Occupant protection and signal apparatus and method
First Claim
1. An occupant protection and signal apparatus for a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
- protection means actuatable for protecting a vehicle occupant, said protection means including initiator circuit means for initiating actuation of said protection means in response to receipt of an electrical initiation signal having a current flowing to said initiator circuit means;
means for determining the occurrence of a condition for which the occupant is to be protected and for providing said electrical initiation signal to said protection means in response to said determination; and
beacon means for detecting the current of said electrical initiation signal flowing to said initiator circuit means and for broadcasting a signal in response to said detection.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An occupant protection and signal apparatus (10) that is for a vehicle (12) has an air bag module (18). The air bag module (18) includes an inflatable air bag (20) and an inflation fluid source (24) actuatable for protecting a vehicle occupant (14). The air bag module (18) includes an initiator (30) for initiating actuation of the fluid source (24) in response to receipt of an electrical initiation signal (32). Circuitry (40-46) determines a vehicle crash event and, in response thereto, provides the electrical initiation signal (32) to the initiator (30). A sensor (56) detects the electrical initiation signal (32), and a radio beacon controller (50) and antenna (52) broadcast a signal (54) in response to the detection.
16 Citations
37 Claims
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1. An occupant protection and signal apparatus for a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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protection means actuatable for protecting a vehicle occupant, said protection means including initiator circuit means for initiating actuation of said protection means in response to receipt of an electrical initiation signal having a current flowing to said initiator circuit means; means for determining the occurrence of a condition for which the occupant is to be protected and for providing said electrical initiation signal to said protection means in response to said determination; and beacon means for detecting the current of said electrical initiation signal flowing to said initiator circuit means and for broadcasting a signal in response to said detection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An occupant protection and signal apparatus for a vehicle, said apparatus comprises:
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an actuatable restraint; an initiator that is actuatable in response to receipt of an initiation signal to actuate said restraint; circuitry that provides said initiation signal to said initiator in response to a vehicle crash event; a sensor for detecting said initiation signal provided by said circuitry and received by said initiator; and circuitry that broadcasts a signal when said sensor detects said initiation signal. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A method of protecting a vehicle occupant and signaling, said method comprising:
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determining the occurrence of a vehicle crash event; providing an electrical initiation signal having a current to an occupant protection device in response to said determination; actuating the protection device in response to receipt of the electrical initiation signal; detecting a current flow of the electrical initiation signal to the occupant protection device; and broadcasting a signal in response to said detection. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. An occupant protection and signal apparatus for a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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protection means deployable for protecting a vehicle occupant, said protection means including initiator circuit means for initiating deployment of said protection means in response to receipt of an electrical initiation signal; means for determining the occurrence of a condition for which the occupant is to be protected and for providing said electrical initiation signal to said protection means in response to said determination; and beacon means for detecting said electrical initiation signal and broadcasting a signal in response to said detection. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An occupant protection and signal apparatus for a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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restraint means actuatable for protecting a vehicle occupant, said restraint means including initiator circuit means for initiating actuation of said restraint means in response to receipt of an electrical initiation signal; means for determining the occurrence of a condition for which the occupant is to be protected and for providing said electrical initiation signal to said restraint means in response to said determination; and beacon means for detecting said electrical initiation signal and broadcasting a signal in response to said detection. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An apparatus comprising:
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an air bag module having an electrically responsive initiator; a conductor line extending to the initiator; a current sensor located adjacent to said conductor line, and providing an output; a beacon device connected to receive the output of said current sensor. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An apparatus comprising:
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an occupant protection device for protecting a vehicle occupant via engagement with the occupant; a conductor line for delivering an electrical signal to said protection device; a sensor for sensing the signal on said conductor line; a beacon device, connected to said sensor, for sending a signal when said sensor senses the signal on said conductor. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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Specification