Patent Application
20190161045
The information provided in this section is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
The present disclosure relates to airbag assemblies configured to deploy from a side wall of a vehicle to resist upward motion of the leg of an occupant, and systems and methods for controlling such airbag assemblies.
Airbag assemblies typically include an airbag cushion and an inflator that is operable to inflate the airbag cushion. The inflator includes a tube having a closed end containing a gas source and an open end opposite the closed end and positioned within the airbag cushion. The gas source typically includes an electric igniter and at least one of an explosive charge such as solid propellant and a stored gas charge stored under high pressure. The electric igniter ignites the solid propellant and/or releases the stored gas in response to an electronic control signal, which produces a gas that inflates the airbag cushion.
Airbag assemblies are typically mounted in a dashboard of a vehicle, in a seat of a vehicle, and/or in a steering wheel of a vehicle. However, some airbag assemblies are mounted to a sidewall of a vehicle and deploy in a laterally inward or cross-car direction relative to the sidewall. Such airbag assemblies are commonly referred to as side-deploying airbags.
An airbag assembly according to the present disclosure includes an elongated cushion and a restraint. The elongated cushion is configured to deploy from an interior side wall of a vehicle into a passenger compartment of the vehicle to resist upward motion of a leg of an occupant of the vehicle. The restraint is configured to prevent the elongated cushion from rotating upward and toward the side wall when the leg of the occupant contacts an underside surface of the elongated cushion.
In one example, the restraint includes a tether configured to wrap around a top surface of the elongated cushion when the elongated cushion is deployed and having opposite ends configured to be fixed relative to the side wall.
In one example, the airbag assembly further includes a mounting plate to which the elongated cushion is attached, wherein the opposite ends of the tether are fixed to the mounting plate.
In one example, the opposite ends of the tether are configured to be fixed directly to the side wall of the vehicle.
In one example, the tether is attached to at least one of the top surface of the elongated cushion and a side surface of the elongated cushion.
In one example, the airbag assembly further includes a housing and a door. The housing is configured to be disposed within and attached to the side wall and to contain the elongated cushion before the elongated cushion is deployed. The door is configured to conceal the elongated cushion from view when the elongated cushion is contained within the housing.
In one example, the airbag assembly further includes a hinge attaching the door to the housing and allowing the door to pivot when the elongated cushion is deployed. In this example, the restraint includes the door and at least one tether having a first end configured to be fixed relative to the side wall and a second end opposite of the first end and attached to the door to limit an amount by which the door pivots upwards when the elongated cushion is deployed.
In one example, the restraint includes at least one tether disposed within the elongated cushion and having a first end configured to be fixed relative to the side wall and a second end opposite of the first end and attached to an upper inner surface of the elongated cushion.
In one example, the elongated cushion has a first end configured to be fixed relative to the side wall and a second end opposite of the first end, and the restraint includes an inflated foot disposed adjacent to the first end of the elongated cushion and projecting from a top surface of the elongated cushion.
In one example, the elongated cushion includes at least one tubular chamber having a longitudinal axis extending in a lateral direction of the vehicle.
In one example, the at least one tubular chamber includes multiple tubular chambers in fluid communication with one another.
In one example, the airbag assembly further includes multiple tethers disposed within the elongated cushion and defining a boundary between the tubular chambers.
In one example, the airbag assembly further includes at least one seam joining portions of the elongated cushion to one another and defining a boundary between the tubular chambers.
An airbag system according to the present disclosure includes a first elongated cushion and an interlocking device. The first elongated cushion is configured to deploy from one of a first interior side wall of a vehicle and a center structure of the vehicle into a passenger compartment of the vehicle, the first elongated cushion having a first end mounted to the one of the first interior side wall and the center structure and a second end opposite of the first end. The interlocking device is configured to interlock with the second end of the first elongated cushion to prevent the first elongated cushion from moving out of a path of a leg of an occupant of the vehicle when the leg contacts the first elongated cushion.
In one example, the interlocking device includes the other one of the first interior side wall and the center structure.
In one example, the interlocking device includes a second elongated cushion configured to deploy from a second interior side wall of the vehicle that is opposite of the first interior side wall.
A control system according to the present disclosure includes an inflator control module and a vent control module. The inflator control module is configured to control an inflator to deploy an airbag cushion from an interior side wall of a vehicle into a space disposed in front of a seat of the vehicle relative to a direction in which the seat is facing. The vent control module is configured to control a vent to deflate the airbag cushion after the airbag cushion is deployed.
