Calibration apparatus for airbag inflator resistance

• US 7,949,448 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2008
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: You, Chang Beom
• Primary Examiner(s): Black; Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARC-COLEMAN, MARTHE Y
• Application Number:
  US11/970,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20090055052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 324/711, 324/549, 439/660, 439/436, 439/352, 280/735, 280/736, 280/648
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0173 Diagnostic or recording means therefor

Abstract

Disclosed is a calibration apparatus for an airbag inflator resistance. The calibration apparatus for an airbag inflator resistance includes: an airbag inflator unit for applying a deployment signal for deployment of an airbag; a resistance detection unit for detecting a change in the resistance of the airbag inflator connector; and a control unit for self-cleaning the airbag inflator connector in accordance with the resultant resistance detected by the resistance detection unit. The calibration apparatus is effective in preventing malfunction of an airbag warning light and ensuring reliability by preventing an increase in resistance due to the contamination of the airbag inflator by the self-diagnosing and self-cleaning effect using an electric current.

Claims

1. A calibration apparatus for an airbag inflator resistance, comprising:

an airbag inflator unit for applying an airbag deployment signal;

a resistance detection unit for detecting a change in the resistance of the airbag inflator unit; and

a control unit for self-diagnosing and self-cleaning the airbag inflator unit;

wherein the airbag inflator unit comprises an airbag inflator connector connected between an airbag inflator of the airbag inflator unit and the control unit to apply the airbag deployment signal;

wherein the control unit comprises an integrated controller for transmitting a self-diagnosing signal and an airbag controller for applying a self-diagnosing current to the airbag inflator connector upon receipt of the self-diagnosis signal from the integrated controller;

wherein the integrated controller transmits a self-cleaning signal to the airbag controller for applying a self-cleaning current to the airbag inflator connector upon receipt of the self-cleaning signal from the integrated controller in accordance with a result of measured resistance of the airbag inflator connector detected by the resistance detection unit during the self-diagnosing to eliminate impurities on the airbag inflator connector.

2. The calibration apparatus of claim 1, wherein the airbag inflator connector is connected to the airbag inflator by ultrasonic welding.

3. The calibration apparatus of claim 1, wherein the self-diagnosing current ranges from 35-40 mA.

4. The calibration apparatus of claim 1, wherein if the measured resistance of the airbag inflator connector is 5 to 8Ω

higher than a reference resistance, the control unit applies the self-cleaning current.

5. The calibration apparatus of claim 4, wherein the reference resistance is predetermined.

6. The calibration apparatus of claim 4, wherein the self-cleaning current ranges from 90 to 110 mA.

7. The calibration apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an alarm mechanism for alarming a malfunction according to the result of the measured resistance of the airbag inflator connector of the airbag inflator unit.

8. A method for controlling a calibration apparatus for an airbag inflator resistance, comprising first self-diagnosing and self-cleaning steps of:

measuring a resistance of an airbag inflator connector;

comparing the measured resistance of the airbag inflator connector with a reference resistance; and

applying a current for first self-cleaning the airbag inflator connector if the measured resistance is higher than the reference resistance;

wherein if the measured resistance is equal to or lower than the reference resistance, the first self-diagnosing and self-cleaning steps is repeatedly performed.

9. A method for controlling a calibration apparatus for an airbag inflator resistance, comprising first self-diagnosing and self-cleaning steps of:

measuring a resistance of an airbag inflator connector;

comparing the measured resistance of the airbag inflator connector with a reference resistance; and

applying a current for first self-cleaning the airbag inflator connector if the measured resistance is higher than the reference resistance;

re-measuring a resistance of the airbag inflator connector after first self-cleaning the airbag inflator connector;

comparing the re-measured resistance of the airbag inflator connector with the reference resistance; and

operating an alarm mechanism if the re-measured resistance is higher than the reference resistance.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein if the re-measured resistance is equal to or lower than the reference resistance, the first self-diagnosing and self-cleaning steps is performed.