Airbag device provided with airbags located on driver's seat side and passenger's seat side

• US 5,709,403 A
• Filed: 05/03/1995
• Issued: 01/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd. (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd. (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Katoh, Kazutaka, Taguchi, Masahiro, Yoshida, Masatada, Kato, Masayasu
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US08/485,555
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 280/734, 280/732, 280/728.1, 280/728.2, 280/730.1
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01006 Mounting of electrical components in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards

Abstract

An airbag device which includes a passenger seat airbag module and driver'"'"'s seat airbag module, detects a vehicle collision by means of an electronic control unit (ECU) thereof and inflates the airbags upon the vehicle collision. In the airbag device, the ECU and passenger seat airbag module are formed as a single unit which is installed in the passenger seat dashboard.

Claims

1. An airbag device comprising:

an electronic control unit for determining a vehicle collision and outputting a detection signal in response to the vehicle collision;

a passenger seat airbag module including a first inflator for generating gas based on said detection signal from said electronic control unit, a first airbag inflated at a passenger seat side due to the gas from said first inflator and a first case for housing said first inflator and said first airbag;

a driver'"'"'s seat airbag module including a second inflator for generating gas based on said detection signal from said electronic control unit, a second airbag inflated at a driver'"'"'s seat side due to the gas from said second inflator and a second case for housing said second inflator and said second air bag;

at least one power source for supplying electrical power to said electronic control unit, and to said first and second inflators; and

wiring for electrical connection of said electronic control unit and said first and second inflators,

wherein said electronic control unit and said passenger seat airbag module are composed as a single unit.

2. An airbag device according to claim 1, wherein said electronic control unit is housed in a third case and said third case is secured inside said first case.

3. An airbag device according to claim 2, wherein both said first case and said third case are secured to a stay attached to a vehicle chassis frame inside a dashboard on said passenger seat side.

4. An airbag device according to claim 3, wherein said electronic control unit is housed in a third case, and after attaching said third case to the securing member inside the passenger seat side dashboard of said vehicle, the first case is secured to said third case.

5. An airbag device according to claim 2, wherein said first case is secured to a stay attached to a vehicle chassis frame inside a dashboard on said passenger seat side.

6. An airbag device according to claim 5, wherein a mounting stay for mounting said passenger seat airbag module to said stay is attached to said first case, and wherein, by securing said stay and said mounting stay, said passenger seat airbag module is attached inside said dashboard.

7. An airbag device according to claim 1, wherein said electronic control unit includes a board on which is arrayed a vehicle collision determining circuit to determine a vehicle collision, said board being attached inside said first case.

8. An airbag device according to claim 7, wherein said first case is secured to a stay attached to a vehicle chassis frame inside a dashboard on said passenger seat side.

9. An airbag device according to claim 8, wherein a mounting stay for mounting said passenger seat airbag module to said stay is attached to said first case, and wherein, by securing said stay and said mounting stay, said passenger seat airbag module is attached inside said dashboard.

10. An airbag device according to claim 1, wherein said electronic control unit is housed in a third case and said third case is secured outside said first case.

11. An airbag device according to claim 10, wherein a stay for attaching said first case is provided on a securing member, and wherein said first case is secured to said stay together with said third case.

12. An airbag device according to claim 10, wherein the third case is attached to the outside of said first case so that one part of said first case acts as a cover for said third case.

13. An airbag device according to claim 11, wherein a mounting stay for mounting said passenger seat airbag module in said vehicle is attached to said first case, and wherein, by securing of said stay and mounting stay, said passenger seat airbag module is attached inside a dashboard.

14. An airbag device according to claim 1, wherein said driver'"'"'s seat airbag module is installed in a rotating steering unit, and an electrical connection between the rotating steering unit and a vehicle body is achieved by a connector including a flexible cable having multiple channels whereby said second inflator is electrically connected to said power source and said electrical control unit.

15. An airbag device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second inflators respectively included in said passenger seat airbag module and said driver'"'"'s seat air bag module are disc-shaped.

16. An airbag device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a warning device for warning of an occurrence of an abnormality when said electronic control unit has failed.

17. An airbag comprising:

an electronic control unit for determining a vehicle collision and outputting a detection signal in response to the vehicle collision;

a passenger seat airbag module including a first inflator for generating gas based on said detection signal from said electronic control unit, a first airbag inflated at a passenger seat side due to the gas from said first inflator and a first case for housing said first inflator and first airbag;

a driver'"'"'s seat airbag module including a second inflator for generating gas based on said detection signal from said electronic control unit, a second airbag inflated at a driver'"'"'s seat side due to the gas from said second inflator and a second case for housing said second inflator and said second airbag;

at least one power source for supplying electric power to said electronic control unit, and to said first and second inflators; and

wiring for electrical connection of said electronic control unit and said first and second inflators,

wherein said electronic control unit is secured to said first case.

18. An airbag device according to claim 17, wherein said electronic control unit is housed in a third case and said third case is secured inside said first case.

19. An airbag device according to claim 17, wherein said electronic control unit includes a board on which is arrayed a vehicle collision determining circuit to determine a vehicle collision, said board being attached inside said first case.

20. An airbag device according to claim 17, wherein said electronic control unit is housed in a third case and said third case is secured outside said first case.

21. An airbag device according to claim 17, wherein said first case is secured to a stay attached to a vehicle chassis frame inside a dashboard on said passenger seat side.

22. An airbag device according to claim 20, wherein the third case is attached to the outside of said first case so that one part of said first case acts as a cover for said third case.

23. An airbag device according to claim 17, further comprising:

a warning device for warning of an occurrence of an abnormality when said electronic control unit has failed.

24. An airbag device comprising:

a power source;

a passenger seat airbag module including a first inflator for generating gas when receiving starting current from said power source, a first airbag inflated at a passenger seat side due to the gas from said first inflator and a first case for housing said first inflator and said first airbag;

a driver'"'"'s seat airbag module including a second inflator for generating gas when receiving starting current from said power source, a second airbag inflated at a driver seat side due to the gas from said second inflator and a second case for housing said first inflator and said first airbag;

an acceleration sensor for detecting deceleration of a vehicle;

an electronic control unit for determining a vehicle collision based on said deceleration detected by said acceleration sensor and controlling supply of said starting current to said first and second inflators based on determination of said vehicle collision; and

wire harnesses for connecting said power source with said electronic control unit, and said first and second inflators,

wherein said acceleration sensor is installed in said electronic control unit, and said passenger seat airbag module and said electronic control unit are composed as a single unit.