Active power blocking circuit for restraint control module

• US 11,479,198 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2018
• Issued: 10/25/2022
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Veoneer, Inc. (SSW Partners LP)
• Original Assignee: Veoneer, Inc. (SSW Partners LP)
• Inventors: Colarossi, Vincent, Eiswerth, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Son T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Clarke, Adam S
• Application Number:
  US16/171,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20200130624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,461 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01184 Fault detection or diagnostic circuits in power circuits B60R2021/01129
• 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: G01R 31/2829 Testing of circuits in sensor or actuator systems testing of apparatus for measuring electric or magnetic variables G01R35/00; testing of indicating or recording apparatus G01D; in airbag systems B60R21/0173; checking gas analysers G01N33/007; monitoring or fail-safe circuits for electromagnets H01F7/1844
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/60 the devices being bipolar transistors bipolar transistors having four or more electrodes H03K17/72

Abstract

A duplex squib module is provided. The duplex squib module may include a first squib, a second squib, a first active blocking circuit, and a second active blocking circuit: The first active blocking circuit being in series with the first squib. The first active blocking circuit having a transistor in series with a first diode to block current in a first direction. The second active blocking circuit being in series with the second squib. The second active blocking circuit having a transistor in series with a first diode to block current in a second direction opposite of the first direction.

Claims

1. A duplex squib module comprising:

a first squib;

a first active blocking circuit in series with the first squib, with the series combination of the first active blocking circuit and the first squib connected between a first node and a second node, the first active blocking circuit having a first transistor including a first conducting lead and a second conducting lead and configured to selectively conduct current therebetween, the conducting leads of the first transistor connected in series with a first diode to block current between the first node and the second node in a first direction;

a second squib; and

a second active blocking circuit in series with the second squib, with the series combination of the first active blocking circuit and the first squib connected between the first node and the second node, the second active blocking circuit having a second transistor in series with a second diode to block current between the first node and the second node in a second direction opposite of the first direction.

2. The duplex squib module according to claim 1, wherein the first conducting lead of the first transistor is connected to the first squib and the second conducting lead of the first transistor is connected to the first diode.

3. The duplex squib module according to claim 1, wherein the first transistor further includes a control lead configured to control a current between the first conducting lead and the second conducting lead, and wherein the control lead is connected to the first conducting lead through a first resistor.

4. The duplex squib module according to claim 3, wherein the first diode includes a cathode,

wherein the first active blocking circuit further includes a third diode and a voltage regulator defining an output terminal and a return terminal, and

wherein the control lead of the first transistor is connected to the cathode of the first diode of through the third diode and the voltage regulator.

5. The duplex squib module according to claim 4, wherein the third diode and the voltage regulator are connected in series between the control lead of the first transistor and the cathode of the first diode.

6. The duplex squib module according to claim 5, wherein the third diode defines an anode and a cathode, and wherein the control lead of the first transistor is connected to the anode of the third diode and the cathode of the third diode is connected to the output terminal of the voltage regulator.

7. The duplex squib module according to claim 6, wherein the voltage regulator further includes a reference input for controlling a voltage on the output terminal, and wherein the reference input of the voltage regulator is connected to the first conducting lead of the first transistor through a second resistor and the reference input of the voltage regulator is connected to the cathode of the first diode through a third resistor.

8. The duplex squib module according to claim 1, wherein the second transistor includes a first conducting lead and a second conducting lead and is configured to selectively conduct current therebetween, and wherein the first conducting lead of the second transistor is connected to the second squib and the second conducting lead of the second transistor is connected to the second diode.

9. The duplex squib module according to claim 1, wherein the second transistor further includes a control lead configured to control a current between the first conducting lead and the second conducting lead, and wherein the control lead is connected to the first conducting lead through a fourth resistor.

10. The duplex squib module according to claim 9, wherein the second diode includes a cathode,

wherein the second active blocking circuit further includes a fourth diode and a voltage regulator defining an output terminal and a return terminal, and

wherein the control lead of the second transistor is connected to the cathode of the second diode through the fourth diode and the voltage regulator.

11. The duplex squib module according to claim 10, wherein the fourth diode and the voltage regulator are connected in series between the control lead of the second transistor and the cathode of the second diode.

12. The duplex squib module according to claim 10, wherein the fourth diode defines an anode and a cathode, and wherein the control lead of the second transistor is connected to an anode of the fourth diode and the cathode of the fourth diode is connected to the output terminal of the voltage regulator.

13. The duplex squib module according to claim 12, wherein the voltage regulator further includes a reference input for controlling a voltage on the output terminal, and wherein the reference input of the voltage regulator is connected to the first conducting lead of the second transistor through a fifth resistor and the reference input of the voltage regulator is connected to the cathode of the second diode through a sixth resistor.