Method for control of seat mounted airbag in a seat with armrest
First Claim
1. A method for controlling an airbag mounted in a seat back of a vehicle seating system having both the airbag and a pivoting armrest mounted on the seat back on a same side of an occupant seating position defined by the seat back, and the pivoting armrest pivots relative the seat back and the airbag between a vertical position of the armrest interfering with a deployment of the airbag mounted on the seat back and a horizontal position of the armrest permitting unobstructed deployment of the airbag, comprising:
- sensing a position of the pivoting armrest mounted on the seat back to determine the vertical position or the horizontal position;
sensing vehicle conditions indicative of a need to deploy the airbag;
and not deploying the airbag if the pivoting armrest mounted on the seat back is in the vertical position interfering with the deployment of the airbag mounted on the seat back.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An airbag is mounted in a vehicle seating system having both the airbag and a pivoting armrest on the same side of the occupant seating position. The armrest pivots between a vertical stored position and a horizontal armrest position. The deployment of the airbag is controlled by deployment logic including: sensing the position of the pivoting armrest to determine the vertical position or the horizontal position; sensing vehicle conditions indicative of a need to deploy the airbag mounted on the seat back; and not deploying the airbag mounted on the seat back if the armrest is in the vertical stored position.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for controlling an airbag mounted in a seat back of a vehicle seating system having both the airbag and a pivoting armrest mounted on the seat back on a same side of an occupant seating position defined by the seat back, and the pivoting armrest pivots relative the seat back and the airbag between a vertical position of the armrest interfering with a deployment of the airbag mounted on the seat back and a horizontal position of the armrest permitting unobstructed deployment of the airbag, comprising:
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sensing a position of the pivoting armrest mounted on the seat back to determine the vertical position or the horizontal position; sensing vehicle conditions indicative of a need to deploy the airbag; and not deploying the airbag if the pivoting armrest mounted on the seat back is in the vertical position interfering with the deployment of the airbag mounted on the seat back. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for controlling an airbag mounted in a seat back of a vehicle seating system having both the airbag and a pivoting armrest mounted on the seat back on a same side of an occupant seating position defined by the seat back, and the pivoting armrest pivots relative the seat back and the airbag between a vertical position interfering with a deployment of the airbag mounted on the seat back and a horizontal position of the armrest permitting unobstructed deployment of the airbag, comprising:
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providing a passenger-side seat back spaced from a driver-side seat back and the pivoting armrest pivoting between the driver-side seat back and the passenger-side seat back so that the pivoting armrest when in the vertical position provides a back rest for a center seat occupant; sensing a position of the pivoting armrest to determine the vertical position providing the back rest or the horizontal position providing the pivoting armrest; sensing vehicle conditions indicative of a need to deploy the airbag; and not deploying the airbag mounted on the seat back if the pivoting armrest mounted on the seat back is in the vertical position interfering with the deployment of the airbag. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for controlling an airbag mounted in a seat back of a vehicle seating system having both the airbag and a pivoting armrest mounted on the seat back on a same side of an occupant seating position defined by the seat back, and the pivoting armrest pivots relative the seat back and the airbag between a vertical position interfering with a deployment of the airbag mounted on the seat back and a horizontal position of the armrest permitting unobstructed deployment of the airbag, comprising:
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providing a driver-side seat back within a seat back that also provides a passenger-side seat back and a center occupant seat back, with an opening provided in the seat back, the pivoting armrest being stored within the opening provided in the seat back to form a part of the center occupant seat back when pivoted to the vertical position and forming the pivoting armrest when pivoted to a horizontal position; sensing the position of the pivoting armrest to determine the vertical position providing a part of the back rest or the horizontal position providing the pivoting armrest; sensing vehicle conditions indicative of a need to deploy the airbag mounted on the seat back; and not deploying the airbag mounted on the seat back if the pivoting armrest mounted on the seat back is in the vertical position interfering with the deployment of the airbag. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification