US5058920A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for actuating a safety device for vehicle occupants
Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
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Filing: 1987-09-05
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Granted: 1991-10-22
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Expires: 2007-09-05
Abstract
Abstract A method of actuating a safety device for vehicle occupants, wherein the safety device has several tripping devices coupled to a capacitor and to passenger restraint devices, such as air bags, seat belts, or the like. The energy supplied by the capacitor to a tripping device is measured upon actuation of that device. If the energy supplied exceeds a predetermined limit, the flow of electric current from the capacitor to the respective tripping device is interrupted. Thus, if an actuated tripping device shunts, the energy of the capacitor is not drained by the shunt, and the capacitor maintains an energy level sufficient to actuate the other tripping devices.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilfried Burger
- 👤 Werner Nitschke
- 👤 Peter Taufer
- 👤 Hugo Weller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 06:13
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/01; B60R21/017
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of actuating a passenger restraint device mounted on a motor vehicle, comprising the following steps: directing electric current from a voltage source to an actuating device to actuate the restraint device; storing energy from the voltage source in a storage device, and if the voltage source is disconnected from the actuating device, directing electric current from the storage device to the actuating device to actuate the restraint device; and measuring the energy stored within the storage device, and if the energy level of the storage device falls below a predetermined level, interrupting the flow of electric current to the actuating device to maintain a substantially predetermined amount of energy stored within the storage device to actuate other actuating devices.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of actuating a passenger restraint device mounted on a motor vehicle, comprising the following steps: directing electric current from a voltage source to an actuating device to actuate the restraint device; storing energy from the voltage source in a storage device, and if the voltage source is disconnected from the actuating device, directing electric current from the storage device to the actuating device to actuate the restraint device; and measuring the energy stored within the storage device, and if the energy level of the storage device falls below a predetermined level, interrupting the flow of electric current to the actuating device to maintain a substantially predetermined amount of energy stored within the storage device to actuate other actuating devices.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising the following steps: upon actuation of the restraint device, measuring the flow of electric current to the actuating device; and if there is electric current flowing to the actuating device, interrupting the flow of current thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as defined in claim 3 further comprising the following steps: measuring the voltage across the actuating device upon actuating the restraint device; and if there is a voltage across the actuating device, interrupting the flow of electric current thereto.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the energy within the storage device is measured by measuring the voltage across the storage device.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of actuating a vehicular passenger restraint device comprising the following steps: directing electric current from a storage device to an actuating device to actuate the actuating device and in turn the passenger restraint device; measuring the energy supplied by the storage device to the actuating device; and if the energy supplied to the actuating device is greater than a predetermined amount, interrupting the flow of electric current to the actuating device to maintain a substantially predetermined amount of energy within the storage device to actuate other actuating devices.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of actuating a vehicular passenger restraint device comprising the following steps: directing electric current from a storage device to an actuating device to actuate the actuating device and in turn the passenger restraint device; measuring the energy supplied by the storage device to the actuating device; and if the energy supplied to the actuating device is greater than a predetermined amount, interrupting the flow of electric current to the actuating device to maintain a substantially predetermined amount of energy within the storage device to actuate other actuating devices.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the amount of energy supplied to the actuating device is measured by measuring the voltage across the storage device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as defined in claim 5, wherein: the amount of energy supplied to the actuating device is measured by measuring the voltage across the actuating device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as defined in claim 7, wherein upon actuating the passenger restraint device, if there is voltage across the actuating device, interrupting the flow of current therethrough.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the amount of energy supplied to the actuating device is measured by measuring the electric current flow therethrough.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as defined in claim 9, wherein if upon actuating the passenger restraint device, electric current continues to flow through the actuating device, the flow of electric current therethrough is interrupted.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
139 words
An apparatus for actuating a vehicular safety device comprising: at least two passenger restraint devices, the restraint devices being actuated to protect passengers in the vehicle; an electric storage device coupled to the passenger restraint devices, the electric storage device being adapted to direct electric current to the passenger restraint devices to actuate the passenger restraint devices; and first means for generating output signals indicative of the energy supplied by the electric storage device to a respective passenger restraint device upon actuating the passenger restraint device; and second means responsive to the output signals of the first means for interrupting the flow of electric current to a respective passenger restraint device upon an output signal exceeding a predetermined value to maintain a substantially predetermined amount of energy within the electric storage device to actuate the other passenger restraint devices.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
139 words
An apparatus for actuating a vehicular safety device comprising: at least two passenger restraint devices, the restraint devices being actuated to protect passengers in the vehicle; an electric storage device coupled to the passenger restraint devices, the electric storage device being adapted to direct electric current to the passenger restraint devices to actuate the passenger restraint devices; and first means for generating output signals indicative of the energy supplied by the electric storage device to a respective passenger restraint device upon actuating the passenger restraint device; and second means responsive to the output signals of the first means for interrupting the flow of electric current to a respective passenger restraint device upon an output signal exceeding a predetermined value to maintain a substantially predetermined amount of energy within the electric storage device to actuate the other passenger restraint devices.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
