Airbag squib with silicon circuit and energy storage
First Claim
1. A control arrangement for a deployable airbag of a vehicle, the vehicle having at least one fault sensor for providing a fault signal in response to the occurrence of a fault condition which would require the deployment of the deployable airbag, the control arrangement comprising:
- an airbag electronic control unit for receiving at an input thereof a first signal responsive to the fault signal, and for producing at an output thereof in response to the first signal a deployment command signal that indicates that the deployable airbag is to be deployed;
airbag controller means for receiving at an input thereof the deployment command signal, said airbag controller means being provided with;
communication control means for receiving the deployment command signal;
squib means for firing in response to the deployment command signal whereby the deployable airbag is deployed; and
energy control means coupled to the communication control means and said squib means for transferring a predetermined deployment energy to said squib means in response to the deployment command signal; and
communication coupling means coupled at a first end thereof to said output of said airbag electronic control unit, and at a second end thereof to said input of said airbag controller means, for forming a propagation path for the deployment command signal.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control arrangement for a deployable airbag of a vehicle is provided with first and second airbag controllers for receiving a fault signal at the first airbag controller, and for producing at the second airbag controller a deployment command signal that indicates that the deployable airbag is to be deployed. The second airbag controller receives the deployment command signal, and is provided with a communication controller for receiving the deployment command signal, a squib for firing in response to the deployment command signal whereby the deployable airbag is deployed, and an energy transfer arrangement coupled to the communication controller and the squib for transferring a deployment energy to the squib in response to the deployment command signal. The squib is configured to require a predeterminable minimum quantum of energy to effect the firing thereof in response to the deployment command signal. A heater is coupled to an energy transfer arrangement for receiving a second electrical energy from the energy transfer arrangement and providing preheat to the squib in response to the second electrical energy, whereby the predeterminable minimum quantum of energy applied to effect firing of the squib is exceeded by a combination of the first electrical energy and the preheat energy, which is monitored and controlled.
24 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A control arrangement for a deployable airbag of a vehicle, the vehicle having at least one fault sensor for providing a fault signal in response to the occurrence of a fault condition which would require the deployment of the deployable airbag, the control arrangement comprising:
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an airbag electronic control unit for receiving at an input thereof a first signal responsive to the fault signal, and for producing at an output thereof in response to the first signal a deployment command signal that indicates that the deployable airbag is to be deployed; airbag controller means for receiving at an input thereof the deployment command signal, said airbag controller means being provided with; communication control means for receiving the deployment command signal; squib means for firing in response to the deployment command signal whereby the deployable airbag is deployed; and energy control means coupled to the communication control means and said squib means for transferring a predetermined deployment energy to said squib means in response to the deployment command signal; and communication coupling means coupled at a first end thereof to said output of said airbag electronic control unit, and at a second end thereof to said input of said airbag controller means, for forming a propagation path for the deployment command signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A control arrangement responding to a deployment command signal for controlling deployment of a deployable airbag of a vehicle in response to the occurrence of a fault condition requiring the deployment of the deployable airbag, the control arrangement comprising:
an airbag controller formed on a silicon substrate, said airbag controller further having formed on said silicon substrate; airbag controller input means for receiving the deployment command signal, communication control means coupled at an input thereof to said airbag controller input means for receiving the deployment command signal; squib means coupled to said communication control means for firing in response to the deployment command signal whereby the deployable airbag is deployed; and energy control means coupled to said communication control means and said squib means for transferring a predetermined deployment energy to said squib means in response to the deployment command signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of controlling an inflatable airbag of a vehicular supplemental restraint system, the method comprising the steps of:
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first supplying an electrical energy to an airbag controller formed on a silicon substrate, the electrical energy having a first voltage characteristic; second supplying the electrical energy to a transformer for transforming the voltage characteristic of the electrical energy from the first voltage characteristic to a second voltage characteristic, the second voltage characteristic corresponding to a greater potential than the first voltage characteristic; third supplying a first portion of the electrical energy having the second voltage characteristic to an energy storage element, whereby the first portion of the electrical energy is stored therein; fourth supplying a second portion of the electrical energy having the second voltage characteristic to a preheating element formed on the silicon substrate, the preheating element causing a preheat energy to be propagated therefrom, the preheat energy having a magnitude responsive to a magnitude of the second portion of the electrical energy having the second voltage characteristic; monitoring a preheat energy propagated from the preheating element; and controlling the magnitude of the second portion of the electrical energy having the second voltage characteristic in response to said step of monitoring. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of firing a squib for deploying an inflatable airbag of a vehicular supplemental restraint system, the method comprising the steps of:
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first supplying an electrical energy to a heater element formed on a silicon substrate whereby the heater element generates heat energy; applying the heat energy from the heater element to the squib; and second supplying a further electrical energy to the squib, whereby the combination of the heat energy supplied to the squib and the further electrical energy ignites the squib. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification