Device for controlling passenger protection devices

• US 8,463,501 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2008
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Jousse, Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAYNE, ROBERT T
• Application Number:
  US12/524,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20100179729A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,965 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 340/436, 307/10.1, 307/9.1, 180/282, 280/735, 736/54
• US Class Current: 701/45
• 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

A device for controlling passenger protection devices in which two hardware paths independent from one another are provided for activation. One interface IC is provided for each hardware path which has at least one circuit breaker and one power supply.

Claims

1. A device for controlling a passenger protection device comprising:

at least two hardware paths independent from one another for activation of the passenger protection device;

one respective output stage IC provided for each hardware path, each respective output stage IC having at least respective circuit breaker and one respective power supply.

2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein one independent connection to the vehicle electrical system is provided for each of the hardware paths.

3. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein each output stage IC has a respective safety semiconductor which analyzes at least one sensor signal in such a way that the respective circuit breaker of the output stage IC is activated as a function of this analysis.

4. The device as recited in claim 3, wherein one respective accident sensor is provided for each hardware path.

5. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein one power supply is provided for each hardware path.

6. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least two hardware paths are connected to one another only for data exchange.