Device for protecting passenger in vehicle

• US 7,875,994 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2007
• Issued: 01/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Hattori, Hiroshi, Nishimura, Toshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman; Jared J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parries; Dru M
• Application Number:
  US11/999,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20080136151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• 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

An airbag device includes an airbag control IC constructed with a control signal generating circuit, a high-side switching element and a low-side switching element. Based on a signal for controlling the low-side switching element, on a signal for controlling a safety switching element and on a check mode signal, the control signal generating circuit adjusts the timing of the signal for controlling the high-side switching element so that the high-side switching element is turned on last. Therefore, the high-side switching element is turned on last. This suppresses the occurrence of an overshoot current.

Claims

1. A device for protecting a passenger in a vehicle comprising:

a squib which is ignited when an electric current flows thereto;

a plurality of switching elements connected in series with the squib, at least one of the switching elements being a current control switching element for controlling the electric current to a predetermined value, other switching elements of the plurality of switching elements being not current control switching elements; and

control means for controlling the current control switching element so that a predetermined electric current flows into the squib,

wherein the control means turns on the current control switching element after the other switching elements have been turned on.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of switching elements includes three switching elements, and the current control switching element is connected to the squib.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control means detects actual turn-on state of the plurality of switching elements except the current control switching element and determines a turn-on timing of the current control switching element based on the detected actual turn-on state.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control means includes a delay section that delays turning on the current control switching element for a predetermined delay time from turning on the other switching elements.

5. A device for protecting a passenger in a vehicle comprising:

a squib that is ignited when an electric current flows thereto;

a first switching element connected to a terminal of the squib;

a second switching element connected to the other terminal of the squib to ground the squib;

a safety switching element, arranged between a power source and the first switching element, for connecting the power source to the first switching element; and

control means for controlling the first switching element so that a predetermined electric current flows into the squib,

wherein the first switching element is a current controlling element, and the second switching element and the safety switching element are not current controlling elements, and

wherein the control means turns on the first switching element after the safety switching element and the second switching element have been turned on.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the control means controls the second switching element and the safety switching element.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the control means produces control signals for turning on the second switching element and the safety switching element, and, after passage of turn-on times of the second switching element and the safety switching element, produces a control signal for turning on the first switching element.

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein the control means produces control signals for turning on the second switching element and the safety switching element, and, after the second switching element and the safety switching element have been turned on, produces a control signal for turning on the first switching element.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the control means detects actual turn-on states of the second switching element and the safety switching element based upon a terminal voltage of the second switching element at a point connected to the squib and upon a terminal voltage of the safety switching element at a point connected to the first switching element.

10. A device for protecting a passenger in a vehicle comprising:

a power source;

a collision sensor that generates an output indicative of a collision of a vehicle;

an electric actuator that is driven to protect a passenger when an electric current is supplied thereto;

a plurality of switching elements connected in series with the electric actuator and turned on to supply the electric current to the electric actuator; and

a control unit connected between the collision sensor and the plurality of switching elements to turn on the switching elements in response to the output of the collision sensor,

wherein the control unit is constructed to turn on the plurality of switching elements at different time points in response to the output of the collision sensor, and

wherein the plurality of switching elements includes three switching elements, two of which are connected to one and the other sides of the electric actuator, respectfully, and one of the two switching elements has a current control function and is turned on last among the three switching elements.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the control unit includes a delay section that delays turning on a first one of the plurality of switching elements for a predetermined delay time from turning on a second one of the plurality of switching elements in response to the output of the collision sensor.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein:

the switching elements are transistors; and

the predetermined delay time is set longer than a turn-on time required for the transistor to turn on.

13. The device according to claim 10, wherein:

the plurality of switching elements includes a first switching element and a second switching element connected to a high-potential side and a low-potential side of the electric actuator, respectively; and

the control unit includes a voltage detecting section for detecting actual voltages produced by the first switching element and the second switching element to turn on the first switching element after the second switching element has been turned on.

14. The device according to claim 10, wherein two of the three switching elements other than the one of the two switching elements have no current control function.

15. A device for protecting a passenger in a vehicle comprising:

a squib that is ignited when an electric current flows thereto;

a first switching element connected to a terminal of the squib;

a second switching element connected to the other terminal of the squib to ground the squib;

a safety switching element, arranged between a power source and the first switching element, for connecting the power source to the first switching element; and

control means for controlling the first switching element so that a predetermined electric current flows into the squib, and for controlling the second switching element and the safety switching element,

wherein the control means turns on the first switching element after the safety switching element and the second switching element have been turned on,

wherein the control means produces control signals for turning on the second switching element and the safety switching element, and, after the second switching element and the safety switching element have been turned on, produces a control signal for turning on the first switching element, and

wherein the control means detects actual turn-on states of the second switching element and the safety switching element based upon a terminal voltage of the second switching element at a point connected to the squib and upon a terminal voltage of the safety switching element at a point connected to the first switching element.