In one example, the inflator control module is configured to control the inflator to deploy the airbag cushion when an occupant is present in the seat and the vehicle is involved in an impact having a magnitude that is greater than a predetermined value.
In one example, the vent control module is configured to open the vent when a predetermined amount of time has elapsed after the vehicle is involved in an impact.
In one example, the airbag cushion is mounted to a door of the vehicle, the interior side wall is part of the door, and the vent control module is configured to open the vent when the door is opened after the vehicle is involved in an impact.
Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description, the claims and the drawings. The detailed description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.
The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
In the drawings, reference numbers may be reused to identify similar and/or identical elements.
When an occupant is sitting in a seat of a vehicle that is involved in an impact and the occupant is wearing a seatbelt, the torso of the occupant is restrained in the seat by the seatbelt. However, the lower halves of the legs of the occupant may rotate upward due to an abrupt deceleration of the vehicle caused by an impact to a portion of the vehicle in front of the occupant. In most current vehicles, all of the occupants face in the same direction, and the vehicle include structure (e.g., instrument panel, seat in front of occupant) that the lower halves of the legs of the occupant contact when a portion of the vehicle in front of the occupant is impacted. Thus, the leg contact structure of the vehicle limits the amount by which the lower halves of the legs of the occupant rotate when the vehicle is involved in an impact, which prevents the knees of the occupant from hyperextending.
In future vehicle seating arrangements, there may not be a leg contact structure in front of the legs of the occupant. For example, in an autonomous vehicle, it may not be necessary for the occupants seated in the front row to face forward at all times. Thus, one row of seats in an autonomous vehicle may face another row of seats in the autonomous vehicle.
An airbag assembly according to the present disclosure limits the amount by which the lower halves of the legs of an occupant rotate upward when a portion of a vehicle in front of an occupant is impacted and the vehicle does not have a leg contact structure for an occupant. The airbag assembly includes an elongated airbag cushion that deploys from an interior side wall of the vehicle into a passenger compartment of the vehicle in a space that is disposed above the legs of the occupant. Thus, the lower halves of the occupant's legs contact the airbag cushion when the lower leg halves rotate upward, which prevents the occupant's knees from hyperextending. The interior side wall from which the airbag cushion deploys may be part of a body structure, a door, or a center structure of the vehicle such as a center console.
In some examples, the airbag assembly includes a restraint, such as a tether or an inflated foot, which prevents the airbag cushion from moving out of the travel path of the occupant's lower legs when the lower legs contact the airbag cushion. The tether may be wrapped around a top surface of the airbag cushion and have opposite ends that are fixed relative to the interior side wall from which the airbag cushion deploys. The inflated foot may project from the top surface of the airbag cushion and have the shape of a right triangle, with one leg of the triangle contacting the interior side wall as the airbag cushion rotates upward and toward the interior side wall. In this regard, the inflated foot may act as a stop for the airbag cushion.
An airbag system according to the present disclosure includes an airbag assembly as described above and an interlocking device configured to interlock with a free end of the airbag cushion opposite of the end of the airbag cushion mounted in the interior side wall. Similar to the restraint, the interlocking device prevents the airbag cushion from moving out of the travel path of the occupant's lower legs when the lower legs contact the airbag cushion. In one example, the interlocking device is a center structure of the vehicle such as a center console having a receptacle into which the free end of the airbag cushion extends when the airbag cushion deploys. In another example, the interlocking device is another airbag cushion, the airbag cushions are positioned opposite of one another in a lateral (e.g., side-to-side) direction of the vehicle, and the free ends of the airbag cushions are configured to interlock with each other.
An airbag control system and method according to the present disclosure deploys an airbag cushion in an airbag assembly as described above when a vehicle is involved in an impact. In one example, the control system and method deploys the airbag cushion when an occupant is present in a seat associated with the airbag cushion and the magnitude of the impact is greater than a predetermined value. The control system and method may also open a vent on the airbag cushion after the impact to deflate the airbag cushion to make it easier for an occupant to exit the vehicle. In one example, the control system and method opens the vent on the airbag cushion when a predetermined amount of time has elapsed after the impact. In another example, the airbag assembly is mounted in a door of the vehicle, and the control system and method opens the vent on the airbag cushion when a door in which the airbag assembly is mounted is opened.
