Inflatable curtain

• US 6,752,418 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2003
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems GmbH
• Original Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Campbell, Douglas P., Nayef, Ayad G., Bayley, Gregory S., Altamore, Paul F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US10/410,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20030193175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/730.1, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01552 detecting position of specific human body parts, e.g. face, eyes or hands
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

A method includes the step providing an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) between the side structure (16) of a vehicle (12) and a vehicle occupant (74). A thickness of the protection device (14) is determined by measuring between overlying points on overlying panels (40 and 42) of the protection device at location where an occupant'"'"'s head having a given mass may contact the device. A pressure is determined as a predetermined function of the thickness of the protection device (14) and of a velocity at which the head may impact the protection device. The pressure has a magnitude sufficient to prevent a head having a given mass from striking the side structure (16) through the thickness of the protection device (14) when the head impacts the protection device at and below the velocity. An inflation fluid source (24) is provided to inflate the protection device (14) to at least the determined pressure.

Claims

1. A method for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a roof, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising overlying panels that are interconnected to define an inflatable volume of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

determining a thickness of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device when inflated, said thickness being measured between overlying points on said overlying panels at a location where a head of an occupant may contact said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

determining a pressure using a predetermined mathematical equation that expresses said pressure in terms of said thickness of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said pressure having a magnitude sufficient to prevent a head having a given mass from striking the side structure through said thickness of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device when the head impacts said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device at and below a given velocity; and

providing an inflation fluid source for providing inflation fluid to said inflatable volume to inflate said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to at least said pressure.

9. The method recited in claim 1, wherein said step of determining a pressure as a predetermined function comprises the step of determining said pressure according to the predetermined function:

10. The method recited in claim 1, wherein said step of determining a pressure as a predetermined function comprises the step of determining said pressure according to the predetermined function:

11. The method recited in claim 1, wherein said step of determining a thickness comprises the step of selecting a thickness of 120-150 millimeters.

12. The method recited in claim 1, wherein said step of providing an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprises the step of selecting an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device in which said inflatable volume is 20-45 liters.

13. The method recited in claim 1, wherein said step of providing an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprises the step of interconnecting said overlying panels to help define inflatable areas of said inflatable curtain, said step of determining a thickness comprising measuring a distance between said overlying panels within said inflatable areas.

2. A method for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a roof, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising overlying panels that are interconnected to define an inflatable volume of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

determining a thickness of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device when inflated, said thickness being measured between overlying points on said overlying panels at a location where the head of an occupant may contact said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

determining a pressure as a predetermined function of said thickness of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and of a velocity at which a head having a given mass may impact said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said pressure having a magnitude sufficient to prevent the head from striking the side structure through said thickness of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device when the head impacts said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device at and below said velocity; and

providing an inflation fluid source for providing inflation fluid to said inflatable volume to inflate said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to at least said pressure, wherein said step of determining a pressure as a predetermined function comprises the steps of;

determining a velocity at and below which the head is to be prevented from striking the side structure through said thickness of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

selecting a plurality of sample inflated thicknesses of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

determining for each of said sample inflated thicknesses a required inflation pressure just sufficient to prevent the head travelling at said determined velocity from striking the side structure through each of said sample inflated thicknesses;

determining an equation using said sample inflated thicknesses and the corresponding determined required inflation pressures, said equation expressing required inflation pressure as a function of thickness; and

using said equation as said predetermined function for determining said pressure.

3. The method recited in claim 2, wherein said equation is determined such that said equation when solved with each of said sample inflated thicknesses provides a corresponding one of said required inflation pressures.

4. The method recited in claim 2, wherein said step of determining an equation comprises the steps of:

generating a plot that plots each of said sample inflated thicknesses versus its respective required inflation pressure;

fitting a curve to said plot; and

determining said equation representative of said curve.

5. The method recited in claim 2, wherein said step of determining for each of said sample inflated thicknesses a required inflation pressure comprises the step of determining a pressure sufficient to prevent a head having a mass of 6.08 kilograms travelling at a velocity of eighteen miles per hour from striking the side structure through each of said sample inflated thicknesses of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

6. The method recited in claim 2, wherein said step of determining for each of said sample inflated thicknesses a required inflation pressure comprises the step of determining a pressure sufficient to prevent a head having a mass of 6.08 kilograms travelling at a velocity of twelve miles per hour from striking the side structure through each of said sample inflated thicknesses of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

