Adjustable airbag systems for vehicles

• US 7,874,576 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2009
• Issued: 01/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Gandhi, Umesh N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): VERLEY, NICOLE T
• Application Number:
  US12/424,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20100264629A1
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/735
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• 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 attachment to a structure of a vehicle, the adjustable airbag system comprising:

an airbag assembly having an inflatable airbag within a housing;

an actuator mechanically coupled to the housing, the actuator comprising;

a spring coupled to the housing such that the spring is positioned between the housing and the structure of the vehicle, wherein the spring biases the housing away from the structure;

a shape memory alloy device coupled to the housing such that the shape memory alloy device is positioned between the housing and the structure of the vehicle, wherein the shape memory alloy device is operable to compress the spring when a current is supplied to the shape memory alloy device;

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, wherein the spring and the shape memory alloy device of the actuator are arranged such that the position of the housing is adjusted only when the actuator is actuated by the control signal.

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 inflatable airbag is a side-impact airbag.

4. 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.

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

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the tilt of the housing is about plus or minus five degrees with respect to the occupant.

7. 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.

8. The adjustable airbag system of claim 1 wherein the shape memory alloy device is a bolt formed from a shape memory alloy.

9. The adjustable airbag system of claim 1 wherein the shape memory alloy device is a wire formed from a shape memory alloy.

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

an airbag assembly coupled to the structure of the vehicle and having an inflatable airbag within a housing;

an actuator mechanically coupled to the housing, the actuator comprising;

a spring coupled to the housing and positioned between the housing and the structure of the vehicle, wherein the spring biases the housing away from the structure;

a shape memory alloy device coupled to the housing such that the shape memory alloy device is positioned between the housing and the structure of the vehicle, wherein the shape memory alloy device is operable to compress the spring;

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, wherein the spring and the shape memory alloy device of the actuator are arranged such that the position of the housing is adjusted only when the actuator is actuated by the control signal.

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 inflatable airbag is a side-impact airbag.

13. 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.

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

15. The vehicle of claim 14 wherein the tilt of the housing is about plus or minus five degrees with respect to the occupant.

16. 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.

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

an airbag assembly coupled to the structure of the vehicle and having an inflatable airbag within a housing;

an actuator mechanically coupled to the housing, the actuator comprising;

a spring coupled to the housing and positioned between the housing and the structure of the vehicle, wherein the spring biases the housing away from the structure;

a shape memory alloy device coupled to the housing such that the shape memory alloy device is positioned between the housing and the structure of the vehicle, wherein the shape memory alloy device is operable to compress the spring;

a key containing physical characteristic information about a driver; and

a controller in communication with the sensor, the key and the actuator such that, upon receiving physical characteristic information about the driver from the key, the controller sends a control signal to the actuator to adjust a position of the housing with respect to the driver.

18. The vehicle of claim 17 wherein the inflatable airbag is a side-impact airbag.

19. The vehicle of claim 17 wherein the actuator is operable to adjust the position of the inflatable airbag about plus or minus ten millimeters with respect to the occupant.

20. The vehicle of claim 17 wherein the actuator is operable to adjust a tilt of the housing by about plus or minus five degrees.