Remote indicator module

• US 6,439,602 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2001
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• 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, Dobson, Floyd J
• Primary Examiner(s): Boehler, Anne Marie
• Assistant Examiner(s): FISCHMANN, BRYAN R
• Application Number:
  US09/771,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20020017776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 701/45, 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 first squib pulse to cause said first squib circuit to deploy said air bag;

a remote indicator module coupled to said occupant restraint controller via a common communications data bus;

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 remote indicator module receiving said first switch position signal and transmitting a first signal over said common communications data bus in response thereto, said occupant restraint controller receiving said first signal and not inhibiting said first squib pulse from being generated to thereby permit the air bag module to be selectively deployed;

said remote indicator module receiving said second switch position signal and transmitting a second signal over said common communications data bus in response thereto, said occupant restraint controller receiving said second signal and inhibiting said first squib pulse from being generated to thereby disable said air bag module; and

said occupant restraint controller is operable for performing a diagnostic test on said air bag module wherein said diagnostic test is not effected when said air bag module is disabled.

2. 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 first squib pulse to cause said first squib circuit to deploy said air bag;

a remote indicator module coupled to said occupant restraint controller via a common communications data bus;

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 remote indicator module receiving said first position signal and transmitting a first signal over said common communications data bus in response thereto, said occupant restraint controller receiving said first signal and not inhibiting said first squib pulse from being generated to thereby permit the air bag module to be selectively deployed;

said remote indicator module receiving said second switch position signal and transmitting a second signal over said common communications data bus in response thereto, said occupant restraint controller receiving said second signal and inhibiting said first squib pulse from being generated to thereby disable said air bag module;

said remote indicator module further comprises a set of diagnostic test capabilities which are contained as a set of instructions stored in a memory of said remote indicator module; and

a vehicle restraint system fault indicator, the vehicle restraint system fault indicator being normally maintained in an illuminated condition for signaling a fault in the occupant restraint system, the vehicle restraint system fault indicator being responsive to the set of diagnostic test capabilities such that the vehicle restraint system fault indicator is maintained in an unilluminated condition only if the set of diagnostic test capabilities performs a predetermined number of diagnostic iterations and fails to detect a fault.

3. The occupant restraint system of claim 2, the diagnostic test capabilities include testing for faults within said remote indicator module;

and

said remote indicator module includes a lamp that is operable in an illuminated condition when said switch is placed in the second switch position and the faults within the remote indicator module include an open condition in the lamp and a short-to-battery condition in the lamp.

4. The occupant restraint system of claim 2, wherein the set of diagnostic test capabilities tests for faults between the switch and the remote indicator module, wherein the faults between the switch and the remote indicator module include a short-to-ground condition of a first electrical conductor, a short from the first electrical conductor to a second electrical conductor and an open condition within the switch.

5. The occupant restraint system of claim 2, the set of diagnostic test capabilities tests for faults with the occupant restraint controller, wherein the faults with the occupant restraint controller include a failure of the occupant restraint controller to generate a reply to a message sent by the remote indicator module, and a reply sent by the occupant restraint controller that is valid but inconsistent with the message sent by the remote indicator module.

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

a remote indicator module;

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

said occupant restraint controller is operable for performing a diagnostic test on said air bag module wherein said diagnostic test is not effected when said air bag module is disabled.

7. The supplemental system for selectively inhibiting deployment of an air bag of claim 6, wherein said remote indicator module includes a set of diagnostic test capabilities.

8. The supplemental system for selectively inhibiting deployment of an air bag of claim 7, wherein the set of diagnostic test capabilities tests for faults within the remote indicator module.

9. The supplemental system for selectively inhibiting deployment of an air bag of claim 8, wherein the remote indicator module includes a lamp that is operable in an illuminated condition when said switch is placed in the second switch position and the faults within the remote indicator module include an open condition in the lamp and a short-to-battery condition in the lamp.

10. The supplemental system for selectively inhibiting deployment of an air bag of claim 9, wherein the set of diagnostic test capabilities tests for faults between the switch and the remote indicator module.

11. The supplemental system for selectively inhibiting deployment of an air bag of claim 10, wherein the faults between the switch and the remote indicator module include a short-to-ground condition of a first electrical conductor, a short from the first electrical conductor to a second electrical conductor and an open condition within the entire switch.

12. The supplemental system for selectively inhibiting deployment of an air bag of claim 7, wherein the set of diagnostic test capabilities tests for faults with the occupant restraint controller.

13. The supplemental system for selectively inhibiting deployment of an air bag of claim 12, wherein the faults with the occupant restraint controller include a failure of the occupant restraint controller to generate a reply to a message sent by the remote indicator module, or a reply sent by the occupant restraint controller that is valid but inconsistent with the message sent by the remote indicator module.

14. The supplemental system for selectively inhibiting deployment of an air bag of claim 7, further comprising a system fault light, the system fault light being normally maintained in an illuminated condition for signaling a fault in the occupant restraint system, the remote indicator module being operable for generating a signal to turn the fault light off if the set of diagnostic test capabilities fails to identify a fault.