CIRCUIT AND METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE STEERING WHEEL OF A VEHICLE

The disclosed invention comprises an electronic control circuit (20) fo r transferring power and data signals between an electronic circuit associated with a vehicle steering column (22) and an electronic circuit associated with a vehicle steering wheel (24). Communication between the column circuit (22) and the wheel circuit (24) is accomplished by a rotary transformer (X1) having a primary a nd a secondary magnetic coil, wherein the primacy magnetic coil (40) is associate d with the steering column and the secondary magnetic coil (60) is associated with the steering wheel. The column circuit (22) and the wheel circuit (24) both include data signals that are transferred to the other across the rotary transformer (X1) . The column circuit (22) also includes a power supply (26) which provides power t o the wheel circuit (24) across the rotary transformer (X1). Power supplied to the wheel circuit (24) is stored in at least one storage device (C1, C2) in the wheel circuit (24), which then provides the power to the components of the wheel circuit (24), including an air bag squib driver circuit (68) for firing air bag squibs.