Post collision restraints control module

• US 7,158,870 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2002
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Schondorf, Steven Yellin, Kula, Paul Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Black; Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Broadhead; Brian J.
• Application Number:
  US09/683,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20030139864A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,804 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 701/301, 701/1, 701/35, 701/36, 701/30, 280/734, 280/735, 307/10.1, 340/436, 340/438, 180/271
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01177 Misdeployment, e.g. during assembly, disassembly, accident salvage or recycling
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01184 Fault detection or diagnostic circuits in power circuits B60R2021/01129
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over

Abstract

A restraints control module (RCM) for a vehicle is provided including a memory device. The memory device stores a deployment time of a deployment event. A controller is electrically coupled to the memory device and deploys a restraint in response to a collision signal and stores the deployment time in the memory device. A method of time stamping and indicating a deployment event within an automotive vehicle, having a RCM, is also provided.

Claims

1. A restraints control module (RCM) for a vehicle that has at least one impact sensor comprising:

a memory device for storing a deployment time of a deployment event;

a comparator comparing said deployment time with a fault time and determining whether said fault time corresponds with said deployment time; and

a controller electrically coupled to said memory device and said comparator, said controller determining when to deploy a restraint, storing said deployment time, and storing in said memory device a fault time corresponding to said deployment time, said fault time indicative of said fault within a component selected from at least one of the RCM and the at least one impact sensor; and

an indicator electrically coupled to said controller and indicating when said deployment time corresponds with said fault time.

2. A module as in claim 1 wherein said indicator comprises at least one of:

a pulsating indicator, a light bulb, an LED, a fluorescent light, an audible signal, a visual signal, a 7-segment display, an analog gage, a digital meter, a video system, and a hazard light.

3. A module as in claim 1 wherein said controller stores said fault time when said fault time corresponds to said deployment time.

4. A restraints control module (RCM) for a vehicle that has at least one impact sensor comprising:

an indicator;

a memory device for storing a deployment start time of a deployment event; and

a controller electrically coupled to said indicator and said memory device, said controller determining when to deploy a restraint and storing said deployment start time and duration in said memory device;

said controller storing a fault time in said memory device and signaling said indicator when said fault time corresponds to said deployment start time and duration, said fault time indicative of a fault within a component selected from at least one of the RCM and the at least one impact sensor.

5. A module as in claim 4 wherein said indicator continuously indicating that the RCM has been on a vehicle that has been involved in a collision.

6. A module as in claim 4 further comprising a comparator electrically coupled to said controller, said comparator comparing said deployment time with a fault time and determining whether said fault time corresponds with said deployment time.

7. A module as in claim 4 wherein information stored in said memory device is uneraseable, unresettable, and unoverwritable.