What does the clock spring provide in an air bag system?

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Multiple Choice

What does the clock spring provide in an air bag system?

The clock spring provides a continuous, hard-wired electrical path between the steering wheel and the air bag system as the wheel turns. It’s a wound conductive ribbon inside the steering column that remains connected to the air bag module in the wheel, so the air bag, horn, and any steering-wheel controls keep their electrical connection regardless of steering angle. This direct connection is essential for delivering power and the deployment signal to the air bag reliably and instantly. Wireless, battery-powered, or fiber-optic links aren’t used for this purpose because they’d introduce reliability, latency, or power-supply issues in a system that must respond instantly and with a guaranteed, low-resistance electrical path.

The clock spring provides a continuous, hard-wired electrical path between the steering wheel and the air bag system as the wheel turns. It’s a wound conductive ribbon inside the steering column that remains connected to the air bag module in the wheel, so the air bag, horn, and any steering-wheel controls keep their electrical connection regardless of steering angle. This direct connection is essential for delivering power and the deployment signal to the air bag reliably and instantly.

Wireless, battery-powered, or fiber-optic links aren’t used for this purpose because they’d introduce reliability, latency, or power-supply issues in a system that must respond instantly and with a guaranteed, low-resistance electrical path.

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