Airbag development control apparatus

• US 20060095185A1
• Filed: 10/17/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
• Original Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
• Inventors: Oishi, Mineyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,509,196 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01231 control of expansion timing or sequence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01322 comprising variable thresholds, e.g. depending from other collision parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01332 by frequency or waveform analysis

Abstract

An anterior part of a vehicle is provided with a bumper armature as a structural member having high rigidity. A bumper is disposed front of the bumper armature, and a radiator and an engine are disposed behind the bumper armature. A collision determining device embedded with an acceleration sensor as an airbag development control apparatus is arranged in a position approximately in the center of a vehicle interior. A time period “t” during when a signal waveform curve outputted from the acceleration sensor reaches from a first threshold value to a second threshold value is measured to judge whether or not the time period “t” is equal to or less than a previously set time “s”. When t≦s satisfied, full development of an airbag in which both of inflators are activated is selected by determining that the collision is occurred under a high speed condition. When t>s is satisfied, depowered development of the airbag in which one of the inflators is activated is selected by determining that the collision is occurred under a non-high speed condition.

Claims

1. An airbag development control apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

an acceleration signal generator for generating acceleration signals on collision of the vehicle;

a threshold value setter for setting a first threshold value and a second threshold value for the acceleration signals generated by the acceleration signal generator, the second threshold value being larger than the first threshold value;

a timer for measuring a time period during when the acceleration signals, generated at an initial stage of the collision by the acceleration signal generator reach the second threshold value from the first threshold value; and

a judgment circuit for selectively deciding a mode of development of an airbag according to a result of the measurement of the time period by the timer.

2. The airbag development control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the acceleration signals exceed the first threshold value and then once fell below the first threshold value without reaching the second threshold value and thereafter reached the first threshold value again, the timer measures the time period based on a point of time that the acceleration signals have initially exceeded the first threshold value without taking a point of time that the acceleration signals have exceeded the first threshold value again as a basis of the measurement of the time period.

3. The airbag development control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of inflators coupled with the judgment circuit for inflating the airbag, wherein the judgment circuit activates all of the inflators to fully develop the airbag when the measured time period by the timer is equal to or less than previously set time, and activates one of the inflators to partially develop the airbag when the measured time period by the timer exceeds the previously set time.

4. The airbag development control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a structural member having high rigidity provided at front of the vehicle and extended in a vehicle-width direction.

5. A method for controlling development of an airbag of a vehicle, the method comprising:

generating acceleration signals on collision of the vehicle;

setting a first threshold value and a second threshold value for the acceleration signals, the second threshold value being larger than the first threshold value;

measuring a time period during when the acceleration signals generated at an initial stage of the collision reach the second threshold value from the first threshold value; and

deciding a mode of the development of the airbag according to a result of the measurement of the time period.

6. The method for controlling the development of the airbag according to claim 5, the method comprising:

measuring the time period based on a point of time that the acceleration signals have initially exceeded the first threshold value when the acceleration signals exceed the first threshold value and then once fell below the first threshold value without reaching the second threshold value and thereafter reached the first threshold value again, without taking a point of time that the acceleration signals have exceeded the first threshold value again as a basis of the measurement of the time period.

7. The method for controlling the development of the airbag according to claim 5, the method comprising:

fully developing the airbag when the measured time period being equal to or less than previously set time; and

partially developing the airbag when the measured time period exceeding the previously set time.

8. The method for controlling the development of the airbag according to claim 5, wherein the vehicle comprises a structural member having high rigidity provided at front of the vehicle and extended in a vehicle-width direction.