Safety system for vehicles

• US 5,806,008 A
• Filed: 07/13/1995
• Issued: 09/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bosch Electronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Airbag Systems Company Limited
• Inventors: Takeuchi, Kunihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): LOUIS JACQUES, JACQUES H
• Application Number:
  US08/501,866
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 364/424.055, 364/424.056, 364/424.058, 364/424.059, 364/423.098, 364/424.045, 307/10.1, 307/23, 307/66, 307/121, 340/436, 340/438, 340/479, 340/459, 340/463, 340/464, 280/735, 280/806, 280/734, 280/741, 280/736, 180/281, 180/282, 180/268, 180/274, 180/271, 701/36, 701/45, 701/46, 701/47
• US Class Current: 701/45
• 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

Abstract

Activators for a plurality of safety devices are connected in parallel relation to each other and connected to a common power source. Switching elements are connected in series to the activators respectively. A common safety switch is connected in serial relation to the activators and connected to the power source. This safety switch is turned on by a lower level of shock than that which is judged as a vehicle collision by a micro computer. The micro computer judges whether or not the vehicle has collided based on an acceleration information from an acceleration sensor. The micro computer controls the switching elements such that the switching elements are cyclically and alternately turned on at the moment a vehicle-collision judgment is made.

Claims

1. A safety system for vehicles for actuating a plurality of safety devices including first and second safety devices, said system comprising:

(a) first and second activators for said first and second safety devices connected in parallel relation to each other and connected to a common power source;

(b) first and second switching elements connected in series to said first and second activators, respectively;

(c) an acceleration sensor for detecting an acceleration acting on a vehicle; and

(d) a control device for judging whether or not the vehicle has collided based on an acceleration signal from said acceleration sensor, said control device controlling said first and second switching elements in regular, periodic cycles when a vehicle-collision judgment is made;

(e) wherein each said regular, periodic cycle includes a first and second time period, wherein during said first time period said first switching element is turned on to supply electric current to said first activator and said second switching element is turned off, and during said second time period said first switching element is turned off and said second switching element is turned on to supply electric current to said second activator; and

(f) wherein said control device controls said first and second switching elements in a first and second stage in response to the collision judgement such that during said first stage said first time period of each said regular, periodic cycle is longer than said second time period, and during said second stage said second time period of each said regular, periodic cycle is longer than said first time period to activate said first safety device and, after a time delay, activate said second safety device.

2. A system according to claim 1, in which a common safety switch is connected in serial relation to said activators and connected to said power source, said common safety switch being turned on by a shock of a comparatively low level.

3. A system according to claim 1, in which said first safety device is disposed on a driver'"'"'s seat side and said second safety device is disposed on a passenger'"'"'s seat side.

4. A system according to claim 3, further comprising:

third and fourth safety devices disposed at a rear seat;

third and fourth activators for said third and fourth safety devices, said third and fourth activators connected in parallel relation to said first and second activators; and

third and fourth switching elements connected in series to said third and fourth activators, respectively, wherein said third and fourth switching elements are controlled in synchronism with said first and second switching elements, respectively.

5. A safety system for vehicles for actuating a plurality of safety devices including first and second safety devices, said system comprising:

(a) first and second activators for said first and second safety devices connected in parallel relation to each other and connected to a common power source;

(b) first and second switching elements connected in series to said first and second activators, respectively;

(c) an acceleration sensor for detecting an acceleration acting on a vehicle; and

(d) a control device for judging whether or not the vehicle has collided based on an acceleration signal from said acceleration sensor, said control device controlling said first and second switching elements in regular, periodic cycles when a vehicle-collision judgment is made;

(e) wherein each said regular, periodic cycle includes a first and second time period, wherein during said first time period said first switching element is turned on to supply electric current to said first activator and said second switching element is turned off, and during said second time period said first switching element is turned off and said second switching element is turned on to supply electric current to said second activator;

(f) wherein said first safety device is disposed on a driver'"'"'s seat side and said second safety device is disposed on a passenger'"'"'s seat side; and

(g) wherein said control device controls said first and second switching elements in a first, second, and third stage in response to the collision judgement such that during said first stage only said first switching element is turned on, during said second stage said first switching element and said second switching element are alternately turned on and off in said regular, periodic cycles to activate said first safety device, and during said third stage only said second switching element is turned on to activate said second safety device.

6. A system according to claim 5, in which each time period of said first and second time periods is equal to a half of said cycle.