AIRBAG ADJUSTMENT BASED ON DRIVER POSITION

• US 20150210237A1
• Filed: 01/27/2014
• Published: 07/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Peterson, Nathan J., Weksler, Arnold S., VanBlon, Russell Speight, Mese, John Carl, Waltermann, Rod D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,475,443 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01238 control of expansion shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01538 for image processing, e.g. cameras or sensor arrays

Abstract

An aspect provides a method, including: capturing, using a sensor, positional information relating to a driver; determining, using a processor, a driver position with respect to an airbag containing component based on the positional information; and adjusting deployment of the airbag based on the determined driver position. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

capturing, using a sensor, positional information relating to a driver;

determining, using a processor, a driver position with respect to an airbag containing component based on the positional information; and

adjusting deployment of the airbag based on the determined driver position.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said capturing comprises detecting a contact position of the driver with respect to a steering wheel; and

said determining comprises determining the contact position of at least one hand of the driver on the steering wheel.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said adjusting comprises directing deployment of a chambered air bag such that a chamber substantially proximate to the contact position is not deployed.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein:

said airbag comprises a plurality of airbags; and

said adjusting comprises directing deployment of said plurality of airbags such that an airbag of the plurality of airbags that is substantially proximate to the contact position is not deployed.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said capturing comprises capturing an image of the driver; and

said determining comprises determining the position of the driver with respect to the at least one airbag component.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the driver position with respect to an airbag containing component does not exceed a predetermined distance;

wherein said adjusting deployment of the airbag based on the determined driver position comprises preventing the airbag from deploying.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the driver position with respect to an airbag containing component does not match a predetermined driver orientation;

wherein said adjusting deployment of the airbag based on the determined driver position comprises preventing the airbag from deploying.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the driver position with respect to an airbag containing component does not match a predetermined driver orientation;

wherein said adjusting deployment of the airbag based on the determined driver position comprises shaping deployment of the airbag.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the airbag comprises a chambered airbag.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the driver position with respect to an airbag containing component does not match a predetermined driver orientation;

wherein;

said airbag comprises a plurality of airbags; and

said adjusting comprises directing deployment of said plurality of airbags such that at least one airbag of the plurality of airbags is not deployed.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

determine the driver position with respect to an airbag containing component does not match a predetermined driver orientation;

wherein;

said at least one airbag comprises a plurality of airbags; and

to adjust comprises directing deployment of said plurality of airbags such that at least one airbag of the plurality of airbags is not deployed.

11. A vehicle, comprising:

an airbag containing component;

at least one airbag therein;

a driver compartment having a seat and a steering wheel;

one or more wheels, at least one of said wheels operatively coupled to said steering wheel;

a motor that provides motion to the one or more wheels;

a sensor that provides input relating to a driver within the driver compartment;

a processor operatively coupled to the sensor and the at least one airbag; and

a memory device that stores instructions accessible to the processor, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

capture, using the sensor, positional information relating to the driver;

determine a driver position with respect to the airbag containing component based on the positional information; and

adjust deployment of the at least one airbag based on the determined driver position.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein:

to capture comprises detecting a contact position of the driver with respect to a steering wheel; and

to determine comprises determining the contact position of at least one hand of the driver on the steering wheel.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein to adjust comprises directing deployment of a chambered air bag such that a chamber substantially proximate to the contact position is not deployed.

14. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein:

said at least one airbag comprises a plurality of airbags; and

to adjust comprises directing deployment of said plurality of airbags such that an airbag of the plurality of airbags that is substantially proximate to the contact position is not deployed.

15. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein:

to capture comprises capturing an image of the driver; and

to determine comprises determining the position of the driver with respect to the at least one airbag component.

16. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

determine the driver position with respect to an airbag containing component does not exceed a predetermined distance;

wherein to adjust deployment of the at least one airbag based on the determined driver position comprises preventing the at least one airbag from deploying.

17. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

determine the driver position with respect to an airbag containing component does not match a predetermined driver orientation;

wherein to adjust deployment of the at least one airbag based on the determined driver position comprises preventing the at least one airbag from deploying.

18. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

determine the driver position with respect to an airbag containing component does not match a predetermined driver orientation;

wherein to adjust deployment of the at least one airbag based on the determined driver position comprises shaping deployment of the at least one airbag, wherein the airbag comprises a chambered airbag.

20. An information handling system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory device operatively coupled to the processor, wherein the memory device stores instructions accessible to the processor, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

capture, using a sensor, positional information relating to a driver;

determine a driver position with respect to the airbag containing component based on the positional information; and

adjust deployment of the at least one airbag based on the determined driver position.