Ammunition and explosives – Igniting devices and systems – Electrical primer or ignitor
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-19
2001-10-16
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3641)
Ammunition and explosives
Igniting devices and systems
Electrical primer or ignitor
C102S202700
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302024
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an integrated circuit configuration for heating ignition material, and to a use of such an integrated circuit configuration.
A previously considered integrated circuit configuration for heating ignition material contained a silicon substrate with a heavily doped heating zone as an ignition resistor. The region of the heating zone has a smaller cross section than the remaining region of the silicon substrate.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,831,933 discloses an integrated circuit configuration for heating ignition material which has a heating element in the form of a polysilicon strip applied on a silicon substrate. A cutout in the silicon substrate in the region of the heating element is intended to prevent heat outflow from the latter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide an integrated circuit configuration for heating ignition material which overcomes the above-noted deficiencies and disadvantages of the prior art devices and methods of this kind, and which further allows the integration of a driver circuit for the ignition resistor and nevertheless permits good heat transfer from the ignition resistor to the ignition material.
With the above and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a trigger assembly, comprising:
an integrated circuit configuration for heating ignition material, the circuit configuration having:
a first semiconductor layer formed with components of a control circuit;
a further semiconductor layer electrically connecting the components and having an ignition region forming an ignition resistor connected to the control circuit, the control circuit controlling a current flow through the ignition resistor;
an electrically conductive layer for making electrical contact with the control circuit;
the electrically conductive layer and the first semiconductor layer having a cutout formed at the ignition region; and
ignition material in direct contact with the circuit configuration.
In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, a polysilicon layer is provided on the first semiconductor layer and an insulating layer isolating the polysilicon layer from the first semiconductor layer, and wherein the electrically conductive layer is arranged on the polysilicon layer and isolated therefrom with a further insulating layer.
In accordance with an added feature of the invention, further layers are arranged on the electrically conductive layer, and the further layers being formed with a cutout in the ignition region.
With the above and other objects in view there is also provided an igniter for triggering an occupant protection device in a motor vehicle. The igniter comprises the above-outlined trigger assembly in which the ignition material is a gas generator material.
In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the ignition material in the ignition region of the ignition resistor bears on an electrical insulating layer covering the polysilicon layer.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in an integrated circuit configuration for heating ignition material, and use of such an integrated circuit configuration, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
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Belau Horst
Kösters Stefan
Rothleitner Hubert
Swart Marten
Wagner Ekkehart-Peter
Chambers Troy
Greenbe Laurence A.
Jordan Charles T.
Lerner Herbert L.
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
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