Motorola Corporation

Benjamin R Davis

Ronald V DeLong

Brian A Webb

Kim Roger Gauen

John M Pigott

Charles R Powers

Kevin S Anderson

An air bag deployment system (,) includes a microcontroller (,), an inflator (,), and an inflator sensor (,). The inflator sensor (,) is adjacent to the inflator (,) and monitors the firing of the inflator (,). The inflator sensor (,) monitors the firing of a squib (,) of the inflator (,). The inflator sensor (,) transmits an inflator firing signal to the microcontroller (,) when the squib (,) of the inflator (,) is activated. In the absence of the inflator firing signal, a backup firing signal is generated by the microcontroller (,) and is transmitted to a backup squib (,).

Air bag deployment system and method for monitoring same

A serial communication device (10) and a method for serially communicating. The serial communication device (10) has a first transceiver (11) and a second transceiver (12) that send data to each other. The first transceiver (11) is capable of providing power or the operating potential to the second transceiver (12). The first transceiver (11) sends command data at a variable data rate to the second transceiver (12) using a voltage signal (30). The second transceiver (12) receives the command data and sends response data to the first transceiver (11) using a current signal (40).

Device and method for serially communicating

A capacitor (30) compatible with wirebonding processes and a method for manufacturing the capacitor (30). The capacitor (30) includes a first plurality of conductive layers and a second plurality of conductive layers spaced apart by a plurality of dielectric layers. The first plurality of conductive layers is electrically connected to a peripheral contact (74) of the capacitor (30). The second plurality of conductive layers is electrically connected to an interior portion of the capacitor (30). The first plurality of conductive layers is interleaved with the second plurality of conductive layers.

Capacitor and method of manufacture

An electronic assembly (10) includes a chip capacitor (11) having two major surfaces (12, 15) and a pair of electrodes (13, 14). A plurality of electrically conductive traces (20-23, 25-28) are formed on one (12) of the major surfaces. Some of the plurality of electrically conductive traces are electrically coupled to a first electrode (14) and some of the plurality of electrically conductive traces are coupled to a second electrode (14) of the pair of electrodes. Electronic circuit elements (16, 17, 18) are coupled to the plurality of electrically conductive traces (20-23, 25-28), thereby forming the electronic assembly (10).

Support structure, electronic assembly

A squib ignitor circuit (20,40) reduces the probability of an accidental airbag deployment to greatly increase the safety of an automobile. A squib (24,28,44) operates at a voltage significantly higher than the squib ignitor circuit (20,40) to produce heat sufficient to ignite pyrotechnic material. Thus, a short condition to the squib (24,28,44) does not produce an inadvertent airbag deployment. The squib ignitor circuit (20,40) forms a conductive path through an inductor (23,43) via a first transistor (21,41) and a second transistor (22,42). The inductor (23,43) stores energy. The inductor (23,43) produces a voltage substantially greater than the voltage powering the squib ignitor circuit (20,40) when the conductive path is broken. The inductor (23,43) releases the stored energy to the squib (24,28,44) generating heat. A sequence (more than one time) of storing energy and releasing energy by the inductor (23,43) is required to generate heat sufficient to ignite pyrotechnic material by the squib (24,28,44).

Squib ignitor circuit and method thereof

An automobile airbag system for protecting human occupants of an automobile during an accident is provided. An airbag assembly comprises an airbag inflator assembly (45), an airbag (40), and a remote module (41). The remote module (41) includes a capacitor (42) and an integrated circuit (43) for coupling current through a squib (44) to ignite pyrotechnic material (46). The remote module (41) is formed as a plug which connects to the airbag (45) to simplify manufacture. Capacitor (42) provides energy to the squib (44) and switches for forming a conductive path that couples the current through the squib (44). The wiring between the integrated circuit (43) and the squib (44) is less than 3.0 centimeters to reduce electromagnetic radiation pick up.

Automobile airbag system

A control module (11) in an airbag system (10) supplies electrical energy to and communicates with remote modules (20A-20N) through a two-wire connection. The supplied electrical energy is partially used to operate the remote modules (20A-20N) and partially stored within the remote modules (20A-20N) for deploying squibs (22A-22N). The control module (11) sends command signals to the remote modules 20A-20N) via voltage excursions between a high and an intermediate voltage levels. The remote modules (20A-20N) send signals to the control module (11) via current excursions. When an accident situation is detected, the voltage across the two-wire connection is lowered to a low voltage level, thereby interrupting a normal operation of the airbag system (10). The control module (11) then sends out firing signals via voltage excursion between the intermediate and low voltage levels. The remote modules (20A-20N) decode the firing signals and deploy the squibs (22A-22N) to inflate airbags.

Method for transmitting signals between a microprocessor and an

A programming system (25, 30) for a programmable semiconductor package (10, 40) has actuators (27, 37) that force contact between leads (13) and a programming contact (21). The contact provides programmable information to a semiconductor die (16) within the package.

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Chandler, AZ, United States of America

Benjamin R Davis