Airbag inflation control system and method

• US 6,623,033 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2001
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Inventors: Breed, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SLITERIS, JOSELYNN Y
• Application Number:
  US09/825,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20020027339A1
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 280/736, 280/739, 280/742, 280/729
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0268 using sensors or detectors for adapting the seat or seat part, e.g. to the position of an occupant
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0272 using sensors or detectors for detecting the position of seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0276 reaction to emergency situations, e.g. crash
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/28 Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2806 for securing the child seat to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2863 backward facing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/205 inflatable in the direction of an obstacle upon impending impact, e.g. using air bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/42 extending primarily along the sides of, or completely encircling, a vehicle ornamental or guard strips B60R13/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23332 using independent bags, one within the other
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26058 using a combination of inflators
• 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 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• 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 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/321 : using electric means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/25 : using biometry
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 : of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/88 : Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/87 : Combinations of sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/88 : Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 : Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 : for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/417 : involving the use of neural networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/48 : of systems according to group G01S17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4802 : using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/487 : Extracting wanted echo signals , e.g. pulse detection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/539 : using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/161 : Decentralised systems, e.g. inter-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/163 : involving continuous checking
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 : Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles

Abstract

Airbag inflation control system and method for a vehicle including an airbag module having a housing mounted in combination with the seat back and an inflatable airbag arranged therein. An anticipatory sensor detects that an impact requiring deployment of the airbag is required based on data obtained prior to the crash and initiates inflation of the airbag in the event an impact requiring deployment of the airbag is detected prior to the start of the impact. An inflator responds to the detection by the anticipatory sensor that an impact requiring deployment of the airbag is required and inflates the airbag. The occupant may be displaced upon inflation of the airbag.

Claims

1. In a motor vehicle having a passive restraint system with at least one airbag, an inflator system for inflating said at least one airbag comprising:

gas inflow means for inflating an interior of said at least one airbag with gas;

vent means for enabling removal of gas from the interior of said at least one airbag;

a first anticipatory crash sensor for determining that a crash requiring deployment of said at least one airbag will occur based on data obtained prior to the crash and, upon the making of such a determination, directing said gas inflow means to inflate said at least one airbag; and

a second crash sensor for determining that a crash requiring deployment of said at least one airbag will occur or is occurring and, upon the making of such a determination, controlling said vent means to enable the removal of gas from the interior said at least one airbag whereby the pressure in said at least one airbag is changed by the removal of gas from the interior of said at least one airbag enabled by said vent means.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein gas inflow means comprise an inflator structured and arranged to produce gas and direct the gas into the interior of said at least one airbag.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said gas inflow means comprise a first inflator and a second inflator, said first crash sensor being structured and arranged to independently direct said first inflator and said second inflator to produce gas for inflation of said at least one airbag.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a side door and a seat, said at least one airbag being arranged to inflate between the occupant and said side door.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the passive restraint system further comprises

occupant displacement permitting means arranged in connection with said seat for permitting the occupant to be displaced away from said side door upon inflation of said at least one airbag and thereby increase the space between the occupant and said side door.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes a seat having a back portion, said at least one airbag being arranged in said back portion of said seat.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein said at least one airbag is attached to said back portion of the seat.

8. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein said at least one airbag is integral with said back portion of the seat.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said inflator system further comprises an airbag module having a housing, said at least one airbag being arranged in said housing.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the vehicle includes a seat having a back portion, said at least one airbag being arranged in said back portion of the seat, said airbag module extends substantially along a vertical length of said back portion of the seat.

11. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said vent means comprise a variable outflow port or vent formed in said at least one airbag.

12. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said at least one airbag comprises a first airbag and a second airbag situated within said first airbag, said vent means being associated with the said first airbag.

13. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a seat;

a side door; and

occupant displacement permitting means arranged in connection with said seat for permitting the occupant to be displaced upon inflation of said at least one airbag.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, further comprising a seatbelt coupled to said seat for restraining the occupant on said seat;

said seatbelt having a belted position in which said seatbelt restrains the occupant and an unbelted position in which the occupant is unrestrained, said occupant displacement permitting means comprises slack introduction means arranged in connection with said seatbelt for introducing a controlled amount of slack into said seatbelt.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein said slack introduction means comprise a spool on which an end of said seatbelt is wound, a sheave attached to said spool, a cable wound around said sheave, an actuator including a cylinder, a piston connected to said cable and movable within said cylinder and means defining a space between a bottom of said cylinder and said piston, and pressure generating means for generating a pressure in said space to force said piston in a direction to cause said sheave to rotate and thus said spool to rotate and unwind said seatbelt from said spool.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein said pressure generating means comprise a housing containing propellant, a squib arranged in connection with said housing and being activated by said first crash sensor or said second crash sensor to ignite said propellant and thereby produce pressurized gas, and a chamber in flow communication with said propellant to receive the pressurized gas, said chamber being in flow communication with said space in said actuator.

17. The vehicle of claim 14, further comprising a seatbelt coupled to said seat for restraining the occupant on said seat;

said seatbelt having a belted position in which said seatbelt restrains the occupant and an unbelted position in which the occupant is unrestrained, said seatbelt having a plurality of anchorage points, said occupant displacement permitting means comprising means for changing the anchorage point of said seatbelt from a first one of said anchorage points to a second one of said anchorage points upon inflation of said at least one airbag.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein said plurality of anchorage points are arranged on a side of said seat away from said side door.

19. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein said second anchorage point is permanently fixed to the vehicle, said first anchorage point being defined by a strip permanently fixed to the vehicle, a first member connected to said strip, a second member having a first position connected to said first member in which said seatbelt is retained at said first anchorage point and a second position apart from said first member in which said seatbelt is not retained at said first anchorage point, and separation means for moving said second member from said first position to said second position so that said seatbelt is no longer retained at said first anchorage point and the displacement of the occupant is not hindered by said seatbelt.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein said separation means comprises an explosive bolt assembly removably connecting said second member to said first member.

21. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein occupant displacement permitting means comprise means for coupling said seatbelt to be integral with said seat.

22. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein said at least one airbag is arranged to be inflated between the occupant and said side door, said occupant displacement permitting means being arranged in connection with the seat for permitting the occupant to be displaced away from said side door upon inflation of said at least one airbag and thereby increase the space between the occupant and said side door.

23. The vehicle of claim 22, further comprising mounting means for mounting said at least one airbag adjacent the occupant, said occupant displacement permitting means being operatively associated with said first crash sensor and said seat to increase the space between the occupant and said side door upon inflation of said at least one airbag.

24. The vehicle of claim 23, wherein said occupant displacement permitting means comprise means for laterally displacing said seat away from said side door.

25. The vehicle of claim 24, wherein said lateral displacement means comprise at least one rail mechanism each including first member having a guide channel arranged in connection with said seat or the vehicle and a second member positioned for movement in said guide channel arranged in the other of said seat and the vehicle.

26. The vehicle of claim 23, wherein said occupant displacement permitting means comprise means for rotating said seat about the vehicle roll axis.

27. The vehicle of claim 23, wherein said occupant displacement permitting means comprise means for rotating said seat about the vehicle yaw axis.

28. The vehicle of claim 23, wherein said occupant displacement permitting means comprises means for lifting said seat vertically.

29. The vehicle of claim 28, wherein said seat lifting means comprise a first plate attached to said seat, a second plate attached to the vehicle and hingedly attached to said first plate, and a clamp for releasably retaining said first plate in connection with said second plate.

30. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said at least one airbag is arranged to deploy outside of the vehicle between a side of the vehicle and an impacting object.

31. The vehicle of claim 30, wherein said at least one airbag is arranged in an airbag module and said airbag module is mounted in a side door of the vehicle.

32. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a seat having a seat back;

an airbag module comprising a housing, said at least one airbag being arranged within said housing; and

mounting means for mounting said airbag module in combination with said seat back.

33. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein said airbag module extends substantially along a vertical length of said seat back.

34. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein said at least one airbag is attached to said seat back.

35. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein said at least one airbag is integral with said seat back.

36. The vehicle of claim 32, further comprising a side door, said airbag module being arranged such that said at least one airbag deploys between said seat and said side door.

37. The vehicle of claim 36, wherein said anticipatory sensor means is arranged to detect that a side impact requiring deployment of said at least one airbag is required based on data obtained prior to the crash.

38. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said second crash sensor is an anticipatory sensor.

39. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said second crash sensor is a crush sensor.

40. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said second crash sensor is an acceleration-based sensor.

41. A motor vehicle having a passive restraint system including at least one airbag and an inflator system for inflating said at least one airbag, said inflator system comprising:

inflator means for releasing a gas into an interior of said at least one airbag,

a first anticipatory crash sensor for determining that a crash requiring deployment of said at least one airbag will occur based on data obtained prior to the crash and, upon the making of such a determination, triggering said inflator means to release gas into said at least one airbag; and

a second crash sensor for determining that a crash requiring deployment of said at least one airbag will occur or is occurring and, upon the making of such a determination, changing the rate at which gas accumulates in said at least one airbag,

said second crash sensor being arranged to control outflow of gas from the interior of said at least one airbag.

42. The vehicle of claim 41, wherein said at least one airbag includes a variable outflow port, said second crash sensor being arranged to control said variable outflow port and thus the outflow of gas from the interior of said at least one airbag.

43. A method for inflating at least one airbag arranged in a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

making a first determination by means of an anticipatory crash sensor that a crash requiring deployment of the at least one airbag will occur based on data obtained prior to the crash and, upon the making of such a determination, inflating the at least one airbag; and

making a second, separate determination by means of a second crash sensor that a crash requiring deployment of the at least one airbag will occur or is occurring and, upon the making of such a determination, changing the rate at which gas accumulates in the at least one airbag,

the step of changing the rate at which gas accumulates in the at least one airbag comprising the step of enabling and regulating outflow of gas from an interior of the at least one airbag.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the at least one airbag includes a variable outflow port, the step of changing the rate at which gas accumulates in the at least one airbag comprising the step of:

controlling the variable outflow port and thus the outflow of gas from the interior of the at least one airbag.

45. In a motor vehicle having a passive restraint system with at least one airbag, an inflator system for inflating said at least one airbag comprising:

an inflator arranged to inflate an interior of said at least one airbag with gas;

a vent having a closed position in which outflow of gas from the interior of said at least one airbag is prevented and a variable open position in which outflow of gas from the interior of said at least one airbag is permitted;

a first anticipatory crash sensor for determining that a crash requiring deployment of said at least one airbag will occur based on data obtained prior to the crash and, upon the making of such a determination, directing said inflator to inflate said at least one airbag; and

a second crash sensor for determining that a crash requiring deployment of said at least one airbag will occur or is occurring and, upon the making of such a determination, controlling said vent to enable the outflow of gas from the interior said at least one airbag whereby the pressure in said at least one airbag is changed by the outflow of gas from the interior of said at least one airbag enabled by said vent.

46. The vehicle of claim 45, wherein said vent is formed in said at least one airbag.