Vehicle occupant protection apparatus

• US 7,881,037 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2008
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Ueda, Goro
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman; Jared J
• Assistant Examiner(s): CLARK, CHRISTOPHER JAY
• Application Number:
  US12/080,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20080258444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 361/248, 307/10.1, 102/200, 102/218, 280/735
• US Class Current: 361/248
• 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 air bag device of the present invention includes squibs and a capacitor, an electric discharge circuit as well as a backup power supply, a voltage stabilizer and ignition circuits. The voltage stabilizer converts the voltage of the backup power supply to the predetermined target voltage, and the converted voltage is supplied for the ignition circuit. The capacitor removes a noise emitted by the ignition circuit. The electric discharge circuit discharges electricity accumulated in the capacitor right after the supply of an ignition current from the ignition circuit has ended. In this manner, a voltage rise of the capacitor occurring after the end of the supply of the ignition current can be resolved immediately, thereby enabling a supply of a stable ignition current for the squibs.

Claims

1. A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:

a power source capable of supplying electric power;

a constant voltage circuit capable of outputting a predetermined voltage by converting a voltage of the power source in an electrical connection with the power source;

a plurality of ignition circuits capable of supplying an ignition current for respective squibs by having an electrical connection with the power source;

a capacitor capable of reducing noise, wherein the capacitor is in an electrical connection with a connection point between the constant voltage circuit and the plurality of ignition circuits on one end, and wherein the capacitor is in an electrical connection with a ground on another end; and

a discharge circuit capable of discharging electricity stored in the capacitor immediately after a supply of the ignition current from an ignition circuit has finished being delivered.

2. The vehicle occupant protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the discharge circuit includes a resistor having one end connected to one end of the capacitor, a discharge switching element having one end connected another end of the resistor for grounding the another end of the resistor at a time of turning on, and a discharge control circuit capable of turning on the discharge switching element immediately after the supply of the ignition current from an ignition circuit has finished being delivered.

3. The vehicle occupant protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the discharge circuit includes a constant electric current source having one end in an electrical connection with one end of the capacitor for supplying a predetermined current from one end to another end, a discharge switching element in an electrical connection with the another end of the constant electric current source for grounding the another end of the constant electric current source at a time of turning on, and a discharge control circuit capable of turning on the discharge switching element immediately after the supply of the ignition current from an ignition circuit has finished being delivered.

4. The vehicle occupant protection apparatus of claim 2, wherein

the discharge control circuit controls the plurality of the ignition circuits, and

the discharge control circuit turns on the discharge switching element based on control information of the plurality of the ignition circuits.

5. The vehicle occupant protection apparatus of claim 3, wherein the discharge control circuit controls the plurality of ignition circuits, and the discharge control circuit turns on the discharge switching element based on control information of the plurality of ignition circuits.