SIDE AIRBAG DEVICE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE, AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A SIDE AIRBAG DEVICE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a side airbag device for a motor vehicle with at least one airbag according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention further relates to a method for operating a side airbag device.

[0002] Side airbag devices, which can also simply be called side airbags, are already known in the prior art. These are arranged, for example, in a corresponding seat of a motor vehicle and can be filled with gas upon impact, thus protecting an occupant in the event of a side collision. Furthermore, it is known that different occupants, such as adults and children, may be present in the motor vehicle, in which case different requirements are placed on the side airbag.

[0003] DE 10 2009 016 606 A1 relates to a vehicle seat for a motor vehicle with a backrest on which a side airbag is arranged, the latter having a first side wall facing the occupant and a second side wall facing the outside of the vehicle. The side airbag is located on the side of the backrest facing the outside of the vehicle, and the side airbag has a first ventilation opening on one of the two side walls, which is at least restricted when it comes into contact with an object. To adjust the internal pressure of the airbag to the weight of the vehicle occupant, the vehicle seat is height-adjustable, and the first ventilation opening is located in the second side wall.

[0004] DE 10 2015 005 482 A1 describes a gas bag with an adaptive ventilation device. The gas bag's outer shell has at least one ventilation opening. Furthermore, a tensioning element associated with a ventilation opening and a cover element located outside the gas bag's outer shell and associated with the ventilation opening are provided. A first end of the tensioning element is permanently connected to the gas bag's outer shell or detachably or separably to a retaining element, and a second end of the tensioning element is permanently connected to the cover element. When the tensioning element is taut, the cover element restricts the ventilation opening more than when the tensioning element is not taut. To improve the reproducibility of the gas bag's behavior, the cover element is connected to the gas bag's outer shell around the ventilation opening by a joint, such that the geometric area of ​​the gas bag's outer shell enclosed by the joint has a first area.In this case, the geometric area of ​​the cover element enclosed by the connection has a second area that is larger than the first. Furthermore, the cover element has at least one flow-through opening.

[0005] EP 3 459 796 A1 discloses a side airbag device.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a side airbag device and a method by which an improved adjustment of gas pressure in the airbag can be achieved.

[0007] This problem is solved by a side airbag device and by a method according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

[0008] One aspect of the invention relates to a side airbag device for a motor vehicle with at least one gas bag in which, upon impact, a gas is introduced by means of a gas generator of the side airbag device and with a release valve for venting the gas immediately after the impact.

[0009] It is provided that the side airbag device has an electronic computing unit and a further release valve, wherein a detection device of the side airbag device detects an occupant of the motor vehicle, wherein the side airbag device is filled with gas to protect this occupant upon impact, and the electronic computing unit is designed to determine a gas pressure in the airbag by controlling the further release valve prior to the impact, depending on the detected person, and to adjust it to the occupant upon impact.

[0010] Therefore, an adaptive discharge opening is provided on the side airbag, specifically on the side airbag unit, which is activated depending on the occupant or vehicle occupancy, thus allowing the pressure within the side airbag unit to be controlled during a side impact. For example, if a child is the occupant, the additional discharge valve can be activated, for instance, by means of an igniter. If an adult is the occupant, however, the additional discharge valve remains closed.

[0011] The further drain valve has at least three opening positions, wherein a first opening position is fully open, a second opening position is a partial opening and a third opening position is a closed state, and depending on a control signal from the electronic computing device, one of the opening positions is activated upon impact.

[0012] The side airbag device may have an additional gas generator, wherein the electronic computing device may be designed to determine the gas pressure in the airbag by controlling an additional gas generator prior to the impact, depending on the person detected, and to adjust it to the occupant during the impact.

[0013] The gas generator design could include, for example, a second gas generator or a two-stage gas generator. In the first stage, the deployment and positioning of the side airbag system would be independent of the occupant. The second stage would then be triggered depending on the occupant. For example, if the occupant is a child, the second gas generator, or the two-stage gas generator, would not be triggered, while if the occupant is an adult, the second stage could be triggered.

