Vehicle air bag electrical system

Abstract

A vehicle air bag electrical system including an air bag control module; electrical conductors connected to the control module; an electrical connector connected to the electrical conductors; and a filter circuit coupled to the electrical conductors. The filter circuit includes a plurality of capacitors provided as a module. The electrical connector is adapted to be connected to an air bag gas initiator.

1 - 20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . An electrical connector filter assembly comprising: 
 an electrically conductive lead frame;    a filter circuit connected to the lead frame; and    an overmolded housing member which has been overmolded onto the lead frame.    
   
   
       22 . An electrical connector filter assembly as in  claim 21  wherein the filter circuit comprises a module having a plurality of capacitors.  
   
   
       23 . An electrical connector filter assembly as in  claim 21  wherein the lead frame is adapted to be directly connected to terminals of an electrical connector.  
   
   
       24 . An electrical connector filter assembly as in  claim 21  wherein the filter circuit is removably connected to the lead frame.  
   
   
       25 . An electrical connector filter assembly as in  claim 21  wherein the filter circuit comprises a first group of capacitors coupled in series to a second group of capacitors.  
   
   
       26 . An electrical connector filter assembly as in  claim 25  wherein the second group of capacitors comprises only a single capacitor.  
   
   
       27 . An electrical connector filter assembly as in  claim 21  wherein the lead frame comprises a filter circuit mounting area and two termination areas.  
   
   
       28 . An electrical connector filter assembly as in  claim 27  wherein the filter circuit mounting area comprises at least one spring contact arm spring biased against the filter circuit.  
   
   
       29 . An electrical connector filter assembly as in  claim 28  wherein the at least one spring contact arm comprises two spring contact arms which capture the filter circuit therebetween.  
   
   
       30 . An electrical connector filter assembly as in  claim 21  wherein the lead frame comprises strips which are mechanically connected to each other by the overmolded housing member.  
   
   
       31 . An electrical connector filter assembly as in  claim 30  wherein the overmolded housing member comprises at least two overmolded housing members connected to the strips on opposite sides of a filter circuit mounting area of the lead frame.  
   
   
       32 . An electrical connector filter assembly as in  claim 21  wherein the lead frame comprises three spaced individual terminals connected to different contact areas of the filter circuit.  
   
   
       33 . An electrical connector filter assembly as in  claim 32  wherein the overmolded housing member has been overmolded onto the three terminals to connect the terminals to each other.  
   
   
       34 . An electrical connector filter assembly as in  claim 33  wherein the filter circuit comprises three terminals connected to the three terminals of the lead frame assembly respectively.  
   
   
       35 . A method of manufacturing an electrical connector filter assembly comprising: 
 providing an electrically conductive lead frame having a filter circuit mounting area, wherein the lead frame comprises three terminal sections;    overmolding at least one overmolded housing member onto the three terminal sections;    severing the three terminal sections from each other to form three spaced individual terminals; and    connecting a filter circuit to the lead frame wherein two of the terminals contact opposite ends of the filter circuit.    
   
   
       36 . An electrical connector filter assembly comprising: 
 an electrically conductive lead frame, wherein the lead frame is adapted to be directly connected to at least one conductor of an electrical connector;    a filter circuit connected to the lead frame, wherein the filter circuit comprises a module having a plurality of capacitors; and    an overmolded housing member which has been overmolded onto the lead frame.    
   
   
       37 . An electrical connector filter assembly as in  claim 36  wherein the filter circuit is removably connected to the lead frame.  
   
   
       38 . An electrical connector filter assembly as in  claim 36  wherein the filter circuit comprises a first group of capacitors coupled in series to a second group of capacitors.  
   
   
       39 . An electrical connector filter assembly as in  claim 38  wherein the second group of capacitors comprises only a single capacitor.  
   
   
       40 . An electrical connector filter assembly as in  claim 36  wherein the lead frame comprises a filter circuit mounting area and two termination areas, wherein the filter circuit mounting area comprises at least one spring contact arm spring biased against the filter circuit.  
   
   
       41 . An electrical connector filter assembly as in  claim 40  wherein the at least one spring contact arm comprises two spring contact arms which capture the filter circuit therebetween.  
   
   
       42 . An electrical connector filter assembly as in  claim 36  wherein the lead frame comprises strips which are mechanically connected to each other by the overmolded housing member.  
   
   
       43 . An electrical connector filter assembly as in  claim 42  wherein the overmolded housing member comprises at least two overmolded housing members connected to the strips on opposite sides of a filter circuit mounting area of the lead frame.  
   
   
       44 . An electrical connector filter assembly as in  claim 36  wherein the lead frame comprises three spaced individual terminals connected to different contact areas of the filter circuit.  
   
   
       45 . An electrical connector filter assembly as in  claim 44  wherein the overmolded housing member has been overmolded onto the three terminals to connect the terminals to each other.  
   
   
       46 . An electrical connector filter assembly as in  claim 45  wherein the filter circuit comprises three terminals connected to the three terminals of the lead frame assembly respectively.  
   
   
       47 . A vehicle air bag electrical connector comprising: 
 a housing;    electrical contact terminals connected to the housing; and    a filter assembly in the housing, wherein the filter assembly comprises a filter circuit module comprising a plurality of capacitors, and at least one terminal section for electrically coupling the filter circuit module to at least one electrical conductor connected to at least one of the electrical contact terminals.