Two stage-ignition air bag system for vehicle and igniting method thereof

• US 6,398,257 B1
• Filed: 05/18/2000
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Ehama, Mitsuo, Narita, Masanori, Shibuya, Kouichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUCHANAN, CHRISTOPHER R
• Application Number:
  US09/572,868
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 280/741, 180/268, 180/271, 701/45
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01322 comprising variable thresholds, e.g. depending from other collision parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2633 with a plurality of inflation levels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01544 detecting seat belt parameters, e.g. length, tension or height-adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder

Abstract

A two stage-ignition air bag apparatus for a vehicle of the present invention includes an air bag, a first inflator ignited when a value according to collision severity has reached a first threshold value in order to inflate the air bag, and a second inflator ignited at earlier one of times when the value according to collision severity has substantially reached a second threshold value that is greater than the first threshold value and when a predetermined time has passed since the value according to collision severity reached the first threshold value in order to inflate the air bag. Also, a method of igniting the two stage-ignition air bag apparatus of the present invention includes the steps of igniting the first inflator when a value according to collision severity has reached a first threshold value, and igniting the second inflator at earlier one of times when the value according to collision severity has substantially reached a second threshold value that is greater than the first threshold value and when a predetermined time has passed since the value according to collision severity reached the first threshold value.

Claims

1. A two stage-ignition air bag apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

an air bag;

a first inflator configured to ignite when a value according to collision severity has reached a first threshold value in order to inflate the air bag; and

a second inflator configured to ignite at an earlier one of a first time when the value according to collision severity has substantially reached a second threshold value that is greater than the first threshold value and a second time when a predetermined time has passed since the value according to collision severity reached the first threshold value in order to inflate the air bag.

2. A two stage-ignition air bag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the second inflator is ignited when the value according to collision severity has reached the second threshold value when a seatbelt is worn.

3. A two stage-ignition air bag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the second inflator is ignited when a predetermined delay time has passed since the value according to collision severity reached the second threshold value when a seatbelt is not worn.

4. A two stage-ignition air bag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the second inflator is configured to ignite after the predetermined time has passed since the value according to collision severity reached the first threshold value even if the second threshold value is not reached.

5. A two stage-ignition air bag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first inflator is not ignited when the value according to collision severity does not reach the first threshold value.

6. A two stage-ignition air bag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the value according to collision severity is set by utilizing a velocity difference between a vehicle velocity at a time when collision is detected and a vehicle velocity after detection of the collision.

7. A two stage-ignition air bag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 6, further comprising a vehicle velocity sensor, a collision sensor, and a velocity difference calculating circuit,

wherein the velocity difference calculating circuit calculates a velocity difference between a vehicle velocity detected by the vehicle velocity sensor at a time when the collision is detected by the collision sensor and a vehicle velocity detected by the vehicle velocity sensor after the time when the collision is detected.

8. A two stage-ignition air bag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the two stage-ignition air bag apparatus for a vehicle can be used as that for a passenger seat.

9. A two stage-ignition air bag apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

an air bag;

first gas generating means configured to ignite when a value according to collision severity has reached a first threshold value in order to inflate the air bag; and

second gas generating means configured to ignite at an earlier one of a first time when the value according to collision severity has substantially reached a second threshold value that is greater than the first threshold value and a second time when a predetermined time has passed since the value according to collision severity reached the first threshold value in order to inflate the air bag.

10. A method of igniting a two stage-ignition air bag apparatus for a vehicle including a first inflator and a second inflator comprising:

igniting the first inflator when a value according to collision severity has reached a first threshold value; and

igniting the second inflator at an earlier one of a first time when the value according to collision severity has substantially reached a second threshold value that is greater than the first threshold value and a second time when a predetermined time has passed since the value according to collision severity reached the first threshold value.