AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE SENSING SYSTEM FOR SELECTIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT

• US 20020195806A1
• Filed: 06/25/2001
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Thomas, Scott David, Wolanin, Michael John
• Granted Patent: US 6,520,537 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0153 using field detection presence sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01538 for image processing, e.g. cameras or sensor arrays

Abstract

An internal vehicle sensing system for assisting in controlling deployment of an air bag is disclosed. The sensing system includes at least one sensor that forms a sensor array designed to detect a portion of an individual. The sensing system sends signals to the air bag system based upon objects detected and signals, commands or allows full deployment, partial deployment, or suppression of deployment of an air bag.

Claims

1. A vehicle sensing system for assisting in the selective deployment of an air bag near a seat, said seat including a buttocks supporting portion, a torso supporting portion and a head supporting portion, said vehicle sensing system comprising:

a first sensor placed adjacent to a footwell for detecting the lower extremities of an individual sitting in an upright position in said seat, said footwell located in front of and at least partially below said buttocks supporting portion of said seat;

a second sensor placed adjacent said head supporting portion of said seat for detecting the bust of said individual sitting in an upright position, said first and second sensors in communication with an air bag system including said air bag, said first and second sensors capable of sending signals to said air bag system depending on whether said first and second sensors detect objects, said signals assisting in controlling the degree of any deployment of said air bag.

2. A vehicle sensing system as in claim 1, wherein the airbag deployment is at least partially suppressed if both said first and second sensors do not detect objects.

3. A vehicle sensing system as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second sensors rotates and emits a signal to form a sensor array having at least a partial circular shape.

4. A vehicle sensing system as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second sensors is substantially surrounded by a housing for shielding said at least one of said first and second sensors.

5. A vehicle sensing system as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second sensors includes a transmitting unit and a receiving unit for forming a sensor array.

6. A vehicle sensing system as in claim 1, wherein said head supporting portion includes an adjustable headrest to which said second sensor is at least partially attached, said second sensor remaining substantially stationary as said headrest is adjusted.

7. A vehicle sensing system as in claim 1, further comprising a controller having air bag deployment logic where in response to adjustments of said seat at least one of said first and second sensors adjusts its field of view and said air bag deployment logic is modified.

8. A vehicle sensing system as in claim 1, wherein the degree of any air bag deployment is dependent on a proximity-derived measure from said second sensor.

9. A vehicle sensing system for assisting in the selective deployment of an air bag near a seat, said seat including a buttocks supporting portion, a torso supporting portion and a head supporting portion, said vehicle sensing system comprising:

a sensor placed adjacent one of at least said head supporting portion and said torso supporting portion of said seat for detecting respectively a bust and a torso of an adult sitting in an upright position, said sensor in communication with an air bag system including said air bag, said sensor capable of sending a signal to said air bag system depending on whether said sensor detects objects, said signal assisting in controlling the degree of any deployment of said air bag.

10. A vehicle sensing system as in claim 9, wherein the airbag deployment is at least partially suppressed if said sensor does not detect an object.

11. A vehicle sensing system as in claim 9, wherein said sensor extends laterally across a substantial portion of a headrest of said head supporting portion of said seat, said sensor being curved to detect lower further laterally away from a center of said headrest.

12. A vehicle sensing system as in claim 9, wherein said sensor rotates and emits a signal to form a sensor array having at least a partial circular shape.

13. A vehicle sensing system as in claim 9, wherein said sensor includes a transmitting unit and a receiving unit for forming a sensor array.

14. A vehicle sensing system as in claim 9, wherein said head supporting portion includes an adjustable headrest to which said sensor is at least partially attached, said sensor remaining substantially stationary as said headrest is adjusted.

15. A vehicle sensing system as in claim 9, further comprising a controller having air bag deployment logic where in response to adjustments of said seat said sensor adjusts its field of view and said air bag deployment logic is modified.

16. A vehicle sensing system as in claim 9, wherein the degree of any air bag deployment is dependent on a proximity-derived measure from said sensor.

18. A vehicle sensing system as in claim 17 wherein said head supporting portion includes an adjustable headrest to which said one of said units adjacent said head supporting portion is at least partially attached, said one of said units adjacent said head supporting portion remaining substantially stationary as said headrest is adjusted.

19. A vehicle sensing system as in claim 17 wherein the degree of any air bag deployment is dependent on a proximity-derived measure from said unit placed adjacent said head supporting position.

20. A vehicle sensing system as in claim 17 further comprising a controller having air bag deployment logic where in response to adjustments of said seat said unit placed adjacent said head supporting position adjusts its field of view and said air bag deployment logic is modified.

17. A vehicle sensing system for assisting in the selective deployment of an air bag near a seat, said seat including a buttocks supporting portion, a torso supporting portion and a head supporting portion, said vehicle sensing system comprising:

a transmitting unit for forming a transmitting array adjacent said transmitting unit;

a receiving unit for forming a receiving array adjacent said receiving unit;

one of said units placed adjacent a footwell for positioning its respective array within said footwell, said footwell located in front of and at least partially below said buttocks supporting portion of said seat;

one of said units placed adjacent said head supporting portion of said seat for forming its respective array adjacent said head supporting portion, said receiving and transmitting unit in communication with an air bag system for assisting in controlling deployment of said air bag, said receiving and transmitting unit allowing full deployment of said air bag if said receiving unit receives a signal from said transmitting unit, said receiving unit only receiving said signal from said transmitting unit if an object is present within said transmitting array and said receiving array as a connection for said signal to travel through.