Abstract: A gas generator includes, a housing having a gas discharge port; at least one combustion chamber accommodating a gas generating agent therein; a cylindrical filter disposed between the gas discharge port and the combustion chamber; and at least one ignition device for igniting and combusting the gas generating agent, each device comprising an igniter assembly in which an electric igniter is enclosed and fixed by a metal member and a resin portion. The igniter assembly has, in the resin portion, a holder accommodation space disposed over an opening formed in a bottom portion of the housing, and fixed by a holder inserted from the outside into the opening. An inner wall surface of the holder accommodation space has concave and convex portions that engage convex and concave portions of the holder, so that the igniter assembly is fixed without being welded to the bottom portion of the housing.

Abstract: A method of determining a charging capacitance of a capacitor in an air bag system having an electronic control unit for controlling a gas generator, a bus line having a loop wire extending from the electronic control unit, gas generators connected to the loop wire, each gas generator having an igniter connected to the loop wire via a connector, one of the igniter and the connector being provided with an integrated circuit having the capacitor for providing power to a heat generating portion, a switching circuit for turning ON/OFF a supplying of current to the heat generating portion, and a microcomputer unit for controlling the switching circuit, the method including, determining a minimum charging capacitance of the capacitor necessary to operate the igniter based on a charging voltage and a minimum ignition energy required for making the heat generating portion of the igniter generate heat to ignite the priming.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for supplying a pyrotechnic material slurry to a container, including the steps of taking out a pyrotechnic material slurry, stored inside a storage container, from the bottom portion of the storage container or a vicinity thereof, sealing the exposed surface of the pyrotechnic material slurry with a sealing material, maintaining the sealed state of the pyrotechnic material slurry in the process of supplying the pyrotechnic material slurry to the container.

Abstract: The present invention provides an igniter assembly including: an electric igniter and igniter collar, a resin fixing the electric igniter into the igniter collar, the electric igniter having an igniter main body and a conductive pin which extends from the igniter main body, a first through hole formed in the axial direction and one or two or more second through hole formed in the axial direction separately from the first through hole being provided to the igniter collar, the electric igniter being fixed inside the first through hole by the resin, and the resin also being charged into the second through hole.

Abstract: A method of determining a charging capacitance of a capacitor in an air bag system having an electronic control unit for controlling a gas generator, a bus line having a loop wire extending from the electronic control unit, gas generators connected to the loop wire, each gas generator having an igniter connected to the loop wire via a connector, one of the igniter and the connector being provided with an integrated circuit having the capacitor for providing power to a heat generating portion, a switching circuit for turning ON/OFF a supplying of current to the heat generating portion, and a microcomputer unit for controlling the switching circuit, the method including, determining a minimum charging capacitance of the capacitor necessary to operate the igniter based on a charging voltage and a minimum ignition energy required for making the heat generating portion of the igniter generate heat to ignite the priming.

Abstract: An integrated circuit for an air bag system is used in an air bag system having an ECU and a module case connected to the ECU and accommodating a gas generator and an air bag. In the air bag system, two bus lines passing through the ECU are provided to supply currents and the like, and individual gas generators accommodated in the module cases are connected operationally by conductors branched from the bus lines. Each of the igniters incorporated in the gas generator is an electric igniter which is provided with a heat generating portion and a priming coming in contact with the heat generating portion, and the igniter and the bus line are connected to each other through the conductors, and the integrated circuit provided in the igniter is recorded with information to exhibit required functions, and a current for igniting the priming is supplied to the igniters through a capacitor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a current supplying circuit in which the weight of an air bag system is reduced. A current supplying circuit supplying a current required for actuating an electric igniter arranged in a gas generator at a time of actuation of the gas generator for an air bag, and comprising a switch circuit for opening or closing a current path for actuating the igniter, a pulse generator for providing a controlling pulse for opening or closing the switch circuit, and the switch circuit provided between the current path and an external power source, wherein. a current obtained from the external power source is supplied as an ignition pulse for actuating the igniter by the switch circuit, and the current is further adjusted such that the width of the ignition pulse is 20 to 500 ?sec to be supplied.

Abstract: A method of determining a charging capacitance of a capacitor in an air bag system having an electronic control unit for controlling a gas generator, a bus line having a loop wire extending from the electronic control unit, gas generators connected to the loop wire, each gas generator having an igniter connected to the loop wire via a connector, one of the igniter and the connector being provided with an integrated circuit having the capacitor for providing power to a heat generating portion, a switching circuit for turning ON/OFF a supplying of current to the heat generating portion, and a microcomputer unit for controlling the switching circuit, the method including, determining a minimum charging capacitance of the capacitor necessary to operate the igniter based on a charging voltage and a minimum ignition energy required for making the heat generating portion of the igniter generate heat to ignite the priming.

Abstract: An igniter includes: an igniter assembly including an igniter main body having an ignition portion adapted to be ignited by an ignition electric current; an igniter collar which accommodates the igniter main body; a cup body having an opening portion, the igniter assembly and the cup body being connected to each other, such that at least the ignition portion of the igniter main body is surrounded by the cup body; and a tubular crimp case that connects and fastens at least a part of an exterior surface of the igniter collar and at least a part of an exterior surface of the cup body from an outside.

