Patent ID: 6106010
Filing Date: 2000-08-22
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
An inflatable vehicle occupant protection system for helping to protect a vehicle occupant in a collision, said system comprising:a module for mounting in a vehicle and comprising an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device which, when inflated, helps to protect a vehicle occupant, andan inflator for providing inflation fluid to inflate said vehicle occupant protection device, said inflator including a diffuser and a chamber containing combustible gasses; anda mechanism for controlling flow of inflation fluid from said inflator, said mechanism comprising:a first electrically actuated igniter located outside of said chamber for, when actuated, providing for inflation fluid flow from said chamber to said vehicle occupant protection device without igniting said combustible gasses;a second electrically actuated igniter located inside of said chamber for, when actuated, igniting said combustible gasses and providing for increased inflation fluid flow from said inflator to said vehicle occupant protection device;a crash sensor for sensing a vehicle crash for which inflation of said occupant protection device is desired, said crash sensor comprising a delay device as an integral part of said crash sensor, said crash sensor providing a first signal to actuate said first igniter and a second signal to actuate said second igniter at a predetermined time period after actuation of said first igniter; andan electrical circuit extending between said crash sensor and said module for providing a signal path from said crash sensor to said module, said electrical circuit providing a shared signal path for said first and second signals.