Apparatus and methods for determining seat occupant parameters prior to deployment of an automobile airbag
First Claim
1. Apparatus for determining seat occupant parameters prior to deployment of an automobile airbag, comprising:
- (a) vector sensing means for sensing a vector extending between a fixed point of reference on an automobile and a seat occupant'"'"'s eyes after the occupant assumes a sitting position, and for generating vector signals; and
(b) an electronic controller operatively coupled to the vector sensing means comprising means for determining a current location for the occupant'"'"'s eyes based upon the vector signals, means for determining inflation parameters based upon the current location, and means for generating control signals indicative of the inflation parameters.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for determining the location and other body parameters of a seat occupant prior to deployment of an automobile airbag comprises a vector sensing device, and an electronic controller operatively coupled to the vector sensing device. The vector sensing device senses the vector extending between a fixed point of reference on an automobile and a seat occupant'"'"'s eyes after the occupant assumes a sitting position. The electronic controller first determines a current location for the occupant'"'"'s eyes based upon the vector signals, and the determines inflation parameters based upon the current location, anthropometric data, and a dynamic body model. The vector sensing device may comprise a manually operable light directing device pivotally mounted to the vehicle about the point of reference for directing a visible light ray at the occupant'"'"'s eyes, a direction detecting sensor coupled to the light directing means for detecting the direction of the visible light ray relative to the point of reference, and a distance sensor located near the light directing means for sensing the distance between the point and the occupant'"'"'s eyes.
43 Citations
16 Claims
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1. Apparatus for determining seat occupant parameters prior to deployment of an automobile airbag, comprising:
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(a) vector sensing means for sensing a vector extending between a fixed point of reference on an automobile and a seat occupant'"'"'s eyes after the occupant assumes a sitting position, and for generating vector signals; and (b) an electronic controller operatively coupled to the vector sensing means comprising means for determining a current location for the occupant'"'"'s eyes based upon the vector signals, means for determining inflation parameters based upon the current location, and means for generating control signals indicative of the inflation parameters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for determining seat occupant parameters prior to the deployment of an automobile air bag, comprising the steps of:
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(a) sensing a vector extending between a fixed point of reference on an automobile and a seat occupant'"'"'s eyes once the occupant assumes a sitting position, and generating vector signals correlatable with the vector; (b) determining a current location for the occupant'"'"'s eyes based upon the vector signals; and (c) determining inflation parameters based upon the current location, and generating control signals indicative of the inflation parameters. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification