Adjustable Airbag Systems for Vehicles

• US 20100264629A1
• Filed: 04/16/2009
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Gandhi, Umesh N.
• Granted Patent: US 7,874,576 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01252 Devices other than bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2173 the module or part thereof being movably mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns

Abstract

Adjustable airbag systems for a vehicle may comprise an airbag assembly having an inflatable airbag within a housing and an actuator associated with the housing, a sensor operable to measure a physical characteristic of an occupant of the vehicle, and a controller in communication with the sensor and the actuator such that upon receiving a feedback signal from the sensor relating to the physical characteristic of the occupant, the controller sends a control signal to the actuator to adjust a position of the housing with respect to the occupant.

Claims

1. An adjustable airbag system for a vehicle comprising:

an airbag assembly having an inflatable airbag within a housing and an actuator associated with the housing;

a sensor operable to measure a physical characteristic of an occupant of the vehicle; and

a controller in communication with the sensor and the actuator such that upon receiving a feedback signal from the sensor relating to the physical characteristic of the occupant, the controller sends a control signal to the actuator to adjust a position of the housing with respect to the occupant.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second sensor to measure a second physical characteristic of the occupant wherein the second sensor is in communication with the controller.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the actuator comprises a shape memory alloy (SMA) device.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the actuator comprises a piezoelectric device.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the inflatable airbag is a side-impact airbag.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the actuator is operable to adjust the position of the inflatable airbag about plus or minus ten millimeters with respect to the occupant.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the actuator is operable to adjust a tilt of the housing.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the tilt of the housing is about plus or minus five degrees with respect to the occupant.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the airbag assembly is mechanically coupled to a seat, a door, a dashboard, a roof, or a steering wheel of the vehicle.

10. A vehicle having an adjustable airbag system secured to a structure of the vehicle, the system comprising:

an airbag assembly having an inflatable airbag within a housing and an actuator associated with the housing wherein the housing is secured to the structure of the vehicle;

a sensor operable to measure a physical characteristic of an occupant of the vehicle; and

a controller in communication with the sensor and the actuator such that upon receiving a feedback signal from the sensor relating to the physical characteristic of the occupant, the controller sends a control signal to the actuator to adjust a position of the housing with respect to the occupant.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 further comprising a second sensor to measure a second physical characteristic of the occupant wherein the second sensor is in communication with the controller.

12. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein the actuator comprises a shape memory alloy (SMA) device.

13. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein the actuator comprises a piezoelectric device.

14. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein the inflatable airbag is a side-impact airbag.

15. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein the actuator is operable to adjust the position of the inflatable airbag about plus or minus ten millimeters with respect to the occupant.

16. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein the actuator is operable to adjust a tilt of the housing.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the tilt of the housing is about plus or minus five degrees with respect to the occupant.

18. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein the airbag assembly is mechanically coupled to a seat, a door, a dashboard, a roof, or a steering wheel of the vehicle.