Airbag deployment monitoring apparatus

• US 20040178615A1
• Filed: 07/03/2003
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Florsheimer, Stefan, Sawall, Rolf
• Granted Patent: US 7,147,245 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/743.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01504 detecting bag displacement
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards

Abstract

An airbag module, in particular for a frontal airbag, has an inflator, an airbag and at least one substantially tape or cord shaped measuring element. A first end of the measuring element is connected to an inside surface of the airbag and the second end of which is substantially arranged in a storage device for the measuring element. Between the first and the second ends of the measuring element is located a measuring device for the measurement of the advance movement distance, the advance movement velocity and/or the advance movement time of the measuring element. A tensioning device for the measuring element is arranged between the measuring device and the second end of the measuring element, or at the second end, to tighten the measuring element between its first end and the measuring device prior to the deployment of the airbag.

Claims

1. An airbag module comprising an inflator, an airbag and at least one substantially tape or cord shaped measuring element, a first end of the at least one substantially tape or cord shaped measuring element is connected to an interior surface of the airbag and a second end of at least one substantially tape or cord shaped measuring element is arranged in a storage device for the measuring element, whereby between the first and the second ends of the at least one substantially tape or cord shaped measuring element is located a measuring device for the measurement of the advance movement distance, the advance movement velocity and/or the advance movement time of the measuring element, and whereby a tensioning device for the measuring element is arranged between the measuring device and the second end, or at the second end, to tighten the measuring element between the first end and the measuring device prior to a deployment of the airbag.

2. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning device for the measuring element is a second tape or cord shaped element, which is connected to the measuring element within the airbag module and projects out of an airbag housing.

3. The airbag module according to claim 2, wherein the second element is connected to the measuring element in a detachable manner.

4. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning device for the measuring element is a spring-like tensioning device.

5. The airbag module according to claim 4, wherein the spring-like tensioning device comprises a locking device.

6. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the storage device for the measuring element is a sleeve or sheath.

7. The airbag module according to claim 6, wherein the sleeve or sheath defines at least one longitudinally extending chamber.

8. The airbag module according to claim 6, wherein the measuring element is arranged in the sleeve or sheath in a single layer.

9. The airbag module according to claim 6, wherein the sleeve or sheath comprises several parts along a longitudinal direction thereof.

10. The airbag module according to claim 6, wherein the sleeve or sheath is flexible and/or spiral shaped.

11. The airbag module according to claim 6, wherein the sleeve or sheath is connected directly to an airbag module housing.

12. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the airbag module comprises a deceleration device for decelerating the movement of the measuring element.

13. The airbag module according to claim 12, wherein the deceleration device is arranged to interact with the measuring device.

14. The airbag module according to claim 12, wherein the deceleration device is arranged on the storage device.

15. The airbag module according to claim 14, wherein the deceleration device is an indented region of the sleeve or sheath.

16. The airbag module according to claim 14, wherein the deceleration device is a spring loaded bracket.

17. The airbag module according to claim 14, wherein the deceleration device is a roughened inner surface of the sleeve or sheath.

18. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the measuring element is provided with a detectable code, which can be detected by the measuring device in a capacitive, inductive, optical or mechanical manner.

19. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the airbag module has a test opening therein to check the tightened state of the measuring element by a test device.

20. The airbag module according to claim 19, wherein the measuring element comprises a code for indicating its tightened state, which in the tightened state of the measuring element is aligned with the test opening.

21. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the tightened state of the measuring element can be controlled by the measuring device.

22. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the second end of the measuring element comprises a code.