Vehicle-mounted triggering device and method of preventing false malfunction alarms in such a triggering device

摘要

A triggering device and a method of operation which may be used in a vehicle-mounted gas bag protection device, in which a bag fills with gas upon impact of the vehicle. During normal conditions, a small current passes through a detonator associated with the gas generator. This current is supplied by an auxiliary power supply, including a capacitor, which is charged through a diode from a main vehicle battery. When impact occurs, an increased current flows through the detonator to cause gas to be generated. To detect malfunctions, a voltage associated with the detonator is monitored and then alarm is generated when the monitor voltage exceeds a predetermined range. To prevent the generation of false malfunction alarms, the predetermined range is determined with respect to the voltage produced by the auxiliary power supply and not the main battery of the vehicle so that fluctuations in the voltage associated with the main battery of the vehicle do not produce false alarms.