Passenger-protecting system for automotive vehicle

• US 20070114770A1
• Filed: 11/14/2006
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Wanami, Shingo, Hashimoto, Kazuhisa
• Granted Patent: US 7,690,679 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01252 Devices other than bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0136 responsive to actual contact with an obstacle , e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01564 Manually or key-actuated inhibition switches

Abstract

A passenger-protecting system includes a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure in an inner space of a door and a side airbag installed in the door. The pressure in the inner space increases when a side collision occurs. When the pressure in the inner space of the door exceeds a predetermined threshold level, the side airbag is inflated to protect a passenger from a side collision. There are certain situations where the operation of the side airbag is not necessary even if the pressure in the inner space of the door exceeds the threshold level. Such situations include: when the door is abruptly closed and a front airbag is inflated to protect a passenger from a frontal collision. According to the present invention, unnecessary operations of the side airbag are effectively avoided.

Claims

1. A passenger-protecting system for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure in an inner space of a door;

a device for protecting a passenger from a side collision, the device being operated when the inner space pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold level; and

means for prohibiting operation of the passenger-protecting device when a predetermined operation of a predetermined on-board device is detected.

2. The passenger-protecting system as in claim 1, wherein:

the prohibiting means elevates the threshold level when a predetermined operation of a predetermined on-board device is detected.

3. The passenger-protecting system as in claim 2, wherein:

an amount of the threshold level elevated is preset for each predetermined operation of each predetermined on-board device.

4. The passenger-protecting system as in claim 1, further including a speed sensor for detecting a driving speed of the automotive vehicle, wherein:

the prohibiting means prohibits operation of the passenger-protecting device when a predetermined operation of a predetermined on-board device is detected and the driving speed is lower than a predetermined speed.

5. The passenger-protecting system as in claim 1, further including a speed sensor for detecting a driving speed of the automotive vehicle and a warning device that gives a warning when the operation of the passenger-protecting system is prohibited and the driving speed exceeds a predetermined speed.

6. The passenger-protecting system as in claim 1, wherein:

the prohibiting means prohibits operation of the passenger-protecting device for a predetermined period after a predetermined operation of a predetermined on-board device is detected.

7. The passenger-protecting system as in claim 6, wherein:

the predetermined period is preset for each predetermined operation of each predetermined device.

8. The passenger-protecting system as in claim 1, wherein:

the predetermined on-board device is a device for protecting a passenger from a frontal collision; and

the predetermined operation is an operation of the device for protecting a passenger from a frontal collision.

9. The passenger-protecting system as in claim 1, wherein:

the predetermined on-board device is a door of the automotive vehicle; and

the predetermined operation is an action to close the door that has been opened.

10. The passenger-protecting system as in claim 1, wherein:

the predetermined on-board device is a door of the automotive vehicle; and

the predetermined operation is an action for keeping a door open.

11. The passenger-protecting system as in claim 1, wherein:

the predetermined on-board device is a front airbag; and

the predetermined operation is an action for inflating the front airbag.

12. The passenger-protecting system as in claim 1, wherein:

the device for protecting a passenger from a side collision is a side airbag.