EP0805074A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automobile airbag system
Assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
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Filing: 1997-04-16
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2017-04-16
Abstract
Abstract An automobile airbag system for protecting human occupants of an automobile during an accident is provided. An airbag assembly comprises an airbag inflator assembly (45), an airbag (40), and a remote module (41). The remote module (41) includes a capacitor (42) and an integrated circuit (43) for coupling current through a squib (44) to ignite pyrotechnic material (46). The remote module (41) is formed as a plug which connects to the airbag inflator assembly (45) to simplify manufacture. Capacitor (42) provides energy to the squib (44) and switches for forming a conductive path that couples the current through the squib (44). The wiring between the integrated circuit (43) and the squib (44) is less than 3.0 centimeters to reduce electromagnetic radiation pick up.
Inventors
- 👤 Benjamin Rodney Davis
- 👤 Kim Roger Gauen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 05:37
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/01; B60R21/017; B60R21/26; B60R21/264; B60R21/2644; B60R2021/01006; B60R2021/0104; B60R2021/01047; B60R2021/01054; B60R2021/01075; B60R2021/26029
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
40 words
An automobile airbag system comprising: a control module; and at least one remote module (41) responsive to said control module, said at least one remote module (41) including a capacitor (42) for providing energy to ignite a pyrotechnic material (46).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
33 words
The automobile airbag system as recited in claim 1 further including a squib (44) responsive to said at least one remote module (41), said squib (44) being coupled to said pyrotechnic material (46).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The automobile airbag system as recited in claim 2 further including: an airbag (40); and an airbag inflator assembly (45) coupled to said airbag (40), said airbag inflator assembly (45) including said pyrotechnic material (46) and said squib (44).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The automobile airbag system as recited in claim 3 wherein wiring between said at least one remote module (41) and said squib (44) is less than or equal 3.0 centimeters to minimize electromagnetic radiation pick up.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
The automobile airbag system as recited in claim 4 wherein said at least one remote module (41) includes an integrated circuit (43), the integrated circuit (43) having an input for receiving a control signal from said control module, a first terminal coupled to said capacitor (42), a first output coupled to a first terminal of said squib (44) and a second output coupled to a second terminal of said squib (44).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
136 words
The automobile airbag system as recited in claim 5 wherein said integrated circuit (43) comprises: an address control (25) logic circuit coupled to said input of said integrated circuit (43); a first transistor (29) having a first electrode coupled to said capacitor (42), a control electrode responsive to said address control logic circuit, and a second electrode coupled to said first output of said integrated circuit (43); and a second transistor (30) having a first electrode coupled to said second terminal of said squib (44), a control electrode responsive to said address control logic circuit, and a second electrode coupled to a power supply terminal wherein said first and second transistors (29, 30) form a conductive path when enabled for providing current from said capacitor (42) through said squib (44) for igniting said pyrotechnic material (46).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
90 words
The automobile airbag system as recited in claim 6 wherein said integrated circuit (43) further includes: a clock circuit (33); a firing duration circuit (34) responsive to said clock circuit (33); a firing delay register (31) responsive to said address control logic circuit for delaying an enable signal during an airbag deployment sequence; a firing circuit (32) responsive to said firing duration circuit (34) for enabling said first and second transistors (29, 30); and a disarming circuit (35) responsive to said firing duration circuit (34) for discharging said capacitor (42).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
The automobile airbag system as recited in claim 7 wherein said integrated circuit (43) further includes: a charge pump circuit (28) responsive to said firing circuit for enabling said first transistor; and a voltage regulator (26) coupled to said first terminal of said integrated circuit for providing a reference voltage to power said address control logic circuit, said clock circuit, said firing duration circuit, said firing delay register, and said firing circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The automobile airbag system as recited in claim 8 wherein said capacitor (42) and said integrated circuit (43) are placed in a plug assembly that couples to said squib (44).
Claim 10
Independent Claim
52 words
A method for reducing current applied to a squib (44) for igniting pyrotechnic material (46) to inflate an airbag (45), the method comprising locating a capacitor (42) and integrated circuit (43) respectively for providing power and forming a conductive path through the squib (44) within an airbag assembly to minimize electromagnetic pickup.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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