Airbag control unit

摘要

An airbag control unit including two, independent trigger control paths that operate sets of first and second switches placed in series with a power source, sets of trigger outputs, and a ground. Each trigger control path is capable of detecting a shock and determining if the shock is a crash-level shock. Each trigger control path outputs a trigger signal to a switch when a crash-level shock is detected and the trigger control path is armed. Current is only supplied to the trigger output if both trigger control paths sense a crash-level shock and are armed. Upon sensing a shock, each trigger control path can power a power hold element that provides temporary power to the trigger control paths long enough to process the shock signals and generate any necessary trigger signals.

主权项

1. An airbag control unit comprising:
at least one first switch and at least one second switch coupled in series with at least one trigger output between a power source and a ground; a first trigger control path coupled to the power source and having a first nonvolatile memory for storing a first armed status, wherein the first trigger control path is operable to supply a first trigger signal to the at least one first switch in response to sensing a crash-level shock only while the first armed status is enabled, and wherein the at least one first switch is operable to allow current flow therethrough in response to the first trigger signal; and a second trigger control path coupled to the power source and operable to supply a second trigger signal to the at least one second switch in response to sensing the crash-level shock, wherein the at least one second switch is operable to allow current flow therethrough in response to the second trigger signal.