Controlling activation of restraint devices in a vehicle

• US 6,536,798 B1
• Filed: 09/27/2000
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hamilton, Brian K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chambers, Troy
• Application Number:
  US09/675,553
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 102/202.5, 102/275.1, 361/248, 361/249, 307/10.1, 280/728.1, 280/731, 280/732, 280/733, 280/734, 280/735
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01006 Mounting of electrical components in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01136 Cut lines
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01184 Fault detection or diagnostic circuits in power circuits B60R2021/01129
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/335 Connections between collision detecting means and inflators using pyrothechnic transmission lines
• 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 apparatus for activating a selected one or more restraint devices located in a vehicle is provided. The apparatus reliably and inexpensively activates restraint devices upon the receipt of one or more appropriate signals. The apparatus includes a control unit having a housing enclosing a processor, a circuit board, and a plurality of initiator assemblies. Explosive transfer lines are inter-connected to the initiator assemblies at a first end, and to the restraint devices at a second end. Upon the receipt of an appropriate signal from one or more sensors located in the vehicle, the processor activates at least one of the initiator assemblies, which in turn ignites at least one of the explosive transfer lines. The explosion propagates along the explosive transfer line to its corresponding restraint device or devices to activate one or more of them. Additionally, the explosive transfer lines feature a metalized layer that provides moisture resistance, and a way for verifying the continuity of the explosive transfer line.

Claims

1. An apparatus for activating a selected one or more restraint devices located in a vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of restraint devices located in a vehicle including at least a first restraint device and a second restraint device;

a plurality of explosive transfer lines connected to said plurality of restraint devices, said plurality of explosive transfer lines including at least a first explosive transfer line connected to said first restraint device and a second explosive transfer line connected to said second restraint device;

a control unit for use in controlling activation of at least said first and second restraint devices, said control unit being a single control unit that controls said activation of said first and second restraint devices, said control unit having a housing and including a processor and a circuit board; and

a plurality of circuit elements including at least a first circuit element and a second circuit element mounted to said circuit board, each of said plurality of explosive transfer lines being connected between said plurality of circuit elements and said plurality of restraint devices including said first explosive transfer line being connected between said first circuit element and said first restraint device and said second explosive transfer line being connected between said second circuit element and said second restraint device;

wherein said control unit receives a sensor input and said processor thereof, after said first control unit receives said sensor input, controls activation of at least said first and second circuit elements and said activation of said first circuit element ignites said first explosive transfer line and said activation of said second circuit element ignites said second explosive transfer line.

2. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said control unit has circuitry to diagnose readiness by generating a signal and monitoring said signal to check for electrical continuity of said plurality of explosive transfer lines.

3. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

at least said first explosive transfer line includes a metalized layer for providing an electrical path for diagnosing electrical continuity of said first explosive transfer line.

4. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

said first explosive transfer line includes an outer layer for providing abrasion protection that is disposed outwardly of said metalized layer.

5. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

at least said first circuit element includes one of the following;

a laser diode, a bridge element and a semiconductor bridge device.

6. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said control unit is hermetically sealed.

7. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first explosive transfer line has pyrotechnic material deposited thereon in liquid slurry form.

8. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said circuit board is contained in said housing and portions of at least said first explosive transfer line extend into said housing and remaining portions of said first explosive transfer line extend away from said housing toward said first restraint device.

9. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first circuit element is located adjacent to said first restraint device.

10. An apparatus for activating a restraint device in a vehicle, comprising:

a first explosive transfer line having a metalized layer that provides an electrical path for diagnosing electrical continuity;

a second explosive transfer line having a metalized layer that provides an electrical path for diagnosing electrical continuity;

a first circuit element operatively connected to said first explosive transfer line;

a second circuit element operatively connected to said second explosive transfer line;

a control unit operatively associated with each of said first and second circuit elements for controlling activation thereof;

circuitry in communication with said control unit that provides a first return signal associated with said first explosive transfer line and a second return signal associated with said second explosive transfer line and in which said first and second return signals are different from each other such that a separate determination can be made related to continuity for each of said first and second explosive transfer lines;

a first restraint device operatively associated with said first explosive transfer line; and

a second restraint device operatively associated with said second explosive transfer line.

11. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

said metalized layer has a moisture resistance property.

12. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

said first circuit element communicates with pyrotechnic material and said pyrotechnic material is coupled to said first explosive transfer line and in which said pyrotechnic material is activated by said first circuit element under control of said control unit.

13. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

said circuitry includes at least a first modifying circuit having a first impedance associated therewith.

14. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

said first modifying circuit includes a LC circuit.

15. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

said control unit includes a pulse generator that produces pulses that are transmitted along each of said metalized layers of said first and second explosive transfer lines and a signal monitor that monitors said pulses.