Controller for a seatbelt tightener
AssigneeBreed Automotive Technology, Inc.
InventorMartin Specht
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A controller for a seatbelt tightener puts on standby an electric igniter of a tightener drive, with a first electric circuit that includes the electric igniter and is closed upon buckling of the belt buckle. Monitoring of seatbelt usage is achieved by a first test signal proportional to the electric internal resistance of the igniter that is scanned using a second circuit which comprises a test resistance and is closed on unbuckling the belt buckle, a second test signal proportional to the test resistance being scanned.
Claims19
A controller for a seatbelt tightener comprising an ignition circuit which carries an ignition current produced in the event of a crash to an igniter, wherein the ignition circuit is closed on buckling of the belt buckle and is opened on unbuckling of the belt buckle, the ignition circuit also forming a circuit in a monitoring circuit for operation of the igniter, wherein for monitoring the operation of the igniter on buckling of the belt buckle, a first circuit comprising the electric igniter is closed and a first test signal proportional to an electric internal resistance R1 of the igniter is scannable and in that a second circuit comprising a test resistance R2 can be closed on unbuckling the belt buckle and a second test signal proportional to the test resistance R2 is scannable.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.