The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 02, 1998
Filed:
Oct. 04, 1996
Benjamin R Davis, Chandler, AZ (US);
John M Pigott, Phoenix, AZ (US);
Kevin S Anderson, Noblesville, IN (US);
Charles R Powers, Austin, TX (US);
Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg, IL (US);
Abstract
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.