Display device retraction for airbag deployment

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for triggering at least one airbag, in particular at least one co-driver airbag, which is located behind or next to a display device, wherein a collision is detected and at least one airbag is triggered by a control unit, wherein, in order to destroy the display device, a triggering unit is triggered in addition to the at least one airbag. The invention also relates to a device, in particular for use in a vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a method for triggering at least one airbag, particularly the passenger-side airbag, located behind or beside a display device. Furthermore, this invention relates to a device for a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] To meet safety regulations, airbags and seat belts are used in vehicles. In the event of a collision, vehicle occupants can be restrained and protected from impact to the steering wheel or dashboard. To meet future demands for new driving functions, larger screens or display devices are increasingly being used in the dashboard area. However, with these larger displays, there is a growing conflict with the adjacent passenger-side airbag.

[0003] With the increasing size of in-vehicle screens, which were once integrated into the center console as small displays, interference between the airbag and the screen may occur during airbag deployment. Furthermore, there is a hazard that occupants' bodies may collide with the screen or display device during forward movement in the event of an accident.

[0004] Therefore, the current trend of placing display devices independently on the vehicle's dashboard may affect airbag functionality and pose additional risk of injury to vehicle occupants. Specifically, deployed airbags may be damaged, and their restraint effect may be reduced. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for reducing the danger posed by freestanding / cantilevered display devices in accident situations.

[0006] According to the invention, this objective is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1 and an apparatus having the features of claim 6. Advantageous designs and improvements are derived from the dependent claims.

[0007] The method according to the invention is used to trigger at least one airbag, particularly at least one passenger-side airbag located behind or beside the display device. Preferably, this method can be implemented in a vehicle environment.

[0008] At least one airbag located behind the display device is preferably positioned behind the display device along the occupant's line of sight. Thus, when the airbag positioned in this manner is triggered, the display device is located between the airbag and the occupant.

[0009] At least one airbag located next to the display device may be positioned substantially laterally next to the display device. This airbag is positioned offset from the display device by design and may interact with the display device, at least partially, upon activation, especially by impact.

[0010] In the steps of the method according to the invention, a collision is detected and at least one airbag is triggered via a controller. The collision, and in particular an accident, can be recorded by one or more sensors integrated into the controller or externally. For this purpose, for example, an acceleration sensor, a rotational speed sensor, a pressure sensor, etc., are used.

[0011] According to the present invention, in order to damage the display device, in addition to at least one airbag, a triggering unit is automatically triggered.

[0012] Damage to the display device results in its harmless shrinkage / collapse, or structural instability, but at least one airbag will not be damaged due to this instability. This measure allows the at least one passenger-side airbag to deploy unimpeded without contacting the screen or display device. Furthermore, it ensures occupant protection. In particular, this method allows the display device to be removed from the collision zone of at least one airbag and / or the occupant under oblique load conditions.

[0013] For example, a trigger unit is positioned on the display device to remove the display device from the airbag deployment path when needed. This trigger unit is configured as a device-side trigger unit.

[0014] Alternatively or additionally, the triggering unit may be located near the display device, such as on or under the vehicle's dashboard, to cause damage to the display device when needed.

[0015] The triggering unit can be directly or indirectly connected to the airbag deployment process. In particular, the triggering unit can be triggered by a controller and / or mechanically via at least one airbag. For this purpose, an electronic or electromagnetic communication connection is provided between the controller and the triggering unit; or a mechanical connection is provided between the airbag and the triggering unit.

[0016] According to the design scheme, the triggering unit may have a sensor that detects an accident or airbag triggering process, so as to activate the triggering unit when an accident or airbag triggering process is detected.

[0017] In one embodiment, the triggering unit is activated by a pyrotechnic gas generator, a cold gas generator, or by releasing a pre-tensioned spring. The triggering unit is preferably disposed directly on the display device and includes an impact head and a drive unit that pushes the impact head into the display device in the event of an accident. Preferably, the triggering unit can be activated only from a predetermined accident severity level, thereby ensuring that the display device remains intact in less severe accidents.

