US 6,640,174 B2 · Restraint and fuel system cutoff control module

Abstract

A restraint and fuel pump cutoff control system is disclosed wherein a restraint control module controls the restraint system such as an air bag deployment system and a fuel system power supply based upon data inputs from sensors positioned at various locations on the vehicle. When data received from the sensors indicates that a collision event has occurred and has reached the predetermined level of severity, power to the fuel system is cut off to prevent undesired pumping of fuel. If power is interrupted during a collision event, the fuel system will be cut off and remain cut off until reset by turning the ignition switch to off and then to run/start indicating a clean shutdown. The restraint control module utilizes collision data profiles to distinguish between power shutdowns occurring during a collision event and power shutdowns occurring when only background data is being received from the sensors.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A method of discriminating between a normal power interruption to a restraint control module and a collision induced power interruption to the restraint control module comprising:

setting a digital input bit of a microprocessor in a first state when a normal power interruption occurs;
monitoring by the microprocessor for power interruption to the restraint control module while powered;
monitoring an algorithm programmed into the microprocessor that checks sensor output data to determine whether a collision event has occurred, and upon determination that a power interruption has occurred checking the algorithm to determine whether the power interruption occurred during a collision event, setting the digital input bit to a second state to indicate that the power interruption occurred during a collision event, and
preventing powering up of a system of the vehicle controlled by the microprocessor when the digital bit is in the second state.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Restraint and fuel system cutoff control module

Life of this patent

Restraint and fuel system cutoff control module

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12