Passenger airbag switch

• US 9,061,642 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2013
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: Heurlin, Fredrik, Persson, Johan
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US14/064,549
• Publication Number:
  US 20140136022A1
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 701/45, 340/5.61, 340/933, 280/735, 180/274, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01564 Manually or key-actuated inhibition switches

Abstract

A passenger airbag system includes a control unit connected to a switch for switching a passenger airbag between an active and a non-active state. The system also includes a first radio frequency unit arranged in the vehicle and may include a second radio frequency unit arranged in a vehicle remote key, so that when the radio frequency units are brought in contact with each other one of the units is arranged for sending a signal to the control unit for changing a setting of the switch.

Claims

1. A passenger airbag system comprising:

a control unit;

a switch for connection to the control unit, the switch for switching a passenger airbag between an active and a non-active state;

a first radio frequency unit for arrangement in a vehicle;

a second radio frequency unit for arrangement in a vehicle remote key, wherein when said radio frequency units are brought in contact with each other, one of the units is configured for sending a signal to the control unit for changing a setting of the switch; and

a component having an area indicating where the second radio frequency unit is to be positioned for changing the state of the passenger airbag switch so that when the second radio frequency unit is positioned against the area, the setting of the switch is changed.

2. A passenger airbag system according to claim 1, further comprising a console with the vehicle radio frequency unit for arrangement in the console.

3. A passenger airbag system according to claim 1, further comprising a switch status indicator.

4. A passenger airbag system according to claim 3, wherein the indicator comprises an LED.

5. A passenger airbag system according to claim 1, further comprising an overhead console indication.

6. A passenger airbag system according to claim 1, wherein the first radio frequency unit is for arrangement on a side of a dashboard on a passenger side such that the unit is only accessible when a passenger vehicle door is open.

7. A passenger airbag system according to claim 1, wherein an acoustic signal indicates a status switch.

8. A passenger airbag system according to claim 1, wherein the first radio frequency unit for arrangement in the vehicle is a passive unit and the second radio frequency unit for arrangement in the vehicle remote key is an active unit.

9. A passenger airbag system according to claim 1, wherein the first radio frequency unit for arrangement in the vehicle is an active unit and the second radio frequency unit for arrangement in the vehicle remote key is a passive unit.

10. A vehicle comprising the passenger airbag system of claim 1.

11. A passenger airbag system comprising:

a control unit;

a switch for connection to the control unit, the switch for switching a passenger airbag between an active and a non-active state; and

a first radio frequency unit for arrangement in a vehicle;

wherein when said first radio frequency unit is brought in contact with a second radio frequency unit arranged in a vehicle remote key, one of the units is configured for sending a signal to the control unit for changing a setting of the switch, and wherein the vehicle includes a component having an area indicating where the second radio frequency unit is to be positioned for changing the state of the passenger airbag switch so that when the second radio frequency unit is positioned against the area, the setting of the switch is changed.

12. A passenger airbag system according to claim 11, further comprising a console with the vehicle radio frequency unit for arrangement in the console.

13. A passenger airbag system according to claim 11, further comprising a switch status indicator.

14. A passenger airbag system according to claim 13, wherein the indicator comprises an LED.

15. A passenger airbag system according to claim 11, further comprising an overhead console indication.

16. A passenger airbag system according to claim 11, wherein the first radio frequency unit is for arrangement on a side of a dashboard on a passenger side such that the unit is only accessible when a passenger vehicle door is open.

17. A passenger airbag system according to claim 11, wherein an acoustic signal indicates a status switch.

18. A passenger airbag system according to claim 11, wherein the first radio frequency unit for arrangement in the vehicle is a passive unit and the second radio frequency unit for arrangement in the vehicle remote key is an active unit.

19. A passenger airbag system according to claim 11, wherein the first radio frequency unit for arrangement in the vehicle is an active unit and the second radio frequency unit for arrangement in the vehicle remote key is a passive unit.

20. A passenger airbag system according to claim 11 wherein the control unit comprises a programmable device.