Referring now to
The body side wall 18 includes an inner panel 46, an outer panel (not shown) opposite of the inner panel 46, and a pair of windows 48 covering openings that extend through the inner panel 46 and the outer panel. The inner panel 46 may be made from plastic, and the outer panel may be made from metal. The first and second doors 20 and 22 cover another opening that extends through the inner panel 46 and the outer panel, and the windows 48 are disposed on opposite sides of that opening in a longitudinal (i.e., fore-aft) direction of the vehicle 10.
The first door 20 is attached to the vehicle body side wall 18 using a first door linkage 50, and the second door 22 is attached to the vehicle body side wall 18 using a second door linkage 52. Although each of the first and second door linkages 50 and 52 are represented using a single line in
The first airbag assembly 24 is mounted within the first door 20, and the second airbag assembly 26 is mounted within the second door 22. Each of the first and second airbag assemblies 24 and 26 includes a housing 58, a door 60, a hinge 62 connecting the door 60 to the housing 58, and an elongated airbag cushion 64. The housing 58 may be made from plastic, a composite, a polymer, a combination of plastic and polymer such as thermoplastic olefin (TPO), aluminum, or metal, and the door 60 may be made from plastic, a polymer, or a combination thereof such as thermoplastic olefin (TPO). The housing 58 contains the airbag cushion 64 before the airbag cushion 64 is deployed, and the door 60 conceals the airbag cushion 64 from view when the airbag cushion 64 is contained within the housing 58. The housing 58 of the first airbag assembly 24 is attached to the inner panel 54 of the first door 20, the outer panel of the first door 20, and/or an intermediate structure of the first door 20 disposed between the inner panel 54 of the first door 20 and the outer panel of the first door 20. Similarly, the housing 58 of the second airbag assembly 26 is attached to the inner panel 54 of the second door 22, the outer panel of the second door 22, and/or an intermediate structure of the second door 22 disposed between the inner panel 54 of the second door 22 and the outer panel of the second door 22.
The airbag cushions 64 of the first and second airbag assemblies 24 and 26 deploy from the inner panels 54 of the first and second doors 20 and 22 into the passenger compartment 29 in a lateral (i.e., side-to-side) direction of the vehicle 10. The airbag cushion 64 of the first airbag assembly 24 deploys from the inner panel 54 of the first door 20 into a space disposed in front of the first seat 14 relative to the direction in which the first seat 14 is facing. Similarly, the airbag cushion 64 of the second airbag assembly 26 deploys from the inner panel 54 of the second door 22 into a space disposed in front of the second seat 16 relative to the direction in which the second seat 16 is facing.
Each airbag cushion 64 pivots the door 60 about the hinge 62 from a closed position to an open position when the airbag cushion 64 is deployed. The door 60 is flush with the inner panel with the door 60 is in the closed position. The door 60 rotates upward and toward the inner panel 54 as the door 60 pivots from the closed position to the open position. In
The door 60 may be mounted in the vehicle 10 at locations and using hinge configurations other than those shown in
Each airbag cushion 64 includes a first inflated chamber 66, a second inflated chamber 68, and a third inflated chamber 70. Each of the first, second, and third inflated chambers 66, 68, and 70 may have a tubular shape. The first inflated chamber 66 has a first longitudinal axis 72, the second inflated chamber 68 has a second longitudinal axis 74, and the third inflated chamber 70 has a third longitudinal axis 76. The first, second, and third longitudinal axes 72, 74, and 76 extend in the lateral direction of the vehicle 10. In this regard,
In the example shown in
Each of the first and second occupants 40 and 44 has legs 78. When the vehicle 10 is involved in an impact, lower halves 78a of the legs 78 may rotate upward due to the force of the impact. For example, in
The airbag cushions 64 of the first and second airbag assemblies 24 and 26 resist this upward motion of the lower halves 78a of the legs 78 when the vehicle 10 is involved in an impact and the airbag cushions 64 are deployed. The first airbag assembly 24 is located within the first door 20 so that the airbag cushion 64 of the first airbag assembly 24 is positioned to resist the upward motion of the legs 78 of the first occupant 40 when the airbag cushion 64 is deployed. To this end, the height of the first airbag assembly 24 relative to the floor panel 12 and/or the distance between the first airbag assembly 24 and the first seat 14 may be selected so that the airbag cushion 64 blocks the travel path of the lower halves 78a of the legs 78. For example, the first airbag assembly 24 may be located within the first door 20 so that a portion of the airbag cushion 64 is at the same height as a top surface 80 of the bottom 32 of the first seat 14. Although the third inflated chamber 70 of the airbag cushion 64 of the first airbag assembly 24 is shown contacting ankles 78b of the legs 78 of the first occupant 40, the height, longitudinal location, and/or geometry of the first airbag assembly 24 may be adjust to yield a different contact point.
