Air bag operation control system

• US 20030025310A1
• Filed: 07/29/2002
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Jitsui, Akinori
• Application Number:
  US10/206,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20030025310A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0155 sensing belt tension

Abstract

An airbag operation control system controls inflation of an air bag and has discrimination data (map) for classifying the load and the tensile force into first and second groups (adult and child), classifies the load and the tensile force. When the load and the tensile force is classified into the first group, the system measures a duration for which the load and the tensile force continuously classified into the first group and makes judgment whether inflation of the air bag is permitted (adult case) or inhibited (child case) if the time duration exceeds a predetermined interval to supply a control signal to the air bag.

Claims

1. An airbag operation control system for a motor vehicle comprising:

seat load detection means for detecting a load on a seat in said motor vehicle;

seat belt load detection means for detecting a tensile force in a seat belt in said motor vehicle; and

control means for controlling inflation of an airbag in said motor vehicle, wherein

said control means includes a map storing data for classifying a passenger sitting on said seat into A and B regions of said map in accordance with values of said load on said seat and said tensile force in said seat belt, classifying said passenger into said A region indicating that said passenger is an adult, and wherein

said control means measures a time duration for which said passenger is continuously classified into said A region when said passenger is classified into said A region, and permits said air bag to inflate when said time duration exceeds a predetermined interval TAth.

3. The airbag inflation control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control means measures a time duration for which said passenger is continuously classified into said B region when said passenger is classified into said B region, and inhibits said air bag from inflating when said time duration exceeds a predetermined interval TBth.

2. An airbag operation control system for a motor vehicle comprising:

seat load detection means for detecting a load on a seat in said motor vehicle;

seat belt load detection means for detecting a tensile force in a seat belt in said motor vehicle; and

control means for controlling inflation of an airbag in said motor vehicle, wherein

said control means includes a map storing data for classifying a passenger sitting on said seat into A and B regions of said map in accordance with values of said load on said seat and said tensile force in said seat belt, classifying said passenger into said A region indicating that said person is an adult, and wherein

said control means measures a time duration for which said passenger is continuously classified into said B region when said passenger is classified into said B region, and inhibits said air bag from inflating when said time duration exceeds a predetermined interval TBth.

4. An airbag operation control system for a motor vehicle comprising:

seat load detection means for detecting a load on a seat in said motor vehicle;

seat belt load detection means for detecting a tensile force in a seat belt in said motor vehicle; and

control means for controlling inflation of an air bag in said motor vehicle, wherein said control means has discrimination data for classifying a passenger sitting on said seat in accordance with said load and said tensile force into first and second groups, and classifies said passenger in accordance with said load and said tensile force, and wherein when said load and said tensile force is classified into said first group, said control means measures a time duration for which said load and said tensile force continuously classified into said first group and makes judgment whether inflation of said air bag is permitted or inhibited when said time duration exceeds a predetermined interval to supply a control signal to said air bag.

5. The airbag inflation control system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said control means permits said air bag to inflate, when said time duration exceeds a predetermined interval.

6. The airbag inflation control system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said control means inhibits said air bag from inflating, when said time duration exceeds a predetermined interval.

7. The airbag inflation control system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said load and said tensile force obtained when said passenger is classified into said first group correspond to load and tensile force obtained from said load detection means and said seat belt load detection means when a passenger sitting on said seat is an adult, and wherein said control means permits said air bag to inflate, when said time duration exceeds a predetermined interval.

8. The airbag inflation control system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said load and said tensile force obtained when said passenger is classified into said second group correspond to load and tensile force obtained from said load detection means and said seat belt load detection means when a passenger sitting on said seat is a non-adult, and wherein said control means inhibits said air bag from inflation, when said time duration exceeds a predetermined interval.

9. The airbag inflation control system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said control means has a map as said discrimination data to classifying said passenger into A and B regions of said map as said first and second groups, thereby, said control means classifies said passenger in accordance with said load and said tensile force into said A and B regions.

10. The airbag inflation control system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said control means has at least a threshold value as said discrimination data.

11. The airbag inflation control system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said control means has at least a reference function as said discrimination data.