Method and device for firing at least one firing element for a restraining device of a vehicle

• US 6,804,596 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2002
• Issued: 10/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Zelger, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mancho, Ronnie
• Application Number:
  US10/239,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20030040860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 701/36, 280/735, 180/282, 180/271, 180/268, 340/438, 340/439
• 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 21/017 including arrangements for providing electric power to safety arrangements or their actuating means, e.g. to pyrotechnic fuses or electro-mechanic valves

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for triggering at least on firing element for restraining means in a motor vehicle. In said method and device a firing command is transmitted from a control unit to a firing device for the firing elements. The firing command is subsequently repeatedly n-fold, whereby n is at least equal to 1. The n+1 transmitted firing commmands are evaluated in the firing device and once the last of the n+1 firing commands has been transmitted, the firing elements are triggered.

Claims

1. A method for firing at least one firing element for a restraining device in a vehicle, comprising:

transmitting a firing command from a control device to a firing device for the at least one firing element;

repeating the transmission of the firing command from the control device to the firing device n times, n being at least equal to one;

evaluating the n+1 transmitted firing command in the firing device; and

firing the firing elements by the firing device after a last of the n+1 firing commands has been transmitted.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the firing of the at least one firing element is repeated at least once.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, in which the at least one firing element is fired successively.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the at least one firing element is fired successively.

5. A device for firing at least one firing element for a restraining device in a vehicle, comprising:

a control device to generate n+1 identical firing commands;

a firing device to fire the at least one firing element by connecting a firing signal to the at least one firing element; and

a transmission device for the transmission of the firing commands from the control device to the firing device, wherein

the at least one firing element is not fired by the firing device until a last of the n+1 firing commands has been transmitted.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5, which the control device is a delay device to delay the firing signal, the delay device being triggered by the first firing command, and having a delay which is longer than the time which is necessary for the transmission of the firing commands.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6, in which the control device outputs coded firing commands, and the firing device has a firing command decoder to decode the firing commands.

8. The device as claimed in claim 6, in which the firing device fires a plurality of firing elements in succession.

9. The device as claimed in claim 5, in which the control device outputs coded firing commands, and the firing device has a firing command decoder to decode the firing commands.

10. The device as claimed in claim 9, in which the firing device fires a plurality of firing elements in succession.

11. The device as claimed in claim 5, in which the firing device fires a plurality of firing elements in succession.