MEANS OF LOCOMOTION, ARRANGEMENT AND DEVICE FOR EVALUATING A SIGNAL OF AN AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT

Abstract

A means of locomotion, an arrangement as well as a device (1) for evaluating a signal of an airbag control unit (2) are being put forward. The device (1) comprises a first connection (3) for electrically contacting an output of the airbag control unit (2), a rectifier (5) that is electrically connected to the first connection (3), a temperature-compensated driver (6) that is connected to an output of the rectifier (6) [sic], and a member (7) for the galvanic decoupling of an output of the driver (6), having an output unit (8). The rectifier (6) provides polarity reversal protection for the first connection (3) so that the driver (6) receives an output signal from the airbag control unit (2) essentially identically, independently of its polarity.

Claims

1. A device for evaluating a signal of an airbag control unit, comprising: a first connection for electrically contacting an output of the airbag control unit, a rectifier that is electrically connected to the first connection, a temperature-compensated driver that is connected to an output of the rectifier, and a member for the galvanic decoupling of an output of the driver, having an output unit.

2. The device according to claim 1, whereby the output unit has a crash-out line.

3. The device according to claim 1, whereby the driver also has a current-limiting function.

4. The device according to claim 1, whereby the rectifier comprises a bridge rectifier.

5. The device according to claim 1, whereby the rectifier comprises FET rectifier.

6. The device according to claim 1, whereby the member for galvanic decoupling has: an optocoupler and/or a transformer.

7. An arrangement comprising: an airbag control unit, a ignition pellet reproduction and a device according to claim 1, whereby the first connection is connected to an airbag control unit.

8. The device according to claim 7, whereby the airbag control unit is configured to cyclically apply test pulses to the ignition pellet reproduction.

9. The arrangement according to claim 7, further comprising an evaluation unit that is connected to an output of the member for galvanic decoupling and is configured to open a contactor of a traction onboard system if an output signal of the member for galvanic decoupling has a predefined intensity.

10. A means of locomotion, especially an electrically powered means of locomotion having an electric and/or electrochemical source of traction power, comprising: a device according to claim 1 and/or an arrangement comprising: an airbag control unit, a ignition pellet reproduction, whereby the first connection is connected to an airbag control unit.

11. The arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the evaluation unit is a microcontroller.

Description

[0022] An embodiment of the invention will be described in detail below making reference to the accompanying drawing. The following is shown in the drawing:

[0023] FIG. 1: a circuit diagram of an embodiment of a device according to the invention in the circuit of an embodiment of an inventive arrangement according to the invention for evaluating a signal of an airbag control unit; and

[0024] FIG. 2: a current-over-time diagram depicting crash-case signal areas and signal areas without detection of a crash case.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a circuit diagram depicting modules and components of an embodiment of the present invention. The circuit shown should be specifically understood as a schematic circuit for purposes of realizing the present invention, so that the scope of protection of the accompanying claims is not restricted to the arrangement shown or to parts thereof. The device 1 has a first connection 3 by means of which the device 1 can be connected to an airbag control unit 2 in the form of a source of current. In a manner of speaking, the first connection 3 forms the input of the device according to the invention 1 to which a resistor R4 is connected in parallel. For purposes of the inventive rectification of the input signal, a rectifier 5 based on field-effect transistors T51, T52, T53 and T54 adjoins the connection 3. The low flow thresholds of conductive field-effect transistors constitute a functionally reliable subsequent evaluation of the currents stemming from the airbag control unit 2. The output of the rectifier 5 is connected to a second connection 12 of a temperature-compensated driver 6. The temperature-compensated driver 6 receives the rectified signals from the airbag control unit 2, as a result of which the polarity of the airbag control unit 2 vis--vis the connection 3 of the rectifier 5 is immaterial. The temperature-compensated driver 6 carries out the temperature compensation, a current-limiting function provided by the resistor R61 and the transistor T61, and also the threshold-value monitoring. As long as the threshold value for the determination of a case of crash or of a crash signal turns out to be positive, an appropriate electric signal is applied via the connection 13 to the input of the optocoupler 10 that is provided in the member 7 for galvanic decoupling, whereupon a voltage level conducted to the battery or the battery control unit is established at the output of the optocoupler 10. The battery control unit can have a microcontroller which, in turn, is configured to open the contactor of the traction onboard system in case of a crash, thus preventing damage resulting from the crash event. For this purpose, the output 11 of the optocoupler 10 is linked to an output unit 8 which, if the device according to the invention is connected properly, is connected on the output side to the appertaining onboard system peripherals.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a current-over-time diagram in which an area 14 between 1.2 A and 5 A or between 0.5 ms and 2 ms is highlighted by crosshatching. This area designates signal areas that are recognized as being a case of a crash. A crosshatched area 15 designates signal areas that can be classified with certainty as not being a case of a crash. An appertaining differentiation is carried out according to the invention in the temperature-compensated driver of the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0027] 1 device [0028] 2 airbag control unit [0029] 3 first connection [0030] 5 rectifier [0031] 6 temperature-compensated driver [0032] 7 member for galvanic decoupling [0033] 8 output unit [0034] 9 crash-out line [0035] 10 optocoupler [0036] 11 output [0037] 12,13 connection [0038] 14 crash signal area [0039] 15 not a crash signal area [0040] BAT line to the battery-management control unit [0041] C capacitor [0042] GND electric ground [0043] D diode [0044] R electric resistor [0045] t time [0046] T transistor