HIGH VOLTAGE COLOR INDICATED AIR BAGS

• US 20140300091A1
• Filed: 04/04/2013
• Published: 10/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: HERZ, SCOTT R., SCHULTZ, KEITH S.
• Application Number:
  US13/856,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20140300091A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0027 Post collision measures, e.g. notifying emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0136 responsive to actual contact with an obstacle , e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/235 characterised by their material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An airbag system upon deployment indicates the type of power system in a vehicle in which the airbag system is contained in. The airbag system includes an airbag inflator, a crash sensor in communication with the airbag inflator, and an airbag. The airbag includes a flexible fabric cushion that has an exposed surface after the airbag is inflated by the airbag inflator. The exposed surface has an indicator that shows the type of power system within the vehicle.

Claims

1. An airbag system for a vehicle, the airbag system comprising:

an airbag inflator;

a crash sensor in communication with the airbag inflator; and

an airbag including a flexible fabric cushion, the flexible fabric cushion having an exposed surface after the airbag is inflated by the airbag inflator, the exposed surface having an indicator indicating a type of power system within the vehicle.

2. The airbag system of claim 1 wherein the power system is a high voltage electric power system.

3. The airbag system of claim 1 wherein the power system is a hybrid electric power system.

4. The airbag system of claim 1 wherein the power system is a fuel cell power system.

5. The airbag system of claim 1 wherein the indicator is a visible indicator.

6. The airbag system of claim 5 wherein the exposed surface presents a non-white color that indicates the type of power system.

7. The airbag system of claim 6 wherein the non-white color has a dominant wavelength of 560 to 650 nanometers with respect to a white point.

8. The airbag system of claim 6 wherein the non-white color has a dominant wavelength of 575 to 590 nanometers with respect to a white point.

9. The airbag system of claim 5 wherein the exposed surface presents a symbolic representation of the type of power system.

10. The airbag system of claim 5 wherein the exposed surface presents a reflective region that indicates the type of power system.

11. The airbag system of claim 10 wherein the reflective region has an average visible specular reflection of greater than 10 percent.

12. The airbag system of claim 10 wherein the reflective region has an average visible specular reflection of greater than 20 percent.

13. The airbag system of claim 10 wherein the reflective region is arranged into a reflective pattern that indicates the type of power system.

14. The airbag system of claim 1 further comprising an audio signal generator, the audio signal generator emitting an audio signal upon a vehicle collision.

15. The airbag system of claim 14 wherein the audio signal includes a sound pattern indicative of the type of power system.

16. The airbag system of claim 1 further including a visible light indicator for providing a signal indicating the type of power system.

17. A method of installing airbag systems in a vehicle, the method comprising:

a) manufacturing a plurality of automotive vehicles;

b) installing an airbag system in each vehicle, the airbag system including;

an airbag inflator;

a crash sensor in communication with the airbag inflator; and

an airbag including a flexible fabric cushion, the flexible fabric cushion having an exposed surface after the airbag is inflated by the airbag inflator, the exposed surface having an indicator indicating a type of power system within each vehicle in the plurality of automotive vehicles.

20. The airbag system of claim 17 wherein the non-white colored powder has a color with a dominant wavelength of 575 to 590 nanometers with respect to a white point.

18. An airbag system for a vehicle, the airbag system comprising:

an airbag inflator;

a crash sensor in communication with the airbag inflator; and

an airbag including a flexible fabric cushion, the flexible fabric cushion being inflated by the airbag inflator; and

a non-white colored powder that provides a non-white color to the airbag.

19. The airbag system of claim 18 wherein the non-white colored powder has a color with a dominant wavelength of 560 to 650 nanometers with respect to a white point.