Control method and module for occupant protection systems with an action to prevent premature triggering

• US 6,477,456 B1
• Filed: 09/27/2000
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Temic Telefunken Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG), Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Temic Telefunken Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG), Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Nitschke, Werner, Bauer, Joachim, Bischoff, Michael, Karl, Otto, Schaeffer, Stefan, Fendt, Guenter, Rinkens, Johannes
• Primary Examiner(s): Louis-Jacques, Jacques H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Broadhead, Brian J
• Application Number:
  US09/647,288
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 701/29, 701/31, 701/32, 701/33, 280/734, 280/735, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01075 between the airbag control unit and pyrotechnic fuses or equivalent actuators
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 15/00 Arrangements characterised by the use of multiplexing for the transmission of a plurality of signals over a common path

Abstract

An unintended triggering of a safety device, such as an airbag in an occupant protection system, especially in motor vehicles is prevented by storing already during manufacturing of the module or modules, a blocking information in a memory location of the module or modules. The blocking information is preferably temporarily stored in place of a rated information, which is then overwritten when the module has been installed in the protection system for activating the system. In addition, the module is protected against electromagnetic and/or electrostatic disturbances at the input to the bus system.

Claims

1. A method for preventing a premature, accidental triggering of at least one module (3) including at least one memory location in an occupant protection system for a motor vehicle, said method comprising the following steps:

a) first entering a blocking information into said at least one memory location for preventing triggering of said at least one module until said occupant protection system has been installed in said motor vehicle,

b) installing said occupant protection system in said motor vehicle, and

c) second entering a rated information into said at least one memory location thereby cancelling said blocking information, whereby the same memory location is used first for temporarily storing said blocking information and then for storing said rated information after said installation is completed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of first entering is performed during manufacturing of said at least one module (3).

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing said at least one module (3) with a disturbance signal safeguard (8) at a bus system input of said at least one module (3).

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing said at least one module (3) with an address for addressing said at least one module by a central control unit in said occupant protection system, said address differing from said rated information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling said at least one module (3) by said second entering of said rated information for responding to a predetermined relationship between actual information sensed by said occupant protection system and said rated information.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising using as said rated information a threshold value, and wherein said actual information is a current value of a safety relevant variable.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising using said rated information as an address information for said cancelling of said blocking information, whereby said at least one module is provided with an address, and addressing said at least one module with an actual information through said address.