Method of controlling the inflation of an airbag and airbag accident protection device

• US 6,286,862 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2000
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Blank, Thomas, Zelger, Christian, Heitzer, Günter
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US09/538,794
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 280/734, 280/735, 280/736, 280/742
• US Class Current: 280/236
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01075 between the airbag control unit and pyrotechnic fuses or equivalent actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2633 with a plurality of inflation levels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01508 detecting forces or pressure in bags or modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0154 in combination with seat heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0173 Diagnostic or recording means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 5/28 the material being a gas contained in a hollow body having parts which are deformable or displaceable under the pressure developed by the material G01K5/32

Abstract

A method of controlling inflation of an airbag in a motor-vehicle accident protection device, includes activating a gas generator in response to a firing signal for inflating the airbag. A temperature and/or a pressure of the gas generator is measured and the inflation takes place in such a way that a desired pressure profile in the airbag is achieved.

Claims

1. A method of controlling inflation of an airbag in a motor-vehicle accident protection device, which comprises:

sensing and determining a temperature of a gas generator at least indirectly with an integrated circuit;

transmitting the determined temperature as a coded signal to a control unit;

supplying a firing signal with the control unit;

activating the gas generator in response to the firing signal; and

inflating an airbag with the gas generator in dependence on the temperature.

2. A motor-vehicle airbag accident protection device, comprising:

an airbag; and

an inflating device for said airbag, said inflating device including;

a gas generator,

a firing device for activating said gas generator,

a control device for controlling operation of said inflating device in dependence on temperature,

a temperature-measuring device with a measuring sensor for at least indirectly sensing a temperature of said gas generator to generate a firing signal for said firing device,

an integrated circuit associated with said measuring sensor for sensing the temperature of said gas generator, and

a data line connected between said integrated circuit and said control device.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein said integrated circuit is disposed on said firing device.

4. The device according to claim 2, including a device for introducing a reaction accelerator into said gas generator at a low temperature.

5. The device according to claim 2, including a device for introducing a reaction accelerator into said gas generator at a low temperature below a desired value.

6. The device according to claim 2, including a device for introducing a reaction accelerator into said gas generator at a temperature below a desired value.

7. The device according to claim 2, wherein said integrated circuit has a firing resistance path, and said measuring sensor is said firing resistance path.

8. The device according to claim 2, wherein said integrated circuit has a firing resistance path and another resistance path, and said measuring sensor is said other resistance path.

9. The device according to claim 2, wherein said integrated circuit has a diode, and said measuring sensor is said diode.