Body side mounted air bag control system

• US 5,172,790 A
• Filed: 06/13/1991
• Issued: 12/22/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Murashige, Kazuhiro, Ishikawa, Toshihiro, Kore, Haruhisa, Hara, Toshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Tyson, Karin L.
• Application Number:
  US07/714,714
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730, 280/735, 280/728, 180/268, 180/273, 180/282, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 180/268
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01034 Controlling a plurality of restraint devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23161 specially adapted for protecting at least two passengers, e.g. preventing them from hitting each other
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0154 in combination with seat heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01546 using belt buckle sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/20 Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21 in vehicle side panels, e.g. doors pillar mounted arrangements B60R21/213
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence

Abstract

In an energy absorbing apparatus for a vehicle body, when a shock sensing output signal is obtained from one of first and second shock sensors a control unit operates one or both of first and second bag inflators in accordance with an operation mode according to the seating states of passengers represented by a sensing output signal obtained from seating state sensors, and the use states of the seat belts represented by a sensing output signal obtained from belt use state sensors so as to inflate one or both of first and second energy absorbing bags in accordance with the seating states of passengers and the use states of the seat belts.

Claims

1. A body side mounted air bag control system comprising:

(a) first bag storage means, arranged in a vehicle body left side portion on a passenger room side, for storing a folded first energy absorbing bag;

(b) first bag inflating means, arranged in said first bag storage means, for inflating said first energy absorbing bag;

(c) second bag storage means, arranged in a vehicle body right side portion of the passenger room side, for storing a folded second energy absorbing bag;

(d) second bag inflating means, arranged in said second bag storage means, for inflating said second energy absorbing bag;

(e) first shock sensor means for sensing an external shock applied to the vehicle body left side portion;

(f) second shock sensor means for sensing an external shock applied to the vehicle body right side portion;

(g) seating state sensor means for sensing seating states of passengers on seats arranged in the passenger room;

(h) belt used state sensor means for sensing use states of seat belts equipped on the seats; and

(i) control means for controlling operations of said first and second bag inflating means, when a shock sensing output signal is obtained from one of said first and second shock sensor means, said control means operates one or both of said first and second bag inflating means in accordance with an operation mode according to the seating states of passengers represented by a sensing output signal obtained from said seating state sensor means, and the use states of the seat belts represented by a sensing output signal obtained from said belt use state sensor means so as to inflate one or both of said first and second energy absorbing bags in accordance with the seating states of passengers and the use states of the seat belts, and when the shock sensing output signal is obtained from one of said first and second shock sensor means, said control means further includes

(i-1) a basic control mode for controlling to operate both said first and second bag inflating means so as to inflate both said first and second energy absorbing ; and

(i-2) an exceptional control mode for, when it is sensed that a passenger is seated on a collision side and the belt is used, and no passenger is seated on the seat on a side opposite to the collision side, controlling to operate the bag inflating means on the collision side, and not to operate the bag inflating means on the side opposite to the collision side so as to inflate only the energy absorbing bag on the collision side, and

wherein the basic control mode of said control means includes

a first basic control mode for controlling to quickly operate the bag inflating means on the collision side so as to immediately fully expand the energy absorbing bag on the collision side; and

a second basic control mode for, when it is sensed that a passenger is seated on a collision side and the belt is not used and no passenger is seated on the seat on a side opposite to the collision side, or when it is sensed that passengers are seated on the collision side and on the side opposite to the collision side and the belts are not used, controlling to quickly operate the bag inflating means on the side opposite to the collision side so as to immediately fully expand the energy absorbing bag on the side opposite to the collision side.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the basic control mode of said control means further comprises:

a third basic control mode for controlling to slowly operate the bag inflating means on the side opposite to the collision side so as to fully expand the energy absorbing bag on the side opposite to the collision side in a delayed state with the second basic control mode as an exceptional mode.

