# US 12,762,902 B2 · Smart vehicle systems and control logic for valid airbag detection and authentication > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,762,902 B2 - Document ID: US12762902B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 19/043,783 - Filed: 2025-02-03 - Published: 2026-08-06 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2025-02-03 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Senthil Karuppaswamy; Donald K. Grimm - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12762902B2 ## CPC - G07C 5/006: {Indicating maintenance} - B60K 28/10: responsive to conditions relating to the vehicle - G07C 5/008: {communicating information to a remotely located station (transmission systems for measured values G08C)} - G07C 5/0825: {using optical means} - G07C 5/0833: {using audio means} - B60R 21/01: Electrical circuits for triggering {passive} safety arrangements, {e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners,} in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents {(electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343)} - B60R 2021/01088: {wireless} - B60R 2021/0119: {Plausibility check} - G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract Presented are smart vehicle systems for valid airbag detection and authentication, methods for making/using such smart vehicle systems, and motor vehicles equipped with such systems. A method of operating a host vehicle includes a near-field communication (NFC) transceiver attached to the host vehicle's body detecting installation of a supplemental inflatable restraint (SIR) module in the vehicle's passenger cabin. Responsive to detecting the SIR module, the NFC transceiver pairs with an NFC tag mounted to the SIR module and a vehicle controller retrieves unique SIR module data specific to the SIR module from the paired NFC tag. The unique SIR module data is compared to unique SIR data specific to the host vehicle to determine if the SIR module is invalid. Responsive to the SIR module being invalid, the vehicle controller commands a resident vehicle subsystem to execute a remediating action to prevent or mitigate activation of the invalid SIR module. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of operating a host vehicle with a host vehicle body defining therein a passenger cabin, the method comprising: detecting, via a near-field communication (NFC) transceiver attached to the host vehicle body, installation of a supplemental inflatable restraint (SIR) module in the passenger cabin; pairing, responsive to detecting installation of the SIR module, the NFC transceiver with an NFC tag mounted to an airbag inflator assembly inside a protective module housing of the SIR module, the NFC tag including an NFC chip and an electromagnetic field (EMF) antenna mounted on an NFC substrate configured to incinerate at a temperature of heat generated by the airbag inflator assembly when activated; retrieving, through the NFC transceiver from the paired NFC tag via a vehicle controller attached to the host vehicle body, unique SIR module data specific to the SIR module; determining if the SIR module is invalid by comparing the unique SIR module data to host vehicle SIR data specific to the host vehicle; commanding, via the vehicle controller responsive to determining the SIR module is invalid, a resident vehicle subsystem to execute a remediating action configured to prevent or mitigate activation of the invalid SIR module; and activating, after determining the SIR module is not invalid, the airbag inflator assembly to thereby incinerate the NFC tag. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, via the vehicle controller, a deployment notification indicating the SIR module was activated; detecting, via the NFC transceiver after receipt of the deployment notification, installation of a replacement SIR module in the passenger cabin; and pairing, responsive to detecting installation of the replacement SIR module, the NFC transceiver with a new NFC tag mounted to the replacement SIR module. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: retrieving, via the vehicle controller through the NFC transceiver, new unique SIR module data specific to the replacement SIR module; determining if the replacement SIR module is invalid by comparing the new unique SIR module data to the host vehicle SIR data specific to the host vehicle; and commanding, via the vehicle controller responsive to determining the replacement SIR module is invalid, the resident vehicle subsystem to execute the remediating action to prevent or mitigate activation of the invalid replacement SIR module. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the installation of the SIR module includes the NFC transceiver broadcasting a short-range electromagnetic field to the NFC tag, and the NFC tag powering on in response to receipt of the short-range electromagnetic field. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein pairing the NFC transceiver with the NFC tag includes establishing a secure device-to-device communication channel across the short-range electromagnetic field between the NFC tag and the NFC transceiver. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the resident vehicle subsystem includes a sensing and diagnostics module (SDM) operable to control activation of the SIR module, the method further comprising commanding, via the vehicle controller responsive to determining the SIR module is not invalid, the SDM to enable activation of the SIR module. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, via the vehicle controller, the unique SIR module data to a back-office (BO) vehicle services provider, wherein determining the SIR module is invalid includes the BO vehicle services provider retrieving the host vehicle SIR data from a SIR ID database, comparing the unique SIR module data to the host vehicle SIR data, and wirelessly transmitting an invalid SIR module alert to the vehicle controller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving, via the vehicle controller, the host vehicle SIR data from a resident memory device of the host vehicle, wherein the vehicle controller determines whether or not the SIR module is invalid. