Airbag deployment control based on contact with occupant

• US 7,712,777 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2006
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• 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): Fleming; Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US11/539,826
• Publication Number:
  US 20070096446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,310 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 280/739, 280/740, 280/734, 180/268, 180/271
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01211 Expansion of air bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2395 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0152 using strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01552 detecting position of specific human body parts, e.g. face, eyes or hands
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01558 monitoring crash strength
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/04 Systems determining presence of a target based on relative movement of target G01S13/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/04 Systems determining presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/06 Systems determining the position data of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/523 for presence detection burglar, theft or intruder alarms G08B13/00, e.g. G08B13/16
• 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 7/4052 by simulation of echoes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/417 involving the use of neural networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4802 using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/497 Means for monitoring or calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52006 : with provision for compensating the effects of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/539 : using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section

Abstract

Method for controlling outflow of gas from an airbag includes deploying the airbag toward an occupant prior to or during an accident involving the vehicle, detecting contact between the airbag and the occupant by means of a sensor, and controlling outflow of gas from the airbag based on the detected contact. Contact between the airbag and the occupant may be detected by analyzing deceleration of the airbag, e.g., via an accelerometer arranged on a surface of the airbag, a pressure sensor arranged to sense the pressure in the airbag which is correlatable to the deceleration of the airbag and tension sensors arranged on tethers between opposed inner surfaces of the airbag. Outflow of fluid from the airbag may be controlled by arranging an exit control valve or vent in, on or in connection with the airbag and which is adjustable to provide variable outflows of gas from the airbag.

Claims

1. A method for controlling outflow of fluid from a vehicular airbag, comprising:

deploying the airbag toward an occupant prior to or during an accident involving the vehicle;

then

detecting contact between the airbag and the occupant by means of a sensor system after the airbag has been deployed toward the occupant; and

controlling outflow of fluid from the airbag by means of an airbag fluid controller based on the detected contact between the airbag and the occupant by the sensor system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the outflow of fluid is controlled by the airbag fluid controller to maintain acceleration of the occupant'"'"'s chest below a predetermined maximum value.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

forecasting, using a processor, severity of the accident for which the airbag is deploying; and

setting the predetermined maximum value based on the forecast severity of the accident.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising arranging a vent in the airbag, outflow of fluid from the airbag being controlled by the airbag fluid controller by adjusting the vent size.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

forecasting, using a processor, severity of the accident for which the airbag is deploying;

determining a desired chest acceleration to minimize injury to the occupant; and

initially controlling outflow of fluid from the airbag by means of the airbag fluid controller to provide the desired chest acceleration,

the outflow of fluid from the airbag being controlled by the airbag fluid controller to provide for an adjustment of the initial control based on the actual chest acceleration.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, using a seatbelt-wearing sensor system, whether the occupant is wearing a seatbelt; and

adjusting the outflow of fluid from the airbag by means of the airbag fluid controller based on whether the occupant is wearing the seatbelt as determined by the seatbelt-wearing sensor system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein contact between the airbag and the occupant is detected by the sensor system by analyzing deceleration of the airbag.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the sensor system comprises an accelerometer arranged on the airbag to sense deceleration of the airbag.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the sensor system comprises a pressure sensor arranged to sense the pressure in the airbag which is correlatable to the deceleration of the airbag.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor system is arranged in connection with the airbag to sense a property of the airbag or a part thereof.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the airbag includes at least one tether between opposed inner surfaces, the sensor system being arranged to measure tension in the at least one tether.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising arranging the sensor system in association with the airbag.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising arranging the sensor system in association with a seatbelt that is positioned to belt the occupant into a seat.

23. The method of claim 10, wherein the airbag includes at least one tether between opposed inner surfaces, the sensor being arranged on the at least one tether to measure tension in the at least one tether.

12. A system for controlling outflow of fluid from a vehicular airbag, comprising:

an airbag arranged to deploy toward an occupant prior to or during an accident involving the vehicle;

a sensor system that detects contact between said airbag and the occupant; and

a fluid outflow control system that controls outflow of fluid from said airbag based on the contact between said airbag and the occupant as detected by said sensor system.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said control system comprises an exit control valve or vent.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein said sensor system is arranged to sense deceleration of said airbag or said occupant whereby analysis of the sensed deceleration provides an indication of contact between said airbag and the occupant.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said sensor system includes an accelerometer arranged on said airbag facing the occupant and which senses deceleration of said airbag.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein said sensor system is arranged to sense pressure in said airbag whereby analysis of the sensed pressure provides an indication of contact between said airbag and the occupant.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein said airbag includes at least one tether between opposed inner surfaces, said sensor system comprising at least one sensor arranged to measure tension in said at least one tether from which contact between said airbag and the occupant is detectable, said control system including an exit control valve or vent that causes a reduction in pressure in said airbag and a control module coupled to said at least one sensor to control said exit control valve or vent.

24. The system of claim 12, wherein said sensor system is arranged in association with said airbag.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein said at least one sensor is arranged on said at least one tether to measure tension in said at least one tether.

18. A method for controlling deployment of a vehicular airbag, comprising:

detecting an accident involving the vehicle by means of a sensor system;

deploying the airbag toward an occupant prior to or during the accident at initial deployment conditions by means of an airbag deployment system;

detecting contact between the airbag and the occupant by means of a sensor system;

determining adjusted deployment conditions based on the detected contact by means of a processor; and

adjusting the deployment of the airbag via the airbag deployment system to provide the adjusted deployment conditions.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

forecasting, using a processor, severity of the accident; and

determining, using a processor, the initial deployment conditions based on the forecast severity of the accident.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising

determining whether the occupant is wearing a seatbelt by means of a seatbelt-wearing sensor system;

and

determining the adjusted deployment conditions by means of the processor based on whether the occupant is wearing the seatbelt.

26. The method of claim 18, further comprising arranging the sensor system in association with the airbag.

27. The method of claim 18, further comprising arranging the sensor system in association with a seatbelt that is positioned to belt the occupant into a seat.