AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20060226637A1
• Filed: 04/06/2005
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ryan, Sean, Cuddihy, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,568,727 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01504 detecting bag displacement

Abstract

A system for monitoring the deployment of an airbag. The system includes a sensor adapted to generate a signal and a flexible member having an indicator portion. The indicator portion inhibits at least a portion of the signal from transmitting through the flexible member.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring deployment of an airbag, the system comprising:

a flexible member including;

a first end,

a second end disposed opposite the first end and proximate the airbag, and

an indicator portion disposed between the first end and the second end, the indicator portion having a predetermined length; and

a sensor associated with the flexible member, the sensor being adapted to direct a signal toward the flexible member;

wherein the indicator portion inhibits at least a portion of the signal from transmitting through the flexible member along the predetermined length.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the indicator portion is shaded along the predetermined length such that the indicator portion is darker than a portion of the flexible member disposed adjacent to the indicator portion.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the indicator portion is shaded by a constant amount along the predetermined length.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the indicator portion is shaded such that the shading decreases in a direction extending from the first end toward the second end.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the indicator portion is shaded such that the shading decreases in a direction extending from the second end toward the first end.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the flexible member includes a first and second sides extending between the first and second ends and the indicator portion is shaded such that shading progressively decreases in a direction extending from the first side to the second side.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the flexible member includes a first and second sides extending between the first and second ends and the indicator portion is shaded such that shading progressively increases in a direction extending from the first side to the second side.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the indicator portion is shaded such that an amount of shading corresponds to a location along the indicator portion.

9. An airbag deployment monitoring system comprising:

an airbag module adapted to deploy an airbag;

a dispenser disposed proximate the airbag module;

a flexible member including;

a first end disposed proximate the dispenser,

a second end disposed opposite the first end and proximate the airbag, and

an indicator portion disposed near the second end and having a predetermined length; and

a sensor disposed near the flexible member, the sensor having a transmitter adapted to project a beam toward the flexible member and a receiver adapted to detect the beam;

wherein the indicator portion is shaded along the predetermined length to inhibit at least a portion of the beam from transmitting through the flexible member along the predetermined length.

10. The deployment monitoring system of claim 9 wherein the indicator portion includes a first shaded section having first, second, and third sides.

11. The deployment monitoring system of claim 10 wherein at least one side is disposed parallel to the second end.

12. The deployment monitoring system of claim 11 further comprising a second shaded section having first, second, and third sides.

13. The deployment monitoring system of claim 12 wherein at least one side of the first shaded section is disposed adjacent to the second shaded section.

14. The deployment monitoring system of claim 9 wherein the indicator portion is shaded such that an amount of shading corresponds to a position along the indicator portion relative to the second end.

15. An airbag deployment monitoring system comprising:

an airbag module adapted to deploy an airbag;

a dispenser disposed proximate the airbag module;

a flexible member including;

a first end disposed proximate the dispenser,

a second end disposed opposite the first end and proximate the airbag, and

an indicator portion disposed near the second end, the indicator portion having a plurality of tinted sections having at least one side disposed at an angle relative to the second end; and

a sensor disposed near the flexible member, the sensor having a transmitter adapted to project a light beam toward the flexible member and a receiver adapted to detect the light beam;

wherein the plurality of tinted sections are configured to inhibit a portion of the light beam from transmitting through the flexible member.

16. The deployment monitoring system of claim 15 wherein the plurality of tinted sections includes a set of lines, each member of the set of lines extending from a intersection point.

17. The deployment monitoring system of claim 15 wherein the plurality of tinted sections includes a set of lines, and the angle is in the range of approximately 45 to 90 degrees.

18. The deployment monitoring system of claim 15 wherein the plurality of tinted sections includes a set of lines, the members of the set of lines being disposed parallel to each other.

19. The deployment monitoring system of claim 15 wherein the plurality of tinted sections includes first and second shaded sections, the first and second shaded sections each having at least three sides.

20. The deployment monitoring system of claim 15 wherein the indicator portion has a predetermined length and the plurality of tinted sections are spaced apart from each other such that at least a portion of the light beam is reflected by at least one tinted section along the predetermined length.