Airbag actuating arrangement

• US 6,250,670 B1
• Filed: 03/12/1999
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Lehnst, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, Robert P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JASMIN, LYNDA C
• Application Number:
  US09/267,831
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 701/45, 701/29, 307/10.1, 307/9.1, 307/116, 340/436, 340/438, 180/282
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01122 Prevention of malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01564 Manually or key-actuated inhibition switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01566 Devices for warning or indicating mode of inhibition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0173 Diagnostic or recording means therefor

Abstract

An arrangement for actuating an airbag includes an airbag control unit, an actuating switch, a visual display device and an intermediate electronics unit. The intermediate electronics checks the visual display device and the actuating switch for functionality.

Claims

1. An arrangement for actuating at least one airbag comprising:

an airbag control unit for generating an activating signal for the airbag;

at least one manual actuating switch for controlling transmittal of the activating signal to the airbag;

a visual display; and

intermediate electronics between the airbag control unit and the airbag and connected to the manual actuating switch and the visual display for testing and verifying the functionality of the manual actuating switch and the visual display and for providing an input resistance to the airbag control unit corresponding to a firing pellet resistance of the airbag.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the actuating switch and the visual display are associated with at least one identification resistance.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2 wherein at least one of the actuating switch and the visual display form an integral unit with an associated identification resistance.