Similarly, the second airbag assembly 26 is located within the second door 22 so that the airbag cushion 64 of the second airbag assembly 26 is positioned to resist the upward motion of the legs 78 of the second occupant 44 when the airbag cushion 64 is deployed. To this end, the height of the second airbag assembly 26 relative to the floor panel 12 and/or the distance between the second airbag assembly 26 and the second seat 16 may be selected so that the airbag cushion 64 blocks the travel path of the lower halves 78a of the legs 78. For example, the second airbag assembly 26 may be located within the second door 22 so that a portion of the airbag cushion 64 is at the same height as a top surface 82 of the bottom 32 of the second seat 16.
Although the vehicle 10 is shown as including the first and second airbag assemblies 24 and 26 for the first and second occupants 40 and 44, respectively, the vehicle 10 may include only one of the first and second airbag assemblies 24 and 26 for both the first and second occupants 40 and 44. For example, if only the first airbag assembly 24 is included, the first airbag assembly 24 may be located equidistant between the first and second seats 14 and 16, and the deployed airbag cushion 64 of the first airbag assembly 24 may limit the upward motion of the legs 78 of both the first and second occupants 40 and 44. In addition, the line between the first and second doors 20 and 22 may be move to a location other than equidistant between the first and second seats 14 and 16 so that the first airbag assembly 24 may be mounted in one of the first and second doors 20 and 22.
In various implementations, a single one of the first and second airbag assemblies 24 and 26 may be used to limit the upward motion of the legs of two or more occupants that are sitting side-by-side in the vehicle 10. For example, the length of the airbag cushion 64 may be increased so that the airbag cushion extends in the leg area (e.g., above the feet) of two occupants instead of a single occupant as described above. Alternatively, a single one of the first and second airbag assemblies 24 and 26 may be used to limit the upward motion of the legs of one occupant and one leg of another occupant sitting beside the one occupant.
The airbag control module 28 controls an inflator in each of the first and second airbag assemblies 24 and 26 to deploy the airbag cushion 64 therein when the vehicle 10 is involved in an impact or collision. The airbag control module 28 determines whether the vehicle 10 is involved in an impact based on an input from one or more accelerometers 84, one or more pressure sensors 86, and/or one or more gyroscopes 88. Each accelerometer 84 measures the acceleration of the vehicle 10 and outputs a signal indicating the vehicle acceleration. Each pressure sensor 86 measures the pressure of air within a side wall or door of the vehicle 10 (e.g., in the space between the inner panel 46 and the outer panel of the body side wall 18) and outputs a signal indicating the pressure. Each gyroscope 88 measures the angular velocity of the vehicle 10 and outputs a signal indicating the vehicle angular velocity.
The airbag control module 28 may not control the inflator to deploy the airbag cushion 64 of the first airbag assembly 24 when the vehicle 10 is involved in an impact if an occupant is not present in the first seat 14. Similarly, the airbag control module 28 may not control the inflator to deploy the airbag cushion 64 of the second airbag assembly 26 when the vehicle 10 is involved in an impact if an occupant is not present in the second seat 16. The airbag control module 28 may determine whether occupants are present in the first and second seats 14 and 16 based on an input from a weight sensor 90, a capacitive sensor 92, a pressure sensor 93, and/or a camera 94.
The weight sensor 90 measures the weight of an object present in the first seat 14 and generates a signal indicating the weight. The capacitive sensor 92 measures the capacitance of an object present in the second seat 16 and generates a signal indicating the capacitance. The pressure 93 measures the pressure exerted on a bladder by an object present in the second seat 16 and generates a signal indicating the pressure. The camera 94 obtains an image of an object present in the first seat 14 and/or the second seat 16 and generates a signal indicating the image. Although the weight sensor 90 is shown in the first seat 14, the capacitive sensor 92 is shown in the second seat 16, and the pressure sensor 93 is shown in the second seat 16, each of the first and second seats 14 and 16 may include the weight sensor 90, the capacitive sensor 92, and/or the pressure sensor 93. The camera 94 can be mounted on the roof of the vehicle 10, the side walls of the vehicle 10, or other locations in the vehicle that provide a suitable mounting surface for the camera 94. One or more cameras can also be used in the same or different locations. Other technologies for sensing the presence of an occupant may be used in addition to or instead of those discussed above.
