Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of very low-energy electropyrotechnic initiators. The initiator (1) according to the invention comprises, in particular: an electrically and thermally insulating support (26) on which is deposited a thin-film electrical circuit comprising a resistive heating element (17) whose thickness is less than 1×10−6 m; an ignition composition (23) consisting of a primary explosive, the particle size of which is less than 30×10−6 m. The initiators according to the invention are very suitable for initiating devices for protecting the occupants of a motor vehicle.

Abstract: The electropyrotechnic igniter (1) comprises a body divided into a downstream chamber and an upstream chamber by a discoid metal piece (8), the downstream chamber containing a resistive heating element (11), a pyrotechnic initiating composition (12) and a pyrotechnic ignition composition (7), and the upstream chamber containing a rectangular electronic card (17) extended by three external metal pins (29 to 31), on which electronic card conducting tracks are provided. Two metal connection pins (13, 14) pass through the discoid metal piece (8) and connect the said conducting tracks to the resistive heating element (11). A means of intercommunicating and of triggering a train of specific electric pulses as well as a means of storing electrical energy are connected to the conducting tracks. This igniter is more especially intended to be used in motor-vehicle safety, especially for constituting the device for igniting a gas generator associated with an airbag.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of very low-energy electropyrotechnic initiators.

Abstract: The electro-pyrotechnic initiation system preferably comprises an electro-pyrotechnic initiator (1) consisting especially of an insulating support (14) over which a flat resistive heating element (3) and two separate conductive metal areas (15, 16) are extended, the said resistive heating element and the said conductive metal areas being electrically connected to a current source (2) by means of two electrodes (9, 10). A conductive filter device (5), connected in parallel with the said resistive heating element (3), is divided into a varistor (6) and into a capacitor (7) which are connected to the electrodes (9, 10). This conductive filter device (5) has an equivalent resistance which varies depending on the measured electric potential difference between the two electrodes (9, 10) and ensures that the initiator (1) is not operated when the latter is subjected to a high-voltage electrostatic discharge.