Igniter for air bag system

• US 7,364,190 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2006
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries Limited (Daicel Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries Limited (Daicel Corporation)
• Inventors: Okamoto, Mitsuyasu, Oda, Shingo
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BECK, KAREN JANE AMORES
• Application Number:
  US11/417,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20060225598A1
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 102/218, 102/217, 102/207, 102/202.5, 102/201.14, 102/530, 102/215
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01075 between the airbag control unit and pyrotechnic fuses or equivalent actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26029 Ignitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2633 with a plurality of inflation levels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2648 comprising a plurality of combustion chambers or sub-chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0173 Diagnostic or recording means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/04 for producing gas under pressure generators of inflation fluid especially adapted for vehicle air bags B60R21/26
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/121 Initiators with incorporated integrated circuit

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a gas generator for an airbag having an igniter includes the steps of: providing, in the igniter, an integrated circuit including a memory unit for activating the igniter upon receipt of an external signal; attaching the igniter to a gas generator housing of the gas generator; and storing, in the memory unit, information indicative of an identity of the gas generator after said attaching step.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a gas generator for an airbag having an igniter, comprising:

providing, in said igniter, an integrated circuit including a memory unit for activating said igniter upon receipt of an external signal;

attaching said igniter to a gas generator housing of said gas generator; and

storing, in said memory unit, information indicative of an identity of said gas generator after said attaching step, and at least one of information indicative of disconnection of a heat generating portion and a loose contact between the heat generating portion and a priming disposed in the gas generator.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said storing step includes the step of storing information indicative of a position of said gas generator when installed in a vehicle.

3. A method of manufacturing an air bag module that includes a gas generator having an igniter, an air bag, and a module cover, comprising:

providing, in said igniter, an integrated circuit including a memory unit for activating said igniter upon receipt of an external signal;

attaching said igniter to a gas generator housing of said gas generator;

installing said gas generator and said air bag in said module cover; and

storing, in said memory unit, information indicative of an identity of said gas generator after said installing step, and at least one of information indicative of disconnection of a heat generating portion and a loose contact between the heat generating portion and a priming disposed in the gas generator.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said storing step includes the step of storing information indicative of a position of said gas generator when installed a vehicle.

5. A method of installing an air bag apparatus in a vehicle, said air bag apparatus including an impact sensor, a control unit, a plurality of gas generators each gas generator including an igniter, and a bus line, the method comprising:

providing, in said igniter, an integrated circuit including a memory unit for activating said igniter upon receipt of an external signal;

installing said impact sensor, said control unit, said plurality of gas generators, and said bus line to said vehicle;

connecting said plurality of gas generators to said control unit by said bus line; and

storing, in said memory unit in each gas generator, information indicative of an identity of said gas generator after said installing step, and at least one of information indicative of disconnection of a heat generating portion and a loose contact between the heat generating portion and a priming disposed in the gas generator.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said storing step includes the step of storing information indicative of a position of said gas generator when installed in said vehicle.