[0018] The display device preferably includes at least one glass layer, particularly safety glass, on which active components for visual display are arranged. Here, the display device is based on LED, LCD, OLED, and / or similar technologies. The safety glass can be transparent, tinted, or colored. In particular, tinted or colored safety glass can serve as the back wall for the active components.

[0019] According to another embodiment, an impact head is driven into the display device and damaged by triggering a triggering unit. By driving the impact head using the driving unit of the triggering unit, the impact head acts as a safety hammer, causing the glass layer to break, thus maintaining the structural integrity of the display device. Consequently, the display device is moved out of the deployment trajectory of at least one airbag before colliding with it.

[0020] The triggering unit is preferably designed as a pyrotechnic unit, a pre-tensioned spring with a locking device, or a cold air generator.

[0021] Here, the triggering unit can be activated in parallel with the airbag's activation or shortly before the airbag's activation. Preferably, the display device is retracted to clear a path for the activated airbag.

[0022] According to another embodiment, at least one glass layer of the display device connected to the safety film is cracked and mechanically unstable by damaging the display device. Here, the safety film can be applied to the display device unilaterally or bilaterally. This measure prevents the uncontrolled dispersion of glass fragments from the damaged safety glass layer. The safety film remains in contact with the glass fragments through adhesive force during the shrinkage of the display device, thus reducing the risk of injury to occupants in an accident.

[0023] According to another embodiment, the broken glass layer connected to the safety film is contracted by gravity or by a triggered airbag. The glass fragments held together by at least one safety film no longer constitute a rigid display device after the trigger unit is activated. Thus, gravity can cause the display device composed of glass fragments or shards to fall.

[0024] Alternatively, the deployed airbag can fold or collapse the damaged display device. Due to the "softer" structure formed by the glass fragments connected to the safety membrane, there are no longer rigid edges and sharp corners that could damage or hinder the deployment of the airbag.

[0025] According to another aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided. This apparatus is particularly suitable for use in a vehicle and includes at least one airbag and a controller connected to the at least one airbag. Furthermore, the apparatus includes at least one display device positioned in front of or beside the at least one airbag along its direction of expansion.

[0026] The display device includes at least one active layer, at least one glass layer, and at least one safety film. The safety film may be surrounded by the glass layer on both sides. Alternatively, at least one glass layer may be covered by the safety film on both sides. Preferably, the connection between the safety film and the glass layer is achieved by means of an adhesive or adhesive layer.

[0027] According to the present invention, a triggering unit for damaging at least one glass layer is arranged on the display device. The triggering unit can cause the supporting structure of the display device, which is designed as a glass layer or safety glass, to become unstable and shrink.

[0028] If the airbag is activated, the display device is aroused by a separate unit or triggering unit in such a way that the display device contracts safely and becomes the release path for the deployed airbag.

[0029] At least one safety film is made of transparent plastic and has an adhesive layer for retaining glass fragments. Therefore, the glass fragments are restrained by the safety film, thereby preventing the display device from shattering uncontrollably within the vehicle's interior space.

[0030] Furthermore, the safety film protects the airbags from glass shards and allows them to fully perform their restraining function. Components located in the display or display device, such as active OLED components, are also restrained and, after the trigger unit is activated, are positioned in a controlled manner against the dashboard. This prevents the device from being thrown into the vehicle's interior space.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the trigger unit is arranged in or designed as part of the mounting portion of the display device. This allows the trigger unit to be integrated into or connected to the display device in a particularly compact and inconspicuous manner.

[0032] According to another embodiment, the triggering unit has at least one impact head pointing toward the display device, which can be driven toward the display device by a pyrotechnic gas generator, a cold air generator, or by releasing a pre-tensioned spring. This allows for flexible driving of the impact head of the triggering unit and its use to retract the display device.

[0033] In another design, the preloaded spring is secured by a locking pin, which moves electromagnetically or mechanically to release the preloaded spring. The locking pin prevents the preloaded spring from being accidentally released. If the locking pin is removed during an accident, the preloaded spring is free to exert its spring force and thus accelerates the impact head toward the display device.

[0034] The preloaded spring is released by mechanically loosening the locking pin, for example, through a mechanical connection between the locking pin and the airbag. Furthermore, this mechanical connection can be formed by a rope, thread, or rod.

