Method for Operating a Pre-Crash Sensing System to Deploy Airbags Using Inflation Control

• US 20070228704A1
• Filed: 03/30/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hall, Ian, Rao, Manoharprasad, Cuddihy, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,463,500 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01231 control of expansion timing or sequence
• 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 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01512 Passenger detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01544 detecting seat belt parameters, e.g. length, tension or height-adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01554 Seat position sensors

Abstract

A method of operating a restraint system comprises deploying an airbag in response to a pre-crash sensing system prior to collision in a first stage and controlling an inflation of the airbag in a second stage in response to acceleration signals of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of operating a restraint system comprising:

deploying an airbag in response to a pre-crash sensing system prior to collision; and

controlling an inflation of the airbag in response to acceleration signals of the vehicle.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein controlling an inflation of the airbag comprises controlling an airbag vent.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein controlling the inflation comprises controlling the timing of an airbag vent.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein the timing of the vent is determined is response to an occupant characteristic.

5. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein the timing of the vent is determined is response to a seat position.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the airbag comprises a dual stage airbag comprising the first stage and the second stage with a means to control time delay between the two stages.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising monitoring a seatbelt status and wherein controlling the inflation of the airbag comprises controlling the inflation in response to the collision partner characteristics and seatbelt status.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising determining an occupant characteristic and wherein controlling the inflation comprises controlling the inflation of the airbag in response to the collision partner characteristics and the occupant characteristics.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising classifying a collision into a collision classification in response to a pre-crash sensing system.

10. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein the step of classifying comprises scanning a frontal zone with a pre-crash sensing system.

11. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein the step of classifying comprises determining a relative velocity of a threat.

12. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising determining a confidence factor threshold and a pre-crash collision confidence factor and wherein deploying comprises deploying in response to comparing the confidence factor and the confidence factor threshold.

13. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein if the confidence factor is not above a threshold, determining a collision in response to a vehicle accelerometer and wherein controlling the restraint system in response to the vehicle accelerometer in a post-collision mode.

14. A method of operating an airbag having a controllable vent comprising:

deploying an airbag;

determining a crash severity;

determining occupant information; and

operating an airbag vent in response to crash severity and the occupant information.

15. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein deploying an airbag comprises deploying the airbag in response to a pre-crash sensing system output.

16. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein deploying an airbag comprises deploying the airbag in response to a pre-crash sensing system output prior to a collision.

17. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein deploying an airbag comprises deploying the airbag in response to a pre-crash sensing system output prior to a collision and operating an airbag vent comprises operating the airbag vent after the collision.

18. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein deploying an airbag comprises deploying the airbag in response to a pre-crash sensing system output prior to a collision and operating an airbag vent comprises operating the airbag vent before the collision.

19. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein determining occupant information comprises determining belted or unbelted status.

20. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein determining occupant information comprises determining a weight range.