Apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint
First Claim
1. Apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint such as an air bag, said apparatus comprising:
- collision sensor means for providing a collision signal indicating the occurrence of a vehicle collision;
inflator means for providing inflation fluid for inflating the vehicle occupant restraint, said inflator means including a first source of inflation fluid which, when actuated, provides a first volume of inflation fluid, said inflator means further including a second source of inflation fluid which, when actuated, provides a second volume of inflation fluid which differs from said first volume;
position sensor means for providing a position signal indicating a position of an occupant of the vehicle; and
controller means for actuating said first and second sources of inflation fluid in any one of a plurality of differing modes of operation in response to said collision signal and said position signal, said differing modes of operation including a mode in which both said first and second sources of inflation fluid are actuated and further including a mode in which said second source of inflation fluid is not actuated.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (12) includes a collision sensor (52) and an inflator assembly (20). The collision sensor (52) provides a collision signal indicating the occurrence of a vehicle collision. The inflator assembly (20) includes a first source (22) of inflation fluid which, when actuated, provides a first volume of inflation fluid. The inflator assembly (20) further includes a second source (24) of inflation fluid which, when actuated, provides a second volume of inflation fluid which differs from the first volume. A position sensor (70) provides a position signal indicating a position of an occupant of the vehicle. A controller (50) actuates the first and second sources (22, 24) of inflation fluid in any one of a plurality of differing modes of operation in response to the collision signal and the position signal.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. Apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint such as an air bag, said apparatus comprising:
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collision sensor means for providing a collision signal indicating the occurrence of a vehicle collision; inflator means for providing inflation fluid for inflating the vehicle occupant restraint, said inflator means including a first source of inflation fluid which, when actuated, provides a first volume of inflation fluid, said inflator means further including a second source of inflation fluid which, when actuated, provides a second volume of inflation fluid which differs from said first volume; position sensor means for providing a position signal indicating a position of an occupant of the vehicle; and controller means for actuating said first and second sources of inflation fluid in any one of a plurality of differing modes of operation in response to said collision signal and said position signal, said differing modes of operation including a mode in which both said first and second sources of inflation fluid are actuated and further including a mode in which said second source of inflation fluid is not actuated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 13)
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5. Apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint such as an air bag, said apparatus comprising:
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collision sensor means for providing a collision signal indicating the occurrence of a vehicle collision; inflator means for providing inflation fluid for inflating the vehicle occupant restraint, said inflator means including a first source of inflation fluid which, when actuated, provides a first volume of inflation fluid, said inflator means further including a second source of inflation fluid which, when actuated, provides a second volume of inflation fluid which differs from said first volume; temperature sensor means for providing a temperature signal indicating the ambient temperature at said inflator means; and controller means for actuating said first and second sources of inflation fluid in any one of a plurality of differing modes of operation in response to said collision signal and said temperature signal, said differing modes of operation including a mode in which both said first and second sources of inflation fluid are actuated and further including a mode in which said second source of inflation fluid is not actuated. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint such as an air bag, said apparatus comprising:
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collision sensor means for providing a collision signal indicating the occurrence of a vehicle collision; inflator means for providing inflation fluid for inflating the vehicle occupant restraint, said inflator means including a first source of inflation fluid which, when actuated, provides a first volume of inflation fluid, said inflator means further including a second source of inflation fluid which, when actuated, provides a second volume of inflation fluid which differs from said first volume; position sensor means for providing a position signal indicating a position of an occupant of the vehicle; temperature sensor means for providing a temperature signal indicating the ambient temperature of said inflator means; and controller means for actuating said first and second sources of inflation fluid in any one of a plurality of differing modes of operation in response to said collision signal, said position signal and said temperature signal, said differing modes of operation including a mode in which both said first and second sources of inflation fluid are actuated and further including a mode in which said second source of inflation fluid is not actuated. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 14)
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Specification