METHODS OF PREVENTING OR REDUCING THE AFFECTS OF ROOF IMPACT IN AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS

• US 20120098244A1
• Filed: 01/04/2012
• Published: 04/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Browne, Alan L., Muhammad, Hanif, Johnson, Nancy L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,888,136 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/801.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42736 of the whole seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/13 Roll-over protection electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2201/12 Shape memory

Abstract

A method of autonomously preventing or reducing the affects of roof impact in automotive applications, including the steps of determining a vehicle condition indicative of an imminent roof impact, and modifying a vehicular seat or roof structure, or deploying a netting as a result thereof, wherein active material actuation is preferably utilized to effect the same.

Claims

1. A method adapted for use by a vehicle comprising a roof, and seat, and by a passenger disposed within the seat, and for autonomously preventing or reducing the effects of an impact between the passenger and roof, said method comprising:

a. determining a vehicle condition indicative of an imminent roof impact;

b. autonomously modifying the seat, in response to determining the condition; and

c. preventing or reducing the effects of the roof impact, as a result of autonomously modifying the seat.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein step a) further includes the steps of sensing a rollover event by the vehicle.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein step a) further includes the steps of anticipating a rollover event by the vehicle, as a result of determining the condition.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein step a) further includes the steps of determining a head clearance between the passenger and roof, and comparing the clearance to a minimum threshold, so as to determine a low clearance condition, and step c) further includes the steps of increasing the clearance.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seat includes a seat base, and step b) further includes the steps of modifying the seat base.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the seat base further includes a ramp, and step b) further includes the steps of altering the slope of the ramp.

7. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the seat base further includes at least one mount interconnecting the seat and remainder of the vehicle, and step b) further includes the steps of enabling said at least one mount to collapse.

8. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the seat base further includes a seat cushion defining a rigidity, and step b) further includes the steps of modifying the rigidity of the cushion, so as to enable the cushion to collapse.

9. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the seat further includes an upright defining a reclining angle with the base, and step b) further includes the step of modifying the angle.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seat further includes an upright defining a resistance to pivoting, and step b) further includes the steps of reducing the resistance, such that the upright is caused to pivot in anticipation of and/or during the impact.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seat further includes a seat belt restraining the passenger within the seat, and presenting a tension, and step b) further includes the steps of modifying the tension.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein step b) further includes the steps of modifying the belt.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the seat further includes a belt retractor and pretensioner, both drivenly coupled to the belt, and step b) further includes the steps of modifying the retractor and/or energizing the pretensioner.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seat further includes an active material actuator drivenly coupled thereto, and step b) further includes the steps of activating the actuator.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein step a) further includes the initial step of determining the presence of the passenger within the seat.

16. A method adapted for use by a vehicle comprising a roof, and seat, and by a passenger disposed within the seat, and for autonomously preventing or reducing the affects of an impact between the passenger and roof, said method comprising:

a. determining a vehicle condition indicative of an imminent roof impact;

b. autonomously deploying a netting intermediate the passenger and roof, in response to determining the condition; and

c. preventing or reducing the effects of the roof impact, as a result of deploying the net.

17. A method adapted for use by a vehicle comprising a roof, a structure connected to the roof, and a seat, and by a passenger disposed within the seat, and for autonomously preventing or reducing the affects of an impact between the passenger and roof, said method comprising:

a. determining a vehicle condition indicative of an imminent roof impact;

b. autonomously modifying the structure, as a result of determining the condition; and

c. preventing or reducing the effects of the roof impact, as a result of modifying the structure.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the structure is a telescoping support operable to raise the roof, and step b) further includes the steps of extending the support so as to raise the roof.

19. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the structure is a roof rack fixedly coupled to the roof, and presenting an energy absorption capability, and step b) further includes the steps of modifying the rack, so as to increase the capability.

20. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the vehicle further includes an active material actuator drivenly coupled to the structure, and step b) further includes the steps of activating the actuator.