US4278971A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric control circuit for safety apparatus in automotive vehicles
Assignee: Denso Corp
•
Filing: 1978-09-01
•
Granted: 1981-07-14
•
Expires: 1998-09-01
Abstract
Abstract An electric control circuit for a safety apparatus adapted to be actuated by electrically operated actuator, the control circuit including an electric power source, a first storage condenser connected with the power source through a resistor to be charged in a predetermined time constant, a normally open switch interposed between the condenser and actuator to discharge the condenser through the actuator upon closure of the switch, a second storage condenser connected with the power source through a second resistor to be charged in a second predetermined time constant, the first-named time constant being normally larger than the second time constant, a comparator for comparing a first signal indicating the charged voltage of the first condenser with a second signal indicating the charged voltage of the second condenser to generate an output signal therefrom when the first-named time constant becomes smaller than the second time constant, and an indicator for indicating shortage of the charged voltage of the first condenser when received the output signal from the comparator.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshio Yasui
- 👤 Motoharu Naito
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:02
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/01; B60R21/017; B60R21/0173; B60R21/0176; G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/005; G01R31/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
In an electric control circuit for a safety apparatus adapted to be actuated by electrically operated actuator means, said control circuit including an electric power source, a storage condenser connected with said power source through a resistor to store electric energy in a predetermined time constant, and normally open switch means interposed between said condenser and said actuator means to discharge said condenser through said actuator means upon closure of said switch means, the improvement comprising: second storage means connected with said power source through a second resistor for storing electric energy in a second predetermined time constant, the first-named time constant being normally larger than the second time constant; a comparator for comparing a first signal indicative of the stored electric energy of said first storage condenser with a second signal indicative of the stored electric energy of said second storage means to generate an output signal therefrom when the first-named time constant becomes smaller than the second time constant; and means for informing of shortage of the stored electric energy of said first storage condenser when received the output signal from said comparator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
In an electric control circuit for a safety apparatus adapted to be actuated by electrically operated actuator means, said control circuit including an electric power source, a storage condenser connected with said power source through a resistor to store electric energy in a predetermined time constant, and normally open switch means interposed between said condenser and said actuator means to discharge said condenser through said actuator means upon closure of said switch means, the improvement comprising: second storage means connected with said power source through a second resistor for storing electric energy in a second predetermined time constant, the first-named time constant being normally larger than the second time constant; a comparator for comparing a first signal indicative of the stored electric energy of said first storage condenser with a second signal indicative of the stored electric energy of said second storage means to generate an output signal therefrom when the first-named time constant becomes smaller than the second time constant; and means for informing of shortage of the stored electric energy of said first storage condenser when received the output signal from said comparator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An electric control circuit for a safety apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said storage condenser is an aluminum electrolytic condenser, and said second storage means is a tantalum electrolytic condenser.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
An electric control circuit for a safety apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a signal generator for continuously generating an output signal therefrom until the stored electric energy of said second storage means reaches a predetermined value; and means for applying the output signal from said comparator to said informing means during a period of time defined by the output signal from said signal generator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
113 words
An electric control circuit for a safety apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said signal generator comprises: a constant voltage generator connected in parallel with said second storage means and said second resistor to generate therefrom an output signal indicative of a constant voltage; and a second comparator for comparing the second signal indicative of the stored electric energy of said second storage means with the output signal of said constant voltage generator to continuously generate an output signal therefrom until the stored electric energy of said second storage means reaches a value of the constant voltage, the said period of time being defined by the output signal from said second comparator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
An electric control circuit for a safety apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said means for applying the output signal from said first-named comparator to said informing means is an AND element connected to each output terminal of said first-named and second comparators for applying the output signal from said first-named comparator to said informing means by receiving the output signals from said first-named and second comparators.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1757659A
Cited
US2455543A
Cited
US2617859A
Cited
US2789196A
Cited
US3508146A
Cited
US3622974A
Cited
US3629816A
Cited
US3633159A
Cited
US3657602A
Cited
US3855527A
Cited
US4166974A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-07-13 | 1985-01-12 | 1985-07-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-07-13 | 1989-01-12 | 1989-07-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-07-13 | 1993-01-12 | 1993-07-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |