Energy reservoir protection apparatus in vehicle occupant protection system

In an energy reservoir protection apparatus in a vehicle occupant protection system, said apparatus being provided with a capacitance diagnosis circuit for making the diagnosis in capacitance of an electrolytic capacitor, said capacitance diagnosis circuit having a booster circuit through which an output voltage of a battery is increased to a predetermined value and issued therefrom, said booster circuit having its output side connected with said electrolytic capacitor, said capacitance diagnosis circuit being provided with a discharge means for permitting, if necessary, said electrolytic capacitor to discharge in said diagnosis in capacitor of said electrolytic capacitor;

• the improvement wherein said energy reservoir protection apparatus comprises:
• an over-voltage judgment means for judging as to whether or not a terminal voltage of said electrolytic capacitor exceeds its breakdown voltage;
• and
• a forced-discharge control means for having said discharge means of said capacitance diagnosis circuit operated for a predetermined period of time so that said electrolytic capacitor is forced to discharge when said over-voltage judgment means judges said terminal voltage of said electrolytic capacitor to be above said breakdown voltage;
• whereby the over-voltage condition of said electrolytic capacitor is resolved.