Self-contained airbag system

• US RE39,868 E1
• Filed: 12/27/2002
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1993
• 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): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US10/330,955
• Time in Patent Office: 1,747 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 280/730.2, 280/734, 280/731
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/20 Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21 in vehicle side panels, e.g. doors pillar mounted arrangements B60R21/213
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/33 Arrangements for non-electric triggering of inflation electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01

Abstract

A side impact airbag system for a vehicle including a system housing defining an interior space and arranged on a side of the vehicle alongside at least a portion of a passenger compartment of the vehicle. One or more airbags are arranged in the interior space of the system housing such that when inflating, the airbag(s) is/are expelled from the system housing into the passenger compartment. An inflator is arranged at least partially within the interior space of the system housing for inflating the airbag(s). A crash sensor, preferably an electronic crash sensor, initiates inflation of the airbag(s) via the inflator upon a determination of a crash requiring inflation of the airbag(s). The crash sensor includes a sensor housing arranged within and/or proximate to the system housing, and a sensing mass arranged in the sensor housing to move relative to the sensor housing in response to accelerations of the sensor housing resulting from the crash into the first side of the vehicle. Upon movement of the sensing mass in excess of a threshold value, the crash sensor initiates the inflator means to inflate the airbag(s).

Claims

1. A vehicle including a side impact airbag system, front wheels, rear wheels and a frame defining a front of the vehicle, a rear of the vehicle and first and second sides of the vehicle,

said airbag system comprising:

a system housing arranged on the first side of the vehicle alongside at least a portion of a passenger compartment of the vehicle, said system housing defining an interior space,

at least one inflatable airbag arranged in said interior space of said system housing such that when inflating, said at least one airbag is expelled from said system housing into the passenger compartment,

inflator means arranged at least partially within said interior space of said system housing for inflating said at least one airbag, said inflator means comprising an inflator housing containing propellant, and

a crash sensor for initiating inflation of said at least one airbag via said inflator means upon a determination of a crash requiring inflation of said at least one airbag,

said crash sensor comprising

a sensor housing arranged within said system housing, and

a sensing mass arranged in said sensor housing to move relative to said sensor housing in response to accelerations of said sensor housing resulting from the crash into the first side of the vehicle such that upon movement of said sensing mass in excess of a threshold value, said crash sensor initiates said inflator means to inflate said at least one airbag based on movement of said sensing mass.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said crash sensor is an electronic sensor and the movement of said sensing mass is monitored.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein said electronic sensor further comprises generating means coupled to said sensing mass for generating a signal representative of the movement of said sensing mass.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein said signal is monitored and recorded over time.

5. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein said electronic sensor further comprises a micro-processor and an algorithm for determining whether the movement over time of said sensing mass as processed by said algorithm results in a calculated value which is in excess of the a threshold value based on said signal.

6. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein said generating means comprise at least one piezoelectric element.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said crash sensor further comprises an accelerometer, said sensing mass constituting part of said accelerometer.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein said crash sensor further comprises a micro-processor for determining whether the movement of said sensing mass over time results in an algorithmic determined value which is in excess of the a threshold value based on said signal.

9. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein said accelerometer includes a piezo-electric element for generating a signal representative of the movement of said sensing mass, said crash sensor further comprising a micro-processor for determining whether the movement of said sensing mass over time results in an algorithmic determined value which is in excess of the a threshold value based on said signal.

10. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein said inflator means comprise a primer arranged in said inflator housing, said crash senor including an electronic circuit including said accelerometer and said primer such that upon movement over time of said sensing mass resulting in a calculated value in excess of the a threshold value, the electronic circuit is completed thereby causing ignition of said primer.

11. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said system housing comprises a mounting plate having a bottom wall and flanged side walls, said bottom wall having an aperture, said inflator housing being arranged in said aperture.

12. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said sensor housing is mounted directly to said inflator housing.

13. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first side of the vehicle has a door and said system housing is arranged inside said door.

14. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein a portion of the first side of the vehicle has inner and outer panels fixed in position relative to the frame, said system housing being arranged between said inner and outer panels.

15. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a capacitor arranged within said system housing to supply power to initiate deployment of said airbag system.

16. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising an electronic diagnostic system arranged within said system housing to permit diagnoses of a fault within said airbag system.

17. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said sensor housing is exterior of said inflator housing.

29. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said crash sensor initiates said inflator means to inflate said at least one airbag based on movement of said sensing mass in excess of a threshold value.

18. An A self-contained airbag safety restraint system for a vehicle comprising:

an inflatable airbag having an interior,

an inflator assembly having an inflator housing, an ignitable gas generating material contained in said inflator housing and at least one passage extending between said gas generating material and said interior of said airbag such that upon ignition of said gas generating material, gas is generated and flows through said at least one passage into said interior of said airbag to inflate said airbag, and

an electronic crash sensor for causing ignition of said gas generating material upon a determination of a crash requiring inflation of said airbag,

said crash sensor comprising

a sensor housing situated exterior of and mounted proximate to said inflator housing,

an accelerometer comprising a sensing mass arranged in said sensor housing to move relative to said sensor housing in response to accelerations of said sensor housing resulting from the crash, said accelerometer including a piezoelectric element for generating a signal representative of the movement of said sensing mass, and

a micro-processor comprising an algorithm for determining whether the movement of said sensing mass over time results in a calculated value which is in excess of a threshold value based on the signal such that if the movement over time of said sen sing sensing mass results in a calculated value which is in excess of the threshold value, said micro-processor causes ignition of gas generating material and thus inflation of said airbag.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said sensor housing is mounted proximate to said inflator housing.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the sensing mass is a micro-machined element.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein said inflator assembly further comprises a primer arranged in said inflator housing for igniting said gas generating material, said crash sensor including an electronic circuit including said accelerometer and said primer such that upon movement of said sensing mass over time resulting in a calculated value in excess of the threshold value, the electronic circuit is completed thereby causing ignition of said primer.

22. An A self-contained airbag safety restraint system for a vehicle comprising:

an inflatable airbag having an interior,

an inflator assembly having an inflator housing, an ignitable gas generating material contained in said inflator housing and at least one passage extending between said gas generating material and said interior of said airbag such that upon ignition of said gas generating material, gas is generated and flows through said at least one passage into said interior of said airbag to inflate said airbag, and

an electronic crash sensor for causing ignition of said gas generating material upon a determination of a crash requiring inflation of said airbag,

said crash sensor comprising

a sensor housing situated exterior of and mounted proximate to said inflator housing, and

an accelerometer arranged in said sensor housing and including a sensing mass movable relative to said sensor housing in response to accelerations of said sensor housing resulting from the crash, said accelerometer being arranged to generate a signal representative of the movement of said sensing mass over time, said crash sensor being arranged to cause ignition of said gas generating material if the movement over time of said sensing mass represented by said signal results in a calculated value which is in excess of a threshold value.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said sensor housing is mounted proximate to said inflator housing.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein said sensing mass is a micro-machined element.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein said inflator assembly further comprises a primer arranged in said inflator housing for igniting said gas generating material, said crash sensor including an electronic circuit including said accelerometer and said primer such that upon movement over time of said sensing mass results in a calculated value in excess of the threshold value, the electronic circuit is completed thereby causing ignition of said primer.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein said crash sensor further comprises a micro-processor for determining whether the movement over time of said sensing mass results in a calculated value which is in excess of the threshold value based on said signal.

27. A vehicle including a side impact airbag system, front wheels, rear wheels and a frame defining a front of the vehicle, a rear of the vehicle and first and second sides of the vehicle,

said airbag system comprising:

a system housing arranged on the first side of the vehicle alongside at least a portion of a passenger compartment of the vehicle, said system housing defining an interior space,

at least one inflatable airbag arranged in said interior space of said system housing such that when inflating, said at least one airbag is expelled from said system housing into the passenger compartment,

inflator means arranged at least partially within said interior space of said system housing for inflating said at least one airbag, said inflator means comprising an inflator housing containing propellant, and

a crash sensor for initiating inflation of said at least one airbag via said inflator means upon a determination of a crash requiring inflation of said at least one airbag,

said crash sensor comprising

a sensor housing arranged proximate to said inflator housing, and

a sensing mass arranged in said sensor housing to move relative to said sensor housing in response to accelerations of said sensor housing resulting from the crash into the first side of the vehicle such that upon movement of said sensing mass in excess of a threshold value, said crash sensor initiates said inflator means to inflate said at least one airbag.

28. The vehicle of claim 27 wherein the threshold value is a maximum motion of said sensing mass required to determine that a crash requiring deployment of said at least one airbag is taking place.