[0035] According to another embodiment, the locking pin is mechanically moved by the triggered airbag. Thus, the triggered airbag can be used to remove the locking pin. For example, the locking pin can be connected to the airbag via a rope. The triggering unit designed in this way can be technically very simple to construct and is only activated when the airbag is deployed. This measure avoids false triggering of the triggering unit. Attached Figure Description

[0036] The present invention is schematically illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings and further described with reference to the drawings. The present invention shows:

[0037] Figure 1 A side view of a vehicle dashboard having a device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0038] Figure 2a , Figure 2b Show Figure 1 The dashboard provides a detailed view before and after the airbags deploy.

[0039] Figure 3a , Figure 3b The triggering unit according to the first embodiment is shown before and after the airbag deployment, and

[0040] Figure 4a , Figure 4b The triggering unit according to the second embodiment is shown before and after the airbag is deployed. Detailed Implementation

[0041] Figure 1A side view of a vehicle 1 having a device 2 according to the invention is shown. The device 2 is arranged in the area of ​​the dashboard 4 of the vehicle 1. The passenger side of the vehicle 1 is shown in the illustrated embodiment.

[0042] Device 2 includes an airbag 6, a display device 8, and a triggering unit 10. Controller 12 is connected to the airbag 6 and can identify accidents and trigger the airbag 6 accordingly.

[0043] Alternatively, the controller 12 can also be used to trigger the triggering unit 10, as shown by the dashed line.

[0044] In the accompanying drawings, for clarity, one airbag 6, one controller 12, and one display device 10 are depicted. However, the device 2 may include multiple different airbags 6 and controllers 12, which may be affected in their deployment by one or more display devices 8. Here, the effects of the airbag 6 being triggered by a frontal and / or side impact of the vehicle 1 can be taken into account.

[0045] Display device 8 is exemplarily designed as an OLED display and is used to visualize information or instructions and to translate input in vehicle 1.

[0046] Figure 2a and Figure 2b It shows Figure 1 Detailed diagrams of dashboard 4 or device 2 before and after airbag deployment. Figure 2b The airbag 7 that has been triggered or is in a triggered state is shown.

[0047] The display device 8 has a plurality of glass layers 14, 15 shown in Figures 3 and 4, the glass layers being constructed as a stable structure or a support structure, on which active elements 16 for visual display are arranged.

[0048] Glass layers 14 and 15 are designed as safety glass and provide protection for display device 8. Figure 2a The rectangular shape is shown in the side view. A trigger unit 10 is located at the bottom of the display device 8 or monitor. In the event of airbag deployment, this trigger unit 10 causes the glass layers 14 and 15 to retract. The principle of the trigger unit 10 corresponds to that of an emergency hammer or safety hammer, which induces initial or controlled damage. In the illustrated embodiment, the trigger unit 10 is configured as a device-side trigger unit 10 and is directly disposed on the display device 8.

[0049] By breaking glass layers 14 and 15 using trigger unit 10, display device 8 can retract into destroyed display device 9. The destroyed display device 9 adheres to the dashboard 4 due to gravity, thus not hindering the deployment of the triggered airbag 7.

[0050] Figure 3a and Figure 3b The trigger unit 10 and the display device 8 according to the first embodiment are shown. Here, Figure 3a The display device 8 and trigger unit 10 are shown during normal operation of vehicle 1. Figure 3b The image shows the display device 8 and the triggering unit 10 after the airbag is deployed.

[0051] The structure of the display device 8 will now be described. The display device 8 includes an active layer or a layer having active components 16, which is arranged between two glass layers 14 and 15. The glass layers 14 and 15 are designed as safety glass layers. In addition, a safety film 18 is applied to the outer side of each glass layer 14 and 15.

[0052] The triggering unit 10 includes an impact head 20 and a drive unit 22 for the impact head 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the drive unit 22 is designed as a pyrotechnic gas generator or a cold gas generator and is used for an initial force application that accelerates the impact head 20 relative to at least one of the glass layers 14, 15.