3. A body side mounted air bag control system comprising:

(a) first bat storage means, arranged in a vehicle body left side portion on a passenger room side, for storing a folded first energy absorbing bag;

(b) first bag inflating means, arranged in said first bag storage means, for inflating said first energy absorbing bag;

(c) second bag storage means, arranged in a vehicle body right side portion on the passenger room side, for storing a folded second energy absorbing bag;

(d) second bag inflating means, arranged in said second bag storage means, for inflating said second energy absorbing bag;

(e) first shock sensor means for sensing an external shock applied to the vehicle body left side portion;

(f) second shock sensor means for sensing an external shock applied to the vehicle body right side portion;

(g) seating state sensor means for sensing seating states of passengers on seats arranged in the passenger room;

(h) belt use state sensor means for sensing use states of seat belts equipped on the seat; and

(i) control means for controlling operations of said first and second bag inflating means, when a shock sensing output signal is obtained from one of said first and second shock sensor means, said control means operates one or both of said first and second bag inflating means in accordance with an operation mode according to the seating states of passengers represented by a sensing output signal obtained from said seating state sensor means, and the use states of the seat belts represented by a sensing output signal obtained from said belt use state sensor means so as to inflate one or both of said first and second energy absorbing bags in accordance with the seating states of passengers and the use states of the seat belts, and when the shock sensing output signal is obtained from one of said first and second shock sensor means, said control means further includes

(i-1) a basic control mode for controlling to operate both said first and second bag inflating means so as to inflate both said first and second energy absorbing bags;

(i-2) a first exceptional control mode for, when it is sensed that a passenger is seated on the seat on the collision side and the belt is used, and no passenger is seated on the seat on the side opposite to the collision side, controlling to operate the bag inflating means on the collision side, and not to operate the bag inflating means on the side opposite to the collision sides so as to inflate only the energy absorbing bag on the collision side; and

(i-3) a second exceptional control mode for, when it is sensed that a passenger is seated on the seat on the side opposite to the collision side and the belt is used, and no passenger is seated on the seat on the collision side, controlling to operate the bag inflating means on the side opposite to the collision side, and not to operate the bag inflating means on the collision side so as to inflate the energy absorbing bag on the side opposite to the collision side; and

wherein the basic control mode of said control means includes

a first basic control mode for, when it is sensed that a passenger is seated on the seat on the side opposite to the collision side and the belt is not used, and no passenger is seated on the seat on the collision side, controlling to slowly operate the bag inflating means on the collision side so as to fully expand the energy absorbing bag on the collision side in a delayed state.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the basic control mode of said control means further comprises:

a second basic control mode for controlling to quickly operate the bag inflating means on the collision side so as to immediately fully expand the energy absorbing bag on the collision side with the first control mode as an exceptional mode.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein the basic control mode of said control means further comprises:

a second basic control mode for, when it is sensed that a passenger is seated on the seat on the collision side and the belt is not used, and no passenger is seated on the seat on the side opposite to the collision side, or when it is sensed that passengers are seated on the seats on the collision side and on the side opposite to the collision side and the belts are not used, controlling to quickly operate the bag inflating means on the side opposite to the collision side so as to immediately fully expand the energy absorbing bag on the side opposite to the collision side.

6. The system according to claim 3, wherein the basic control mode of said control means further comprises:

a second basic control mode for controlling to slowly operate the bag inflating means on the side opposite to the collision side so as to fully expand the energy absorbing bag on the side opposite to the collision side in a delayed state.

7. A body side mounted air bag control system comprising:

(a) first bag storage means, arranged in a vehicle body left side portion on a passenger room side, for storing a folded first energy absorbing bag;

(b) first bag inflating means, arranged in said first bag storage means, for inflating said first energy absorbing bag;

(c) second bag storage means, arranged in a vehicle body right side portion on the passenger room side, for storing a folded second energy absorbing bag;

(d) second bag inflating means, arranged in said second bag storage means, for inflating said second energy absorbing bag;

(e) third bag storage means, arranged at a substantially central portion in a widthwise direction of the passenger room for storing a folded third energy absorbing bag;

(f) third bag inflating means, arranged in said third bag storage means, for inflating said third energy absorbing bag;

(g) first shock sensor means for sensing an external shock applied to the vehicle body left side portion;

