Method for controlling expansion of an air bag

• US 7,184,870 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2003
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Inventors: Kim, Hoon
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin; Gary
• Application Number:
  US10/440,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20030214123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: 701 45- 47, 280/735, 180/272, 180/282, 180/283, 180/284
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01332 by frequency or waveform analysis
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0156 by deceleration

Abstract

The method for expanding an air bag includes the steps of: detecting a variation of a deceleration of a vehicle during a vehicle collision and applying the detected deceleration signal to a microcomputer. Analyzing a collision waveform generated according to the deceleration signal and determining an impact degree of the vehicle. Temporarily stopping an operation of the deceleration detector at the microcomputer. Initializing an initial collision waveform while the operation of the deceleration detector is stopped, the initial collision waveform being inputted before the microcomputer stops the operation of the deceleration detector. Re-operating the deceleration detector at the microcomputer, detecting again a variation of the deceleration of the vehicle at the deceleration detector, and applying the newly detected deceleration signal to the microcomputer. When the collision waveform, generated according to the applied deceleration signal, reaches a set value, activate an air bag driving unit at the microcomputer.

Claims

1. A method for controlling expansion of an air bag, the method comprising:

(a) detecting a deceleration of a vehicle in a vehicle collision at a deceleration detector and applying the detected deceleration signal to a microcomputer;

(b) analyzing a collision waveform generated according to the deceleration signal and determining an impact degree of the vehicle at the microcomputer;

(c) temporarily stopping operation of the deceleration detector at the microcomputer while the deceleration of the vehicle is increasing;

(d) initializing an initial collision waveform while the operation of the deceleration detector is stopped, the initial collision waveform being inputted before the microcomputer stops the operation of the deceleration detector;

(e) re-operating the deceleration detector at the microcomputer, detecting again the deceleration of the vehicle at the deceleration detector, and applying the newly detected deceleration signal to the microcomputer to obtain a second collision waveform; and

(f) when the second collision waveform reaches a first set value, operating an air bag driving unit at the microcomputer to thereby expand the air bag;

whereby an expansion time of the air bag is controlled closely in conformance with a required time to fire (RTTF), thereby achieving a more stable expansion performance of the air bag.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step (b) further includes the step of determining whether or not the collision waveform is higher than a second set value after a predetermined time elapses from a moment when the microcomputer starts to recognize the initial collision waveform.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step (c) is carried out only if the collision waveform is higher than a second set value after a predetermined time elapses after the microcomputer starts to recognize the collision waveform.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step (e) is carried out when the initial collision waveform reaches 0.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined time is 20 ms to 30 ms.

6. A method for controlling expansion of an air bag, comprising:

detecting an initial deceleration signal of a vehicle from a deceleration detector during a vehicle collision;

applying the initial deceleration signal to a microcomputer;

analyzing the initial deceleration signal in the microcomputer;

stopping operation of the deceleration detector;

clearing the initial deceleration signal from the microcomputer;

re-operating the deceleration detector to generate a new deceleration signal;

applying the new deceleration signal to the microcomputer;

analyzing the new deceleration signal in the microcomputer; and

deploying an air bag if the new deceleration signal reaches a set value;

whereby an expansion time of the air bag is controlled closely in conformance with a required time to fire (RTTF), thereby achieving a more stable expansion performance of the air bag.

7. The method of claim 6, where the initial deceleration signal is analyzed to determine if the initial deceleration signal reaches a set time range following a predetermined time lapse from the initial detection of deceleration.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the set time range is between about 20 milliseconds and 30 milliseconds.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the operation of the deceleration detector is stopped if the set time range is reached.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the deceleration detector is reoperated if the deceleration of the vehicle reaches 0 g according to the initialization of the deceleration signal.