Smart initiator assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10611330-B2
Application number	US-201715595363-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 15, 2017
Priority date	May 13, 2016
Publication date	Apr 7, 2020
Grant date	Apr 7, 2020

Abstract

According to various implementations, a vehicle pyrotechnic initiator assembly includes an initiator that includes at least one electrode pin and a validation device in electrical communication with the at least one electrode pin. The validation device provides validation information about at least a portion of the initiator assembly and/or a safety device in which the initiator assembly is installed. The validation information may include a date associated with an expiration of the initiator assembly and/or the safety device. The validation information may also or alternatively include a manufacturer identity associated with a manufacturer of the initiator assembly and/or safety device. In some implementations, the validation device includes an electrical circuit and/or memory that stores the validation information. For example, the validation device may include an ASIC chip.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle pyrotechnic initiator assembly comprising:
an initiator comprising at least one electrode pin; and
a validation device in electrical communication with the at least one electrode pin, wherein the validation device provides validation information about at least a portion of the initiator assembly,
wherein the initiator comprises at least two electrode pins and an initiating circuit electrically coupled to the at least two electrode pins, the at least two electrode pins being physically coupled to a first housing, the first housing further comprising the initiating circuit, and the validation device is disposed within a second housing, the second housing defining at least two openings, each opening sized to receive one of the electrode pins therethrough, the second housing being separate from the first housing and a safety device in which the initiator is configured for being disposed, and the electrode pins being electrically coupled to the validation device in the second housing via at least an annular portion of a surface of the openings.

2. The vehicle pyrotechnic initiator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the validation device comprises an electrical circuit that provides the validation information.

3. The vehicle pyrotechnic initiator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the validation device comprises a memory, the memory stores the validation information.

4. The vehicle pyrotechnic initiator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the validation information comprises a date associated with an expiration of the initiator assembly.

5. The vehicle pyrotechnic initiator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the validation device is in electrical communication with an electrical control system disposed within the vehicle, the electrical control system comprising a second memory and a processor in communication with the second memory, wherein the processor executes computer-readable instructions stored on the second memory, said instructions cause the processor to: receive the validation information from the validation device, and generate an alarm signal if the validation information indicates the vehicle pyrotechnic initiator assembly is expired.

6. The vehicle pyrotechnic initiator assembly of claim 5 , wherein the validation information comprises a date of manufacture of the vehicle pyrotechnic initiator assembly, and the instructions further cause the electrical control system processor to generate the alarm signal in response to a current date being later than the date of manufacture plus an expiration period following the date of manufacture.

7. The vehicle pyrotechnic initiator assembly of claim 6 , wherein the alarm signal is an expiration alarm signal, and the validation information further comprising a manufacturer identity associated with a manufacturer of the vehicle pyrotechnic initiator assembly, and the instructions further cause the electrical control system processor to: compare the manufacturer identity with an expected manufacturer identity, and generate a counterfeit alarm signal if the manufacturer identity and the expected manufacturer identity do not correspond.

8. The vehicle pyrotechnic initiator assembly of claim 5 , wherein the validation information comprises an expiration date of the vehicle pyrotechnic initiator assembly, and the instructions further cause the electrical control system processor to generate the alarm signal in response to a current date being later than the expiration date.

9. The vehicle pyrotechnic initiator assembly of claim 8 , wherein the alarm signal is an expiration alarm signal, and the validation information further comprising a manufacturer identity associated with a manufacturer of the vehicle pyrotechnic initiator assembly, and the instructions further cause the electrical control system processor to: compare the manufacturer identity with an expected manufacturer identity, and generate a counterfeit alarm signal if the manufacturer identity and the expected manufacturer identity do not correspond.

10. The vehicle pyrotechnic initiator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the validation information comprises a manufacturer identity associated with a manufacturer of the initiator assembly, and the validation device is in communication with an electrical control system disposed within the vehicle, the electrical control system comprising a processor in communication with a second memory within the electrical control system, wherein the processor executes computer-readable instructions stored on the second memory, said instructions cause the processor to: compare the manufacturer identity with an expected manufacturer identity, and generate a counterfeit alarm signal if the manufacturer identity and the expected manufacturer identity do not correspond.

11. The vehicle pyrotechnic initiator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the validation device is in electrical communication with an electrical control system disposed within the vehicle, the electrical control system comprising a processor in communication with a second memory within the electrical control system, wherein the processor executes computer-readable instructions stored on the second memory, said instructions cause the processor to allow an initiating current to be conducted to a initiating circuit of the initiator.

12. A method of validating a vehicle pyrotechnic initiator assembly comprising:
receiving validation information from a controller about at least a portion of a vehicle pyrotechnic initiator assembly, wherein the controller is connected to a first power circuit, wherein the validation information comprises a date associated with an expiration of the initiator assembly;
comparing the validation information with expected validation information; and
in response to the validation information not corresponding to the expected validation information:
generating an alarm signal; and
maintaining at least one initiation switch in a position that disconnects a second power circuit from an ignition circuit in the vehicle pyrotechnic initiator assembly.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the date is an expiration date of the initiator assembly.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the date is a date of manufacture of the initiator assembly.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the validation information further comprises a manufacturing identity associated with a manufacturer of the initiator assembly.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the validation information comprises a manufacturing identity associated with a manufacturer of the initiator assembly.

17. A vehicle safety device comprising a vehicle pyrotechnic initiator assembly in electrical communication with a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU), the vehicle pyrotechnic initiator assembly comprising:
an initiator comprising an ignition circuit connected to at least one electrode pin that is in electrical communication with a first power circuit and a second power circuit, said first and second power circuits connected in parallel, within the ECU, to the at least one electrode pin;
at least one initiation switch, controlled by the ECU, in a position that selectively connects and disconnects the first and/or second power circuits from an ignition circuit in the vehicle pyrotechnic initiator assembly to prevent pyrotechnic ignition;
a validation device in electrical communication with the at least one electrode pin and one of the power circuits that is configured to power the validation device without causing pyrotechnic ignition, wherein the validation device provides validation information about at least

Assignees

• Tk Holdings Inc
• Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition Llc

Inventors

• Phillion Robert
• Maguire Phillip
• Lisseman Jason
• Cech Len
• Chrustowski Kevin

Classifications

• B60R21/26

  characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow {(arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10)} · CPC title

• B60R21/0173 Primary

  Diagnostic or recording means therefor · CPC title

• G06K19/07703

  the interface being visual · CPC title

• F42B3/18

  Safety initiators resistant to premature firing by static electricity or stray currents · CPC title

• B60R2021/26029

  Ignitors · CPC title