(h) second shock sensor means for sensing an external shock applied to the vehicle body right side portion;

(i) seating state sensor means for sensing seating states of passengers on seats arranged in the passenger room;

(j) belt use state sensor means for sensing use states of seat belts equipped on the seats; and

(k) control means for controlling operations of said first through third bag inflating means, and when a shock sensing output signal is obtained from one of said first and second shock sensor means, said control means operates at least one of said first through third bag inflating means in accordance with an operation mode according to the seating states of passengers represented by a sensing output signal obtained from said seating state sensor means, and the use states of the seat belts represented by a sensing output signal obtained from said belt use state sensor means so as to inflate at least one of said first through third energy absorbing bags in accordance with the seating states of passengers and the use states of the seat belts, wherein when the shock sensing output signal is obtained from one of said first and second shock sensor means, said control means includes

(k-1) a basic control mode for controlling to operate said first through third bag inflating means so as to inflate said first through third energy absorbing bags;

(k-2) a first exceptional control mode for, when it is sensed that a passenger is seated on the seat on the collision side and the belt is used, and no passenger is seated on the seat on the side opposite to the collision side, controlling to operate the bag inflating means on the collision side, and not to operate the bag inflating means on the side opposite to the collision side so as to inflate only the energy absorbing bag on the collision side; and

(k-3) a second exceptional control mode for, when it is sensed that a passenger is seated on only one of the seats on the collision side and on the side opposite to the collision side, controlling not to operate said third bag inflating means so as not to inflate said third energy absorbing bag.

8. A body side mounted air bag control system comprising:

(a) first bag storage means, arranged in a vehicle body left side portion on a passenger room side, for storing a folded first energy absorbing bag;

(b) first bag inflating means, arranged in said first bag storage means, for inflating said first energy absorbing bag;

(c) second bag storage means, arranged in a vehicle body right side portion on the passenger room side, for storing a folded second energy absorbing bag;

(d) second bag inflating means, arranged in said second bag storage means, for inflating said second energy absorbing bag;

(e) first shock sensor means for sensing an external shock applied to the vehicle body left side portion;

(f) second shock sensor means for sensing an external shock applied to the vehicle body right side portion;

(g) seating state sensor means for sensing seating states of passengers on seats arranged in the passenger room;

(h) belt use state sensor means for sensing use states of seat belts equipped on the seats; and

(i) control means for controlling operations of said first and second bag inflating means, and when a shock sensing output signal is obtained from one of said first and second shock sensor means, said control means operates one or both of said first and second bag inflating means in accordance with an operation mode according to the seating states of passengers represented by a sensing output signal obtained from said seating state sensor means, and the use states of the seat belt represented by a sensing output signal obtained from said belt use state sensor means so as to inflate one or both of said first and second energy absorbing bags in accordance with the seating states of passengers and the use states of the seat belts and when the shock sensing output signal is obtained from one of said first and second shock sensor means, said control means further includes

(i-1) a basic control mode for controlling to operate both said first and second bag inflating means so as to inflate both said first and second energy absorbing bags; and

(i-2) an exceptional control mode for, when it is sensed that a passenger is seated on a collision side and the belt is used, and no passenger is seated on the seat on a side opposite to the collision side, controlling to operate the bag inflating means on the collision side, and not to operate the bag inflating means on the side opposite to the collision side so as to inflate only the energy absorbing bag on the collision side,

and wherein the basic control mode of said control means includes

a first basic control mode for, when it is sensed that a passenger is seated on a collision side and the belt is not used, and no passenger is seated on the seat on a side opposite to the collision side, or when it is sensed that passengers are seated on the collision side and on the side opposite to the collision side and the belts are not used, controlling to quickly operate the bag inflating means on the side opposite to the collision side so as to immediately fully expand the energy absorbing bag on the side opposite to the collision side; and

a second basic control mode for controlling to slowly operate the bag inflating means on the side opposite to the collision side so as to fully expand the energy absorbing bag on the side opposite to the collision side in a delayed state when the first basic control mode as an exceptional mode.