Apparatus and method for controlling an inflatable cushion

• US 20060061076A1
• Filed: 11/03/2005
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pinsenschaum, Ryan T., Winters, Mark T., Webber, James L., Hawthorn, Laura A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,543,848 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/736
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2765 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01504 detecting bag displacement
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01526 using piezoelectric elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01528 mounted on the bag
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0153 using field detection presence sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01546 using belt buckle sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01554 Seat position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/276 with means to vent the inflation fluid source, e.g. in case of overpressure B60R21/30 takes precedence; venting means on inflatable member walls B60R21/239

Abstract

A system for controlling an inflation output in an inflatable cushion of an air bag module, comprising: a first sensing device, the first sensing device being an electronic sensing device configured to detect the presence of an object proximate to the air bag module, when the inflatable cushion is in an un-inflated state, the first sensing device providing a suppression signal when an object is detected within an area proximate to the air bag module; a second sensing device, the second sensing device being a mechanical sensing device configured to detect whether a leading edge of the inflatable cushion has made contact with an object prior to the leading edge reaching a predetermined distance from the air bag module during inflation of the inflatable cushion, the second sensing device being disposed within the inflatable cushion and is configured to cause the inflation output provided to the inflatable cushion to be varied when the leading edge of the inflatable cushion has made contact with an object prior to the leading edge reaching the predetermined distance from the air bag module; and a sensing and diagnostic module for receiving the suppression signal and an activation signal, wherein the activation signal corresponds to an event that requires inflation of inflatable cushion in absence of the suppression signal and the sensing and diagnostic module is configured to determine whether the inflation output is to be provided to the inflatable cushion.

Claims

1. A system for controlling an inflation output provided to an inflatable cushion of an air bag module, comprising:

a first sensing device, the first sensing device being an electronic sensing device configured to detect the presence of an object proximate to the air bag module, when the inflatable cushion is in an un-inflated state, the first sensing device providing a suppression signal when an object is detected within an area proximate to the air bag module;

a second sensing device, the second sensing device being a mechanical sensing device configured to detect whether a leading edge of the inflatable cushion has made contact with an object prior to the leading edge reaching a predetermined distance from the air bag module during inflation of the inflatable cushion, the second sensing device being disposed within the inflatable cushion and is configured to cause the inflation output provided to the inflatable cushion to be varied when the leading edge of the inflatable cushion has made contact with an object prior to the leading edge reaching the predetermined distance from the air bag module; and

a sensing and diagnostic module for receiving the suppression signal and an activation signal, wherein the activation signal corresponds to an event that requires inflation of inflatable cushion in absence of the suppression signal and the sensing and diagnostic module is configured to determine whether the inflation output is to be provided to the inflatable cushion.

2. The system as in claim 1, wherein the activation signal is generated by an accelerometer.

3. The system as in claim 1, wherein the sensing and diagnostic module receives a plurality of signals from a plurality of sensors, the plurality of sensors comprising any combination of the following:

a seat position sensor, a weight sensor, a seat belt buckle sensor and a seat back position sensor.

4. The system as in claim 1, wherein the first sensing device is an infrared sensor.

5. The system as in claim 1, wherein the first sensing device is an ultrasonic sensor.

6. The system as in claim 1, wherein the first sensing device is a radar device.

7. The system as in claim 1, wherein the first sensing device is a capacitive sensing device.

8. The system as in claim 1, wherein second sensing device is an inflatable member disposed within the inflatable cushion.

9. The system as in claim 1, wherein second sensing device is a tether disposed within the inflatable cushion.

10. An air bag module, comprising:

a housing having at least one vent opening;

an inflatable cushion being stored in an un-deployed position in the housing;

an inflator for inflating the inflatable cushion, the inflator being in fluid communication with the inflatable cushion and having a plurality of inflation openings for allowing an inflation gas to pass therethrough, at least one of the plurality of inflation openings being in fluid communication with the at least one vent opening;

a system for controlling an inflation output of the inflator, the system comprising;

a first sensing device, the first sensing device being an electronic sensing device configured to detect the presence of an object proximate to the air bag module, when the inflatable cushion is in an un-inflated state, the first sensing device providing a suppression signal when an object is detected within an area proximate to the air bag module;

a second sensing device, the second sensing device being a mechanical sensing device configured to detect whether a leading edge of the inflatable cushion has made contact with an object prior to the leading edge reaching a predetermined distance from the air bag module during inflation of the inflatable cushion, the second sensing device being disposed within the inflatable cushion and is configured to cause the inflation output provided to the inflatable cushion to be varied when the leading edge of the inflatable cushion has made contact with an object prior to the leading edge reaching the predetermined distance from the air bag module; and

a sensing and diagnostic module for receiving the suppression signal and an activation signal, wherein the activation signal corresponds to an event that requires inflation of inflatable cushion in absence of the suppression signal and the sensing and diagnostic module is configured to determine whether the inflation output is to be provided to the inflatable cushion.

