Method and trigger circuit for triggering an airbag situated in a steering wheel of a motor vehicle
First Claim
1. A method for triggering an airbag which is situated in a position-adjustable steering wheel of a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a) ascertaining a relative spacing between a driver of the motor vehicle and the steering wheel;
b) establishing a triggering event which necessitates the triggering of the airbag in the motor vehicle;
c) establishing at least one of a trigger time for the airbag and a firing strategy for the airbag, the relative spacing ascertained in step a) being taken into account in the establishing of the at least one of the trigger time and the firing strategy; and
d) triggering the airbag at least one of at the established trigger time and by way of the established firing strategy;
wherein at least one of the following measures are taken into account in the ascertainment of the relative spacing between the driver and the steering wheel;
(i) tightening a safety belt, triggered by the triggering event, (ii) displacing a seat, triggered by the triggering event, (iii) deforming a seat, triggered by the triggering event, and (iv) collapsing the steering wheel, triggered by the triggering event.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for triggering an airbag situated in a position-adjustable steering wheel of a motor vehicle, including: a) ascertaining the relative spacing between a driver of the motor vehicle and the steering wheel, b) establishing a triggering event which necessitates the triggering of the airbag in the motor vehicle, c) establishing a trigger time and/or a firing strategy for the airbag, the relative spacing ascertained in step a) being taken into account, d) triggering the airbag at the established trigger time and/or using the established firing strategy. A trigger circuit for triggering an airbag is also described which is situated in a position-adjustable steering wheel of a motor vehicle, at least one measuring unit for establishing the position of the steering wheel or the relative spacing of the steering wheel from a driver being provided, and the trigger circuit includes an input for processing signals from this measuring unit.
5 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for triggering an airbag which is situated in a position-adjustable steering wheel of a motor vehicle, comprising:
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a) ascertaining a relative spacing between a driver of the motor vehicle and the steering wheel; b) establishing a triggering event which necessitates the triggering of the airbag in the motor vehicle; c) establishing at least one of a trigger time for the airbag and a firing strategy for the airbag, the relative spacing ascertained in step a) being taken into account in the establishing of the at least one of the trigger time and the firing strategy; and d) triggering the airbag at least one of at the established trigger time and by way of the established firing strategy; wherein at least one of the following measures are taken into account in the ascertainment of the relative spacing between the driver and the steering wheel;
(i) tightening a safety belt, triggered by the triggering event, (ii) displacing a seat, triggered by the triggering event, (iii) deforming a seat, triggered by the triggering event, and (iv) collapsing the steering wheel, triggered by the triggering event. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for triggering an airbag which is situated in a position-adjustable steering wheel of a motor vehicle, comprising:
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a) ascertaining a relative spacing between a driver of the motor vehicle and the steering wheel; b) establishing a triggering event which necessitates the triggering of the airbag in the motor vehicle; c) establishing at least one of a trigger time for the airbag and a firing strategy for the airbag, the relative spacing ascertained in step a) being taken into account in the establishing of the at least one of the trigger time and the firing strategy; and d) triggering the airbag at least one of at the established trigger time and by way of the established firing strategy; wherein, in step c), a suppressor is activated, which suppresses the triggering of at least one firing stage during the triggering of the airbag when the relative spacing lies below a predefinable threshold. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A trigger circuit for triggering an airbag which is situated in a position-adjustable steering wheel of a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle having at least one measuring unit configured to ascertain a relative spacing between the steering wheel and a driver, and the trigger circuit includes an input for processing signals from the measuring unit;
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wherein the trigger circuit includes a logic for establishing at least one of a trigger time for the airbag and a firing strategy for the airbag, the at least one of the trigger time and the firing strategy being established as a function of the relative spacing between the steering wheel and the driver; and wherein the trigger circuit triggers, in response to a triggering event, the airbag at least one of at the established trigger time and by way of the established firing strategy; wherein at least one of the following measures are taken into account in the ascertainment of the relative spacing between the steering wheel and the driver;
(i) tightening a safety belt, triggered by the triggering event, (ii) displacing a seat, triggered by the triggering event, (iii) deforming a seat, triggered by the triggering event, and (iv) collapsing the steering wheel, triggered by the triggering event. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A motor vehicle designed to trigger an airbag which is situated in a position-adjustable steering wheel of the motor vehicle, the motor vehicle designed to:
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a) ascertain a relative spacing between a driver of the motor vehicle and the steering wheel; b) establish a triggering event which necessitates the triggering of the airbag in the motor vehicle; c) establish at least one of a trigger time for the airbag and a firing strategy for the airbag, the relative spacing ascertained in step a) being taken into account in the establishing of the at least one of the trigger time and the firing strategy; and d) trigger the airbag at least one of the established trigger time and by way of the established firing strategy; wherein at least one of the following measures are taken into account in the ascertainment of the relative spacing between the driver and the steering wheel;
(i) tightening a safety belt, triggered by the triggering event, (ii) displacing a seat, triggered by the triggering event, (iii) deforming a seat, triggered by the triggering event, and (iv) collapsing the steering wheel, triggered by the triggering event. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification