Selector switch circuit for disabling an airbag

• US 6,040,637 A
• Filed: 04/01/1998
• Issued: 03/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Paganini, Lisa M., Straub, Kurt M., Fry, Tova, DeHondt, Rene C., Peters, Roy, Casilio, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, KIM NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/053,037
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/39, 307/38, 307/85, 307/112, 307/113, 307/116, 307/121, 307/125, 307/139, 701/45, 701/36, 340/436, 340/438, 340/727, 280/728.1, 180/282, 180/283
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• 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 control system is provided to disable an airbag in a motor vehicle. The airbag control system includes an airbag control module, a switching circuit with a first circuit path and a second circuit path, and a switch selectively movable between an enabled position, which interconnects the first circuit path to the airbag control module to activate the airbag, and a disabled position, which interconnects the second circuit path to the airbag control module to prevent activation of the airbag. In addition, the system includes a third circuit path with a first resistor in series with a second resistor which is placed in parallel with a second contact of said switch. Alternatively, a controller is electrically connected through the third circuit path to the switch. The controller detects the position of the switch based on the resistance value it senses in the third circuit path. A visual indicator is optionally connected to the controller, whereby selectively moving the switch to the disabled position sends a signal from the controller to illuminate the visual indicator.

Claims

1. A selector switch system for disabling an airbag of a motor vehicle, comprising:

an electrical power source having a supply terminal and a return terminal;

a switch connected to the supply terminal of said power source;

a first circuit path connected to said switch for activating the airbag, said first circuit path having an airbag device; and

a second circuit path connected to said switch for preventing activation of the airbag;

said switch selectively movable between an enabled position for enabling the airbag device by interconnecting the supply terminal of said power source to said first circuit path, and a disabled position for preventing activation of said airbag device by interconnecting the supply terminal of said power source to said second circuit path, whereby the supply terminal of said power source does not connect to said first circuit path in the disabled position.

2. The selector switch system of claim 1 wherein said first circuit path includes an airbag activation device and said second circuit path includes a fuse, wherein said fuse provides an open circuit in response to an activation signal, thereby indicative of the position of said switch.

3. The selector switch system of claim 1 further comprising a visual indicator electrically connected through a third circuit path to said switch, whereby selectively moving said switch to the disabled position thereby connecting said indicator to a second power source.

4. The selector switch system of claim 1 further comprising a third circuit path having a resistor and a visual indicator electrically connected to said third circuit path and remotely located from said switch, whereby selectively moving said switch to the disabled position connects said visual source to a second power source.

5. The selector switch system of claim 1 wherein said power source is supplied by an airbag control modular that is electrically connected to said switching circuit.

6. An airbag control system for disabling an airbag of a motor vehicle, comprising:

an airbag control module for supplying power, wherein the airbag control module includes a power supply terminal and a return terminal;

a switch connected to the power supply terminal of said airbag control module;

a first circuit path connected to said switch for activating the airbag, said first circuit path having an airbag device;

a second circuit path connected to said switch for preventing activation of the airbag, said switch selectively movable between an enabled position interconnecting the power supply terminal of said control module to said first circuit path and a disabled position interconnecting the power supply terminal of said control module to said second circuit path;

whereby the supply terminal of said power source does not connect to said first circuit path in the disabled position; and

a visual indicator electrically connected through a third circuit path to said switch, whereby selectively moving said switch to said disabled position illuminates said visual indicator.

7. The airbag control system of claim 6 wherein said first circuit path includes an airbag activation device and said second circuit path includes a resistive load, wherein said resistive load provides an open circuit in response to an activation signal, thereby indicative of the position of said switch.

8. The airbag control system of claim 6 wherein said visual indicator is replaced by a jumper on said circuit assembly, and said visual indicator is remotely located from said circuit assembly and electrically connected through said jumper to said switch.

9. An airbag control system for disabling an airbag of a motor vehicle, comprising:

an electrical power source;

a switching circuit having a first circuit path and a second circuit path;

a switch selectively movable between an enabled position interconnecting said first circuit path to said power source for receiving an activation signal to activate the airbag, and a disabled position interconnecting said second circuit path to said power source for receiving the activation signal and preventing activation of the airbag; and

a third circuit path having a first resistor in series with a second resistor in parallel with a second contact of said switch, and a controller electrically connected through said third circuit path to said switch, whereby said controller detects the position of said switch based on the resistance value of said third circuit path.

10. The airbag control system of claim 9 wherein said first circuit path includes an airbag activation device and said second circuit path includes a fuse, wherein said fuse provides an open circuit in response to an activation signal, thereby indicative of the position of said switch.

11. The airbag control system of claim 9 further comprising a visual indicator electrically connected to said controller, whereby a signal is sent by said controller to activate said visual indicator in response to selectively moving said switch to the disabled position.

12. The airbag control system of claim 9 wherein said controller detects fault conditions of said switch based on the resistance value of said third circuit path.