Abstract: A method of activating at least one electrical igniter incorporated in each of a plurality of gas generators provided in an air bag system is provided. The method includes: connecting an electronic control unit to a power source and an impact detecting sensor; providing a bus line having a plurality of loop wires passing through the electronic control unit to supply and transmit current and required information; connecting each of the at least one electrical igniter to the electronic control unit through the bus line branched from predetermined portions of the bus line; providing each of the at least one electrical igniter with a heat generating portion, a priming ignited by the heat generating portion, a capacitor, and an integrated circuit recorded with information to exhibit required functions; and supplying a current for igniting the priming to the at least one igniter through the capacitor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an igniter assembly including an igniter main body accommodated in an igniter collar, the igniter main body fixed within the igniter collar by a resin, the igniter collar having at least a cylindrical wall and an annular protruding portion protruding inward from a part of the cylindrical wall, the resin charged so as to extend from a position sandwiching the annular protruding portion from the upper and lower directions up to the same height as an upper end of the cylindrical wall, but not to cover an outer peripheral wall of the cylindrical wall.

Abstract: The present invention provides an igniter for an air bag system which has an excellent operation performance and can be reduced in weight. A capacitor and an integrated circuit are provided in an igniter for an air bag system utilizing bus lines 10 and 11. In the integrated circuit, an impedance converting circuit is provided between the bus lines 10 and 11 and a rectifying circuit, and thereby, a capacitor with a large capacitance (?F order) can be charged with a small load capacitance (pF order).

Abstract: A method of activating at least one electrical igniter incorporated in each of a plurality of gas generators provided in an air bag system is provided. The method includes: connecting an electronic control unit to a power source and an impact detecting sensor; providing a bus line having a plurality of loop wires passing through the electronic control unit to supply and transmit current and required information; connecting each of the at least one electrical igniter to the electronic control unit through the bus line branched from predetermined portions of the bus line; providing each of the at least one electrical igniter with a heat generating portion, a priming ignited by the heat generating portion, a capacitor, and an integrated circuit recorded with information to exhibit required functions; and supplying a current for igniting the priming to the at least one igniter through the capacitor.

Abstract: The present invention provides an igniter assembly which is capable of preventing the infiltration of moisture, thus enabling long-term operational reliability. The periphery of a metallic cup 16 charged with an ignition charge 17 is covered by a resin sheet 18. A lower end portion of the resin sheet 18 and a resin molded body 21 are integrated at a contact portion therebetween to prevent the infiltration of moisture. The resin sheet 18 and resin molded body 21 integrated during the manufacturing process by cooling and hardening the resin molded body 21 and resin sheet 18 in a fused state.

Abstract: An air bag system includes an ECU, a plurality of module cases accommodating a plurality of gas generators and a plurality of air bags, and a bus line having a plurality of loop wires passing through the ECU to supply and transmit currents. The gas generators are connected operationally by a plurality of conductors branched from the bus line. An igniter is connected to the bus line and a capacitor and an IC are provided for each igniter. A current for igniting a priming is supplied to the igniter through the capacitor in the igniter, and a time period for supplying the current is from the point where a current value reaches a value corresponding to 5% of the maximum current value to the point where it is reduced to a value corresponding to 5% of the maximum current value, which is within 500 ?sec.

Abstract: An igniter for an inflator has a heat generating body provided on a bottom surface of a pyrotechnic material accomodating space. By dripping a pyrotechnic material slurry including a fuel component and an oxidizing agent component dispersed in a solvent from above the accomodating space upon manufacturing the igniter, the heat generating body can be prevented from being damaged.

Abstract: A rupturable member in which the rupturing manner thereof can be controlled, and a gas generator using the rupturable member are provided. A fragile portion that ruptures preferentially and regulates the rupturing direction of the rupturable member is formed, the rupturable member being provided with a stress dispersion portion formed in a shape or structure to disperse stress when the rupturable member is ruptured, in the tip end of the fragile portion or forward for the rupturing direction of the fragile portion.

Abstract: An airbag gas generator has a housing having gas discharge ports, an ignition unit provided within the housing for generating a combustion product upon activation thereof, the ignition unit including an igniter having an output pressure of 700 psi or higher at 20° C. atmosphere when said igniter is burned within a hermetically closed cylinder having a volume of 10 cc, and a seal device for closing the gas discharge ports to prevent fluid communication between an inside and outside of the housing before activation of the gas generator, the seal means being ruptured by an inner pressure increased as a result of the generation of the combustion product.

Abstract: The present invention provides a small gas generator which is capable of preventing a cup-like member or fragments thereof from being scattered, even when gas is discharged in the radial direction of the gas generator. The gas generator comprises a cup-like member having a cylindrical form with a bottom, which is integrated with an igniter assembly at a joining portion. The thickness of the joining portion is greater than the thickness of a side wall portion of the cup-like member.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electric type initiator which can secure a reliability in activation and can be easily manufactured. The electric type initiator is characterized by comprising a header portion formed by using a resin material, a pair of conductive pins having top portions going through the header portion and exposing from an end portion of the header portion, a bridge wire formed by using a conductive body bridging between the top portions of the conductive pins, and a priming arranged in contact with the bridge wire. And, the present invention provides an initiator assembly which can be easily manufactured with less steps of the manufacturing process and can further reduce a manufacturing cost.