Method To Achieve Early/Robust G-Signal For Side Pole

• US 20120267882A1
• Filed: 04/19/2011
• Published: 10/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hamlett, Lando Crispin, Ishida, Hajime, Yang, Siyang
• Application Number:
  US13/089,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20120267882A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/157 for side impacts

Abstract

The embodiments herein describe a fundamental layout between the inner panel of a door, side sill reinforcement, and uncrushable items within the door of the vehicle. During a side impact collision, a side impact sensor receives a G-signal resulting from the collision. The G-signal must ramp up to a threshold value in order to deploy the side airbag. The fundamental layout between the inner panel of a door, side sill reinforcement, and uncrushable items within the door of the vehicle ensures a more robust G-signal which results in early deployment of the side airbag relative to the movement of the door toward the occupant.

Claims

1. A body structure of a vehicle, the structure comprising:

a door including an inner door panel and uncrushable items within the door; and

a side sill including a side sill reinforcement;

wherein a physical layout of the door relative to the side sill is such that a difference of a width of the uncrushable items within the door and a horizontal distance from the inner door panel to a vertical support of the side sill reinforcement is a maximum of 30 millimeters, the physical layout conducive to transferring a force of a side impact collision to a side airbag sensor that triggers deployment of a side airbag within a time threshold from the side impact collision.

2. The body structure of claim 1, wherein the door further includes a door skin and the uncrushable items are located between the inner door panel and the door skin.

3. The body structure of claim 1, wherein the side impact collision is with a pole.

4. The body structure of claim 3, wherein the side impact collision is with a pole at a velocity defined by an independent safety assessment program.

5. The body structure of claim 4, wherein the velocity is up to 32 kilometers per hour.

6. The body structure of claim 1, wherein the uncrushable items comprise at least one of a door beam and window motor.

7. The body structure of claim 1, wherein the side sill further includes a side sill inner comprising a first horizontal support and a second horizontal support.

8. The body structure of claim 7, wherein the first horizontal support of the side sill inner is coupled to a first horizontal support of the side sill reinforcement at a first flange and the second horizontal support of the side sill inner is coupled to a second horizontal support of the side sill reinforcement at a second flange.

9. The body structure of claim 8, wherein a first vertical offset between the first horizontal support of the side sill inner and the first horizontal support of the side sill reinforcement is a maximum of 3 millimeters.

10. The body structure of claim 8, wherein a second vertical offset between the second horizontal support of the side sill inner and the second horizontal support of the side sill reinforcement is a maximum of 8 millimeters.

11. The body structure of claim 1, wherein the difference of the width of the uncrushable items within the door and the horizontal distance from the inner door panel to a vertical support of the side sill reinforcement is a maximum of 25 millimeters.

12. The body structure of claim 1, wherein the difference of the width of the uncrushable items within the door and the horizontal distance from the inner door panel to a vertical support of the side sill reinforcement is a maximum of 20 millimeters.

13. A computer-implemented method for deploying a side airbag in a vehicle comprising a door that includes an inner door panel and uncrushable items within the door and the vehicle further comprising a side sill including a side sill reinforcement, the method comprising:

receiving a side impact signal generated from a side impact collision with the side sill reinforcement of the vehicle, wherein the side sill reinforcement is positioned such that a difference of a width of the uncrushable items within the door and a horizontal distance from the inner door panel to a vertical support of the side sill reinforcement is a maximum of 30 millimeters; and

responsive to receiving the side impact signal, causing a side airbag to deploy within a threshold of time.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the side impact collision is with a pole.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the side impact collision is with a pole at a velocity defined by an independent safety assessment program.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the velocity is up to 32 kilometers per hour.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the threshold of time is measured from initial movement of the inner door panel as a result of the collision with the side sill reinforcement.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the threshold of time is 7.5 milliseconds.