Rotating signal transducer

• US 6,169,339 B1
• Filed: 03/31/1999
• Issued: 01/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Methode Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Methode Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Cripe, David
• Primary Examiner(s): PALADINI, ALBERT WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US09/282,223
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.1, 307/9.1, 307/104, 307/17, 439/15, 439/950, 336/DIG.2, 280/735, 280/728.1, 340/310.07
• US Class Current: 307/17
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/017 including arrangements for providing electric power to safety arrangements or their actuating means, e.g. to pyrotechnic fuses or electro-mechanic valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 336/02 Separable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/95 Electrical connector adapted to transmit electricity to mating connector without physical contact, e.g. by induction, magnetism, or electrostatic field

Abstract

A wireless rotating signal transducer. A control circuit is provided for transferring power and communication signals through a wireless coupling device in a vehicle steering column. A squib firing circuit transforms a high energy power signal suitable for firing an air-bag from the column side to the wheel side. A low-energy power circuit generates a signal from the column side to the wheel side suitable for operating isolated wheel side electronics, such as cruise control and the like. A pulse-encoder circuit communicates low-level control signals suitable for signaling wheel-side commands from the wheel side to the column side. The low-energy power circuit and pulse encoder circuit operate simultaneously and continuously without signal debilitating interaction.

Claims

1. An inductive power and airbag firing circuit for a vehicle steering column, comprising:

a first loop antenna to be placed around a vehicle side of a steering column;

a second loop antenna to be placed around a steering wheel side of the steering column, parallel to the first loop antenna, wherein a gap is to be present between the first and second loop antennas;

an oscillating signal generator circuit to be located on the vehicle side of a steering column for transmitting squib firing signal via the first loop antenna at a predetermined frequency for firing a squib of an airbag;

a timer to be located on the vehicle side of a steering column for transmitting a timer signal via the first loop antenna at a predetermined frequency for proving power to a power receiving circuit;

a power receiving circuit to be located on the steering wheel side of the steering column for inductively receiving the timer signal via the second loop antenna, and converting the received oscillating signal into power for control circuits on the steering wheel side of the steering column; and

a squib firing circuit to be located on the steering wheel side of the steering column for firing an airbag squib in response to a received squib firing signal inductively received via the second loop antenna.

2. The inductive power and airbag firing circuit of claim 1, wherein the first loop antenna includes a single loop of conductive material.

3. The inductive power and airbag firing circuit of claim 1, wherein the second loop antenna includes a single loop of conductive material.

4. The inductive power and airbag firing circuit of claim 1, wherein the gap between the first and second loop antennas is approximately three millimeters.

5. The inductive power and airbag firing circuit of claim 1, wherein the first loop antenna includes a single loop of wire.

6. The inductive power and airbag firing circuit of claim 1, wherein the second loop antenna includes a single loop of wire.

7. The inductive power and airbag firing circuit of claim 1, wherein the timer signal is approximately 16 KHz.

8. The inductive power and airbag firing circuit of claim 1, wherein the oscillating signal generated by the oscillating circuit is approximately 1.7 MHz.

9. The inductive power and airbag firing circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

switches to be located on the steering wheel side of the steering column for generating a unique pulse signal, corresponding to a closed switch, to a pulse coder; and

a pulse coder to be located on the steering wheel side of the steering column for generating a predetermined number of pulses in response to a received unique pulse signal.

10. The inductive power and airbag firing circuit of claim 9, further comprising:

a pulse counter to be located on the vehicle side of the steering column for counting received pulses of the pulse coder and generating a corresponding output signal.

11. The inductive power and airbag firing circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

a transistor to be located on the vehicle side of the steering column for transmitting a squib firing signal and a clock signal from the timer to the first loop antenna.

12. The inductive power and airbag firing circuit of claim 11, wherein the transistor is a MOSFET.

13. The inductive power and airbag firing circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

a pulse detector diode to be located on the vehicle side of the steering column between the first loop antenna and the pulse.

14. The inductive power and airbag firing circuit of claim 12, further comprising:

a continuous wave amplifier for driving the MOSFET to be located on the vehicle side of the steering column.

15. An inductive clockspring to be located on the steering column of a vehicle for powering steering wheel controls and firing an airbag during a crash, comprising:

a first loop antenna to be placed around a vehicle side of a steering column;

a second loop antenna to be placed around a steering wheel side of the steering column, parallel to the first loop antenna, wherein a gap is to be present between the first and second loop antennas;

an oscillating signal generator circuit to be located on the vehicle side of a steering column for transmitting squib firing signal via the first loop antenna at a predetermined frequency for firing a squib of an airbag;

a timer to be located on the vehicle side of a steering column for transmitting a pulsed timer signal via the first loop antenna at a predetermined frequency for proving power to a power receiving circuit;

a power receiving circuit to be located on the steering wheel side of the steering column for inductively receiving the timer signal via the second loop antenna, and converting the received oscillating signal into power for control circuits on the steering wheel side of the steering column; and

a squib firing circuit to be located on the steering wheel side of the steering column for firing an airbag squib in response to a received squib firing signal inductively received via the second loop antenna.

16. The inductive clockspring of claim 15, wherein the inductance for the first and second loop antennas is approximately 0.1 micro Henry.

17. The inductive clockspring of claim 15, further comprising:

a matrix of switches to be mounted on the steering wheel side of the steering column for receiving input from an operator of the vehicle.

18. The inductive clockspring of claim 17, further comprising:

a matrix of diodes to be located on the steering wheel side of the steering column, wherein a diode is electrically connected to each switch of the switch matrix for encoding a closure of any switch of the matrix of switches.

19. The inductive clockspring of claim 18, wherein the encoder is a matrix of diodes.

20. The inductive clockspring of claim 15, wherein the first and second loop antenna each include a single loop of wire.

21. The inductive clockspring of claim 15, wherein the gap is approximately 3 millimeters.