초록 ▼

A distributed architecture SIR system having remote sensor and initiator driver modules communicating over a common bus utilizes an address communication method which permits the communication of information to multiple remote modules at the same time, thereby minimizing the number of messages that

A distributed architecture SIR system having remote sensor and initiator driver modules communicating over a common bus utilizes an address communication method which permits the communication of information to multiple remote modules at the same time, thereby minimizing the number of messages that must be transmitted across the bus to cause a given action to occur. According to the method, each remote initiator driver module is assigned three different ID codes: a node ID code, a deployment event ID code and an occupant zone ID code. The node ID code is unique to the module, and is used for the transmission of information (such as diagnostic state) specific to that module. The deployment ID code identifies multiple remote initiator modules associated with restraint devices which will ordinarily be deployed concurrently in a given type of crash event, and is used for the transmission of deployment commands to such modules. The occupant zone ID code identifies multiple remote initiator modules associated with restraint devices for a particular seating position in the vehicle, and is used for the transmission of occupant sensor information or decisions to such modules. This method effectively increases the communication speed of the bus because it obviates the sending of multiple successive like-content messages over the communication bus.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] In a vehicular supplemental restraint system including a plurality of sensor modules and deployment modules in distributed locations of the vehicle and inter-connected for communication over a common data bus, each of said deployment modules for deploying a respective supplemental r

[ I claim:] [1.] In a vehicular supplemental restraint system including a plurality of sensor modules and deployment modules in distributed locations of the vehicle and inter-connected for communication over a common data bus, each of said deployment modules for deploying a respective supplemental restraint device, a communication method comprising the steps of:assigning three types of identification codes to each of said deployment modules, including:(a) a Node identification code specific to that deployment module;(b) one or more Deployment Event identification codes corresponding to predefined classifications of crash events for which the respective supplemental restraint device is to be deployed; and(c) an Occupant Zone identification code identifying a vehicle passenger seating position associated with the respective supplemental restraint device;communicating with said deployment modules by transmitting a message over said data bus including a command field containing a command and an address field containing one of said Node identification codes, Deployment Event identification codes and Occupant Zone identification codes; andin a given deployment module, receiving the transmitted message, and responding to the command in said command field if the identification code in said address field corresponds to one of said Node identification codes, Deployment Event identification codes and Occupant Zone identification codes assigned to such given deployment module.