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:
Feb. 06, 2001
Filed:
Apr. 02, 1998
Kazuo Nomoto, Toyokawa, JP;
Denso Corporation, Kariya, JP;
Abstract
A diagnosing apparatus for a passenger protective system has transistors connected in series to both ends of a squib. Each of the transistors is made up of a plurality of transistor cells connected in parallel. A part of the transistor cells is utilized as a check transistor, which allows a small current incapable of igniting the squib to flow into the squib. The diagnosing apparatus turns on only the check transistor and detects a potential of the squib. Check transistor malfunction can be diagnosed on the basis of the detected potential. Because the check transistor is formed by a part of the transistor cells, if any trouble occurs therein, it can be considered that the power transistor formed by the remainder of the transistor cells also has any trouble. Therefore, the power transistor can be diagnosed from the detected potential of the squib.