7. A method for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a roof, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising overlying panels that are interconnected to define an inflatable volume of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

determining a thickness of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device when inflated, said thickness being measured between overlying points on said overlying panels at a location where the head of an occupant may contact said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

determining a pressure as a predetermined function of said thickness of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and of a velocity at which a head having a given mass may impact said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said pressure having a magnitude sufficient to prevent the head from striking the side structure through said thickness of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device when the head impacts said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device at and below said velocity; and

providing an inflation fluid source for providing inflation fluid to said inflatable volume to inflate said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to at least said pressure, wherein said step of determining a pressure as a predetermined function comprises the steps of;

determining a velocity at or below which the head is to be prevented from striking the side structure through said thickness of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

selecting a plurality of sample inflated thicknesses of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

determining for each of said sample inflated thicknesses a required inflation pressure just sufficient to prevent the head travelling at said determined velocity from striking the side structure through each of said sample inflated thicknesses;

generating a plot that plots each of said sample inflated thicknesses versus its corresponding required inflation pressure;

fitting a curve to said plot; and

determining said pressure using said curve.

8. The method recited in claim 7, wherein said step of determining said pressure comprises the steps of:

identifying a location on said curve that corresponds to said thickness of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; and

identifying a corresponding pressure at said location on said curve.

14. A method for determining a pressure to which to inflate an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable between the side structure of a vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said method comprising the steps of:

determining a velocity at or below which it is desired to prevent a head having a given mass from striking the side structure through a thickness of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

selecting a plurality of sample inflated thicknesses;

determining for each of said sample inflated thicknesses a corresponding required inflation pressure, said required inflation pressure being just sufficient to prevent a head travelling at or below said determined velocity from striking the side structure through an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having said sample inflated thickness;

determining an equation that expresses pressure as a function of thickness, said equation being determined such that said equation when solved for each of said sample inflated thicknesses provides a corresponding one of said required inflation pressures; and

using said equation to determine the pressure to which to inflate the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device as a function of said thickness.

15. The method recited in claim 14, wherein said step of determining an equation comprises the steps of:

generating a plot that plots each of said sample inflated thicknesses versus its corresponding required inflation pressure;

fitting a curve to said plot;

determining said equation as being representative of said curve.

16. A method for determining a pressure to which to inflate an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable between the side structure of a vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said method comprising the steps of:

determining a velocity at or below which it is desired to prevent a head having a given mass from striking the side structure through a thickness of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

selecting a plurality of sample inflated thicknesses;

determining for each of said sample inflated thicknesses a corresponding inflation pressure, said required inflation pressure being just sufficient to prevent a head travelling at or below said determined velocity from striking the side structure through an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having said sample inflated thickness;

generating a plot that plots each of said sample inflated thicknesses versus its respective required inflation pressure;

fitting a curve to said plot; and

determining the pressure to which to inflate said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device using said curve.

17. The method recited in claim 16, wherein said step of determining the pressure to which to inflate said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprises the steps of:

identifying a location on said curve that corresponds to said thickness of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; and

identifying a corresponding pressure at said location on said curve.

18. A method for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a roof, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising overlying panels that are interconnected to define an inflatable volume of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

determining a pressure to which to inflate said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

providing an inflation fluid source for providing inflation fluid to said inflatable volume to inflate said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to at least said pressure; and

determining a thickness for said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device using a predetermined mathematical equation that expresses said thickness in terms of said pressure, said thickness being measured between overlying points on said overlying panels when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated at a location where a head may contact said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said thickness being sufficient to prevent a head having a given mass from striking the side structure through said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated to said pressure and the head impacts said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device at or below a given velocity.

26. The method recited in claim 18, wherein said step of determining a thickness as a predetermined function comprises the step of determining said thickness according to the predetermined function:

27. The method recited in claim 18, wherein said step of determining a thickness as a predetermined function comprises the step of determining said thickness according to the predetermined function:

19. A method for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a roof, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising overlying panels that are interconnected to define an inflatable volume of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

determining a pressure to which to inflate said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

providing an inflation fluid source for providing inflation fluid to said inflatable volume to inflate said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to at least said pressure; and

determining a thickness for said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device as a function of said pressure and of a velocity at which a head having a given mass may impact said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said thickness being measured between overlying points on said overlying panels when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated at a location where a head may contact said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said thickness being sufficient to prevent the head from striking the side structure through said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated to said pressure and the head impacts said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device at or below said velocity, wherein said step of determining a thickness comprises the steps of;

determining a velocity at or below which the head is to be prevented from striking the side structure through said thickness of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

selecting a plurality of sample inflated thicknesses of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

determining for each of said sample inflated thicknesses a required inflation pressure just sufficient to prevent the head travelling at said determined velocity from striking the side structure through each of said sample inflated thicknesses;

determining an equation using said sample inflated thickness and the corresponding determined required inflation pressures, said equation expressing said thickness as a function of said required inflation pressures; and

using said equation as said predetermined function for determining said thickness.

