Patent ID: 6052634
Filing Date: 2000-04-18
Classification: B60K,B60R,E05B

Abstract:
A safety device for a vehicle comprising:detection systems (11, 12, 13, 15, 17), giving information on the conditions of a journey of the vehicle, said detection systems (11, 12, 13, 15, 17) having a first state, corresponding to normal conditions for the journey, and a second state, corresponding to a danger for at least one passenger in the vehicle;mechanisms that can be activated to ensure the safety of said passengers;safety systems (21, 22, 23, 24) liable of activating said mechanisms, certain at least of said safety systems (21, 22, 23) comprising pyrotechnic initiators;a source (2) of electrical power;an electrical circuit (35) supplied by the source (2) and connected to the detection systems (11, 12, 13, 15, 17) and safety systems (21, 22, 23, 24), such that when certain of the detection systems (11, 12, 13, 15, 17) pass from the first to the second state, they trigger the safety systems (21, 22, 23, 24), said safety systems (21, 22, 23, 24) activating said mechanisms;a processing unit (6) connected to the detection systems (11, 12, 13, 15, 17) and the safety systems (21, 22, 23, 24) by a communication interface (8), the processing unit (6) analysing the information signals coming from the detection systems (11, 12, 13, 15, 17) and generating command signals directed to the safety systems (21, 22, 23, 24); anda pulse micro-generator (9) permitting the generation in said circuit (35) of electrical pulses, precisely calibrated in time and in amplitude, said pulses allowing the verification of the functionality of the pyrotechnic initiators, wherein at least one of the initiators comprises a semi-conducting bridge, said bridge being insulating when an applied voltage is less than a conductive threshold value and a conductor if the voltage is greater than said value, and said initiator, being triggered when it receives energy having a value greater than an operational threshold, the pulse micro-generator (9) sends into said initiator voltage pulses having an amplitude at least equal to the conductive threshold value, and a duration corresponding to an energy less than the operational threshold.