger protection apparatus installed in a vehicle to protect a passenger during vehicle collision, said device comprising:
- at least one power source mounted on said vehicle;
an activating element to activate said passenger protection apparatus in a case whereby an activating current is supplied from said power source;
first switching means connected in series to said activating element between said activating element and said power source to be closed upon collision of said vehicle and supply said activating current to said activating element; and
a capacitor connected between said first switching means and said power source to be charged momentarily in a case of closure of said first switching means;
wherein said activating current is conducted from said capacitor to said activating element even after opening of said first switching means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A switch is disposed between a power source and an activating element for activating a passenger protection apparatus. The switch detects a vehicle collision and closes its contacts to supply activating current to the activating element. A capacitor is connected in parallel with the activating element in order to charge momentarily when the switch closes. In this manner, it is possible to activate the activating element accurately because the activating element continues to be supplied with activating current by means of the charging voltage of the capacitor, even when the switch only closes for a time which is insufficient to activate the activating element.
14 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An activating device to activate a passenger protection apparatus installed in a vehicle to protect a passenger during vehicle collision, said device comprising:
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at least one power source mounted on said vehicle; an activating element to activate said passenger protection apparatus in a case whereby an activating current is supplied from said power source; first switching means connected in series to said activating element between said activating element and said power source to be closed upon collision of said vehicle and supply said activating current to said activating element; and a capacitor connected between said first switching means and said power source to be charged momentarily in a case of closure of said first switching means; wherein said activating current is conducted from said capacitor to said activating element even after opening of said first switching means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An activating device to activate a passenger protection apparatus installed in a vehicle to protect a passenger during vehicle collision, said device comprising:
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at least one power source mounted on said vehicle; an activating element to activate said passenger protection apparatus in a case whereby an activating current is supplied from said power source; first switching means connected in series to said activating element between said activating element and said power source to be closed upon collision of said vehicle; second switching means connected between said activating element and a ground to be closed upon collision of said vehicle; and a capacitor connected between said first switching means and said Dower source to be charged momentarily in a case of closure of said first switching means; wherein said activating current is conducted from said power source or said capacitor to said activating element, in a case whereby said second switching means is closed within a predetermined time after an opening of said first switching means. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An activating device to activate a passenger protection apparatus installed in a vehicle to protect a passenger during vehicle collision, comprising:
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at least one power source mounted on said vehicle; an activating element to activate said passenger protection apparatus in a case whereby an activating current is supplied from said power source; first switching means connected in series with said activating element to be closed upon collision of said vehicle and supply said activating current to said activating element; a first resistor connected in parallel to said first switching means; a capacitor connected between said activating element and said power source to be charged momentarily in a case of closure of said first switching means; second switching means connected between said activating element and a ground to be closed upon collision of said vehicle; detection means to detect change in electrical potential between said activating element and said second switching means; and a transistor connected in parallel to said second switching means to enable conductance of said activating current in response to a signal from said detection means. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification