Method and apparatus for controlling air bag deployment
First Claim
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1. An air bag control system, comprising:
- a restraining apparatus adapted to be connected to an occupant side of an air bag;
an extension/retraction device used to adjust the degree to which said restraining apparatus can be extended; and
a control device for controlling extension and retraction of said extension/retraction device;
wherein said restraining apparatus can be retracted by said extension/retraction device in response to a signal sent by said control device to limit the physical extent to which the air bag can deploy to prevent injury of a vehicle occupant adjacent the air bag.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to an air bag control system comprising a restraining apparatus adapted to be connected to an occupant side of an air bag, an extension/retraction device used to adjust the degree to which the restraining apparatus can be extended, and a control device for controlling extension and retraction of the extension/retraction device. In operation, the restraining apparatus can be retracted by the extension/retraction device in response to a signal sent by the control device to limit the physical extent to which the air bag can deploy to prevent injury of a vehicle occupant adjacent the air bag.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An air bag control system, comprising:
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a restraining apparatus adapted to be connected to an occupant side of an air bag;
an extension/retraction device used to adjust the degree to which said restraining apparatus can be extended; and
a control device for controlling extension and retraction of said extension/retraction device;
wherein said restraining apparatus can be retracted by said extension/retraction device in response to a signal sent by said control device to limit the physical extent to which the air bag can deploy to prevent injury of a vehicle occupant adjacent the air bag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An air bag system, comprising:
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an air bag housing;
an air bag disposed in said air bag housing, said air bag having an inflater side and an occupant side;
a restraining apparatus connected to said occupant side of said air bag;
an extension/retraction device used to adjust the degree to which said restraining apparatus can be extended relative to said housing; and
a control device for controlling extension and retraction of said extension/retraction device;
wherein said restraining apparatus can be retracted by said extention/retraction device in response to a signal sent by said control device to limit the physical extent to which the air bag can deploy to prevent injury of a vehicle occupant adjacent the air bag. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for limiting the extent to which an air bag can deploy from its housing to prevent injury of a vehicle occupant adjacent the air bag, said method comprising the steps of:
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connecting an occupant side of the air bag to a restraining apparatus;
providing a control device for controlling operation of the restraining apparatus;
receiving a signal to retract the restraining apparatus sent by the control device; and
retracting the restraining apparatus in response to the signal sent by the control device to limit the degree to which the restraining apparatus can be extended relative to the housing to thereby limit the physical extent to which the air bag can be deployed. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An air bag control system, comprising:
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a telescopic restraining device adapted to be connected to an occupant side of an air bag;
an extension/retraction device used to adjust the degree to which said telescopic restraining device can be extended; and
a control device for controlling extension and retraction of said extension/retraction device;
wherein said telescopic restraining device can be retracted by said extension/retraction device in response to a signal sent by said control device to limit the physical extent to which the air bag can deploy to prevent injury of a vehicle occupant adjacent the air bag.
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Specification