Dual airbags in vehicle with reconfigurable interior

• US 9,580,033 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2014
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Rao, Manoharprasad K., Le, Jialiang
• Primary Examiner(s): Mawari, Redhwan K
• Application Number:
  US14/449,593
• Publication Number:
  US 20150142247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/20 Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components

Abstract

A steering wheel in a vehicle can be in one of an operating position and a stowed position. Crash sensor data is monitored to detect a first and second frontal collision. Upon detecting the first frontal collision, a selected one of a first airbag and a second airbag is deployed depending on whether the steering wheel is in the stowed position or the operational position. When the steering wheel is in the operational position and a second collision is detected both the first and second airbags may be deployed.

Claims

1. A controller in a vehicle, the controller comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor, the instructions including instructions for:

determining that a steering wheel is in one of an operating position and a stowed position;

upon determining that the steering wheel is in an operating position, monitoring crash sensor data to identify a first frontal collision;

upon detecting a first frontal collision, activating a first airbag;

further monitoring the crash sensor data; and

upon detecting a second frontal collision after detecting the first frontal collision and while further monitoring the crash sensor data, activating a second airbag.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the first airbag is a steering wheel airbag and the second airbag is a windshield airbag.

3. The controller of claim 1, the instructions further including instructions for, upon detecting the first frontal collision, determining whether the vehicle is in motion.

4. The controller of claim 3, the instructions further including instructions for, upon determining that the vehicle is in motion, activating a seatbelt retractor.

5. The controller of claim 3, the instructions further including instructions for, upon determining that the vehicle is not in motion after detecting the first frontal collision, ending monitoring of the crash sensor data.

6. The controller of claim 1, the instructions further including instructions for, upon determining that the steering wheel is in the stowed position, monitoring the crash sensor data to detect the first frontal collision.

7. The controller of claim 6, the instructions further including instructions for, upon detecting the first frontal collision, activating the second airbag.

8. The controller of claim 1, the instructions further including instructions for determining whether to continue monitoring the crash sensor data.

9. A system, comprising:

a steering wheel movable from an operational position to a stowed position in a vehicle, and from the stowed position to the operational position;

a controller comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor, the instructions including instructions for detecting a first frontal collision, and, upon detecting the first frontal collision, deploying a selected one of a first airbag and a second airbag depending on whether the steering wheel is in the stowed position or the operational position,

wherein the instructions further include detecting a second frontal collision after detecting the first frontal collision and activating another of the first airbag and the second airbag in response to detecting the second frontal collision.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first airbag is a steering wheel airbag and the second airbag is a windshield airbag.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the steering wheel moveable to the stowed position when the vehicle is operating in an autonomous mode.

12. The system of claim 9, the instructions further including instructions for, upon detecting the first frontal collision, determining whether the vehicle is in motion.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first airbag is deployed, the instructions further including instructions for, upon detecting the first frontal collision and deploying the first airbag:

continuing to monitor the crash sensor data to detect the second frontal collision; and

upon detecting the second frontal collision, deploying the second airbag.

14. The system of claim 12, the instructions further including instructions for, upon determining that the vehicle is in motion, activating a seatbelt retractor.

15. The system of claim 12, the instructions further including instructions for, upon determining that the vehicle is not in motion after detecting the first frontal collision, ending monitoring of the crash sensor data.

16. The system of claim 9, the instructions further including instructions for, upon determining that the steering wheel is in the stowed position, monitoring the crash sensor data to detect the first frontal collision.

17. The system of claim 16, the instructions further including instructions for, upon detecting the first frontal collision, activating the second airbag.

18. The system of claim 9, the instructions further including instructions for, upon failing to detect the first frontal collision, determining whether to continue monitoring the crash sensor data.

19. A method, comprising:

determining that a steering wheel in a vehicle is in one of an operating position and a stowed position;

monitoring crash sensor data to detect a first frontal collision;

upon detecting the first frontal collision, deploying a selected one of a first airbag and a second airbag depending on whether the steering wheel is in the stowed position or the operational position;

continuing to monitor the crash sensor data after deploying one of the first airbag and the second airbag;

detecting a second frontal collision after detecting the first frontal collision and while continuing to monitor the crash sensor data; and

activating another of the first airbag and the second airbag in response to detecting the second frontal collision.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first airbag is deployed, the method further comprising, upon detecting the first frontal collision and deploying the first airbag:

continuing to monitor the crash sensor data to detect the second frontal collision; and

upon detecting the second frontal collision, deploying the second airbag.