Apparatus for allowing or suppressing deployment of a low risk deployment airbag
First Claim
1. Apparatus for selectively allowing or suppressing deployment of a low risk deployment airbag for an occupant of a vehicle seat having a bottom cushion for supporting said occupant and a seat belt for restraining said occupant, the apparatus comprising:
- a load sensor for detecting an occupant load applied to said bottom cushion, and producing a seat load signal;
a belt tension sensor for detecting a tension applied to said seat belt, and producing a belt tension signal; and
an airbag control unit for suppressing deployment of the low risk deployment airbag when said seat load signal represents an occupant load below a specified load threshold or said belt tension signal represents a seat belt tension above a specified tension threshold, and otherwise allowing deployment of the low risk deployment airbag.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A low-cost automatic suppression apparatus allows or suppresses deployment of a low risk deployment airbag based solely on occupant seat load and seat belt tension. The seat load and belt tension parameters are detected by low-cost sensors, and an airbag control unit suppresses airbag deployment when the occupant load is below a specified load threshold or the belt tension is above a specified tension threshold, and otherwise allows airbag deployment. The sensors are preferably switch-based so that the signals provided to the airbag control unit are in the form of a differential electrical current, and only two wires are needed to interface each sensor to the airbag control unit.
24 Citations
5 Claims
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1. Apparatus for selectively allowing or suppressing deployment of a low risk deployment airbag for an occupant of a vehicle seat having a bottom cushion for supporting said occupant and a seat belt for restraining said occupant, the apparatus comprising:
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a load sensor for detecting an occupant load applied to said bottom cushion, and producing a seat load signal; a belt tension sensor for detecting a tension applied to said seat belt, and producing a belt tension signal; and an airbag control unit for suppressing deployment of the low risk deployment airbag when said seat load signal represents an occupant load below a specified load threshold or said belt tension signal represents a seat belt tension above a specified tension threshold, and otherwise allowing deployment of the low risk deployment airbag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification