Patent ID: 6587769
Filing Date: 2003-07-01
Classification: F02D,Y02T

Abstract:
A device for controlling firing circuits for elements of restraint in a motor vehicle, comprising:a processor; a firing circuit control; a plurality of firing elements; a plurality of output stages for each of the plurality of firing elements, each output stage being in communication with a respective inhibiting input for releasing an associated one of the plurality of output stages; an energy reserve for an operation of the firing circuits, the firing circuits including the plurality of output stages and the plurality of firing elements, wherein: the processor releases the plurality of output stages for triggering the elements of restraint when a crash of the motor vehicle occurs; and a safety IC for releasing the plurality of output stages during the crash and including an arrangement for performing a crash recognition, wherein the firing circuit control includes: an arrangement for evaluating an activating command, an arrangement for operating the plurality of output stages, an arrangement for measuring a firing current, an arrangement for handling an error in the activating command, and an arrangement for measuring an energy reserve voltage and for switching between a pulse operation and a continuous operation for the plurality of output stages, the safety IC setting each inhibiting input after a start-up of the device.