Airbag with bag mounted sensor
First Claim
1. An airbag system comprising:
- an airbag housing;
an airbag mounted to the airbag housing, and having an occupant facing portion which, when the airbag is inflated, faces an occupant position;
a source of gas mounted to the airbag housing in gas supplying connection to the airbag to cause the airbag to inflate when a flow of gas is initiated;
a sensor for detecting a vehicle occupant, the sensor being mounted to the occupant facing portion of the airbag, so that when the airbag is deployed the sensor moves with the airbag toward the occupant; and
a controller in electrical signal receiving relation to the sensor to detect the sensor interaction with a vehicle occupant.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle occupant position sensor is mounted on the front of an airbag which is deployed toward a vehicle occupant. The sensor comprises a capacitance sensor constructed by rendering portions of the airbag which face the vehicle occupant conductive. The airbag on which the sensor is placed is also constructed to allow venting of the airbag before it is fully deployed. The distance between the sensor and the vehicle occupant is continually determined with respect to the sensor. The output of the capacitive sensor is processed by a control system and is used to predict the interaction between the airbag and the vehicle passenger and to cause the airbag to be vented if that interaction is predicted to be more harmful than beneficial to the vehicle occupant. A system which prevents airbag venting once the airbag is inflated or nearly inflated can also be employed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An airbag system comprising:
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an airbag housing;
an airbag mounted to the airbag housing, and having an occupant facing portion which, when the airbag is inflated, faces an occupant position;
a source of gas mounted to the airbag housing in gas supplying connection to the airbag to cause the airbag to inflate when a flow of gas is initiated;
a sensor for detecting a vehicle occupant, the sensor being mounted to the occupant facing portion of the airbag, so that when the airbag is deployed the sensor moves with the airbag toward the occupant; and
a controller in electrical signal receiving relation to the sensor to detect the sensor interaction with a vehicle occupant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An airbag system comprising:
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an airbag housing;
an airbag mounted to the airbag housing, and having an occupant facing portion which, when the airbag is inflated, faces an occupant position;
a source of gas mounted to the airbag housing in gas supplying connection to the airbag to cause the airbag to inflate when a flow of gas is initiated;
an electromagnetic wave transmitter fixedly mounted with respect to the airbag housing;
an electromagnetic wave receiver fixedly mounted with respect to the airbag housing;
a reflector mounted to the occupant facing portion of the airbag so that when electromagnetic waves are transmitted by the transmitter toward the reflector, the electromagnetic waves are reflected toward the receiver; and
a controller operably connected to the transmitter and receiver to calculate at least one displacement derivative with respect to the reflector. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of controlling deployment of an airbag which is deployed toward a vehicle occupant, the method comprising the steps of:
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initiating the deployment of an airbag toward a vehicle occupant; and
while the airbag is deploying, determining the distance between a portion of the airbag which faces a vehicle occupant and the vehicle occupant with a sensor mounted on the portion of the airbag which faces the vehicle occupant. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification