Airbag deployment control using seatbelt-mounted sensor
First Claim
1. A method for controlling inflation of an airbag in a vehicle which protects an occupant from injury in a crash involving the vehicle, comprising:
- sensing a crash involving the vehicle for which deployment of the airbag is desired;
deploying the airbag to protect the occupant in the crash involving the vehicle upon sensing of the crash by initiating inflation of the airbag;
incorporating a sensor in a seatbelt worn by the occupant; and
adjusting the airbag deployment after contact of the airbag with the occupant based on data provided by the sensor.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Method and system for controlling inflation of an airbag in a vehicle which protects an occupant from injury in a crash involving the vehicle includes sensing a crash involving the vehicle for which deployment of the airbag is desired, inflating the airbag to protect the occupant in the crash involving the vehicle upon sensing of the crash, incorporating an accelerometer in a seatbelt worn by the occupant, and adjusting the continued inflation of the airbag after contact of the airbag with the occupant based on the acceleration sensed by the accelerometer. The accelerometer may be arranged to determine movement or acceleration of the seatbelt which can be correlated to contact between the airbag and the seatbelt, i.e., based on changes in the measured acceleration of the seatbelt arising from contact of the airbag with the seatbelt.
76 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for controlling inflation of an airbag in a vehicle which protects an occupant from injury in a crash involving the vehicle, comprising:
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sensing a crash involving the vehicle for which deployment of the airbag is desired; deploying the airbag to protect the occupant in the crash involving the vehicle upon sensing of the crash by initiating inflation of the airbag; incorporating a sensor in a seatbelt worn by the occupant; and adjusting the airbag deployment after contact of the airbag with the occupant based on data provided by the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for controlling inflation of an airbag in a vehicle which protects an occupant from injury in a crash involving the vehicle, comprising:
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sensing a crash involving the vehicle for which deployment of the airbag is desired; deploying the airbag to protect the occupant in the crash involving the vehicle upon sensing of the crash by initiating inflation of the airbag; arranging a sensor in connection with the seatbelt to obtain information about a reaction of the seatbelt to contact with the airbag during inflation of the airbag; and adjusting the airbag deployment after contact of the airbag with the seatbelt based on the information obtained by the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for protecting an occupant from injury in a crash involving the vehicle, comprising:
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an inflatable airbag arranged to inflate to protect the occupant from injury during the crash; a crash sensor system arranged to sense a crash involving the vehicle for which inflation of said airbag is desired; an airbag inflation system coupled to said crash sensor system and arranged to initiate deployment of said airbag by initiating inflation of said airbag to protect the occupant in the crash involving the vehicle upon sensing of the crash by said crash sensor system; and a deployment control system arranged to adjust the deployment of said airbag after contact of said inflating airbag with the occupant based on contact between said airbag and the occupant, said deployment control system comprising a sensor that senses a property that is analyzable in order to determine contact between said airbag and a seatbelt around the occupant during inflation of said airbag. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification