Device for controlling restraint devices in an automobile using similarly constructed data processing units

• US 6,901,321 B1
• Filed: 03/18/1999
• Issued: 05/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Temic Telefunken Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG), Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH, Temic Telefunken Microelectronik
• Inventors: Bauer, Joachim, Bischoff, Michael, Karl, Otto, Schäffer, Stefan, Baur, Richard, Nitschke, Werner, Fendt, Günter, Rinkens, Johannes
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US09/647,296
• Time in Patent Office: 2,266 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 701/46, 701/49, 280/730.2, 280/728.R, 280/730.R, 280730-736, 280/729, 280/742, 280/743, 280/772, 180/282, 180/274, 180/271, 180/82.C, 340/310.01, 340/428, 340/514, 340/45.B, 340/505, 340/52.E, 340/436, 340/429, 307/105.B, 307/10.1, 364/424.045, 364/424.055, 364/424.056, 370/471, 370/447, 370/389, 370/394, 370/474
• 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: H04L 12/40006 Architecture of a communication node current supply arrangements H04L12/10; intermediate storage or scheduling H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40273 the transportation system being a vehicle

Abstract

A device which guarantees reliable real-time operation of the restraint system and offers each occupant of the vehicle individually the greatest possible protection includes the fact that data processing units are provided, all having the same design and each being capable of controlling multiple restraint devices and can decide independently of other data processing units whether the restraint devices assigned to it are to be deployed.

Claims

1. A device for controlling restraint devices in a vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of data processing units for controlling the restraint devices, wherein;

each of the plurality of data processing units has a same design as each other,

each of the plurality of data processing units includes;

a processing unit,

a signal input circuit,

an output circuit,

a time and clock base, and

an arrangement for receiving a signal from a power supply, and

each one of the plurality of data processing units decides independently of each other whether at least one of the restraint devices assigned thereto is to be deployed.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

multiple parallel input signals are sent to one of the plurality of data processing units, and

multiple output signals are generated by one of the plurality of data processing units as deployment signals for the restraint devices as a function of the input signals.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

input signals to the plurality of data processing units originate from sensors.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein:

the sensors include at least one of acceleration sensors, precrash sensors, seat occupancy sensors, and belt lock sensors.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a bus line; and

at least one central control unit for controlling individual functions of the plurality of data processing units, wherein;

each one of the plurality of data processing units is connected over the bus line to the at least one central control unit.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein:

the at least one central control unit has a structure that is the same as that of the plurality of data processing units.

7. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of bus lines; and

at least one central control unit for controlling individual functions of the plurality of data processing units, wherein;

groups of the plurality of data processing units are connected over separate ones of the plurality of bus lines to the at least one central control unit.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein:

the plurality of bus lines correspond to one of ring lines and spur lines.

9. The device according to claim 7, wherein:

the plurality of data processing units receive over the plurality of bus lines from the at least one central control unit at least one of the signal for the power supply, synchronization signals for the time and clock base, control signals for a circuit breaker, by which a respective one of the plurality of data processing units can one of connect and disconnect at least one of the plurality of bus lines, signals for initiating a diagnostic procedure of deployment elements of the restraint devices, and a stop signal that suppresses a deployment of the restraint devices.

10. The device according to claim 7, wherein:

the at least one central control unit has a structure that is the same as that of the plurality of data processing units.