Apparatus, system, and method for diagnosing initiators in airbag systems

• US 9,827,938 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2016
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schroth Safety Products LLC (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Schroth Safety Products LLC (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schnetger, Mario, Garcia, Ray, White, Craig William, Zadeh, Ahad M., Meier-Arndt, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEUNG, CALVIN K
• Application Number:
  US15/294,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20170036630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01184 Fault detection or diagnostic circuits in power circuits B60R2021/01129
• 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 21/017 including arrangements for providing electric power to safety arrangements or their actuating means, e.g. to pyrotechnic fuses or electro-mechanic valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0173 Diagnostic or recording means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/006 on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks testing of ignition installations peculiar to internal combustion engines F02P17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

The present invention discloses embodiments of an apparatus, system and related method for diagnosing initiators in air bag systems. An embodiment of the system comprises a diagnostic circuit electrically connected between acceleration switches and one or more squib, that is user-activated via a momentary switch, and with user-feedback, wherein a user can diagnose the health of the one or more squib with no power drain while inactive. An embodiment of a method related to the system comprises activating a momentary switch, completing a circuit whereby a diagnostic circuit may function, indicating to the user that the diagnostic circuit is functioning, regulating the current into the diagnostic circuit so that the squib does not fire, boosting the signal to a window comparator, detecting the desired voltage by the window comparator, giving feedback to the user that the voltage is good, too high, or too low. An apparatus embodiment of the present invention may comprise an electronics control module for sensing a crash event and initiating an inflation sequence for one or more airbags with an integrated system for diagnosing one or more initiators. The apparatus may include a housing enclosing one or more circuit boards, to which may be electrically connected one or more wire harnesses which themselves are electrically connected to one or more squibs.

Claims

1. A system for diagnosing a plurality initiators in aircraft airbag systems where the system is configured to diagnose a plurality of aircraft seats installed in an aircraft, the system comprising:

a diagnostic circuit electrically connected between an aircraft crash sensing means and a plurality of connected aircraft airbag initiators, the diagnostic circuit being in a normally off condition and enabled by a user activation;

a power supply, independent of the aircraft power, electrically connected to the diagnostic circuit; and

a visual indicator to a user of the health of each of the plurality of initiators, said visual indicator configured to be operative once the user has activated the diagnostic circuit.