Airbag suppression controller with crash state evidence
First Claim
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1. A deployment suppression circuit for a vehicular restraint system including a deployment module having terminals for supplying deployment current to an air bag inflator during a crash event, the suppression circuit comprising:
- a precision resistor having a resistance corresponding to a resistance of said airbag inflator;
switch means for selectively connecting the terminals to the airbag inflator to permit airbag deployment or to the precision resistor to suppress airbag deployment;
a fuse electrically isolated from said deployment current; and
a detection circuit including first transistor means coupled across the precision resistor for detecting a voltage drop due to a flow of said deployment current in the precision resistor to trigger a second transistor means to supply current to said fuse sufficient to open said fuse, thereby to permanently evidence deployment suppression during a crash event, even when said deployment current would be insufficient to open said fuse.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A switch selectively connects an airbag inflator or a load resistor to a crash sensing module to enable or disable an airbag. A transistor circuit across the load resistor detects whether deployment current is flowing in that resistor. Another transistor activated by the first transistor passes current to a fuse to open the fuse, permanently indicating a deployment event when the airbag was disabled. A latch circuit holds the second transistor on to assure sufficient time to open the fuse by melting.
24 Citations
2 Claims
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1. A deployment suppression circuit for a vehicular restraint system including a deployment module having terminals for supplying deployment current to an air bag inflator during a crash event, the suppression circuit comprising:
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a precision resistor having a resistance corresponding to a resistance of said airbag inflator; switch means for selectively connecting the terminals to the airbag inflator to permit airbag deployment or to the precision resistor to suppress airbag deployment; a fuse electrically isolated from said deployment current; and a detection circuit including first transistor means coupled across the precision resistor for detecting a voltage drop due to a flow of said deployment current in the precision resistor to trigger a second transistor means to supply current to said fuse sufficient to open said fuse, thereby to permanently evidence deployment suppression during a crash event, even when said deployment current would be insufficient to open said fuse. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeDelphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
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Original AssigneeDelco Electronics Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
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InventorsSimon, Anthony Luke, Bryant, Mark R, Verma, Shailendra, Wideman, Troy Allen, Gray, Charles Allen
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Primary Examiner(s)Gaffin, Jeffrey
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Assistant Examiner(s)HUYNH, KIM NGOC
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Application NumberUS08/879,444Time in Patent Office1,012 DaysField of Search307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/29, 307/38, 307/85, 307/112, 307/113, 307/116, 307/125, 307/139, 280/728.1, 280/734-735, 180/282-283, 340/436, 340/438, 701/45US Class Current307/10.1CPC Class CodesB60R 21/01564 Manually or key-actuated in...B60R 21/01566 Devices for warning or indi...B60R 21/0173 Diagnostic or recording mea...