11. The airbag module as in claim 10, wherein the second sensing device is a deployable member being secured to an interior surface of the inflatable cushion proximate to the leading edge of the inflatable cushion at one end and a portion of the airbag module at the other end, wherein the deployable member is configured to allow venting through the at least one vent opening when the inflatable cushion is in the un-deployed position and the at least one vent opening is covered by the deployable member when the leading edge of the inflatable cushion reaches the predetermined distance without contacting an object.

12. The airbag module as in claim 11, wherein the inflator provides a first inflation output to the inflatable cushion when the deployable member is not fully extended and a second inflation output to the inflatable cushion when the deployable member is fully extended, the second inflation output being greater than the first inflation output.

13. The airbag module as in claim 10, wherein the deployable member comprises a pair of deployable members each being secured to an interior surface of the inflatable cushion proximate to the leading edge an interior surface of the inflatable cushion proximate to the leading edge of the inflatable cushion at one end and a portion of the airbag module at the other end, wherein the pair of deployable members are configured to allow venting through the at least one vent opening when the inflatable cushion is in the undeployed position and the at least one vent opening is covered by the deployable member when the leading edge of the inflatable cushion reaches the predetermined distance without contacting an object.

14. The airbag module as in claim 10, wherein the deployable member comprises break away stitching that must be torn prior to the leading edge of the inflatable cushion reaching the predetermined distance.

15. The airbag module as in claim 10, wherein the deployable member causes a sensor to provide a signal when the deployable member is pulled taught when the leading edge of the inflatable cushion reaches the predetermined distance.

16. The airbag module as in claim 10, wherein the deployable member is folded within the housing.

17. The airbag module as in claim 10, wherein the length of the deployable member corresponds to the predetermined distance the leading edge of the inflatable travels away from the airbag module.

18. The airbag module as in claim 11, wherein the deployable member is a tether and the tether blocks the at least one vent opening during an initial phase of deployment of the inflatable cushion and thereafter the at least one vent opening is unblocked by the tether until the inflatable cushion reaches a full deployment configuration.

19. The airbag module as in claim 18, wherein the tether comprises a plurality of vent openings for aligning with the at least one vent opening and the at least one inflation opening of the inflator.

20. An air bag device, comprising:

an inflatable cushion being configured for deployment from the air bag device;

an inflator for inflating the inflatable cushion, the inflator being in fluid communication with the inflatable cushion, the inflator comprising a first initiator for initiating a first stage of inflation and a second initiator for use with the first initiator for initiating a second stage of inflation, the first stage of inflation providing a first inflation output to the inflatable cushion; and

a system for controlling an inflation output provided by the inflator, the system comprising;

a first sensing device, the first sensing device being an electronic sensing device configured to detect the presence of an object proximate to the air bag module, when the inflatable cushion is in an un-inflated state, the first sensing device providing a suppression signal when an object is detected within an area proximate to the air bag module;

a second sensing device, the second sensing device being a mechanical sensing device configured to detect whether a leading edge of the inflatable cushion has made contact with an object prior to the leading edge reaching a predetermined distance from the air bag module during inflation of the inflatable cushion, the second sensing device being disposed within the inflatable cushion and is configured to cause the inflation output provided to the inflatable cushion to be varied when the leading edge of the inflatable cushion has made contact with an object prior to the leading edge reaching the predetermined distance from the air bag module; and

a sensing and diagnostic module for receiving the suppression signal and an activation signal, wherein the activation signal corresponds to an event that requires inflation of inflatable cushion in absence of the suppression signal and the sensing and diagnostic module is configured to determine whether the inflation output is to be provided to the inflatable cushion;

wherein the second sensing device is a deployable member disposed within the inflatable cushion, the deployable member being in fluid communication with the inflator, wherein the first stage of inflation causes the deployable member to inflate and deploy in a first direction; and

wherein unobstructed deployment of the deployable member in the first direction will cause an activation signal to be sent to the second initiator to initiate the second stage of inflation.

21. The air bag device as in claim 20, further comprising a sensing device operably coupled to the deployable member, the sensing device further comprising a sensing element that provides a signal to the sensing and diagnostic module wherein the sensing and diagnostic module provides the activation signal to the second initiator when the deployable member deploys in an unobstructed manner.