[0053] If the trigger unit 10 is activated, the tip of the impact head 20 penetrates into at least one safety glass layer 14, 15 and is able to retract as a load-bearing structure. Here, each glass layer 14, 15 breaks into multiple glass fragments 24, which are held together by the safety membrane 18.

[0054] The safety film 18 thus restrains the glass fragments 24 and protects the airbags 6, especially the deployed airbags 7, from potential damage. The active layer 16 and the glass fragments 24 can be controlled and pressed against the contours of the dashboard 4 by means of the safety film 18. Therefore, no parts are thrown into the interior space of the vehicle 1.

[0055] Figure 4a and Figure 4b In particular, the triggering unit 10 according to the second embodiment is shown before and after the airbag deployment. Figure 3a and 3b The difference lies in that the triggering unit 10 has an impact head 20 and a pre-tensioned spring 21 as a drive unit 22. A locking pin 26 locks the pre-tensioned spring 21 and prevents the triggering unit 10 from being triggered uncontrollably. To trigger the triggering unit 10, the locking pin 26 is removed or pulled, thereby releasing the pre-tensioned spring 21 and enabling the impact head 20 to accelerate.

[0056] An exemplary wire connection 28 is shown, which serves as a mechanical connection to the locking pin 26. The wire connection 28 can be connected to the airbag 6, thereby removing the locking pin 26 and causing the display device 8 to be destroyed by the impact head 20 when the airbag 6 is deployed. The wire connection 28 can be designed, for example, as a strap or cord pulled by the deployed airbag 7.

[0057] Alternatively, the mechanical connection can be rigidly constructed and connected, for example, to an actuator not shown.

[0058] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram:

[0059] 1 vehicle

[0060] 2 devices

[0061] 4. Dashboard

[0062] 6 airbags

[0063] 7 airbags in the activated state

[0064] 8 display devices

[0065] 9 Shrinking / Damaged Display Devices

[0066] 10 trigger units

[0067] 12 controllers

[0068] 14 First glass layer

[0069] 15 Second glass layer

[0070] 16 active components / active layers

[0071] 18 Safety Film

[0072] 20 Impact Heads

[0073] 21. Preloaded spring

[0074] 22. Drive unit of the trigger unit

[0075] 24 glass shards / broken glass layers

[0076] 26 locking pins

[0077] 28-wire connection / mechanical connection

Claims

1. A method for triggering at least one airbag (6) located behind or beside a display device (8), wherein, The collision detection is triggered by the controller (12) to activate at least one airbag (6), characterized in that, in order to destroy the display device (8), the triggering unit (10) is activated, and by activating the triggering unit (10), the impact head (20) strikes into the display device (8) and destroys the display device (8).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The airbag (6) is the passenger airbag.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The triggering unit (10) is triggered by a pyrotechnic gas generator (22), a cold air generator, or by releasing a pre-tightened spring (21).

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, By damaging the display device (8), at least one glass layer (14, 15) of the display device (8) connected to the safety film (18) is broken and mechanically destabilized.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein, The broken glass layer connected to the safety film (18) contracts under the influence of gravity or under the action of at least one triggered airbag.

6. A device (2) having at least one airbag (6), the device having a controller (12) connected to the airbag (6), and having a display device (8) positioned in front of or beside the at least one airbag (6) along the extension direction of the airbag (6), wherein, The display device (8) has at least one active layer (16), at least one glass layer (14, 15) and at least one safety film (18), characterized in that a triggering unit (10) for breaking at least one glass layer (14, 15) is arranged on the display device (8), the triggering unit (10) has at least one impact head (20) pointing toward the display device (8), and by triggering the triggering unit (10), the impact head (20) can strike into the display device (8) and break the display device (8).

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, The device is used in vehicle (1).

8. The apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein, The trigger unit (10) is arranged in the area of ​​the fixing part of the display device (8) or designed as the fixing part of the display device.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein, The impact head can be driven toward the display device (8) by means of a pyrotechnic gas generator (22), a cold air generator, or by releasing a pre-tightened spring (21).

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, The preloaded spring (21) is fixed by a locking pin (26), wherein the locking pin (26) moves electromagnetically or mechanically in order to release the preloaded spring (21).

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein, The locking pin (26) moves mechanically under the action of the triggered airbag.

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