US 2001/0022471 A1 · AC firing circuit for air bag systems

Abstract

A system for controlling air bag deployment in vehicles includes the capability of accommodating varying inductants values in the air bag circuit. Wire harnesses that couple air bag components have varying characteristics, such as length, which affect the inductants value of the circuit. The inventive arrangement utilizes charge and discharge times of at least one capacitor for measuring the inductants of a particular circuit. The system includes a controller that accommodates the inductants by introducing an appropriate delay in the firing circuit signal to operate the air bag.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A system for controlling airbag deployment, comprising:

a firing element that activates the airbag;
a power source that supplies current pulses to the firing element;
a capacitor coupled in series with the firing element;
and
a controller that controls the supply of current pulses to the firing element, the controller monitoring a charge time and a discharge time of the capacitor and using the charge or discharge time as an indicator of an inductance value associated with the firing element, the controller adjusting the supply of current pulses to accommodate the inductance.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

AC firing circuit for air bag systems

Life of this patent

AC firing circuit for air bag systems

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9