Safety arrangement for a vehicle and method for controlling a safety arrangement
First Claim
1. A safety arrangement for a motor vehicle comprising:
- an airbag operable to be inflated with different volumes in a direction of an interior of the vehicle by a gas generator in response to an activation signal;
a crash sensor system which detects a vehicle impact and emits the activation signal, the crash sensor system including a pre-crash sensor system and an in-crash sensor system, the pre-crash sensor system operable for detecting an impending collision before an actual impact and for this circumstance emitting a pre-crash activation signal as the activation signal, and the in-crash sensor system operable for detecting an actual impact and for this circumstance emits an in-crash activation signal if the pre-crash sensor system has previously not detected the impending collision and has not emitted a pre-crash activation signal;
a first vent integrated in a module housing and able to be activated for controlling the gas mass flow for filling the airbag in the pre-crash mode with a large airbag volume or in the in-crash mode with a smaller airbag volume; and
a second vent integrated in the airbag and able to be triggered pyrotechnically;
wherein an inflation process for the larger airbag volume is activated by the pre-crash activation signal in a pre-crash mode, and the inflation process for the relatively smaller airbag volume is activated by the in-crash activation signal in an in-crash mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A safety arrangement for a motor vehicle includes an airbag and a crash sensor system. The airbag is normally folded together in a non-activated basic state and is able to be inflated with different volumes. The crash sensor system detects a vehicle impact and emits an activation signal. The crash sensor system includes both a pre-crash sensor system and also an in-crash sensor system, and emits a pre-crash activation signal as activation signal upon detection of an impending collision. The in-crash sensor system detects an actual impact and emits an in-crash activation signal (backup) if the pre-crash sensor system has previously not detected the impending collision and has not emitted a pre-crash activation signal. The airbag may be inflated to a larger airbag volume and to a relatively smaller airbag volume in an in-crash mode.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A safety arrangement for a motor vehicle comprising:
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an airbag operable to be inflated with different volumes in a direction of an interior of the vehicle by a gas generator in response to an activation signal; a crash sensor system which detects a vehicle impact and emits the activation signal, the crash sensor system including a pre-crash sensor system and an in-crash sensor system, the pre-crash sensor system operable for detecting an impending collision before an actual impact and for this circumstance emitting a pre-crash activation signal as the activation signal, and the in-crash sensor system operable for detecting an actual impact and for this circumstance emits an in-crash activation signal if the pre-crash sensor system has previously not detected the impending collision and has not emitted a pre-crash activation signal; a first vent integrated in a module housing and able to be activated for controlling the gas mass flow for filling the airbag in the pre-crash mode with a large airbag volume or in the in-crash mode with a smaller airbag volume; and a second vent integrated in the airbag and able to be triggered pyrotechnically; wherein an inflation process for the larger airbag volume is activated by the pre-crash activation signal in a pre-crash mode, and the inflation process for the relatively smaller airbag volume is activated by the in-crash activation signal in an in-crash mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for controlling a safety arrangement having an airbag, an airbag housing and a crash sensor system, the crash sensor system having a pre-crash sensor system and an in-crash sensor system, the pre-crash sensor system operable for detecting an impending collision before an actual impact and emitting a pre-crash actuation signal, the in-crash sensor system operable for detecting an actual impact and emitting an in-crash activation signal, the method comprising:
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selectively controlling the safety arrangement in one of a pre-crash mode and an in-crash mode; wherein selectively controlling the safety arrangement in the pre-crash mode occurs in the presence of the pre-crash activation signal and includes inflating the airbag to a first airbag volume; and wherein selectively controlling the safety arrangement in the in-crash mode occurs in the presence of the in-crash activation signal, includes inflating the airbag to a second volume, the second volume being larger than the first volume, and further includes moving a control element from a first position to a second position to both vent gas from the airbag housing to the environment and clamp at least one tether associated with the airbag; and
wherein the control element is a linearly displaceable valve slider having a plurality of first openings for aligning with a plurality of second openings of the airbag housing upon movement of the control element to the second position. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A safety arrangement for a motor vehicle comprising:
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an airbag operable to be inflated with different volumes in a direction of an interior of the vehicle by a gas generator in response to an activation signal, the airbag including a tether secured to an inner side of the airbag; a housing module associated with the airbag, the housing module defining at least one module vent; a crash sensor system which detects a vehicle impact and emits the activation signal, the crash sensor system including a pre-crash sensor system and an in-crash sensor system, the pre-crash sensor system operable for detecting an impending collision before an actual impact and for this circumstance emitting a pre-crash activation signal as the activation signal, and the in-crash sensor system operable for detecting an actual impact and for this circumstance emits an in-crash activation signal if the pre-crash sensor system has previously not detected the impending collision and has not emitted a pre-crash activation signal; a pyrotechnically controlled element moveable from a first position to a second position in response to the in-crash activation signal, the pyrotechnically controlled element including at least one control element vent for aligning with the module vent when the pyrotechnically controlled element is in the second position; wherein the airbag is able to be inflated to a larger airbag volume and to a relatively smaller airbag volume compared thereto, wherein an inflation process for the larger airbag volume is activated by the pre-crash activation signal in a pre-crash mode, and the inflation process for the relatively smaller airbag volume is activated by the in-crash activation signal in an in-crash mode; and
wherein the pyrotechnically controlled element clamps the tether in the second position. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification