Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Vehicle subsystem or accessory control
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-15
2001-05-22
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Vehicle subsystem or accessory control
C701S049000, C180S268000, C180S271000, C280S735000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06236920
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention is generally directed to a vehicle safety system, such as an occupant protection system, that has a central controller and a plurality of remote devices. The present invention is particularly directed to a system with an architecture that utilizes bus connection components for housing initiation electronics and that provides an expedient bus tap.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
One type of vehicle safety system is an occupant protection system. The protection system includes one or more actuatable protection devices for protecting (e.g., restraining) an occupant of a vehicle. Examples of such protection devices include an air bag module, a knee bolster module, and a seat belt pretensioner module.
As the sophistication of occupant protection systems has increased, the number and complexity of the protection devices in a single vehicle has increased. In response to the increased number and complexity of devices, there has been a movement toward centralized control of the devices to reduce cost and to increase reliability of the overall protection system. In order to accomplish the centralized control, a bus architecture is used for conveyance of communication signals. A potential exists that bus communications may be interrupted by such occurrences as crushing during a vehicle collision and associated deployment actuation of the protection devices within the system.
Also, because of the increase in the number and complexity of the devices within a single system, the number of connections that must be completed during assembly of a vehicle has increased. Thus, there are needs for increased efficiencies regarding assembly manufacturing of such systems. For example, it is desirable that connections be robust such that workers on a manufacturing assembly line can expediently make necessary connections. Also, components that can be used within more than one vehicle platform permit efficiencies via standardization.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect, a present invention provides a distributed vehicle safety system. The system includes an actuatable safety system device and a central controller for outputting communication regarding actuation of the device. A communication bus extends from the central controller toward the device and conveys the communication. The system includes connector/control means that is located remote from the device. The connector/control means is for connection to the bus and for controlling actuation of the device in response to communication on the bus.
In accordance with another aspect, the present invention provides a system that includes an actuatable safety system device and a central controller for outputting communication regarding actuation of the device. Bus means of the system conveys the communication. Connector/control means interrupts a normally through-connected portion of the bus means to enable communication reception from the bus means by the connector/control means, and controls actuation of the device in response to communication received at the connector/control means.
In accordance with yet another aspect, the present invention provides a system with an actuatable safety system device and a central controller for outputting communication regarding actuation of the device. A communication bus extends from the central controller toward the device and conveys the communication. The bus includes a conductor. A connector, associated with the device, connects to the bus and receives the communication. The connector includes means for interrupting a through-connected portion of the conductor upon connection of the connector to the bus.
In accordance with still another aspect, the present invention provides a connector plug of a vehicle safety system for connection into a communication bus that includes an electrical conductor. The connector plug includes means for interrupting a through-connected portion of the conductor during connection of the connector plug to the bus. The connector plug includes means for connecting to the conductor on one side of the interrupted portion, and means for connecting to the conductor on the other side of the interrupted portion.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5825098 (1998-10-01), Darby et al.
patent: 5835873 (1998-11-01), Darby et al.
A SAE publication entitled “Bus System for Wiring Actuators of Restraint Systems”, by Bauer et al., and believed to have been published in 1996.
Arthur Gertrude
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Inc.
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