Restraint system

• US 6,682,094 B1
• Filed: 08/25/2000
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Laituri, Tony Ray, Clark, David Webster, Nakhleh, Rouaa, Niesluchowski, Matt Alan, Bauch, David J., Cuddihy, Mark Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US09/648,359
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 280/734, 280/735
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01546 using belt buckle sensors

Abstract

A restraint system for a motor vehicle includes a plurality of sensors for sensing vehicle conditions of restraint deployment thresholds. The restraint system also includes an electronic controller electrically connected to the sensors for determining whether one of the sensors experiences sufficient deceleration. The restraint system further includes at least one inflatable restraint operatively connected to the electronic controller for deployment thereby in a first stage if the deceleration warrants a first stage deployment and in a second stage if the deceleration warrants a second stage deployment when the sensors sense vehicle conditions achieving the restraint deployment thresholds to restrain an occupant in a seat of the motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A restraint system for a motor vehicle comprising:

a plurality of sensors for sensing vehicle conditions of restraint deployment thresholds, said sensors including a first sensor for sensing deceleration from a first location and a second sensor for sensing the deceleration from a second location;

an electronic controller electrically connected to said first sensor and said second sensor for determining whether said first sensor and said second sensor experience sufficient deceleration;

a driver side air bag and a passenger side air bag operatively connected to said electronic controller for deployment thereby in a first stage if the deceleration warrants a first stage deployment and in a second stage if the deceleration warrants a second stage deployment;

a seat position sensor electrically connected to said electronic controller for sensing whether a driver side seat is rearward of a predetermined proximity and allowing said electronic controller to deploy the second stage of the driver side air bag if the driver side seat is rearward of the predetermined proximity; and

a weight sensor electrically connected to said electronic controller for sensing whether an occupant is above a weight deployment threshold and allowing said electronic controller to deploy the first stage of the passenger side air bag if the weight of the occupant is above the weight deployment threshold.

2. A restraint system as set forth in claim 1 including a seat belt pretensioner electrically connected to said electronic controller.

3. A restraint system as set forth in claim 1 including an inflator electrically connected to said electronic controller and operatively connected to each of said driver side air bag and said passenger side air bag.

4. A restraint system as set forth in claim 1 including an air bag status light for indicating whether said passenger side air bag is activatable.

5. A restraint system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sensors include a seat belt buckle switch for sensing whether a seat belt restraint is buckled.

6. A restraint system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sensors include an impact severity sensor for sensing severity of a vehicle impact.

7. A method of deploying a driver side inflatable restraint and a passenger side inflatable restraint of a restraint system for a vehicle, said method comprising:

sensing a position of a driver side seat;

sensing weight in a passenger side seat;

determining whether a first sensor experiences sufficient deceleration to warrant either a first stage deployment or a second stage deployment of the driver side inflatable restraint and the passenger side inflatable restraint;

verifying the deceleration from a separate second sensor;

determining whether the position of the driver side seat is rearward of a predetermined proximity;

deploying a first stage of the driver side inflatable restraint if the deceleration warrants a first stage deployment and deploying a second stage of the driver side inflatable restraint if the deceleration warrants a second stage of deployment and the position of the driver side seat is rearward of the predetermined proximity;

determining whether the weight of the passenger side seat is above a predetermined threshold; and

deploying a first stage of the passenger side inflatable restraint if the deceleration warrants a first stage deployment and the weight of the passenger side seat is above a predetermined threshold and deploying a second stage of the passenger side seat if the deceleration warrants a second stage of deployment.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7 including the step of deploying the second stage of the driver side inflatable restraint if the seat position is rearward of the predetermined proximity.

9. A method as set forth in claim 7 including the step of inhibiting deployment of the second stage of the driver side inflatable restraint if the seat position is not rearward of the predetermined proximity.

10. A method as set forth in claim 7 including the step of inhibiting the deployment of the passenger side inflatable restraint if the weight of the occupant is not above the predetermined threshold.

11. A method as set forth in claim 7 including the step of determining whether the occupant is buckled.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11 including the step of inhibiting a pretensioner of the restraint system if the occupant is not buckled.

13. A method as set forth in claim 7 including the step of determining whether a seat is empty.

14. A method as set forth in claim 13 including the step of inhibiting a pretensioner of the restraint system if the seat is empty.

15. A restraint system for a motor vehicle comprising:

a first sensor for sensing deceleration;

a second sensor for verifying the sensed deceleration;

a seat position sensor for sensing whether a driver side seat is rearward of a predetermined proximity;

a weight sensor for sensing whether an occupant in a passenger side seat is above a weight deployment threshold;

a driver side air bag;

a passenger side air bag; and

an electronic controller electrically connected to said first sensor and said second sensor for determining whether said first sensor and said second sensor experience sufficient deceleration and operatively connected to said driver side air bag and said passenger side air bag for deployment thereby in a first stage if the deceleration warrants a first stage deployment and in a second stage if the deceleration warrants a second stage deployment and electrically connected to said seat position sensor to allow deployment of the second stage of the driver side air bag if the driver side seat is rearward of the predetermined proximity and electrically connected to said weight sensor to allow deployment of the first stage of the passenger side air bag if the weight of the occupant is above the weight deployment threshold.