Apparatus for actuating a passenger safety system

• US 6,304,004 B1
• Filed: 07/06/1999
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Meyer, Michael, Zerrweck, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): PALADINI, ALBERT WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US09/348,045
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.1, 180/271, 180/274, 180/282, 280/728.1, 280/735, 340/436, 701/45, 296/68.1
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01034 Controlling a plurality of restraint devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01293 programmable for use in different vehicles or with different airbags configurations
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343

Abstract

An actuating control apparatus for the control of different passenger safety components of a passenger safety system in a motor vehicle. The actuating control apparatus can be controlled at its input at least by one deceleration sensor and includes a signal evaluation with a programmable actuating logic as well as a plurality of output stages. In case of an actuation signal, the output stages issue an actuation current to the passenger safety component that is to be controlled. The output stages are adapted in their electrical/electronic performance to the particular passenger safety component. At least one output stage is provided which by a preset electrical control signal is adaptable in its electrical/electronic performance to at least two different passenger safety components.

Claims

1. Actuation control apparatus for controlling a plurality of different passenger safety components in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a signal evaluation stage receiving input signals from at least a deceleration sensor,

a plurality of output stages receiving signals from said signal evaluation stage,

each of said output stages being electrically coupled with a respective actuator of a respective one of said passenger safety components, each of said output stages being adapted to provide an appropriate electrical signal to said respective actuator,

at least one of said output stages being adaptable to provide an appropriate electrical signal to any one of at least two different ones of said passenger safety components,

said at least one adaptable output stage being presettable to a selected one of said at least two different passenger safety components arranged in a particular motor vehicle via an electrical control signal during a one-time parametrization procedure.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said signal evaluation unit includes a programmable actuation logic unit.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said appropriate electrical signal is adapted to an impedance of said respective actuator.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said appropriate electrical signal is adapted to a required actuation current of said respective actuator.

5. Actuation control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said appropriate electrical signal is adapted with regard to a critical current of an excess current safety relay.

6. Actuation control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said appropriate electrical signal is adapted with regard to monitoring for error.

7. Method for adapting the actuation control apparatus according to claim 1 to the passenger safety system of a particular vehicle, wherein during the parametrization procedure, in which the actuation control apparatus is adapted to the specific ones of said passenger safety components present in said particular vehicle, the control signal is set in such a manner that the at least one adaptable output stage is adapted to the passenger safety component designed for adaptation and actually present in said particular vehicle.

8. Method according to claim 7, wherein during the adaptation a choice is made between a deployable roll bar and an airbag.

9. Actuation control apparatus capable of controlling a plurality of different passenger safety components in a motor vehicle and adaptable to specific ones of said passenger safety components which are actually present in the motor vehicle, comprising:

at least one output stage which is adaptable to provide an appropriate electrical signal to any one of at least two different ones of said passenger safety components,

said at least one output stage being adaptable via an electrical control signal to one of said at least two different passenger safety components which is actually present in the particular motor vehicle during a one-time parametrization procedure.

10. A method for adapting the actuation control apparatus of claim 9 to said specific ones of said passenger safety components which are actually present in the motor vehicle, comprising providing said electrical control signal to said at least one output stage.

11. A method for adapting the actuation control apparatus of claim 9 to said specific ones of said passenger safety components which are actually present in the motor vehicle, comprising providing said one-time initial parametrization signal to said at least one output stage.