Smart remote indicator module

• US 6,273,460 B1
• Filed: 05/27/1999
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Corporation (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Cox, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FISCHMANN, BRYAN R
• Application Number:
  US09/321,000
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 340/438, 340/457, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 280/735
• 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

Abstract

A vehicle occupant restraint system having a base system and a supplemental system is provided. The base system includes an air bag module and an occupant restraint controller. In the absence of the supplemental system, the occupant restraint controller operates in a default mode wherein the air bag module is enabled. Coupling the supplemental system to the base system permits the air bag module to be selectively disabled. The supplemental system transmits a plurality of signals to indicate whether the air bag module is to be disabled or enabled. When the occupant restraint controller receives a signal indicating that the air bag module is to be disabled, the occupant restraint controller inhibits the generation of squib pulses which would cause the air bag module to actuate.

Claims

1. An occupant restraint system for a vehicle, said occupant restraint system comprising:

an air bag module having an air bag and a first squib circuit;

an occupant restraint controller coupled to said first squib circuit and operable for generating a squib pulse to cause said first squib circuit to deploy said air bag;

a remote indicator module coupled to said occupant restraint controller; and

a switch coupled to said remote indicator module, said switch movable between a first switch position and a second switch position, said switch producing a first switch position signal when placed in said first switch position and said switch producing a second switch position signal when placed in said second switch position, the switch also producing a switch-type signal indicative of the location of said air bag module which may be selectively disabled wherein a voltage of said switch-type signal is caused to vary depending on said location of said air bag module;

said remote indicator module receiving said first switch position signal and transmitting a first signal in response thereto, said occupant restraint controller receiving said first signal and not inhibiting said squib pulse from being generated;

said remote indicator module receiving said second switch position signal and transmitting a second signal in response thereto, said occupant restraint controller receiving said second signal and inhibiting said squib pulse from being generated to thereby disable said air bag module.

2. The occupant restraint system of claim 1, wherein said switch includes an identification resistor of a predetermined resistance operable for producing said switch-type signal with a predetermined voltage.

3. In a vehicle occupant restraint system having an air bag module and an occupant restraint controller operable for deploying said air bag module, an apparatus for selectively inhibiting deployment of said air bag, said apparatus comprising:

a remote indicator module; and

a switch coupled to said remote indicator module, said switch movable between a first switch position and a second switch position, said switch producing a first switch position signal when placed in said first switch position and said switch producing a second switch position signal when placed in said second switch position, said switch also producing a switch-type signal indicative of the location of said air bag module which may be selectively disabled wherein a voltage of said switch-type signal is caused to vary depending on said location of said air bag module;

said remote indicator module receiving said first switch position signal and transmitting a first signal in response thereto, said first signal adapted for electronically permitting said occupant restraint controller to deploy said air bag module;

said remote indicator module receiving said second switch position signal and transmitting a second signal in response thereto, said second signal adapted for electronically inhibiting said occupant restraint controller from deploying said air bag module.

4. The apparatus for selectively inhibiting deployment of an air bag of claim 3, wherein said switch includes an identification resistor of a predetermined resistance operable for producing said switch-type signal with a predetermined voltage.