Supplement restraint system having deployment inhibit apparatus

• US 6,045,156 A
• Filed: 07/21/1998
• Issued: 04/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delco Electronics Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Walden, Michael K., Spell, David Martin, Lyons, Johnny Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Application Number:
  US09/119,822
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 701/45, 307/10.1, 340/436, 340/438
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0104 Communication circuits for data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01564 Manually or key-actuated inhibition switches

Abstract

An improved automotive supplemental inflatable restraint system featuring a cost-effective approach to driver initiated inhibiting of air bag deployment. A multi-position key-operated switch is coupled to a circuit external to the sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) that is interfaced to the vehicle communications bus. The circuit interprets the switch position, and sends a message to the SDM via the communications bus indicating which, if any, of the air bags are to be inhibited. Since the SDM is normally configured for communications over the communications bus, the only cost impact on the SDM is that of a software modification. Additionally, the external circuitry is simple, and the switch can be low cost since it is not connected in the deployment loop of an air bag, and since one switch can be used to signal multiple inhibit selections. The external circuit may include a microprocessor and bus interface as a stand-alone device, or may be up-integrated into an existing vehicle electronic module such as a body computer.

Claims

1. A vehicular supplemental restraint system including a restraint deployment module for deploying one or more restraint devices for protection of vehicle occupants in a crash event, and a cut-off switch activated by a vehicle operator desiring to inhibit deployment of one or more selected restraint devices, comprising:

a deployment inhibit module disposed remote from said restraint deployment module, and coupled to said cut-off switch for identifying the one or more selected restraint devices indicated by activation of said switch; and

a communication bus interconnecting said deployment inhibit module and said restraint deployment module, said deployment inhibit module signaling said restraint deployment module to inhibit deployment of the one or more selected restraint devices identified by said deployment inhibit module.

2. Deployment inhibit apparatus for a vehicular supplemental restraint system in which a restraint deployment module is configured to deploy a plurality of restraint devices for protection of vehicle occupants in a crash event, the deployment inhibit apparatus comprising:

a cut-off switch activated by a vehicle operator desiring to inhibit deployment of one or more of the plurality of restraint devices;

a deployment inhibit module disposed remote from said restraint deployment module, and coupled to said cut-off switch for identifying the one or more restraint devices for which the operator desires to inhibit deployment; and

a communication bus interconnecting said deployment inhibit module and said restraint deployment module, said deployment inhibit module including a bus interface circuit for signaling said restraint deployment module to inhibit deployment of the one or more restraint devices identified by said deployment inhibit module.

3. Deployment inhibit apparatus for a vehicular supplemental restraint system in which a restraint deployment module is configured to deploy driver-side and passenger-side frontal inflatable restraints for protection of vehicle occupants in a crash event, the deployment inhibit apparatus comprising:

a cut-off switch activated by a vehicle operator for selecting non-deployment of one or both of the driver-side and passenger-side frontal inflatable restraints;

a deployment inhibit module disposed remote from said restraint deployment module, and coupled to said cut-off switch for developing an inhibit signal indicating which of the restraint devices have been selected for non-deployment; and

a communication bus interconnecting said deployment inhibit module and said restraint deployment module, said deployment inhibit module including a bus interface circuit for transmitting said inhibit signal to said restraint deployment module to inhibit deployment of the restraint devices selected for non-deployment by said operator.