Distributed vehicle safety system having fault protection
US6448671B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 5, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 10, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 5, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60R2021/01184
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A distributed vehicle safety system (10) includes a plurality of devices (16), each of which performs a function associated with safety at a vehicle (12). A bus (18) conveys communication regarding the devices (16). An isolation device (28) is associated with each device (16) and electronically isolates one of the devices from the bus (18) upon occurrence of a fault condition. Preferably, the system (10) includes a plurality of control circuitries (26), each for controlling a respective one of the devices (16), and the control circuitry is isolated with the associated device (i.e., each control circuitry/device arrangement is isolated). In one embodiment, a plurality of bus connector/bus plug mated pairs (20 and 22) connects the plurality of control circuitry/device arrangements (26 and 16) to the bus (18). Each connector/bus plug pair (20 and 22) includes a switch (e.g., 60) for enabling communication between a respective control circuitry/device arrangement (26 and 16) and the bus (18), and for disabling communication between the respective control/device arrangement and the bus in response to a fault condition.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.