System for triggering a protecting device

• US 5,990,569 A
• Filed: 05/28/1997
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Nokia AB (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Audio & Electronics (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Lundberg, Leif
• Primary Examiner(s): Elms, Richard T.
• Application Number:
  US08/817,407
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/121, 701/45-47, 280/727, 280/734, 280/735, 280/806, 180/271-274, 180/282
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• 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

A system for connecting an ignition device to a direct current network wherein the ignition device is capable of being activated for triggering a safety device in an emergency. For example, the safety device can be constituted of a safety belt tensioner or an airbag in a vehicle arranged to be inflated by a gas generator upon detection of a certain deceleration of the vehicle. At least one safety device is connected to an internal network of the vehicle via an electronic unit including at least one acceleration sensor and an arrangement for the generation of a direct current voltage for activating the ignition device at a given deceleration, the direct current voltage generated being higher than the internal line voltage. The system is dimensioned such that the direct current network of the vehicle does not have a potential that is high enough to activate the ignition device.

Claims

1. An electrical energization system for a D.C. voltage operated ignition device arranged to trigger a safety device in an emergency, comprising:

a D.C. power supply network operating at a first voltage that is insufficient to activate said ignition device;

a voltage generator arrangement connected to the power supply network and arranged to provide a second D.C. power supply at a second voltage that is higher than said first voltage;

said ignition device connected to said second power supply and configured so as to be electrically activatable by the second voltage but not activatable by said first voltage.

2. The electrical energization system according to claim 1, wherein said safety device is an occupant safety device in a vehicle and wherein said D.C. power supply network is the vehicle D.C. power supply;

and further comprising an electronic unit including an emergency sensor for sensing an emergency by detecting vehicle deceleration exceeding a predetermined threshold and providing a deceleration emergency signal upon occurrence of such deceleration;

said ignition device connected to said electronic unit so as to be activated by said second voltage in response to the occurrence of said deceleration emergency signal.

3. The electrical energization system according to claim 2, including a voltage dependent component connected in series with the ignition device, said voltage dependent component being arranged to supply a current to said igniter only when a voltage greater than said first voltage is supplied to said voltage dependent component.

4. The electrical energization system according to claim 3, wherein said voltage dependent component is integrated with said ignition device.

5. The electrical energization system according to claim 4, wherein said voltage dependent component comprises a semi-conductor device.

6. The electrical energization system according to claim 4, wherein said voltage dependent component is a voltage dependent resistor.

7. The electrical energization system according to claim 3, wherein said voltage dependent component comprises a semi-conductor device.

8. The electrical energization system according to claim 3, wherein said voltage dependent component is a voltage dependent resistor.

9. The electrical energization system according to claim 3, including a control device connected to said D.C. vehicle power supply network for supplying activation and control currents for respectively activating and controlling the ignition device in response to detected parameters indicative of an emergency and the electrical condition of the voltage dependent component;

said voltage generator constituting part of said control device; and

an impedance device connected in parallel with the voltage dependent component, said impedance device being incapable of conducting an ignition device activation current but being capable of conducting an ignition device control current.

10. The electrical energization system according to claim 9, said control device including a buffer capacitor connected to said second D.C. power supply, and at least one ignition transistor for controlling supply of electrical activation current to said ignition device from said d.c. power supply network and said buffer capacitor;

said at least one ignition transistor arranged to be controlled in response to the ignition device control current.

11. The electrical energization system according to claim 10, wherein said safety device is a vehicle airbag.

12. The electrical energization system according to claim 10, wherein said safety device is a safety belt tensioner.

13. The electrical energization system according to claim 3, wherein said voltage dependent component is arranged in a connection of the ignition device.

14. The electrical energization system according to claim 3, wherein said voltage dependent component constitutes an integral part of the ignition device.

15. The electrical energization system according to claim 2, wherein said safety device is a vehicle airbag.

16. The electrical energization system according to claim 2, wherein said safety device is a safety belt tensioner.