Method and apparatus for deployment of an air bag
First Claim
1. A safety restraint system, comprising:
- a) a vessel defining a chamber for housing a first initiator housing and a second initiator housing, said vessel having an exhaust port being configured, positioned and dimensioned to be in fluid communication with an inflation opening of an inflatable airbag;
b) a first initiator being positioned within said first initiator housing and said second initiator being positioned within second initiator housing, said first initiator and said second initiator each having an actuatable igniter, an ignitable material being positioned to be ignited by said actuatable igniter, said igniter, when actuated, ignites said ignitable material to produce combustion products which are released into said vessel and increase the internal pressure of said air bag causing said air bag to inflate; and
c) a means for generating a first signal for activating said first initiator and a means for generating a second signal for activating said second initiator, said second signal being delayed a predetermined time after said first signal is generated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling the deployment of a passive inflatable restraint system wherein driver and passenger air bags are employed each having two independently actuatable gas generators of the same or different sizes which are activated in a fixed time sequence. The sequence is timed to provide an initial low inflation rate to just open the airbag container and initially deploy the airbag followed by a higher gas flow rate to complete filling of the cushion. An electronic control unit containing a control algorithm and connected to external sensors monitors vehicle decelerations, detects impacts, and determines if impact severity warrants deployment of an airbag for occupant protection. The external sensors include one or more sensors located in the forward portion of the vehicle to provide early impact detection and crash severity indications; a weight based occupant detection system located in the passenger seat to identify infants and small children and provide airbag suppression; and a seat belt mode or seat belt tension sensor to determine the presence of a cinched child seat and provide additional airbag suppression. The control algorithm monitors the above described sensors and if a deployment is required, a signal for activating the first initiator and a second signal for activating the second initiator are provided, the second signal being delayed a predetermined time after the first signal is generated.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A safety restraint system, comprising:
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a) a vessel defining a chamber for housing a first initiator housing and a second initiator housing, said vessel having an exhaust port being configured, positioned and dimensioned to be in fluid communication with an inflation opening of an inflatable airbag;
b) a first initiator being positioned within said first initiator housing and said second initiator being positioned within second initiator housing, said first initiator and said second initiator each having an actuatable igniter, an ignitable material being positioned to be ignited by said actuatable igniter, said igniter, when actuated, ignites said ignitable material to produce combustion products which are released into said vessel and increase the internal pressure of said air bag causing said air bag to inflate; and
c) a means for generating a first signal for activating said first initiator and a means for generating a second signal for activating said second initiator, said second signal being delayed a predetermined time after said first signal is generated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 27)
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5. A safety system for a vehicle, comprising:
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a) an air bag module having an inflator with a pair of initiators; and
b) an air bag module controller for providing a sequential firing of both said pair of initiators. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A safety system having an air bag module capable of providing a variable rate of inflation, comprising:
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a) a vessel defining a chamber for housing a first initiator housing and a second initiator housing, said first initiator housing being larger than said second initiator housing, said vessel having an exhaust port being configured, positioned and dimensioned to be in fluid communication with an inflation opening of said airbag;
b) a first initiator being positioned within said first initiator housing and said second initiator being positioned within second initiator housing, said first initiator and said second initiator each having an actuatable igniter, an ignitable material being positioned to be ignited by said actuatable igniter, said igniter, when actuated, ignites said ignitable material to produce combustion products which are released into said vessel and increase the pressure of said air bag;
c) a means for generating a first signal for activating said first initiator and a second signal for activating said second initiator, said second signal being delayed a predetermined time after said first signal is generated, said first signal and said second signal being generated by an air bag module controller. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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18. A vehicle safety system, comprising:
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a) a driver'"'"'s side air bag module for inflating an inflatable air bag with a first inflation force and a second inflation force, said first inflation force being large enough to cause said inflatable air bag of said driver'"'"'s side air bag module to break through an air bag cover of said driver'"'"'s side air bag module;
b) a passenger side air bag module for inflating an inflatable air bag with a first inflation force and a second inflation force, said first inflation force being large enough to cause said inflatable air bag of said passenger side air bag module to break through an air bag cover of said passenger side air bag module; and
c) a sensing and diagnostic module for receiving and interpreting a plurality of inputs from a plurality of sensors, sad sensing and diagnostic module providing activation signals to said driver'"'"'s side air bag module and said passenger side air bag module in response to predetermined conditions sensed by said plurality of sensors.
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Specification