Control unit for air bag
First Claim
1. A control unit for an air bag with an inflater for inflating the air bag, comprising:
- control means for igniting and operating said inflater to inflate the air bag;
storage means provided in said control means to store an information of whether said inflater has ever been operated or not; and
warning means for giving a warning in accordance with an output of said control means;
wherein said control means drives said warning means when said storage means stores said information so as to avoid said control unit being reused.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control unit 1 for an air bag is arranged between an inflater 2 for the air bag and a power source generating a current for operating the inflater. The control unit 2 includes a storage device 9 for storing information of whether the inflater 2 has been operated or not. A controller 13 is connected with the storage device 9 for supplying current for operating the inflater on the basis of operating information when the storage device 9 does not store the information that the inflater 2 has ever been operated. Warning device 4 is also connected with the storage device 9 for giving a warning when the storage device 9 stores information that the inflater has been previously operated. The storage device 9 stores the inflation information when the control unit 1 supplies current to the inflater 2 and operates it. The control unit 1 drives the warning device 4 if it detects the inflation information in the storage device 9 when setting the inflation. Any reuse of the control unit 21 after the inflation can thus be prevented. This improves reliability of the air bag system.
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Citations
5 Claims
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1. A control unit for an air bag with an inflater for inflating the air bag, comprising:
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control means for igniting and operating said inflater to inflate the air bag;
storage means provided in said control means to store an information of whether said inflater has ever been operated or not; and
warning means for giving a warning in accordance with an output of said control means;
wherein said control means drives said warning means when said storage means stores said information so as to avoid said control unit being reused. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
outside control unit connectable with said control means through a connector;
wherein said outside control unit has input means to give a signal for igniting and operating said inflater to said control means.
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3. The control unit for said air bag according to claim 1, wherein:
said storage means has non-volatile storage means.
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4. The control unit for said air bag according to claim 3, wherein:
said non-volatile storage means comprises EE-ROM enabling said information to be electrically written into and erased therefrom.
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5. The control unit for said air bag according to claim 1, wherein:
said warning means is provided in an instrument panel of a car.
Specification