Appeal No. 2000-0915 Page 6
Application No. 09/064,083
vehicle. Upon collision causing a preselected first level
deceleration magnitude, the low level deceleration
sensor 62 closes causing current to flow from power supply
unit 11 through line 28, sensor 62, fuse 61 and line 40 to
electro-explosive devices 33A and 33B. The electro-explosive
devices 33A and 33B then fire and rapidly apply pressurized
gas through lines 51A and 51B to confinement C initiating
inflation thereof to restrain an adjacent occupant of the
vehicle against injurious contact with surrounding portions of
the vehicle toward which he is being impelled during the
vehicle deceleration. However, when an electro-explosive
device explodes, wire or powder fragments released by the
explosion may cause a short, or substantial short, across the
terminals of the electro-explosive device and hence across the
power supply unit 11. Thereupon, the current through the
series connected fuse 61 rapidly increases,
causing it to open circuit and thereby removing the short from
across the power source. Opening of the fuse occurs very
quickly, normally in a few milliseconds, following the firing
and shorting of the series connected electro-explosive device.
This effect is of particular importance where the vehicle
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