Method for controlling gas pressure of a passenger-side airbag

• US 7,150,469 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2003
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Kim, Yong Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown, Drew J.
• Application Number:
  US10/747,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20050029783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 280/734, 701/45, 307/10.1, 340/436, 340/438
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01211 Expansion of air bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01225 control of expansion volume
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01512 Passenger detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01526 using piezoelectric elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/33 Arrangements for non-electric triggering of inflation electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01

Abstract

A method for controlling gas pressure for inflating a passenger-side frontal airbag in a vehicle comprises a determination of the type and number of passengers in the passenger seat and a determination of the nature and severity of the impact. When at least one passenger is resident in the passenger seat, the current passenger type is selected from a plurality of predetermined passenger types. The gas pressure for inflating the passenger-side frontal airbag is adjusted on the basis of the current passenger type and number, and the frontal impact generated from the collision.

Claims

1. A method for controlling gas pressure for inflating a passenger-side frontal airbag in a vehicle, comprising:

determining whether at least one passenger is resident in the passenger seat;

determining a number of passengers and a current passenger type corresponding to the at least one passenger when at least one passenger is resident in the passenger seat, the current passenger type being selected from a plurality of predetermined passenger types;

determining whether the number of the at least one passenger is not one;

determining, in the case that the number of the at least one passenger is not one, whether a collision occurs;

determining, in the case of a vehicle collision, whether the vehicle collision is a frontal collision;

detecting, in the case of the frontal collision, a frontal impact generated from the vehicle collision; and

adjusting the gas pressure for inflating the passenger-side frontal airbag on the basis of the current passenger type and the frontal impact generated from the collision;

wherein when the current passenger type is a child only type, the adjusting the gas pressure comprises;

determining whether the detected frontal impact is larger than a first predetermined impact (Im_1); and

determining whether the detected frontal impact is larger than a second predetermined impact (Im_2 wherein Im_2>

Im_1),

wherein when the detected frontal impact is not larger than the first predetermined impact the passenger-side airbag is not operated,

wherein when the detected impact is larger than the first predetermined impact (Im_1) and is not larger than the second predetermined impact (Im_2) the gas pressure is formed to be 25% of a normal pressure (P_normal), and

wherein when the detected impact is larger than the second predetermined impact (Im_2) the gas pressure is formed to be 50% of the normal pressure (P_normal).

2. A method for controlling gas pressure for inflating a passenger-side frontal airbag in a vehicle, comprising:

determining whether at least one passenger is resident in the passenger seat;

determining a number of passengers and a current passenger type corresponding to the at least one passenger when at least one passenger is resident in the passenger seat, the current passenger type being selected from a plurality of predetermined passenger types;

determining whether the number of the at least one passenger is not one;

determining, in the case that the number of the at least one passenger is not one, whether a collision occurs;

determining, in the case of a vehicle collision, whether the vehicle collision is a frontal collision;

detecting, in the case of the frontal collision, a frontal impact generated from the vehicle collision; and

adjusting the gas pressure for inflating the passenger-side frontal airbag on the basis of the current passenger type and the frontal impact generated from the collision;

wherein when the current passenger type is an adult only type, the adjusting the gas pressure comprises;

determining whether the detected frontal impact is larger than a first predetermined impact (Im_1); and

determining whether the detected frontal impact is larger than a second predetermined impact (Im_—

2 wherein Im_2>

Im_1),

wherein when the detected frontal impact is not larger than the first predetermined impact the passenger-side airbag is not operated,

wherein when the detected impact is larger than the first predetermined impact (Im_1) and is not larger than the second predetermined impact (Im_2) the gas pressure is formed to be 75% of a normal pressure (P_normal), and

wherein when the detected impact is larger than the second predetermined impact (Im_2) the gas pressure is formed to be 100% of the normal pressure (P_normal).

3. A method for controlling gas pressure for inflating a passenger-side frontal airbag in a vehicle, comprising:

determining whether at least one passenger is resident in the passenger seat;

determining a number of passengers and a current passenger type corresponding to the at least one passenger when at least one passenger is resident in the passenger seat, the current passenger type being selected from a plurality of predetermined passenger types;

determining whether the number of the at least one passenger is not one;

determining, in the case that the number of the at least one passenger is not one, whether a collision occurs;

determining, in the case of a vehicle collision, whether the vehicle collision is a frontal collision;

detecting, in the case of the frontal collision, a frontal impact generated from the vehicle collision; and

adjusting the gas pressure for inflating the passenger-side frontal airbag on the basis of the current passenger type and the frontal impact generated from the collision;

wherein when the current passenger type is a child-adult mixed type, the adjusting the gas pressure comprises;

determining whether the detected frontal impact is larger than a first predetermined impact (Im_1); and

determining whether the detected frontal impact is larger than a second predetermined impact (Im_—

2 wherein, Im_2>

Im_1),

wherein when the detected frontal impact is not larger than the first predetermined impact the passenger-side airbag is not operated,

wherein when the detected impact is larger than the first predetermined impact (Im_1) and is not larger than the second predetermined impact (Im_2) the gas pressure is formed to be 25% or 50% of a normal pressure (P_normal), and

wherein when the detected impact is larger than the second predetermined impact (Im_2) the gas pressure is formed to be 50% or 75% of the normal pressure (P_normal).