Referring now to
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The example implementation of the airbag cushion 64 shown in
Referring now to
Each end 154 of the tether 150 may be fixed directly to the housing 58 or to the inner panel 54 (
Referring now to
The airbag cushion 112 has a first end 172 that is fixed to the housing 58 and a second end 174 opposite of the first end 172. In
The example implementation of the airbag assembly 110 shown in
Referring now to
This additional width in the center portion 196 of the tether 190 distributes the force applied by the tether 190 to a greater area of the top surface 122 of the airbag cushion 64. Similarly, the pad 192 distributes the force applied by the tether 190 to a greater area of the top surface 122 of the airbag cushion 64. The pad 192 may be attached (e.g., sewn) to the top surface 122 of the airbag cushion 64, to the tether 190, or to both the top surface 122 of the airbag cushion 64 and the tether 190. The example implementation shown in
Referring now to
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Each tether 210 has a first end 214 attached to a side surface 216 of the airbag cushion 64, and a second end 216 attached to the housing 58 via one of the mounting tabs 32. Thus, like the tether 120, the tethers 210 prevent the airbag cushion 64 from rotating in the direction 126 when the legs 78 of the first or second occupant 40 or 44 contact the underside surface 128 of the airbag cushion 64. However, in contrast to the tether 120, the tethers 210 do not wrap over the top surface 122 of the airbag cushion 64. Each fabric mounting tab 212 has a hole 218 for receiving a fastener to mount the airbag cushion 64 to the housing 58.
Referring now to
Each tether 220 has a first end 226 attached to the door 222 via one of the mounting tabs 224, and a second end 228 attached to the housing 58 via one of the mounting tabs 132. Thus, like the tether 120, the tethers 220 prevent the airbag cushion 64 from rotating in the direction 126 when the legs 78 of the first or second occupant 40 or 44 contact the underside surface 128 of the airbag cushion 64. However, the tethers 220 are not wrapped around the airbag cushion 64. Instead, the tethers 220 limit the amount by which the door 222 pivots in the direction 126 when the airbag cushion 64 is deployed, and the door 222 contacts the top surface 120 of the airbag cushion 64 to limit rotation of the cushion 64 in the direction 126.
Other configurations of the tethers 220 and the door 222 are also possible. For example, the mounting tabs 224 can be made from metal and/or can be molded in the door 222. Additionally or alternatively, the door 222 can define a channel, and a single continuous tether can be used in place of the tethers 220 and can be routed through the channel and have opposite ends attached to the mounting tabs 132. Further, the channel can be formed using a stiff additional piece that is molded in the door 222 or fastened to the door 222.
Referring now to
Referring now to
An outer perimeter 232 of the fabric panels 231 is sewn together at various locations to form the three-dimensional structure shown in
Fifth and sixth portions 232e and 232f of the outer perimeter 232 disposed on opposite sides of the third longitudinal axis 76 are sewn together to form the third seam 140 of the third inflated chamber 70. Seventh and eighth portions 232g and 232h of the outer perimeter 232 are sewn together to form the top surface 122 of the airbag cushion 64. Ninth and tenth portions 232i and 232j of the outer perimeter 232 are sewn together to form an outer boundary of the inflated foot 170, which projects from the top surface 122 of the airbag cushion 64.
