US5506775A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power source circuit for an occupant protecting device of motor vehicles
Assignee: Marelli Corp
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Filing: 1993-05-20
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Granted: 1996-04-09
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Expires: 2013-05-20
Abstract
Abstract An occupant protecting device for a motor vehicle, which inflates an air-bag system reliably to protect occupants in the event of a collision with high reliability. The occupant protecting device includes an acceleration sensor for sensing an acceleration signal of a vehicle in the event of collision with another vehicle or the like, a signal processor for detecting a collision waveform from an acceleration signal output from the acceleration sensor, a comparator for determining whether or not the output signal of the signal processor exceeds a preset level to produce a trigger signal when it exceeds the preset level, a latch circuit for latching the trigger signal from the comparator, and a firing circuit for operating an occupant protecting unit in response to a drive signal from the latch circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Shin-ichiro Tsurushima
- 👤 Satoru Matsumori
- 👤 Yasuo Saito
- 👤 Kazuyasu Kon
- 👤 Kunihiro Kaneko
- 👤 Katsushi Ohneda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 04:51
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/01; B60R21/013; B60R21/0132; B60R21/0133; B60R21/017; B60R21/0173
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
A power source circuit for an occupant protecting device of motor vehicles comprising: a DC converter means for boosting a battery voltage subsequently delivered to charge an output capacitor, the charge accumulated in said output capacitor being supplied to a drive circuit for an occupant protecting device; a diagnostic voltage source for converting the battery voltage into a predetermined voltage to be supplied to a signal processing circuit for determining a condition of said occupant protecting device; a switch regulator means for delivering the charge accumulated in said output capacitor to said diagnostic voltage source immediately after the battery voltage is reduced less than a predetermined level, wherein said switch regulator means comprises a control means for monitoring said battery voltage and for determining when said battery voltage is reduced less than said predetermined level, and wherein said switch regulator means remains in a non-operative condition as long as the battery voltage is applied to said control means, but operates to deliver said charge accumulated in said output capacitor to diagnostic voltage source when said battery voltage is reduced less than said predetermined level; and a reverse-current preventing diode electrically connected between said switch regulator means and said diagnostic voltage source to prevent current flow in a direction from said diagnostic voltage source toward said switch regulator means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
218 words
A power source circuit for an occupant protecting device of motor vehicles comprising: a DC converter means for boosting a battery voltage subsequently delivered to charge an output capacitor, the charge accumulated in said output capacitor being supplied to a drive circuit for an occupant protecting device; a diagnostic voltage source for converting the battery voltage into a predetermined voltage to be supplied to a signal processing circuit for determining a condition of said occupant protecting device; a switch regulator means for delivering the charge accumulated in said output capacitor to said diagnostic voltage source immediately after the battery voltage is reduced less than a predetermined level, wherein said switch regulator means comprises a control means for monitoring said battery voltage and for determining when said battery voltage is reduced less than said predetermined level, and wherein said switch regulator means remains in a non-operative condition as long as the battery voltage is applied to said control means, but operates to deliver said charge accumulated in said output capacitor to diagnostic voltage source when said battery voltage is reduced less than said predetermined level; and a reverse-current preventing diode electrically connected between said switch regulator means and said diagnostic voltage source to prevent current flow in a direction from said diagnostic voltage source toward said switch regulator means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The power source circuit as defined in claim 1 further comprising a feedback circuit for feeding the output voltage of said voltage source back to the input of said DC power source.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The power source circuit as defined in claim 1 wherein said DC power source comprises a voltage multiplying rectifier circuit including a transistor bridge, capacitors and diodes, and wherein the pulse width of a signal for driving the occupant protecting device is varied according to the output voltage value of said output capacitor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The power source circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said switch regulator means converts said charge accumulated in said output capacitor into a DC power, which in turn is supplied to said diagnosis voltage source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The power source circuit as defined in claim 1, further comprising a backup capacitor for supplying a backup voltage to an input of said diagnosis voltage source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
193 words
