METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVING CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT USING AN ACTUATOR ATTACHED TO A HEADLINER

• US 20110301816A1
• Filed: 06/08/2010
• Published: 12/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Gandhi, Umesh N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,452,494 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0225 self supporting head liners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0287 integrating other functions or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/215 characterised by the covers for the inflatable member B60R21/2176 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention is a method and system for improving curtain air bag deployment using an actuator attached to a headliner. The present invention can include an automobile having a roof, a headliner, an actuator, a curtain air bag, a door, a sensor, and/or a processor. The roof can also include a roof rail. The roof rail and the headliner enclose the curtain air bag. The actuator is attached to the headliner. The sensor is located within the door and detects collision data. The processor analyzes the collision data to determine when to deploy the curtain airbag. In deploying the curtain airbag, the processor activates the actuator, which reduces the overlap between the headliner and the roof rail. The curtain airbags deploys by either pushing through the reduced overlap between the headliner and the roof rail or by easily forming through a gap between the headliner and the roof rail.

Claims

1. An air bag deployment system comprising:

a headliner;

a roof rail overlapping the headliner;

a curtain air bag located between the headliner and the roof rail; and

an actuator connected to the headliner, the actuator configured to reduce an overlap between the headliner and the roof rail when activated.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the actuator includes a shape memory alloy strip.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the actuator includes an outer metallic plate.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the shape memory alloy strip contracts when activated, and bends the outer metallic plate when activated.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the actuator bends the headliner to reduce the overlap between the headliner and the roof rail when activated.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the actuator is activated prior to deployment of the curtain air bag.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a processor configured to activate the actuator prior to deployment of the curtain air bag or during the deployment of the curtain air bag.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein when the actuator is activated, the actuator bends and pushes the headliner away from the roof rail.

9. The system of claim 7 further comprising a sensor located on a side door of an automobile, the sensor detecting collision data.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the processor activates the actuator based on the collision data.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein when the actuator is activated, the actuator creates a gap between the headliner and the roof rail.

12. An automobile comprising:

a headliner;

a roof rail overlapping the headliner;

a curtain air bag located between the headliner and the roof rail;

an actuator connected to the headliner and including a shape memory alloy strip and an outer metallic plate, the actuator configured to reduce an overlap between the headliner and the roof rail when activated; and

a processor connected to the actuator and configured to activate the actuator prior to deployment of the curtain air bag or during the deployment of the curtain air bag.

13. The automobile of claim 12 further comprising:

a side door located on a same side as the curtain air bag in the automobile; and

a sensor connected to the processor and located within the side door, the sensor configured to detect collision data for the side door, and wherein the processor activates the actuator based on the collision data.

14. The automobile of claim 12 wherein the shape memory alloy strip contracts when activated, and bends the outer metallic plate when activated.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the actuator bends the headliner to reduce the overlap between the headliner and the roof rail when activated.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein when the actuator is activated, the actuator creates a gap between the headliner and the roof rail.

17. A method for deploying a curtain airbag comprising:

determining a collision to a side door;

activating an actuator to decrease an overlap between a roof rail and a headliner; and

deploying the curtain airbag.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the curtain airbag is deployed after the actuator is activated.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the actuator creates a gap between the headliner and the roof rail when the actuator is activated.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the curtain airbag is deployed after the actuator creates a gap between the headliner and the roof rail.