In addition, various portions of the airbag cushion 68 disposed within the outer perimeter 232 are joined together to seal the airbag cushion 68. For example, first rectangular portions 234 on the inner fabric panel 231i are sewn to the first rectangular portions 234 on the outer fabric panel 2310 to form seams that define a boundary between the first and third inflated chambers 66 and 70. Gas passages extend between the first rectangular portions 234 and place the first and third inflated chambers 66 and 70 in fluid communication with one another. In another example, second rectangular portions 236 on the inner fabric panel 231i are sewn to the second rectangular portions 236 on the outer fabric panel 2310 to form seams that define a boundary between the second and third inflated chambers 68 and 70. Gas passages extend between the second rectangular portions 236 and place the second and third inflated chambers 68 and 70 in fluid communication with one another. In another example, a first triangular portion 238 and a second triangular portion 240 on the inner fabric panel 231i are respectively sewn to the first triangular portion 238 and the second triangular portion 240 on the outer fabric panel 2310 to form the inner seam 186 of the inflated foot 170. In other examples, the first rectangular portions 234 may be sewn to the second rectangular portions 236 and/or the first triangular portions 238 may be sewn to the second triangular portions 240. Further, the airbag cushion 64 may be formed by weaving and one or more (e.g., all) of the sewing steps discussed above may be integrated into the process of weaving the airbag cushion 64.
The example implementation of the airbag assembly 24 or 26 shown in
A pair of threaded rods 254 on the inflator 180 are inserted through holes 256 in the mounting plate 130, and the inflator nuts 246 are threaded onto the threaded rods 254 to secure the inflator 180 to the mounting plate 130. A pair of bolts 257 (
In
Referring now to
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The first fabric panel 274 is folded along a fold line 282 and a portion 284 of the first fabric panel 274 forms the inner sides of the first, second, and third inflated portions 66, 68, and 70 shown in
The third and fourth fabric panels 278 and 280 are joined together to form the inflated foot 170, and the third and fourth fabric panels 278 and 280 are joined to the joint between the first fabric panel 274 and the second fabric panel 276 to attach the inflated foot 170 to the third inflated chamber 70. The third and fourth fabric panels 278 and 280 may be joined together before or after the third and fourth fabric panels 278 and 280 are joined to the joint between the first fabric panel 274 and the second fabric panel 276.
Referring now to
The fabric panel 290 has opposite ends 298 that are sewn together to seal the interior of the airbag cushion 64. The first and second tethers 292 and 294 are sewn together and to the inner surface of the fabric panel 290 to form the boundary between the first and second inflated chambers 66 and 68. Alternatively, the first and second tethers 292 and 294 can be sewn together and to the sewn joint between the opposite ends 298 of the fabric panel 290 to form the boundary between the first and second inflated chambers 66 and 68. The first and third tethers 292 and 296 are sewn together and to the inner surface of the fabric panel 290 to form the boundary between the first and third inflated chambers 66 and 70. The second and third tethers 294 and 296 are sewn together and to the inner surface of the fabric panel 290 to form the boundary between the second and third inflated chambers 68 and 70.
Referring now to
The first tether 300 has a first end 304 and a second end 306 opposite of the first end 304. The first end 304 of the first tether 300 is joined to the inner surface of the fabric panel 290 to form the boundary between the first and second inflated chambers 66 and 68. Alternatively, the first end 304 of the first tether 300 can be sewn to the sewn joint between the opposite ends 298 of the fabric panel 290. The second end 306 of the first tether 300 is joined to the inner surface of the fabric panel 290 to form the boundary between the second and third inflated chambers 68 and 70.
The second tether 302 has a first end 308 and a second end 310 opposite of the first end 308. The first end 308 of the second tether 302 is joined to the inner surface of the fabric panel 290 to form the boundary between the first and third inflated chambers 66 and 70. The second end 310 of the second tether 302 is joined to first tether 300 at a location that is midway between the first and second ends 304 and 306 of the first tether 300. Thus, in both
Referring now
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The example implementation of the airbag assembly 110 shown in
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As shown in
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In
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When the pyrotechnic vent 380 is closed as shown in the left side of
To open the pyrotechnic vent 380, the electric igniter in the pyrotechnic device 384 ignites the solid propellant in the pyrotechnic device 384, which increase the pressure in a space 399 enclosed by the valve 386. This pressure causes the flange 398 to break from the cylindrical body 394 or deform, which allows the valve 386 to move into the valve receptacle 388. Once the valve 386 is in the valve receptacle 388, the pyrotechnic vent 380 is open. The pyrotechnic vent 380 opens in response to a control signal from the airbag control module 28 of
Referring now to
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In one example, the occupant detection module 430 determines that an occupant is present in the first seat 14 when the weight measured by the weight sensor 90 is greater than a predetermined weight. In another example, the occupant detection module 430 determines that an occupant is present in the second seat 16 when the capacitance measured by the capacitive sensor 92 is greater than a predetermined capacitance. In another example, the occupant detection module 430 determines that an occupant is present in the second seat 16 when the pressure measured by the pressure sensor 93 is greater than a predetermined pressure. In another example, the occupant detection module 430 determines that an occupant is present in the first or second seat 14 or 16 when the image obtained by the camera 94 indicates that an occupant is present in the first or second seat 14 or 16.