A power source circuit for an occupant protecting device of motor vehicles comprising: A battery voltage means for supplying a battery voltage; a DC converter means for receiving and boosting said battery voltage to charge an output capacitor, the charge accumulated in said output capacitor being supplied to a drive circuit for an occupant protecting device; a diagnostic voltage source for receiving said battery voltage and for converting said battery voltage into a predetermined voltage to be supplied to a signal processing circuit for determining a condition of said occupant protecting device; a switch regulator means for providing an electrical connection between said output capacitor and said diagnosis voltage source and comprising a control terminal means for monitoring said battery voltage, wherein said switch regulator means supplies at least a portion of the charge accumulated in said output capacitor to said diagnosis voltage source when said control terminal means determines that the battery voltage is below a predetermined level; and a reverse-current preventing diode electrically connected between said switch regulator means and said diagnostic voltage source to prevent current flow in a direction from said diagnostic voltage source toward said switch regulator means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
193 words
A power source circuit for an occupant protecting device of motor vehicles comprising: A battery voltage means for supplying a battery voltage; a DC converter means for receiving and boosting said battery voltage to charge an output capacitor, the charge accumulated in said output capacitor being supplied to a drive circuit for an occupant protecting device; a diagnostic voltage source for receiving said battery voltage and for converting said battery voltage into a predetermined voltage to be supplied to a signal processing circuit for determining a condition of said occupant protecting device; a switch regulator means for providing an electrical connection between said output capacitor and said diagnosis voltage source and comprising a control terminal means for monitoring said battery voltage, wherein said switch regulator means supplies at least a portion of the charge accumulated in said output capacitor to said diagnosis voltage source when said control terminal means determines that the battery voltage is below a predetermined level; and a reverse-current preventing diode electrically connected between said switch regulator means and said diagnostic voltage source to prevent current flow in a direction from said diagnostic voltage source toward said switch regulator means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
204 words
A power source circuit for an occupant protecting device of motor vehicles comprising: a DC converter means for boosting a battery voltage subsequently delivered to charge an output capacitor, the charge accumulated in said output capacitor being supplied to a drive circuit for an occupant protecting device; a diagnostic voltage source for converting the battery voltage into a predetermined voltage to be supplied to a signal processing circuit for determining a condition of said occupant protecting device; a back-up capacitor electrically connected to said diagnostic voltage source for supplying electrical energy to said diagnostic voltage source; and a switch regulator means for delivering the charge accumulated in said output capacitor to said diagnostic voltage source immediately after the battery voltage is reduced less than a predetermined level, wherein said switch regulator means comprises a control means for monitoring said battery voltage and for determining when said battery voltage is reduced less than said predetermined level, and wherein said switch regulator means remains in a non-operative condition as long as the battery voltage is applied to said control means, but operates to deliver said charge accumulated in said output capacitor to diagnostic voltage source when said battery voltage is reduced less than said predetermined level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
204 words
A power source circuit for an occupant protecting device of motor vehicles comprising: a DC converter means for boosting a battery voltage subsequently delivered to charge an output capacitor, the charge accumulated in said output capacitor being supplied to a drive circuit for an occupant protecting device; a diagnostic voltage source for converting the battery voltage into a predetermined voltage to be supplied to a signal processing circuit for determining a condition of said occupant protecting device; a back-up capacitor electrically connected to said diagnostic voltage source for supplying electrical energy to said diagnostic voltage source; and a switch regulator means for delivering the charge accumulated in said output capacitor to said diagnostic voltage source immediately after the battery voltage is reduced less than a predetermined level, wherein said switch regulator means comprises a control means for monitoring said battery voltage and for determining when said battery voltage is reduced less than said predetermined level, and wherein said switch regulator means remains in a non-operative condition as long as the battery voltage is applied to said control means, but operates to deliver said charge accumulated in said output capacitor to diagnostic voltage source when said battery voltage is reduced less than said predetermined level.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The power source circuit according the claim 7, further comprising a reverse-current preventing diode electrically connected between said switch regulator means and said diagnostic voltage source to prevent current flow in a direction from said diagnostic voltage source toward said switch regulator means.
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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) | 1999-04-09 | 1999-10-09 | 2000-04-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-04-09 | 2003-10-09 | 2004-04-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-04-09 | 2007-10-09 | 2008-04-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |