Vehicle airbag deactivation switch circuit

• US 5,992,880 A
• Filed: 12/18/1997
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Simmons, Paul, Niesluchowski, Matt Alan, Cuddihy, Mark Anthony, Drummond, J B, Ross, Richard Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): McClellan, James S.
• Application Number:
  US08/993,959
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 280/734, 280/728.1, 180/282, 307/10.1, 70/278.1, 70/278.2
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01564 Manually or key-actuated inhibition switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01566 Devices for warning or indicating mode of inhibition

Abstract

An airbag deactivation system for the airbags mounted in a motor vehicle. The system provides a switch and circuitry to allow for selective deactivation of driver and/or passenger airbags in a motor vehicle via a conventional ignition key inserted into a key cylinder. The switch includes interchangeable key cylinders to allow for limited selective deactivation and a key stop to limit the amount of insertion of the ignition key into the key cylinder. LED'"'"'s emit light from the deactivation module when indicating a deactivation condition, which is viewable by both a driver and a front seat passenger. Alternatively, LED'"'"'s are mounted in a remote indicator assembly, separate from the deactivation module, to povide improved visual indication to the driver and font seat passenger of the state of airbag deactivation.

Claims

1. An airbag restraint system for use in an automotive vehicle having an instrument panel and steering wheel, the airbag restraint system comprising:

a first airbag adapted to be mounted in the instrument panel;

a second airbag adapted to be mounted in the steering wheel;

an airbag activation circuit for selectively actuating the first and the second airbags, with the activation circuit including a first firing mechanism operatively engaging the first airbag, a second firing mechanism operatively engaging the second airbag, a diagnostic module, and a firing circuit operatively engaging the first and the second firing mechanisms; and

a deactivation circuit, connected between the diagnostic module and the first and the second firing mechanisms, including a four position switch, with the first firing mechanism connected to two of the switch positions and the second firing mechanism connected to two of the switch positions, and with the deactivation circuit further including a first fuse connected to the switch at two different switch positions than the first firing mechanism in parallel with the first firing mechanism, and a second fuse connected to the switch at two different switch positions than the second firing mechanism in parallel with the second firing mechanism, such that when the switch is at one of the two positions to which the first fuse is connected, the first firing mechanism is disconnected from the switch and when the switch is at one of the two positions to which the second fuse is connected, the second firing mechanism is disconnected from the switch.

2. The airbag restraint system of claim 1 wherein the first firing mechanism has a first resistance, the second firing mechanism has a second resistance, the first fuse has a third resistance substantially equal to the first resistance, and the second fuse has a fourth resistance substantially equal to the second resistance.

3. The airbag restraint system of claim 2 wherein the diagnostic module operatively engages the first firing mechanism when the switch is connected to a predetermined two of the switch positions, and the diagnostic module operatively engages the first fuse when the switch is connected to the other two of the switch positions.

4. The airbag restraint system of claim 3 wherein the diagnostic module operatively engages the second firing mechanism when the switch is connected to a predetermined two of the switch positions, and the diagnostic module operatively engages the second fuse when the switch is connected to the other of the two switch positions.

5. The airbag restraint system of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic module operatively engages the first firing mechanism when the switch is connected to a predetermined two of the switch positions, and the diagnostic module operatively engages the first fuse when the switch is connected to the other two of the switch positions.

6. The airbag restraint system of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic module operatively engages the second firing mechanism when the switch is connected to a predetermined two of the switch positions, and the diagnostic module operatively engages the second fuse when the switch is connected to the other of the two switch positions.

7. The airbag restraint system of claim 1 wherein for a predetermined first of the switch positions the first fuse and the second fuse are both connected through the switch.

8. The airbag restraint system of claim 7 wherein for a predetermined switch position other than the first switch position, the first firing mechanism and the second firing mechanism are both connected through the switch.

9. The airbag restraint system of claim 1 including a first LED operatively engaging the same switch positions as the first fuse and a second LED operatively engaging the same switch positions as the second fuse.