22. The air bag device as in claim 21, wherein deployment of the deployable member in the first direction causes a leading edge of the inflatable cushion to reach a distance from the air bag device prior to the second stage of inflation, the distance being defined by the configuration of the deployable member.

23. The air bag device as in claim 22, wherein the maximum distance of the leading edge is reached faster than if the inflatable cushion is inflated without the deployable member disposed therein.

24. The air bag device as in claim 21, wherein the second sensing device further comprises a tether that is secured to a forward end of the deployable member at one end and the sensing element at the other end wherein the distance between the forward end and the sensing element during unobstructed deployment of the deployable member is longer than the tether and the tether provides a force to the sensing element causing the activation signal to be sent to the second initiator.

25. The air bag device as in claim 24, wherein deployment of the deployable member in the first direction causes a leading edge of the inflatable cushion to reach a maximum distance from the air bag device prior to the second stage of inflation, the maximum distance of the leading edge being defined by the configuration of the deployable member.

26. The air bag device as in claim 25, wherein the maximum distance of the leading edge is reached faster than the inflatable cushion being inflated without the deployable member disposed therein.

27. The air bag device as in claim 20, further comprising a sensing device operably coupled to the deployable member, the sensing device further comprising an upper tether, a lower tether and a central tether, the central tether being secured to a forward end of the deployable member at one end and the sensing element at the other and the lower tether and the upper tether are each secured to forward portions of the deployable member at one end and a portion of the air bag device at the other, wherein the distance between the forward end and the sensing element during unobstructed deployment of the deployable member is longer than the central tether and during unobstructed deployment of the deployable member the central tether provides a force to the sensing element causing the activation signal to be sent to the second initiator, and the upper tether and the lower tether are each longer than the central tether, wherein either the upper or the lower tether will prevent the central tether from providing a force to the sensing element when the deployable member fully deploys in a direction other than the first direction.

28. The air bag device as in claim 20, wherein deployment of the deployable member in the first direction causes a leading edge of the inflatable cushion to reach a distance from the air bag device prior to the second stage of inflation, the distance being defined by the deployable member.

29. The air bag device as in claim 20, wherein the deployable member is a tubular member having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion being secured to one end of the inflator and the second end portion is secured to the other end of the inflator, wherein a portion of the tubular member disposed between the first end and the second end deploys in the first direction, wherein the inflator provides an inflation output to the first end portion and the second end portion and the securement member positions the first end portion and the second end portion away from the inflator.

30. The air bag device as in claim 29, further comprising a sensing device operably coupled to the deployable member, the sensing device further comprising an upper tether, a lower tether and a central tether, the central tether being secured to a forward end of the deployable member at one end and the sensing element at the other end and the lower tether and the upper tether are each secured to forward portions of the deployable member at one end and a portion of the airbag module at the other, wherein the distance between the forward end and the sensing element during unobstructed deployment of the deployable member is longer than the central tether and during unobstructed deployment of the deployable member the central tether provides a force to the sensing element, the sensing element generating the activation signal, wherein the activation signal is directly sent to the second initiator, and the upper tether and the lower tether are each longer than the central tether, wherein either the upper or the lower tether will prevent the central tether from providing a force to the sensing element when the deployable member fully deploys in a direction other than the first direction.

31. A method for tailoring an inflation output supplied to an inflatable cushion of an airbag module disposed in a vehicle by providing either a suppression signal, a restricted deployment signal or a full deployment signal to a sensing and diagnostic module for deploying the inflatable cushion in the event a predetermined activation event is detected, the method comprising:

determining if the vehicle is about to be placed into operation;

scanning an area proximate to the airbag module with a first sensing device if the vehicle is placed into operation, wherein the first sensing device provides the suppression signal to the sensing and diagnostic module if the first sensing device detects an object within the area, wherein the sensing and diagnostic module will not deploy the inflatable cushion if the suppression signal has been received;

waiting a first predetermined time period if the vehicle is still in operation and scanning the area again with the first sensing device, wherein the first sensing device provides the suppression signal to the sensing and diagnostic module if the first sensing device detects an object within the area and if the first sensing device has already provided the suppression signal to the sensing and diagnostic module otherwise the restricted deployment signal is provided to the sensing and diagnostic module wherein the sensing and diagnostic module will provide a signal to provide an initial inflation output to the inflatable cushion in the event the predetermined activation event is detected and a second sensing device disposed within the inflatable cushion will provide a means for tailoring a subsequent inflation output to the inflatable cushion, if no object is detected, the full deployment signal is provided to the sensing and diagnostic module wherein a full inflation output is provided to the inflatable cushion in the event the predetermined activation event is detected by the sensing and diagnostic module, the full inflation output being greater than the initial inflation output and the second sensing device disposed within the inflatable cushion will provide means for tailoring a subsequent inflation output to the inflatable cushion during the predetermined activation event, wherein the second sensing device tailors the subsequent inflation output if a leading edge of the inflating cushion encounters an object before reaching a predetermined distance away from the airbag module;

