Inflatable personal restraint systems

• US 9,156,558 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AmSafe, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: AmSafe, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Shields, Ronald A., Settles, Peter A., Hagan, Willard F., Gullotto, Giuseppe
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Jerrah
• Application Number:
  US13/174,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20120259484A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,566 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29.7, 701/29.8, 701/34.4, 701/45, 701/29.1, 701/29.9, 701/31.7, 701/32.7, 701/32.8
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0093 Aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01156 Current or voltage overload
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01184 Fault detection or diagnostic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01286 Electronic control units
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01546 using belt buckle sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0173 Diagnostic or recording means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/062 Belts or other passenger restraint means for passenger seats
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/06205 Arrangements of airbags
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0621 Airbag initiation or activation means
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2201/00 Airbags mounted in aircraft for any use
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/00 Emergency apparatus or devices, not otherwise provided for parachutes B64D17/00, B64D19/00; jettisoning of fuel tanks or fuel per se B64D37/00; specially adapted for protection against criminal attack, e.g. anti-hijacking systems B64D45/0015 ; safety belts or body harnesses in general A62B35/00; safety belts or body harnesses for land vehicles B60R22/00; jettisonable parts of fuselage facilitating emergency escape B64C
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/02 Supports or holding means for living bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/54 Testing for continuity
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0841 Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B

Abstract

An electronic module assembly (EMA) for use in controlling one or more personal restraint systems. A programmed processor within the EMA is configured to determine when a personal restraint system associated with each seat in a vehicle should be deployed. In addition, the programmed processor is configured to perform a diagnostic self-test to determine if the EMA and the personal restraint systems are operational. In one embodiment, results of the diagnostic self-test routine are displayed on a display included on the electronic module assembly. In an alternative embodiment, the results of the diagnostic self-test routine are transmitted via a wireless transceiver to a remote device. The remote device can include a wireless interrogator or can be a remote computer system such as a cabin management computer system.

Claims

1. An electronic module assembly for controlling the deployment of one or more personal restraint systems in a vehicle, comprising:

a power source for supplying electrical power to one or more personal restraint systems;

a crash sensor configured to produce an electronic signal upon exposure to a determined force;

a wireless transceiver configured to receive instructions to perform one or more diagnostic self-tests

a programmed processor configured to execute instructions to;

detect an electronic signal from the crash sensor;

deploy one or more of the personal restraint systems upon the detection of the electronic signal from the crash sensor;

wherein the programmed processor is further configured to execute instructions to;

awaken from a sleep mode;

receive a unique code that identifies the electronic module assembly;

perform one or more diagnostic self-tests on the personal restraint systems and on the electronic module assembly to determine the ability of the electronic module assembly to deploy one or more of the personal restraint systems and to determine the ability of the power source to deploy one or more of the personal restraint systems;

provide results of the one or more diagnostic self-tests performed; and

return to the sleep mode after providing the results.

2. The electronic module assembly of claim 1, wherein the programmed processor is configured to transmit the results of the one or more diagnostic self-tests performed to a remote receiver with the wireless transceiver.

3. The electronic module assembly of claim 1, wherein the crash sensor includes:

a switch configured to change state upon exposure to the determined force, wherein the switch is configured such that the personal restraint systems do not deploy unless the switch has changed state.

4. The electronic module assembly of claim 3, wherein the one or more personal restraint systems are deployed upon completion of a current path through an ignitor and wherein the current path includes a second switch that is within the crash sensor.

5. The electronic module assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the personal restraint systems is mounted on a seat belt of a vehicle and wherein the seat belt includes a seat belt switch to determine if the seat belt is secured, wherein the programmed processor is configured to read a state of the seat belt switch before deploying a corresponding personal restraint system of the seat.

6. The electronic module assembly of claim 5, wherein the seat belt switch is closed when the seat belt is not secured and open when the seat belt is secured and wherein the programmed processor is configured to detect if the seat belt switch is secured by detecting if the seat belt switch is open.

7. The electronic module assembly of claim 1, further comprising a magnetic field sensor that is configured to detect if the electronics module assembly is within an external magnetic field.

8. The electronic module assembly of claim 7, wherein the magnetic field sensor is a reed switch.

9. The electronics module assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a transistor and resistor in series with an ignitor hat is configured to deploy the personal restraint system,

wherein the processor is configured to execute instructions that;

turns on the transistor to conduct a current through the ignitor and that generates a voltage at the resistor; and

reads a voltage on the resistor to determine if the power source has the ability to deploy the personal restraint system.

11. The wireless electronic module of claim 8, further comprising:

a memory circuit configured to store a unique identification code,

wherein the programmed processor is configured to execute instructions that cause the programmed processor to;

analyze codes received by the wireless transceiver from the remote device;

compare the received codes with a code stored in the memory circuit; and

initiate the diagnostic self-test if the received code matches the code stored in the memory circuit.

10. A wireless electronic module assembly for controlling the deployment of one or more personal restraint systems in a vehicle, comprising:

a power source for supplying electrical power to one or more personal restraint systems;

a wireless transceiver for sending and receiving information to and from a remote device;

a deployment circuit for deploying one or more of the personal restraint systems connected to the electronics module assembly;

a diagnostic circuit for testing the readiness of one or more of the personal restraint systems connected to the electronics module assembly, wherein the diagnostic circuit is configured to test the ability of the power source to deploy one or more of the personal restraint systems; and

a programmed processor configured to execute instructions that cause the programmed processor to;

awaken from a sleep mode;

receive a unique code that identifies the electronic module assembly;

receive instructions from the remote device to initiate a diagnostic self-test routine of the electronic module assembly and one or more of the personal restraint systems connected to the electronic module assembly;

transmit results of the diagnostic self-test routine to the remote device with the wireless transceiver; and

return to the sleep mode after providing the results.

12. The wireless module assembly of claim 10, further comprising one or more visual indicators that are controllable by the programmed processor to indicate the results of the diagnostic self-test routine.

13. The wireless electronic module assembly of claim 12, wherein the one or more visual indicators are light emitting diodes.

14. A wireless interrogation device comprising:

a wireless transceiver;

a programmed processor configured to execute program instructions that cause the programmed processor to;

transmit a code that identifies an electronics module assembly that controls the deployment of one or more personal restraint systems in an aircraft;

receive diagnostic information from the electronics module assembly associated with the code indicating if the associated electronics module assembly can deploy the one or more personal restraint systems and if a power source included within the associated electronics module assembly can deploy one or more personal restraint systems associated with the electronics module assembly; and

transmit a control signal to the electronics module assembly that causes the electronics module assembly to enter a sleep mode after receiving the diagnostic information.

15. The wireless interrogation device of claim 14, wherein the wireless interrogation device is handheld,

16. The wireless interrogation device of claim 14, wherein the wireless interrogation device is incorporated into a cabin management system of an aircraft.

17. An electronic module assembly for controlling the deployment of one or more personal restraint systems in a vehicle, comprising:

a power source;

a crash sensor configured to produce an electronic signal upon exposure to a determined force;

a wireless transceiver configured to receive instructions to perform one or more diagnostic self-tests

a programmed processor configured to execute instructions to;

detect an electronic signal from the crash sensor;

deploy one or more of the personal restraint systems upon the detection of the electronic signal from the crash sensor;

wherein the programmed processor is further configured to execute instructions to;

awaken from a sleep mode;

receive a unique code that identifies the electronic module assembly;

perform one or more diagnostic self-tests on the electronic module assembly to determine the ability of the power source to deploy one or more of the personal restraint systems;

provide results of the one or more diagnostic self-tests performed; and

return to the sleep mode after providing the results.