20. The method recited in claim 19, wherein said equation is determined such that said equation when solved with each of said sample inflated thicknesses provides a corresponding one of said required inflation pressures.

21. The method recited in claim 19, wherein said step of determining an equation comprises the steps of:

generating a plot that plots each of said sample inflated thicknesses versus its respective required inflation pressure;

fitting a curve to said plot; and

determining said equation representative of said curve.

22. The method recited in claim 19, wherein said step of determining for each of said sample inflated thicknesses a required inflation pressure comprises the step of determining a pressure sufficient to prevent a head having a mass of 6.08 kilograms travelling at a velocity of eighteen miles per hour from striking the side structure through each of said sample inflated thicknesses of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

23. The method recited in claim 19, wherein said step of determining for each of said sample inflated thicknesses a required inflation pressure comprises the step of determining a pressure sufficient to prevent a head having a mass of 6.08 kilograms travelling at a velocity of twelve miles per hour from striking the side structure through each of said sample inflated thicknesses of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

24. A method for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a roof, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising overlying panels that are interconnected to define an inflatable volume of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

determining a pressure to which to inflate said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

providing an inflation fluid source for providing inflation fluid to said inflatable volume to inflate said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to at least said pressure; and

determining a thickness for said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device as a function of said pressure and of a velocity at which a head having a given mass may impact said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said thickness being measured between overlying points on said overlying panels when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated at a location where a head may contact said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said thickness being sufficient to prevent the head from striking the side structure through said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated to said pressure and the head impacts said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device at or below said velocity, wherein said step of determining said thickness as a predetermined function comprises the steps of;

determining a velocity at or below which the head is to be prevented from striking the side structure through said thickness of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

selecting a plurality of sample inflated thicknesses of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

determining for each of said sample inflated thicknesses a required inflation pressure just sufficient to prevent the head travelling at said determined velocity from striking the side structure through each of said sample inflated thicknesses;

generating a plot that plots each of said sample inflated thicknesses versus its respective required inflation pressure;

fitting a curve to said plot; and

determining said thickness using said curve.

25. The method recited in claim 24, wherein said step of determining said thickness comprises the steps of:

identifying a location on said curve that corresponds to said pressure of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; and

identifying a corresponding thickness at said location on said curve.

28. A method for determining a thickness for an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable between the side structure of a vehicle and a vehicle occupant to a given pressure, said method comprising the steps of:

determining a velocity at or below which it is desired to prevent a head having a given mass from striking the side structure through the thickness of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

selecting a plurality of sample inflated thicknesses;

determining for each of said sample inflated thicknesses a corresponding required inflation pressure, said required inflation pressure being just sufficient to prevent a head travelling at or below said determined velocity from striking the side structure through an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having said sample inflated thickness;

determining an equation that expresses pressure as a function of thickness, said equation being determined such that said equation when solved for each of said sample inflated thicknesses provides a corresponding one of said required inflation pressures; and

using said equation to determine the thickness to which to inflate the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device as a function of the given pressure.

29. The method recited in claim 28, wherein said step of determining an equation comprises the steps of:

generating a plot that plots each of said sample inflated thicknesses versus its corresponding required inflation pressure;

fitting a curve to said plot;

determining said equation as being representative of said curve.

30. A method for determining a thickness for an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable between the side structure of a vehicle and a vehicle occupant to a given pressure, said method comprising the steps of:

determining a velocity at or below which it is desired to prevent a head having a given mass from striking the side structure through the thickness of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

selecting a plurality of sample inflated thicknesses;

determining for each of said sample inflated thicknesses a corresponding required inflation pressure, said required inflation pressure being just sufficient to prevent a head travelling at or below said determined velocity from striking the side structure through an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having said sample inflated thickness;

generating a plot that plots each of said sample inflated thicknesses versus its respective required inflation pressure;

fitting a curve to said plot; and

determining said thickness for said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device using said curve.

31. The method recited in claim 30, wherein said step of determining said thickness comprises the steps of:

identifying a location on said curve that corresponds to the given pressure of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; and

identifying a corresponding thickness at said location on said curve.