초록 ▼

An igniter for igniting a reactive material has a conductor for conducting power and communication signals to and from the igniter. A controller is located within the igniter. The controller is preferably an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The controller has communication means for c

An igniter for igniting a reactive material has a conductor for conducting power and communication signals to and from the igniter. A controller is located within the igniter. The controller is preferably an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The controller has communication means for communicating with a master controller located remote from the igniter. The controller also has diagnostic means for comparing established parameters for components of the igniter to predetermined limits and sending fault warning messages and integrity status messages to the master control unit. The controller also further has means for receiving a unique igniter activation command from the master control unit and sending an activation signal to an igniter activation means that couples the energy stored in an energy storage capacitor to a heating member that ignites a reactive material.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] An igniter for actuating a gas generator comprising:a metal disk, having a first side and a second side;a metal ring abutting the second side of the metal disk;a circuitboard having a first side, and a second side opposite the first side; icroprocessor disposed on said first side,

[ We claim:] [1.] An igniter for actuating a gas generator comprising:a metal disk, having a first side and a second side;a metal ring abutting the second side of the metal disk;a circuitboard having a first side, and a second side opposite the first side; icroprocessor disposed on said first side, the first side of the circuitboard abutting the metal ring to form a first chamber between the first side of the circuitboard, the metal ring, and the metal disk;a quantity of material filling the first chamber;a heating member disposed on the second side of the circuitboard;a tubular metal member forming a second chamber which extends below the second side of the circuit board beneath the heating member, the tubular metal member having a collar which extends toward and is affixed to the metal disk;a quantity of reactive material filling the second chamber and pressed against the heating member; andat least two metal pins extending through the metal desk into electrical contact with the first side of the circuit board.