Airbag deployment velocity sensor
First Claim
1. An airbag device for a motor vehicle comprising:
- an airbag housing;
an airbag mounted to the airbag housing, and defining a bag interior surface;
a scan medium cartridge mounted fixed with respect to the airbag housing and containing a quantity of an elongated scan medium stored within the cartridge, the scan medium passing through the cartridge and extending through an elongated scan medium outlet of the cartridge and being attached to the interior surface of the airbag;
a sensor positioned within the scan medium cartridge for detecting scan medium being withdrawn from the cartridge; and
a seal connected to the elongated scan medium to seal the outlet, such that withdrawing of the scan medium from the outlet uncovers the outlet.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An airbag module utilizes tape dispensing cartridges. A tape end extends from each cartridge to the inside surface of an airbag. As the airbag inflates, tape is drawn from the tape cartridges as the tapes are drawn along with the deploying airbag. The rate at which tape is withdrawn from the cartridges is measured by sensible indicia of a magnetic or optical nature positioned on the tape and drawn past a sensor contained within the tape cartridge. The markings on the tape can be nonuniform along the length of the tape. The tape storage area outlet and the cartridge outlet are each formed by two relatively large radius corners. The tape is sealed to the cartridge to prevent the ingress of contaminants. As the airbag withdraws tape from the cartridges, the seals are unseated.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An airbag device for a motor vehicle comprising:
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an airbag housing;
an airbag mounted to the airbag housing, and defining a bag interior surface;
a scan medium cartridge mounted fixed with respect to the airbag housing and containing a quantity of an elongated scan medium stored within the cartridge, the scan medium passing through the cartridge and extending through an elongated scan medium outlet of the cartridge and being attached to the interior surface of the airbag;
a sensor positioned within the scan medium cartridge for detecting scan medium being withdrawn from the cartridge; and
a seal connected to the elongated scan medium to seal the outlet, such that withdrawing of the scan medium from the outlet uncovers the outlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An airbag device for a motor vehicle comprising:
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an airbag housing;
an airbag mounted to the airbag housing, and defining a bag interior surface;
a scan medium cartridge mounted fixed with respect to the airbag housing and containing a quantity of elongated scan medium stored within the cartridge, the scan medium passing through the cartridge and extending through an elongated scan medium outlet, the outlet having a first surface, and a second surface that diverge from each other to form a radiused taper, the scan medium being attached to the bag interior surface;
a sensor positioned within the scan medium cartridge for detecting scan medium being withdrawn from the cartridge;
wherein the elongated scan medium has sensor affecting attributes, and wherein the sensor is positioned adjacent the scan medium so as the scan medium is withdrawn from the cartridge a signal corresponding to the tape withdrawn is generated. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An airbag device for a motor vehicle comprising:
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an airbag housing;
an airbag mounted to the airbag housing, and defining a bag interior surface;
a scan medium cartridge comprising a first portion sealed to a second portion, defining a volume there between, the scan medium cartridge mounted fixed with respect to the airbag housing containing a quantity of elongated scan medium stored within the defined volume, the scan medium passing through the cartridge and extending through an elongated scan medium outlet and the scan medium being attached to the bag interior surface;
a sensor positioned within the scan medium cartridge for detecting scan medium being withdrawn from the cartridge; and
a friction mechanism engaging the scan medium that resists the scan medium being pulled from the scan medium cartridge, the friction mechanism comprising portions of the first portion of the scan medium cartridge. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification