High and low side driver tests for airbag module
US6597181B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 31, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jul 22, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 1, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60R21/0176
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method of testing a high-side driver and a low-side driver in an airbag squib circuit includes preliminary testing of squib resistance and squib leakage for a plurality of trials. Next, one of the drivers is turned on while keeping the other one of the drivers off. A current-limited power supply supplies an intermediate voltage to a squib terminal and the voltage at the terminal is continuously compared with a predetermined voltage range which includes the intermediate voltage. The one driver is turned off in response to the voltage at the point being outside the predetermined voltage range, thereby detecting that the one driver is operating properly. If the voltage at the point remains in the predetermined voltage range for a predetermined time period, then the one driver is turned off and an indication is made that the one driver has failed. If the first driver passed, then the other driver is tested in the same manner.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.