The impact magnitude module 432 determines a magnitude of an impact in which the vehicle 10 is involved based on an input from the accelerometer(s) 84, the pressure sensor(s) 86, and/or the gyroscope(s) 88. In one example, the impact magnitude module 432 determines the impact magnitude based on a directly proportional relationship between the acceleration measured by the accelerometer 84 and the impact magnitude. In another example, the impact magnitude module 432 determines the impact magnitude based on a directly proportional relationship between the pressure measured by the pressure sensor 86 and the impact magnitude. In another example, the impact magnitude module 432 determines the impact magnitude based on a directly proportional relationship between the angular velocity measured by the gyroscope 88 and the impact magnitude.
The inflator control module 434 may control the inflator 180 in each of the first and second airbag assemblies 24 and 26 to deploy the airbag cushion 64 therein when the vehicle 10 is involved in an impact or collision such as an impact to a portion of the vehicle 10 in front of the first and second occupants 40 and 44 or an impact that causes the vehicle 10 to rollover. In one example, the inflator control module 434 controls the inflator 180 in the first airbag assembly 24 to deploy the airbag cushion 64 therein when an occupant is present in the first seat 14 and the impact magnitude is greater than a predetermined value. In another example, the inflator control module 434 controls the inflator 180 in the second airbag assembly 26 to deploy the airbag cushion 64 therein when an occupant is present in the second seat 16 and the impact magnitude is greater than the predetermined value.
The vent control module 436 opens the pyrotechnic vent 380 to deflate the airbag cushion 64 in each of the first and second airbag assemblies 24 and 26 after the vehicle 10 is involved in an impact. In one example, the vent control module 436 opens the pyrotechnic vent 380 when a predetermined amount of time (e.g., 5 seconds) has elapsed after the vehicle 10 is involved in an impact (e.g., after the impact magnitude is initially greater than the predetermined value). In another example, the vent control module 436 opens the pyrotechnic vent 380 when the first door 20 is opened after an impact. In another example, the vent control module 436 opens the pyrotechnic vent 380 when the second door 22 is opened after an impact. The vent control module 436 may determine or be informed when the first and second doors 20 and 22 are opened based on a commanded door position and/or an input from a door latch engagement sensor (not shown).
Referring now to
At 442, the occupant detection module 430 determines whether an occupant is present in the first seat 14 of the vehicle 10 of
At 444, the impact magnitude module 432 determines whether the vehicle 10 is involved in an impact have a magnitude greater than a first threshold (e.g., a predetermined value). If the vehicle 10 is involved in an impact having a magnitude greater than the first threshold, the method continues at 448. Otherwise, the method continues at 446. At 448, the inflator control module 434 controls the inflator 180 to deploy the airbag cushion 64 in the first airbag assembly 24.
At 450, the vent control module 436 determines whether the period elapsed since the impact is greater than a second threshold (e.g., a predetermined period). The vent control module 436 may start measuring this period when the impact magnitude is initially greater than the first threshold. If the elapsed period is greater than the second threshold, the method continues at 452. Otherwise, the method continues at 454.
At 454, the vent control module 436 determines whether the first door 20 is open. If the first door 20 is open, the method continues at 452. Otherwise, the method continues at 450. At 452, the vent control module 436 opens the vent 180. The method ends at 456.
The method of
The foregoing description is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses. The broad teachings of the disclosure can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this disclosure includes particular examples, the true scope of the disclosure should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent upon a study of the drawings, the specification, and the following claims. It should be understood that one or more steps within a method may be executed in different order (or concurrently) without altering the principles of the present disclosure. Further, although each of the embodiments is described above as having certain features, any one or more of those features described with respect to any embodiment of the disclosure can be implemented in and/or combined with features of any of the other embodiments, even if that combination is not explicitly described. In other words, the described embodiments are not mutually exclusive, and permutations of one or more embodiments with one another remain within the scope of this disclosure.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
Spatially relative terms, such as “front,” “forward,” “rear,” “rearward,” “inner,” “outer,” “behind,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
In the figures, the direction of an arrow, as indicated by the arrowhead, generally demonstrates the flow of information (such as data or instructions) that is of interest to the illustration. For example, when element A and element B exchange a variety of information but information transmitted from element A to element B is relevant to the illustration, the arrow may point from element A to element B. This unidirectional arrow does not imply that no other information is transmitted from element B to element A. Further, for information sent from element A to element B, element B may send requests for, or receipt acknowledgements of, the information to element A.
In this application, including the definitions below, the term “module” or the term “controller” may be replaced with the term “circuit.” The term “module” may refer to, be part of, or include: an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC); a digital, analog, or mixed analog/digital discrete circuit; a digital, analog, or mixed analog/digital integrated circuit; a combinational logic circuit; a field programmable gate array (FPGA); a processor circuit (shared, dedicated, or group) that executes code; a memory circuit (shared, dedicated, or group) that stores code executed by the processor circuit; other suitable hardware components that provide the described functionality; or a combination of some or all of the above, such as in a system-on-chip.
The module may include one or more interface circuits. In some examples, the interface circuits may include wired or wireless interfaces that are connected to a local area network (LAN), the Internet, a wide area network (WAN), or combinations thereof. The functionality of any given module of the present disclosure may be distributed among multiple modules that are connected via interface circuits. For example, multiple modules may allow load balancing. In a further example, a server (also known as remote, or cloud) module may accomplish some functionality on behalf of a client module.
The term code, as used above, may include software, firmware, and/or microcode, and may refer to programs, routines, functions, classes, data structures, and/or objects. The term shared processor circuit encompasses a single processor circuit that executes some or all code from multiple modules. The term group processor circuit encompasses a processor circuit that, in combination with additional processor circuits, executes some or all code from one or more modules. References to multiple processor circuits encompass multiple processor circuits on discrete dies, multiple processor circuits on a single die, multiple cores of a single processor circuit, multiple threads of a single processor circuit, or a combination of the above. The term shared memory circuit encompasses a single memory circuit that stores some or all code from multiple modules. The term group memory circuit encompasses a memory circuit that, in combination with additional memories, stores some or all code from one or more modules.
The term memory circuit is a subset of the term computer-readable medium. The term computer-readable medium, as used herein, does not encompass transitory electrical or electromagnetic signals propagating through a medium (such as on a carrier wave); the term computer-readable medium may therefore be considered tangible and non-transitory. Non-limiting examples of a non-transitory, tangible computer-readable medium are nonvolatile memory circuits (such as a flash memory circuit, an erasable programmable read-only memory circuit, or a mask read-only memory circuit), volatile memory circuits (such as a static random access memory circuit or a dynamic random access memory circuit), magnetic storage media (such as an analog or digital magnetic tape or a hard disk drive), and optical storage media (such as a CD, a DVD, or a Blu-ray Disc).
The apparatuses and methods described in this application may be partially or fully implemented by a special purpose computer created by configuring a general purpose computer to execute one or more particular functions embodied in computer programs. The functional blocks, flowchart components, and other elements described above serve as software specifications, which can be translated into the computer programs by the routine work of a skilled technician or programmer.
The computer programs include processor-executable instructions that are stored on at least one non-transitory, tangible computer-readable medium. The computer programs may also include or rely on stored data. The computer programs may encompass a basic input/output system (BIOS) that interacts with hardware of the special purpose computer, device drivers that interact with particular devices of the special purpose computer, one or more operating systems, user applications, background services, background applications, etc.
The computer programs may include: (i) descriptive text to be parsed, such as HTML (hypertext markup language), XML (extensible markup language), or JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) (ii) assembly code, (iii) object code generated from source code by a compiler, (iv) source code for execution by an interpreter, (v) source code for compilation and execution by a just-in-time compiler, etc. As examples only, source code may be written using syntax from languages including C, C++, C#, Objective-C, Swift, Haskell, Go, SQL, R, Lisp, Java®, Fortran, Perl, Pascal, Curl, OCaml, Javascript®, HTML5 (Hypertext Markup Language 5th revision), Ada, ASP (Active Server Pages), PHP (PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor), Scala, Eiffel, Smalltalk, Erlang, Ruby, Flash®, Visual Basic®, Lua, MATLAB, SIMULINK, and Python®.
None of the elements recited in the claims are intended to be a means-plus-function element within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) unless an element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for,” or in the case of a method claim using the phrases “operation for” or “step for.”
