DISPLACEABLE AIRBAG CUSHION SAFETY SYSTEMS AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20170008475A1
• Filed: 07/06/2015
• Published: 01/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kruse, Dion Karl-Axel
• Granted Patent: US 9,663,054 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01231 control of expansion timing or sequence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01252 Devices other than bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01286 Electronic control units
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0136 responsive to actual contact with an obstacle , e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01512 Passenger detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0173 Diagnostic or recording means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/11 incorporating energy-absorbing arrangements, e.g. by being yieldable or collapsible padded linings associated with the steering wheel B60R21/05; shock absorbers using plastic deformation of members in general F16F7/12
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/18 yieldable or adjustable, e.g. tiltable padded linings associated with the steering column B60R21/05
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/197 incorporating devices for preventing ingress of the steering column into the passengers space in case of accident

Abstract

Apparatus, methods, and systems for repositioning an airbag cushion prior to and/or during deployment of the airbag cushion resulting from an impact event. Some embodiments may comprise one or more sensors, which may be used to detect at least a first directional component of an impact with a vehicle. A steering wheel actuator may be provided to move a vehicle steering wheel laterally in a direction opposite from a lateral component of the impact in response to a signal from the one or more sensors. The system may further comprise an airbag cushion configured to be positioned, following deployment, in a location corresponding with lateral movement caused by the steering wheel actuator.

Claims

1. A vehicle safety system, comprising:

a first sensor configured to detect at least a first directional component of an impact with a vehicle;

a steering wheel actuator configured to move a vehicle steering wheel laterally in a direction opposite from a lateral directional component of the impact in response to a signal from at least the first sensor; and

an airbag cushion configured to be positioned, following deployment, in a location corresponding with the lateral movement caused by the steering wheel actuator.

2. The vehicle safety system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor comprises an accelerometer.

3. The vehicle safety system of claim 1, further comprising a second sensor configured to detect a second directional component of the impact with the vehicle.

4. The vehicle safety system of claim 3, wherein the first sensor is oriented at a first angle, and wherein the second sensor is oriented at a second angle offset from the first angle.

5. The vehicle safety system of claim 4, wherein the first angle is offset from the second angle by about 90 degrees.

6. The vehicle safety system of claim 1, wherein the steering wheel actuator is further configured to tilt the vehicle steering wheel in response to the signal from at least the first sensor.

7. The vehicle safety system of claim 6, wherein the steering wheel actuator is further configured to tilt the vehicle steering wheel laterally in a direction corresponding with the direction of the impact in response to the signal from at least the first sensor.

8. A vehicle, comprising:

a steering wheel;

an airbag cushion configured to deploy in a location corresponding with a location of the steering wheel; and

a vehicle safety system, comprising;

a sensor configured to detect an impact with the vehicle;

a steering wheel actuator configured to move the steering wheel laterally in response to detection of the impact; and

an airbag cushion configured to be positioned, following deployment, in a location corresponding with lateral movement caused by the steering wheel actuator.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the sensor is configured to determine an angle of the impact.

10. The vehicle of claim 8, further comprising a vehicle computer system, wherein the vehicle computer system is configured to receive a signal from the sensor and, upon detecting a predetermined characteristic of the impact, transmit a signal to the steering wheel actuator to move the vehicle steering wheel laterally.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the predetermined characteristic of the impact comprises a threshold lateral component of the impact event.

12. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the vehicle computer system is further configured to calculate a desired lateral movement distance for the steering wheel, and wherein the steering wheel actuator is configured to move the steering wheel laterally in response to detection of the impact by a distance corresponding to the desired lateral movement distance.

13. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the steering wheel actuator is configured to move the steering wheel in a direction opposite from a lateral component direction of the impact.

14. A method for adjusting the position of an airbag cushion during a vehicle impact event, the method comprising the steps of:

sampling a sensor to determine a lateral component of an impact event;

determining a lateral movement direction using the lateral component of the impact event;

transmitting a signal to an actuator, wherein the signal comprises the lateral movement direction; and

moving an airbag cushion housing in a lateral direction corresponding with the determined lateral movement direction.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining whether the lateral component of the impact event exceeds a predetermined threshold.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of sampling a sensor to determine a lateral component of the impact event comprises:

sampling a first sensor to determine an x-component of the impact event; and

sampling a second sensor to determine a y-component of the impact event, wherein the x-component is offset from the y-component by ninety degrees.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising calculating a desired lateral movement distance using the lateral component of the impact event.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the signal further comprises the desired lateral movement distance.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the airbag cushion housing is positioned in a steering wheel, and wherein the actuator comprises a steering wheel actuator.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising tilting the steering wheel in a lateral direction opposite from the determined lateral movement direction.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising calculating a tilt angle, wherein the step of tilting the steering wheel comprises tilting the steering wheel at the tilt angle.