10. The airbag restraint system of claim 9 further including a third LED connected in parallel with the first LED and a fourth LED connected in parallel with the second LED.

11. The airbag restraint system of claim 1 wherein the deactivation circuit further includes switch actuation means adapted for allowing an ignition key to move the switch between the switch positions.

12. An airbag restraint system for use in an automotive vehicle having an instrument panel and steering wheel, the airbag restraint system comprising:

a first airbag adapted to be mounted in the instrument panel;

a second airbag adapted to be mounted in the steering wheel;

an airbag activation circuit for selectively actuating the first and the second airbags, with the activation circuit including a first firing mechanism operatively engaging the first airbag and having a first resistance, a second firing mechanism operatively engaging the second airbag and having a second resistance, a diagnostic module, and a firing circuit operatively engaging the first and the second firing mechanisms; and

a deactivation circuit, connected between the diagnostic module and the first and the second firing mechanisms, including a four position switch, with the first firing mechanism connected to two of the switch positions and the second firing mechanism connected to two of the switch positions, and with the deactivation circuit further including a first fuse connected to the switch at two different switch positions than the first firing mechanism in parallel with the first firing mechanism and having a third resistance substantially equal to the first resistance, and a second fuse connected to the switch at two different switch positions than the second firing mechanism in parallel with the second firing mechanism and having a fourth resistance substantially equal to the second resistance, such that when the switch is at one of the two positions to which the first fuse is connected, the first firing mechanism is disconnected from the switch and when the switch is at one of the two positions to which the second fuse is connected, the second firing mechanism is disconnected from the switch.

13. The airbag restraint system of claim 12 wherein the diagnostic module operatively engages the first firing mechanism when the switch is connected to a predetermined two of the switch positions, and the diagnostic module operatively engages the first fuse when the switch is connected to the other two of the switch positions.

14. The airbag restraint system of claim 13 wherein the diagnostic module operatively engages the second firing mechanism when the switch is connected to a predetermined two of the switch positions, and the diagnostic module operatively engages the second fuse when the switch is connected to the other of the two switch positions.

15. The airbag restraint system of claim 14 Including a first LED operatively engaging the same switch positions as the first fuse and a second LED operatively engaging the same switch positions as the second fuse.

16. The airbag restraint system of claim 15 further including a third LED connected in parallel with the first LED and a fourth LED connected in parallel with the second LED.

17. An airbag restraint system for use in an automotive vehicle having an instrument panel and steering wheel, the airbag restraint system comprising:

a first airbag adapted to be mounted in the instrument panel;

a second airbag adapted to be mounted in the steering wheel;

an airbag activation circuit for selectively actuating the first and the second airbags, with the activation circuit including a first firing mechanism operatively engaging the first airbag, a second firing mechanism operatively engaging the second airbag, a diagnostic module, and a firing circuit operatively engaging the first and the second firing mechanisms; and

a deactivation circuit, connected between the diagnostic module and the first and the second firing mechanisms, including a four position switch, with the first firing mechanism connected to two of the switch positions and the second firing mechanism connected to two of the switch positions, and with the deactivation circuit further including a first fuse connected to the switch at two different switch positions than the first firing mechanism in parallel with the first firing mechanism, and a second fuse connected to the switch at two different switch positions than the second firing mechanism in parallel with the second firing mechanism, such that when the switch is at one of the two positions to which the first fuse is connected, the first firing mechanism is disconnected from the switch and the diagnostic module operatively engages the first fuse and when the switch is at one of the two positions to which the second fuse is connected, the second firing mechanism is disconnected from the switch.

18. The airbag restraint system of claim 17 wherein the diagnostic module operatively engages the second fuse when the switch is connected to two of the switch positions.

19. The airbag restraint system of claim 18 wherein for a predetermined first of the switch positions the first fuse and the second fuse are both connected through the switch.

20. The airbag restraint system of claim 19 wherein for a predetermined switch position other than the first switch position, the first firing mechanism and the second firing mechanism are both connected through the switch.