Airbag system

• US 6,097,284 A
• Filed: 10/26/1998
• Issued: 08/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Nitschke, Werner, Drobny, Wolfgang, Karl, Otto
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/091,718
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 280/728.1, 280/753, 340/903, 340/435, 340/436, 180/282, 701/301, 367/909
• US Class Current: 340/436
• 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

Arranged in a triggering circuit of an airbag system are two switching elements which enclose a firing pellet. The switching elements are driven by way of assemblies and logic elements, respectively, in such a way that two separate criteria must be fulfilled for the transfer of each switching element into its conductive state.

Claims

1. An airbag system, comprising:

at least one sensor;

a control unit coupled to the at least one sensor;

a first switching element coupled to the control unit;

a second switching element coupled to the control unit; and

at least one triggering circuit coupled to the first switching element and to the second switching element and including a firing pellet;

wherein at least one airbag is coupled to the at least one triggering circuit, the at least one triggering circuit being closed when each one of the first switching element and the second switching element is driven, wherein a driving operation of the first switching element occurs when a first plurality of circuit states is satisfied, and wherein a driving operation of the second switching element occurs when a second plurality of circuit states is satisfied, the first plurality of circuit states being derived from a first set of criteria that is different from a second set of criteria from which the second plurality of circuit states is derived.

2. The airbag system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first logic element coupled to at least one of the first switching element and the second switching element;

a first assembly coupled to at least one of the first switching element and the second switching element; and

a second assembly coupled to at least one of the first switching element and the second switching element, wherein each one of the first plurality of circuit states and the second plurality of circuit states is based on at least one of;

an interconnection existing among the first logic element, the first assembly, and the second assembly for driving the first switching element and the second switching element; and

a superimposition of at least one software command generated within a defined function range of the airbag system.

3. The airbag system according to claim 2, wherein the first assembly and the second assembly are interconnected via a plurality of static line connections and at least one dynamic line connection.

4. The airbag system according to claim 2, wherein the first assembly includes a first serial interface, and wherein the second assembly includes a second serial interface.

5. The airbag system according to claim 4, wherein the second assembly includes:

a decoder coupled to the second serial interface;

a second logic element coupled to the decoder;

a third logic element coupled to at least one of the decoder and the second logic element; and

a reset circuit coupled to at least one of the second logic element and the third logic element.

6. The airbag system according to claim 5, wherein an output of the reset circuit is coupled to a first input of the second logic element and a first input of the third logic element, wherein the decoder is coupled to a second input of the second logic element and to a second input of the third logic element, and wherein a third input of one of the second logic element and the third logic element is coupled to a port of the first assembly.

7. The airbag system according to claim 5, wherein one of the first switching element and the second switching element is distant to ground, and wherein an output terminal of one of the second logic element and the third logic element is coupled to a gate terminal of the one of the first switching element and the second switching element that is distant to ground.

8. The airbag system according to claim 5, wherein one of the first switching element and the second switching element is close to ground, wherein an output terminal of the first logic element is connected to the one of the first switching element and the second switching element that is close to ground, wherein a first input of the first logic element is coupled to an output terminal of one of the second logic element and the third logic element, and wherein a second input of the first logic element is coupled to a port of the first assembly.

9. The airbag system according to claim 5, wherein:

the second assembly includes a watchdog circuit coupled to the reset circuit;

at least one dynamic line connection couples the first serial interface to the second serial interface;

a first static line connection couples a first port of the first assembly to the watchdog circuit;

a second static line connection couples a second port of the first assembly to the reset circuit; and

a third static line connection couples a third port of the first assembly to an input of one of the second logic element and the third logic element.