98 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the first means includes a first volt meter coupled to the storage device, the first volt meter generating output signals indicative of the voltage across the storage device; and the second means includes a control unit coupled to the first volt meter and to each restraint device, the control unit being adapted to compare the output signals of the first volt meter to corresponding reference values and to interrupt the flow of electric current to a respective restraint device if an output signal is less than a corresponding reference value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
80 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the first means includes a plurality of second volt meters, each second volt meter being coupled to a respective restraint device and to the second means to generate output signals indicative of the voltage across the respective restraint device, the second means being adapted to interrupt the flow of electric current to a restraint device upon actuation of that device if the respective second volt meter indicates a voltage across that device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
78 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the first means includes a plurality of amp meters, each amp meter being coupled to a respective restraint device and to the second means to generate output signals indicative of the electric current flowing through the respective restraint device, the second means being adapted to interrupt the flow of electric current to a restraint device upon actuation of that device if the respective amp meter indicates electric current flow therethrough.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
115 words
An apparatus for actuating a plurality of passenger restraint devices mounted on a motor vehicle comprising: an electric storage device coupled to the passenger restraint devices to supply electric current thereto to actuate the restraint devices; first means for monitoring the energy supplied by the storage device to a respective restraint device and for generating output signals indicative thereof; and second means responsive to the output signals of the first means for interrupting the flow of electric current from the electric storage device to a restraint device upon the level of the output signals exceeding a predetermined level to maintain a sufficient amount of energy in the storage device to actuate the other restraint devices.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
115 words
An apparatus for actuating a plurality of passenger restraint devices mounted on a motor vehicle comprising: an electric storage device coupled to the passenger restraint devices to supply electric current thereto to actuate the restraint devices; first means for monitoring the energy supplied by the storage device to a respective restraint device and for generating output signals indicative thereof; and second means responsive to the output signals of the first means for interrupting the flow of electric current from the electric storage device to a restraint device upon the level of the output signals exceeding a predetermined level to maintain a sufficient amount of energy in the storage device to actuate the other restraint devices.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the electric storage device includes a capacitor; and the first means includes a volt meter coupled to the capacitor to generate output signals indicative of the voltage across the capacitor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
75 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the first means includes a first volt meter coupled to the storage device to generate output signals indicative of the voltage across the storage device; and the second means compares the output signals of the first volt meter to corresponding reference values and, if an output signal falls below a corresponding reference value, the second means interrupts the flow of electric current to a respective restraint device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
77 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the first means includes a plurality of second volt meters each second volt meter being coupled to a respective passenger restraint device to generate output signals indicative of the voltage across the respective restraint device; and the second means is adapted to interrupt the flow of electric current to a restraint device if upon actuation of that device the respective second volt meter indicates a voltage across that device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
77 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the first means includes a plurality of amp meters, each amp meter being coupled to a respective passenger restraint device to generate output signals indicative of the electric current flowing through the respective restraint device; and the second means is adapted to interrupt the flow of electric current to a restraint device if upon actuation of that device the respective amp meter indicates electric current flowing through that device.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for actuating a plurality of passenger restraint devices mounted on a motor vehicle comprising: an electric storage device coupled to the passenger restraint devices to supply electric current thereto to actuate the devices; a first volt meter coupled to the electric storage device to generate output signals indicative of the voltage across the storage device; a control unit coupled to the first volt meter and the passenger restraint devices, the control unit being adapted to compare the output signals of the first volt meter to corresponding reference values upon actuation of a restraint device and, if an output signal is less than a corresponding reference value, to interrupt the flow of electric current to the respective restraint device, and thus maintain sufficient energy in the storage device to actuate other restraint devices.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for actuating a plurality of passenger restraint devices mounted on a motor vehicle comprising: an electric storage device coupled to the passenger restraint devices to supply electric current thereto to actuate the devices; a first volt meter coupled to the electric storage device to generate output signals indicative of the voltage across the storage device; a control unit coupled to the first volt meter and the passenger restraint devices, the control unit being adapted to compare the output signals of the first volt meter to corresponding reference values upon actuation of a restraint device and, if an output signal is less than a corresponding reference value, to interrupt the flow of electric current to the respective restraint device, and thus maintain sufficient energy in the storage device to actuate other restraint devices.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
79 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 20, further comprising: a plurality of second volt meters, each second volt meter being coupled to a respective restraint device and the control unit to generate output signals indicative of the voltage across the respective restraint device, wherein the control unit is adapted to interrupt the flow of electric current to a respective restraint device if upon actuation of that restraint device, the respective second volt meter indicates a voltage across that device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
80 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 20, further comprising: a plurality of amp meters, each amp meter being coupled to a respective restraint device and the control unit to generate output signals indicative of the electric current flowing through the respective restraint device, wherein the control unit is adapted to interrupt the flow of electric current to a respective restraint device if upon actuation of that restraint device, the respective amp meter indicates electric current flowing through that restraint device.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-10-21 | 1995-04-22 | 1995-10-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-10-21 | 1999-04-22 | 1999-10-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-10-21 | 2003-04-22 | 2003-10-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |