Methods of preventing or reducing the effects of roof impact in automotive applications
First Claim
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1. A method adapted for use by a vehicle comprising a roof and a seat, and by a passenger disposed within the seat, and for autonomously preventing or reducing the effects of an impact between the passenger and the roof, said method comprising:
- a. determining a vehicle condition indicative of an imminent roof impact;
b. in response to determining the condition, activating a shape memory active material actuator in a non-contracted condition that holds a bi-stable mount in an upright condition, thereby causing the shape memory active material actuator to contract and release the bi-stable mount so that the bi-stable mount swings past a neutral axis and achieves a collapsed condition, whereby the seat is autonomously modified to a lowered condition; and
c. preventing or reducing the effects of the roof impact, as a result of autonomously modifying the seat.
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Abstract
A method of autonomously preventing or reducing the affects of roof impact in automotive applications, including the steps of determining a vehicle condition indicative of an imminent roof impact, and modifying a vehicular seat or roof structure, or deploying a netting as a result thereof, wherein active material actuation is preferably utilized to effect the same.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method adapted for use by a vehicle comprising a roof and a seat, and by a passenger disposed within the seat, and for autonomously preventing or reducing the effects of an impact between the passenger and the roof, said method comprising:
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a. determining a vehicle condition indicative of an imminent roof impact; b. in response to determining the condition, activating a shape memory active material actuator in a non-contracted condition that holds a bi-stable mount in an upright condition, thereby causing the shape memory active material actuator to contract and release the bi-stable mount so that the bi-stable mount swings past a neutral axis and achieves a collapsed condition, whereby the seat is autonomously modified to a lowered condition; and c. preventing or reducing the effects of the roof impact, as a result of autonomously modifying the seat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification