Method for tripping a restraint device in a vehicle

• US 6,081,044 A
• Filed: 09/08/1998
• Issued: 06/27/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Wachter, Michael, Swart, Marten, Anthofer, Anton
• Primary Examiner(s): Elms, Richard T.
• Application Number:
  US09/149,815
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/121, 180/274, 180/282, 180/279, 280/734, 280/735, 280/728.1, 280/801.1, 280/806, 701/45-47, 701/114, 701/29, 395/733-742, 395/867, 395/868, 395/580, 395/591, 340/825.12
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01075 between the airbag control unit and pyrotechnic fuses or equivalent actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343

Abstract

In a method for tripping a restraint device in a vehicle, coded information signals with status and diagnosis messages are transmitted in both directions between an evaluation device and an ignition device. To avoid the situation where a tripping signal for the restraint device may be delayed in its transmission to the ignition device because the data throughput in the transmission medium is high, the transmission of the information signals is interrupted. Accordingly, the transmission of the information signals in the forward and return directions is controlled by the evaluation device. As a function of a collision signal furnished by a sensor device, the transmission of the information signals is ended by the evaluation device, so that the transmission medium between the evaluation device and the ignition device remains free for a possibly ensuing tripping signal.

Claims

1. A tripping method for a vehicle, which comprises:

evaluating in an evaluation device a collision signal furnished by a sensor device;

transmitting coded information signals in both directions between the evaluation device and an ignition device electrically connected to an ignition element of a restraint device;

controlling the transmitting of the coded information signals by the evaluation device;

ending the transmitting of the coded information signals in dependence on the collision signal; and

furnishing a coded tripping signal for tripping the restraint device by the evaluation device to the ignition device in dependence on the collision signal.

2. The method according to claim 1, which comprises ending the transmitting of the coded information signals if the collision signal exceeds a threshold value.

3. The method according to claim 1, which comprises embodying the collision signal as a code signal, and ending the transmitting of the coded information signals upon an arrival of the collision signal in the evaluation device.

4. The method according to claim 1, which comprises resuming a transmission of the coded information signals as soon as a fixed period of time after a cessation of the transmitting of coded information signals has elapsed, and if no tripping signal had been generated by the evaluation device during the fixed period of time.

5. The method according to claim 1, which comprises transmitting via the evaluation device an information signal to the ignition device requesting the ignition device to return a further information signal to the evaluation device.

6. The method according to claim 5, which comprises ending the transmission to the ignition device of the information signal requesting a returned transmission of the further information signal in dependence on the collision signal.

7. The method according to claim 5, which comprises sending the further information signal containing information about a resistance of the ignition element from the ignition device to the evaluation device.

8. The method according to claim 5, which comprises sending the further information signal containing information about an ignition voltage applied to the ignition element via at least one controllable switch from the ignition device to the evaluation device.

9. The method according to claim 5, which comprises sending the further information signal containing information about operability of at least one controllable switch disposed in series with the ignition element from the ignition device to the evaluation device.

10. The method according claim 5, which comprises sending the further information signal containing information about a leakage resistance in the ignition element and at least one controllable switch disposed in series with the ignition element from the ignition device to the evaluation device.