waiting a second predetermined time period, the second predetermined time period being greater than the first predetermined time period and if the vehicle is still in operation, scanning the area again with the first sensing device, wherein the first sensing device provides the suppression signal to the sensing and diagnostic module if the first sensing device detects an object within the area and if the first sensing device has already provided the suppression signal to the sensing and diagnostic module otherwise the restricted deployment signal is provided to the sensing and diagnostic module wherein the sensing and diagnostic module will provide a signal to provide an initial inflation output to the inflatable cushion in the event the predetermined activation event is detected by the sensing and diagnostic module and the second sensing device disposed within the inflatable cushion will provide means for tailoring a subsequent inflation output to the inflatable cushion, if no object is detected, the full deployment signal is provided to the sensing and diagnostic module wherein a full inflation output is provided to the inflatable cushion in the event the predetermined activation event is detected by the sensing and diagnostic module, the full inflation output being greater than the initial inflation output and the second sensing device disposed within the inflatable cushion will provide means for tailoring a subsequent inflation output to the inflatable cushion during the predetermined activation event, wherein the second sensing device tailors the subsequent inflation output if a leading edge of the inflating cushion encounters an object before reaching a predetermined distance away from the airbag module; and

waiting a third predetermined time period, the third predetermined time period being greater than the second predetermined time period and if the vehicle is still in operation, scanning the area again with the first sensing device, wherein the first sensing device provides the suppression signal to the sensing and diagnostic module if the first sensing device detects an object within the area and if the first sensing device has already provided the suppression signal to the sensing and diagnostic module otherwise the restricted deployment signal is provided to the sensing and diagnostic module wherein the sensing and diagnostic module will provide a signal to provide an initial inflation output to the inflatable cushion in the event the predetermined activation event is detected by the sensing and diagnostic module and the second sensing device disposed within the inflatable cushion will provide means for tailoring a subsequent inflation output to the inflatable cushion, if no object is detected, the full deployment signal is provided to the sensing and diagnostic module wherein a full inflation output is provided to the inflatable cushion in the event the predetermined activation event is detected by the sensing and diagnostic module, the full inflation output being greater than the initial inflation output and the second sensing device disposed within the inflatable cushion will provide means for tailoring a subsequent inflation output to the inflatable cushion during the predetermined activation event, wherein the second sensing device tailors the subsequent inflation output if a leading edge of the inflating cushion encounters an object before reaching a predetermined distance away from the airbag module, wherein this step is repeated until the sensing and diagnostic module receives a signal that the vehicle is no longer in operation.

32. The method as in claim 31, wherein the first sensing device comprises an electronic sensing device configured to detect the presence of an object proximate to the air bag module, when the inflatable cushion is in an un-inflated state.

33. The method as in claim 31, wherein the second sensing device comprises a deployable member, wherein deployment of the deployable member in a first direction causes the leading edge of the inflatable cushion to reach a distance from the air bag device prior to a second stage of inflation, the distance being defined by the configuration of the deployable member.

34. The method as in claim 33, wherein the maximum distance of the leading edge is reached faster than if the inflatable cushion is inflated without the deployable member disposed therein.

35. The method as in claim 33, wherein the second sensing device further comprises a tether that is secured to a forward end of the deployable member at one end and a sensing element at the other wherein the distance between the forward end and the sensing element during unobstructed deployment of the deployable member is longer than the tether and the tether provides a force to the sensing element causing an activation signal to be sent to a second initiator of the airbag module.

36. The method as in claim 33, further comprising:

a sensing device operably coupled to the deployable member, the sensing device further comprising an upper tether, a lower tether and a central tether, the central tether being secured to a forward end of the deployable member at one end and the sensing element at the other end and the lower tether and the upper tether are each secured to forward portions of the deployable member at one end and a portion of the air bag device at the other, wherein the distance between the forward end and the sensing element during unobstructed deployment of the deployable member is longer than the central tether and during unobstructed deployment of the deployable member the central tether provides a force to the sensing element causing the activation signal to be sent to the second initiator, and the upper tether and the lower tether are each longer than the central tether, wherein either the upper or the lower tether will prevent the central tether from providing a force to the sensing element when the deployable member fully deploys in a direction other than the first direction.