Circuit and method of measuring squib resistance
US5506509A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 5, 1994 |
| Grant date | Apr 9, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 5, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R31/006
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A resistance measuring circuit (10) generates a predetermined reference voltage and impresses that reference voltage across a squib detonation device (12). The resulting current flowing through the squib is mirrored by a current mirror (42,52,54) for providing multiple mirrored currents. The mirrored currents are compared to known current sources (58,60). The output signals go high or low depending on whether the mirrored currents are greater than or less than the fixed current sources. The output signals provide an indication as to whether the measured squib resistance is within a specified resistance range. The current sources may be precisely matched to maintain high accuracy in measuring the resistance.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.