Apparatus for actuating the safety devices for vehicle occupants

• US 5,668,528 A
• Filed: 12/28/1995
• Issued: 09/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Japan Limited (Autoliv Incorporated), Nippon Kayaku Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nippon Kayaku Company Limited, Sentech Co., Ltd. (Omron Corporation)
• Inventors: Kuroiwa, Akihiko, Kitao, Shigetaka, Ootani, Yasuhiko, Hitomi, Isamu, Kimura, Ayumu
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANNAVA, ASHOK K
• Application Number:
  US08/564,269
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 340/436, 340/438, 340/669, 307/10.1, 307/121, 180/282, 180/271, 280/734, 280/735
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01095 optical
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01512 Passenger detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01526 using piezoelectric elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/017 including arrangements for providing electric power to safety arrangements or their actuating means, e.g. to pyrotechnic fuses or electro-mechanic valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0173 Diagnostic or recording means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F42D 1/04 Arrangements for ignition ignition systems for shaped charge perforators E21B43/1185; ignition devices for seismic energy generators G01V1/06
• CPC Class Codes: F42D 1/045 Arrangements for electric ignition dynamo-electric generators H02K

Abstract

An apparatus for actuating a plurality of safety devices equipped in a vehicle for protecting occupants from an impact of a collision has a plurality of squibs (4,5) connected in series with each other so as to form a series circuit (6) and ignited by a current flowing through and conformed to one and the same standard. A power source (3) supplies electrical energy to the series circuit (6), and a collision detector (7) allows a current to flow from the power source (3) to said series circuit (6) when detecting a collision. A required energy for igniting all of the squibs (4,5) is thus supplied before the series circuit (6) opens electrically at one squib.

Claims

1. An apparatus for actuating a plurality of safety devices equipped in a vehicle for protecting occupants from an impact of a collision, comprising:

a plurality of squibs included in said plurality of safety devices respectively, which are connected in series with each other so as to form a series circuit, said series circuit having no bypass means in parallel to said squibs for supplying an igniting energy to said squibs, and ignited by a current flowing therethrough and conforming to one and the same standard with respect to each other,

a power source for supplying electrical energy to said series circuit, and

a collision detector for allowing a current to flow from the power source to said series circuit when detecting a collision;

wherein

a required energy for igniting all of said squibs in said series circuit is supplied to said squibs from said power source before said series circuit opens electrically at any one squib of said plurality of squibs.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein for each of said squibs conforming to one and the same standard:

resistances of bridge wires thereof engaging an initiating composition in the squib fall within a prescribed range,

and each is selected such that a voltage build-up rate measured with a feeble current flowing through said bridge wire in a prescribed time falls within a prescribed range,

whereby a tightness of engagement between said bridge wire and said initiating composition of said plurality of squibs is controlled.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein

a current flows through said series circuit of squibs till a bridge wire in one squib is melted into a breakage, all the squibs start igniting by energy supplied to each squibs before said bridge wire is melted into a breakage.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said series circuit includes a plurality of squibs actuating respectively the different kinds of safety devices such as air bags and pretensioners of seat belts.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said series circuit includes a plurality of squibs actuating respectively the different kinds of safety devices for protecting a passenger except a driver, and further comprising

a passenger detector for detecting a passenger at a passenger'"'"'s seat, and

a restraining means to restrain flowing a current through the series circuit so as not to actuate the safety devices at the passenger'"'"'s seat when the passenger detector does not find any occupants at the passenger'"'"'s seat.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said series circuit includes a plurality of squibs actuating the safety devices for protecting both a passenger and a driver, and further comprising

a passenger detector for detecting a passenger at a passenger'"'"'s seat, and

a restraining means to restrain flowing a current through the squibs for the passenger so as not to actuate the safety devices at the passenger'"'"'s seat when the passenger detector does not find any occupants at the passenger'"'"'s seat.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said prescribed range is established on the basis of two ohms as standard, and

said power source includes a capacitor which initially discharges a supplying electric current of at least three amps to said squibs.