VEHICLE

• US 20150091280A1
• Filed: 09/05/2014
• Published: 04/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Subaru Corp.
• Original Assignee: Fuji Heavy Industries Limited (Subaru Corp.)
• Inventors: NAGASAWA, Isamu
• Granted Patent: US 9,308,882 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/015 including means for detecting the presence or position of passengers, passenger seats or child seats , and the related safety parameters therefor, e.g. speed or timing of airbag inflation in relation to occupant position or seat belt use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01556 Child-seat detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats

Abstract

A vehicle has a front seat in which an airbag is deployed so as to inflate in an interior of a seat back in response to a collision, and a rear seat disposed behind the front seat. The vehicle includes: a rear occupancy detector that detects the presence of a seat occupant in the rear seat; and a controller that controls deployment/inflation of the airbag. The airbag in the seat back elastically supports an upper body of a seat occupant of the front seat, and elastically receives an impact force exerted on a back surface of the seat back. The controller cancels deployment/inflation of the airbag when a seat occupant is not present in the rear seat.

Claims

1. A vehicle that has a front seat in which an airbag is deployed so as to inflate in an interior of a seat back in response to a collision, and a rear seat disposed behind the front seat, the vehicle comprising:

a rear occupancy detector that detects the presence of a seat occupant in the rear seat; and

a controller that controls deployment/inflation of the airbag,

wherein the deployment/inflation within the seat back is performed such that the deployed/inflated airbag elastically supports an upper body of a front seat occupant and elastically receives an impact force exerted on a back surface of the seat back; and

the controller cancels the deployment/inflation when a seat occupant is not present in the rear seat.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the vehicle further comprises a collision sensor for predicting or detecting a rear collision;

and

the deployment/inflation is performed after the collision sensor predicts or detects a rear collision.

9. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the front seat is a front passenger seat, and the vehicle further comprises a front passenger seat occupancy detector for detecting the presence of a seat occupant in the front passenger seat;

and

the deployment/inflation is canceled when a seat occupant is not present in the front passenger seat.

13. The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein

the front seat is a front passenger seat, and the vehicle further comprises a front passenger seat occupancy detector for detecting the presence of a seat occupant in the front passenger seat;

and

the deployment/inflation is canceled when a seat occupant is not present in the front passenger seat.

2. A vehicle that has a front seat in which an airbag is deployed so as to inflate in an interior of a seat back in response to a collision, and a rear seat disposed behind the front seat, the vehicle comprising:

a child seat attachment detector that detects attachment of a child seat to the rear seat; and

a controller that controls deployment/inflation of the airbag, wherein

the deployment/inflation within the seat back is performed such that the deployed/inflated airbag elastically supports an upper body of a front seat occupant and elastically receives an impact force exerted on a back surface of the seat back; and

the controller cancels the deployment/inflation when a child seat is attached to the rear seat.

6. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein

the vehicle further comprises a collision sensor for predicting or detecting a rear collision;

and

the deployment/inflation is performed after the collision sensor predicts or detects a rear collision.

10. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein

the front seat is a front passenger seat, and the vehicle further comprises a front passenger seat occupancy detector for detecting the presence of a seat occupant in the front passenger seat;

and

the deployment/inflation is canceled when a seat occupant is not present in the front passenger seat.

14. The vehicle according to claim 6, wherein

the front seat is a front passenger seat, and the vehicle further comprises a front passenger seat occupancy detector for detecting the presence of a seat occupant in the front passenger seat;

and

the deployment/inflation is canceled when a seat occupant is not present in the front passenger seat.

3. A vehicle that has a front seat in which an airbag is deployed so as to inflate in an interior of a seat back in response to a collision, and a rear seat disposed behind the front seat, the vehicle comprising:

a rear seat occupant type detector that detects a body type of a seat occupant of the rear seat; and

a controller that controls deployment/inflation of the airbag, wherein

the deployment/inflation within the seat back is performed such that the deployed/inflated airbag elastically supports an upper body of a front seat occupant and elastically receives an impact force exerted on a back surface of the seat back; and

the controller cancels the deployment/inflation when the type of the seat occupant is a predetermined body type.

7. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein

the vehicle further comprises a collision sensor for predicting or detecting a rear collision;

and

the deployment/inflation is performed after the collision sensor predicts or detects a rear collision.

11. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein

the front seat is a front passenger seat, and the vehicle further comprises a front passenger seat occupancy detector for detecting the presence of a seat occupant in the front passenger seat;

and

the deployment/inflation is canceled when a seat occupant is not present in the front passenger seat.

15. The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein

the front seat is a front passenger seat, and the vehicle further comprises a front passenger seat occupancy detector for detecting the presence of a seat occupant in the front passenger seat;

and

the deployment/inflation is canceled when a seat occupant is not present in the front passenger seat.

4. A vehicle that has a front seat in which an airbag is deployed so as to inflate in an interior of a seat back in response to a collision, and a rear seat disposed behind the front seat, the vehicle comprising:

a rear seat load detector that detects a condition of a load carried on the rear seat; and

a controller that controls deployment/inflation of the airbag, wherein

the deployment/inflation within the seat back is performed such that the deployed/inflated airbag elastically supports an upper body of a front seat occupant and elastically receives an impact force exerted on a back surface of the seat back; and

the controller cancels the deployment/inflation when the load carried on the rear seat is in a predetermined condition.

8. The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein

the vehicle further comprises a collision sensor for predicting or detecting a rear collision;

and

the deployment/inflation is performed after the collision sensor predicts or detects a rear collision.

12. The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein

the front seat is a front passenger seat, and the vehicle further comprises a front passenger seat occupancy detector for detecting the presence of a seat occupant in the front passenger seat;

and

the deployment/inflation is canceled when a seat occupant is not present in the front passenger seat.

16. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein

the front seat is a front passenger seat, and the vehicle further comprises a front passenger seat occupancy detector for detecting the presence of a seat occupant in the front passenger seat;

and

the deployment/inflation is canceled when a seat occupant is not present in the front passenger seat.