Process for controlling deployment of airbag

• US 20040032118A1
• Filed: 04/11/2003
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kojima, Mikihito, Nagai, Makoto, Shindo, Toyohiko
• Granted Patent: US 6,921,108 B2
• 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 21/33 Arrangements for non-electric triggering of inflation electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01

Abstract

Four load sensors having an upper limit value in a detection range are mounted in a seat of a vehicle. The weight of an occupant sitting on the seat is detected as a total of outputs from the load sensors. When the detected weight of the occupant is equal or larger than a predetermined value, the deployment of the air bag is permitted, and when the detected weight of the occupant is smaller than the predetermined value, the deployment of the air bag is prohibited. When any one of the outputs from the plurality of load sensors is the upper limit value in the detection range, the deployment of the air bag is permitted irrespective of the detected weight of the occupant. Thus, even when the output from the load sensor has been modified to the upper limit value by a limiting process, so that the weight of the occupant is calculated as a value smaller than an actual weight to become smaller than the predetermined value, the air bag can be deployed reliably to restrain the occupant.

Claims

1. A process for controlling deployment of an air bag, comprising the steps of preparing a plurality of load sensors mounted in a seat of a vehicle and having an upper limit value in a detection range, detecting weight of an occupant sitting on the seat as a total of outputs from said sensors, permitting the deployment of the air bag when the detected weight of the occupant is equal or larger than a predetermined value, and prohibiting the deployment of the air bag when the detected weight of the occupant is smaller than the predetermined value,

wherein the deployment of the air bag is permitted irrespective of the detected weight of the occupant, when any one of the outputs from said plurality of load sensors is the upper limit value in the detection range.