Method and apparatus for deploying airbags

• US 20020166710A1
• Filed: 06/26/2002
• Published: 11/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/1994
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Inventors: Breed, David S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,918,459 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/282
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0268 using sensors or detectors for adapting the seat or seat part, e.g. to the position of an occupant
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0272 using sensors or detectors for detecting the position of seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0276 reaction to emergency situations, e.g. crash
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/28 Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2806 for securing the child seat to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2863 backward facing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/205 inflatable in the direction of an obstacle upon impending impact, e.g. using air bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/42 extending primarily along the sides of, or completely encircling, a vehicle ornamental or guard strips B60R13/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23332 using independent bags, one within the other
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26058 using a combination of inflators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01332 by frequency or waveform analysis
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/321 using electric means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/25 : using biometry
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 : of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/88 : Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/87 : Combinations of sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/88 : Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 : Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 : for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/417 : involving the use of neural networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/48 : of systems according to group G01S17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4802 : using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/487 : Extracting wanted echo signals , e.g. pulse detection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/539 : using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/161 : Decentralised systems, e.g. inter-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/163 : involving continuous checking
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 : Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles

Abstract

Apparatus and method for deploying airbags in a vehicle in which a first inflatable airbag protects an occupant in a seating location during a crash and a second inflatable airbag moves the occupant in the seating location away from an interior surface of the vehicle upon inflation. A crash sensor system determines that a crash involving the vehicle will occur or is occurring and initiates inflation of the first and second airbags. The second airbag may be inflated prior to inflation of the first airbag such that inflation of the second airbag causes the occupant to be moved away from the interior surface of the vehicle and into a better position for deployment of the first airbag. In one exemplary embodiment, the first airbag is a side curtain airbag and the second airbag is arranged in a door of the vehicle to move the occupant away from the door.

Claims

1. In a motor vehicle, an apparatus for deploying airbags comprising

a first inflatable airbag for protecting an occupant in a seating location in the vehicle in a crash;

a second inflatable airbag structured and arranged to move the occupant in the seating location away from an interior surface of the vehicle upon inflation; and

a crash sensor system arranged to determine that a crash involving the vehicle will occur or is occurring and initiate inflation of said first and second airbags;

said second airbag being inflated prior to inflation of said first airbag such that inflation of said second airbag causes the occupant to be moved away from the interior surface of the vehicle and into a better position for deployment of said first airbag.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said first airbag is a side curtain airbag and said second airbag is arranged in a door of the vehicle to move the occupant away from the door of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said crash sensor system comprises an anticipatory sensor.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein said second airbag is inflated prior to a crash upon a determination by said anticipatory sensor that a crash involving the vehicle will occur based on data obtained prior to the crash.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said crash sensor system comprises a rollover sensor.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising an occupant position sensor system for determining the position of the occupant in the seating location, said occupant position sensor system being coupled to said crash sensor system and said second airbag such that said second airbag is inflated only when the occupant is improperly positioned for deployment of said first airbag.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, further comprising a control unit coupled to said crash sensor system and said occupant sensor system for initiating inflation of said first and second airbags based on output from said crash sensor system and said occupant position sensor system.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said second airbag is arranged to inflate in a direction perpendicular to a direction of inflation of said first airbag.

9. A method for deploying airbags in a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

determining that a crash involving the vehicle will occur or is occurring;

inflating a first airbag to move an occupant away from an interior surface of the vehicle if the occupant is against the interior surface; and

then or more slowly

inflating a second airbag to protect the occupant from injury in the crash.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

arranging the second airbag as a side curtain airbag along a side of the vehicle; and

arranging the first airbag in a door of the vehicle to move the occupant away from the door of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of determining that a crash involving the vehicle will occur or is occurring comprises the step of determining that a crash will occur based on data obtained prior to the crash, the step of inflating the first airbag comprising the step of inflating the first airbag prior to the crash.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of determining that a crash involving the vehicle will occur or is occurring comprises the step of determining that a rollover is occurring.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

determining the position of the occupant; and

inflating the first airbag only when the occupant is improperly positioned for deployment of the second airbag.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring the position of the occupant after inflation of the first airbag; and

suppressing inflation of the second airbag if the occupant is still improperly positioned for deployment of the second airbag.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of arranging the first and second airbags to deploy in perpendicular directions.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

determining the position of the occupant; and

controlling the timing between the inflation of the first and second airbags based on the position of the occupant.

17. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

determining a morphological property of the occupant; and

controlling the timing between the inflation of the first and second airbags based on the determined morphological property of the occupant.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of determining whether the occupant is out of position for deployment of the side curtain airbag comprises the step of determining whether the occupant is too close to the side of the vehicle along which the side curtain airbag will deploy.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of confirming that the occupant is moving toward the proper position for deployment of the side curtain airbag after deployment of the positioning airbag.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring the position of the occupant after inflation of the positioning airbag; and

suppressing inflation of the side curtain airbag if the occupant is still improperly positioned for deployment of the side curtain airbag.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of controlling the timing between the inflation of the positioning airbag and the side curtain airbag based on the position of the occupant.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

determining a morphological property of the occupant; and

controlling the timing between the inflation of the positioning airbag and the side curtain airbag based on the determined morphological property of the occupant.

25. The vehicle of claim 24, wherein said protective airbags include a side curtain airbag and said positioning airbags include an airbag associated with said side curtain airbag and arranged in a door of the vehicle to move the occupant away from the door upon inflation.

26. The vehicle of claim 24, further comprising an occupant sensor system for determining the position of the occupant, said control unit being coupled to said occupant sensor system and determining which of said protective airbags and said positioning airbags should be deployed based on the determined position of the occupant.

28. The vehicle of claim 28, wherein said rollover sensor is arranged to initiate inflation of said positioning airbag prior to inflation of said side curtain airbag.

30. The vehicle of claim 29, wherein said protective airbags include a side curtain airbag and said positioning airbags include an airbag associated with said side curtain airbag and arranged in a door of the vehicle to move the occupant away from the door upon inflation.

31. The vehicle of claim 29, wherein said crash system includes an anticipatory sensor for determining that a crash involving the vehicle will occur prior to the crash based on data obtained prior to the crash such that said positioning airbags are inflatable based on an anticipation of a crash.

32. The vehicle of claim 29, wherein said control unit is arranged to determine which of said protective airbags should be deployed in the crash based on the position of the occupants in the vehicle.

18. A method for deploying a side curtain airbag in a vehicle to protect an occupant, comprising the steps of:

detecting a crash or rollover condition requiring deployment of the side curtain airbag;

determining the occupant'"'"'s position;

determining whether the occupant is out of position for deployment of the side curtain airbag;

if so, deploying the side curtain airbag if the occupant is not out of position; and

if not, deploying a positioning airbag to move the occupant into a proper position for deployment of the side curtain airbag and then or more slowly deploying the side curtain airbag.

24. In a motor vehicle, an apparatus for deploying airbags in a vehicle to protect occupants in the vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of protective airbags for protecting an occupant in a crash;

a plurality of positioning airbags each arranged to inflate to move an occupant in a desired direction into a deployment area of one of said protective airbags;

a crash sensor system arranged to determine that a crash involving the vehicle will occur or is occurring; and

a control unit coupled to said crash sensor system, said plurality of protective airbags and said plurality of positioning airbags and arranged to determine which of said protective airbags and said positioning airbags should be deployed in the crash.

27. A vehicle including an apparatus for deploying multiple airbags, comprising:

a side curtain airbag arranged to deploy along a side of the vehicle;

a positioning airbag arranged to deploy inward from a door of the vehicle; and

a rollover sensor for determining that the vehicle is experiencing a rollover, said rollover sensor being coupled to said side curtain airbag and said positioning airbag and arranged to initiate inflation of said side curtain airbag and said positioning airbag when the vehicle experiences a rollover.

29. In a motor vehicle, an apparatus for deploying airbags in a vehicle to protect occupants in the vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of protective airbags for protecting an occupant in a crash;

a plurality of positioning airbags arranged to inflate to move an occupant in a desired direction into a deployment area of one of said protective airbags;

a crash sensor system arranged to determine that a crash involving the vehicle will occur or is occurring;

an occupant sensor system for determining the position of occupants of the vehicle; and

a control unit coupled to said occupant sensor system, said crash sensor system, said plurality of protective airbags and said plurality of positioning airbags and arranged to determine which of said positioning airbags should be deployed in the crash based on the position of the occupants in the vehicle.

33. A vehicle including multiple airbags, comprising:

a side curtain airbag arranged to deploy along a side of the vehicle;

a positioning airbag arranged to deploy inward from a door of the vehicle;

a crash sensor for determining that the vehicle is experiencing a crash or rollover; and

a control unit coupled to said side curtain airbag, said positioning airbag and said crash sensor for determining whether deployment of said side curtain airbag is necessary for the crash;

said control unit being arranged to initiate inflation of both said side curtain airbag and said positioning airbag when said control unit determines that deployment of said side curtain airbag is necessary.

34. The vehicle of claim 33, wherein said crash sensor is arranged to determine that the vehicle is experiencing a rollover.

35. The vehicle of claim 33, wherein said control unit is arranged to initiate inflation of said side curtain airbag at a slower rate that inflation of said positioning airbag.

36. The vehicle of claim 33, wherein said control unit is arranged to initiate inflation of said side curtain airbag before inflation of said positioning airbag.