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the resident vehicle subsystem includes a sensing and diagnostics module (SDM) operable to control activation of the SIR module, and the remediating action includes the SDM disabling activation of the SIR module. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the resident vehicle subsystem includes a powertrain control module (PCM) operable to control a powertrain of the host vehicle, and the remediating action includes the PCM reducing a maximum allowable speed of the host vehicle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the resident vehicle subsystem includes an infotainment system with a telematics unit and/or a digital instrument cluster mounted inside the passenger cabin, and the remediating action includes the infotainment system outputting a predefined audible and/or visual alert of an invalid SIR module to an occupant of the host vehicle. ### Claim 12 A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a vehicle controller of a host vehicle, the host vehicle including a host vehicle body, the instructions, when executed, causing the vehicle controller to perform operations comprising: detecting, using a near-field communication (NFC) transceiver attached to the host vehicle body, installation of a supplemental inflatable restraint (SIR) module on the host vehicle, the NFC transceiver pairing with an NFC tag of the SIR module in response to detecting installation of the SIR module, the NFC tag mounted onto an airbag inflator assembly located inside a protective module housing of the SIR module, the NFC tag including an NFC chip mounted on an NFC substrate configured to incinerate at a temperature of heat generated by the airbag inflator assembly when activated; retrieving, through the NFC transceiver from the paired NFC tag, unique SIR module data specific to the SIR module; determining if the SIR module is invalid by comparing the unique SIR module data to host vehicle SIR data specific to the host vehicle; commanding, via the vehicle controller responsive to determining the SIR module is invalid, a resident vehicle subsystem to execute a remediating action configured to prevent or mitigate activation of the invalid SIR module; and activating, after determining the SIR module is not invalid, the airbag inflator assembly to thereby incinerate the NFC tag. ### Claim 13 A motor vehicle, comprising: a vehicle body including a passenger cabin; a plurality of road wheels attached to the vehicle body; a prime mover attached to the vehicle body and configured to drive one or more of the road wheels to thereby propel the motor vehicle; a supplemental inflatable restraint (SIR) module mounted in the passenger cabin, the SIR module including an NFC tag mounted to an airbag inflator assembly located inside a protective SIR module housing, the NFC tag including an NFC chip and an electromagnetic field (EMF) antenna mounted on an NFC substrate configured to incinerate at a temperature of heat generated by the airbag inflator assembly when activated; a near-field communication (NFC) transceiver mounted to the vehicle body; and a vehicle controller mounted to the vehicle body and programmed to: detect, using the NFC transceiver, installation of the SIR module in the passenger cabin, the NFC transceiver pairing with the NFC tag mounted to the SIR module responsive to detecting installation of the SIR module; retrieve, through the NFC transceiver from the paired NFC tag, unique SIR module data specific to the SIR module; determine if the SIR module is invalid by comparing the unique SIR module data to host vehicle SIR data specific to the motor vehicle; responsive to determining the SIR module is invalid, command a resident vehicle subsystem to execute a remediating action configured to prevent or mitigate activation of the invalid SIR module; and activate, after determining the SIR module is not invalid, the airbag inflator assembly to thereby incinerate the NFC tag. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The motor vehicle of claim 13, wherein detecting the installation of the SIR module includes the NFC transceiver broadcasting a short-range electromagnetic field to the NFC tag, and the NFC tag powering on in response to receipt of the short-range electromagnetic field. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The motor vehicle of claim 14, wherein pairing the NFC transceiver with the NFC tag includes establishing a secure device-to-device communication channel across the short-range electromagnetic field between the NFC tag and the NFC transceiver. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The motor vehicle of claim 13, wherein the resident vehicle subsystem includes a sensing and diagnostics module (SDM) operable to control activation of the SIR module, the vehicle controller being further programmed to command the SDM to enable activation of the SIR module responsive to determining the SIR module is not invalid. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The motor vehicle of claim 13, wherein the resident vehicle subsystem includes a sensing and diagnostics module (SDM) operable to control activation of the SIR module, and the remediating action includes the SDM disabling activation of the SIR module. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The motor vehicle of claim 13, wherein the vehicle controller is further programmed to retrieve the host vehicle SIR data from a resident memory device of the host vehicle, wherein the vehicle controller determines whether or not the SIR module is invalid. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the NFC chip is a passive-type integrated circuit NFC chip, the method further comprising emitting, via the NFC transceiver, a short-range electromagnetic field (EMF) to thereby activate the NFC chip via the NFC antenna, and wherein detecting installation of the SIR module includes initializing a secure wireless communication connection between the NFC transceiver and the NFC tag. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein pairing the NFC transceiver with the NFC tag includes establishing a secure device-to-device communication channel across the short-range EMF between the NFC tag and the NFC transceiver.