[0014] The side airbag device according to the invention with the adaptive outlet opening or the additional outlet valve is thereby improved for all occupants, especially for worldwide use.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment, the electronic computing device is configured to determine the gas pressure depending on the occupant's size and / or weight. For example, the detection device can be designed as a camera or as a seat occupancy sensor and determine the size or weight.

[0016] It is also advantageous if the electronic computing device is designed to additionally adjust the gas pressure in the gas bag depending on the impact intensity.

[0017] It is further advantageous if, in order to generate at least three opening positions, the additional drain valve has at least one cover which is moved depending on the control signal.

[0018] Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for operating a side airbag device for a motor vehicle, in which, upon impact, a gas bag of the side airbag device is filled with gas by means of a gas generator of the side airbag device and in which the gas is vented immediately after the impact by means of a release valve.It is provided that the side airbag device has an electronic computing unit and a further release valve and / or a further gas generator, wherein an occupant of the motor vehicle is detected by means of a detection device of the side airbag device, wherein the side airbag device is filled with gas to protect this occupant upon impact, and the electronic computing unit determines a gas pressure in the gas bag depending on the detected person by controlling the further release valve of the further gas generator before the impact, and upon impact of an occupant the gas pressure is adjusted.

[0019] The further drain valve has at least three opening positions, wherein a first opening position is fully open, a second opening position is a partial opening and a third opening position is a closed state, and depending on a control signal from the electronic computing device, one of the opening positions is activated upon impact.

[0020] A further aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle with a side airbag system. The motor vehicle is specifically designed as a passenger car.

[0021] Advantageous designs of the side airbag system are to be regarded as advantageous designs of the motor vehicle and the method. The side airbag system and the motor vehicle possess specific features to enable the implementation of the method and an advantageous design thereof.

[0022] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment and from the drawing. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as those mentioned below in the figure description and / or shown in the single figure alone, can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or individually, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0023] The single figure (Fig.) shows a schematic view of a motor vehicle with an embodiment of a side airbag device.

[0024] In the figure, identical or functionally equivalent elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0025] The figure shows a schematic view of a motor vehicle 10 with a side airbag device 12. The side airbag device 12 has a gas bag 14 into which, in the event of an impact, a gas is introduced by means of a gas generator 16 of the side airbag device 12 and with a release valve 18, 20, in particular with two release valves 18, 20, for venting the gas immediately after the impact.

[0026] It is provided that the side airbag device 12 has an electronic computing device 22 and a further release valve 24 and / or a further gas generator, wherein an occupant 28 of the motor vehicle 10 is detected by means of a detection device 26 of the side airbag device 12, wherein the side airbag device 12 is filled with gas to protect this occupant 28 during the impact, and the electronic computing device 22 is designed to determine a gas pressure in the gas bag 14 depending on the detected occupant 28 by controlling the further release valve 24 and / or the further gas generator before the impact and to adjust it to the occupant 28 during the impact.

[0027] Furthermore, the electronic computing device 22 may be configured to determine the gas pressure depending on the size and / or weight of the occupant 28. The electronic computing device 22 may also be configured to adjust the gas pressure in the gas bag 14 depending on the impact intensity.

[0028] Furthermore, the additional drain valve 24 is provided to have at least three opening positions, wherein a first opening position is fully open, a second opening position is partially open, and a third opening position is closed. Depending on a control signal from the electronic computing unit 22, one of the opening positions is activated upon impact. To generate the at least three opening positions, the additional drain valve 24 can have at least one cover which is moved depending on the control signal.

[0029] In summary, it is proposed that a gas pressure setting be determined prior to the impact and adjusted according to the size or weight of the occupant 28 or other persons, so that in the event of an impact, the gas pressure to be set in the side airbag, also depending on the impact intensity, is already known. This is achieved in particular with the additional release valve 24 and / or a two-stage and / or a second gas generator.

[0030] The additional drain valve 24, which can also be referred to as an adaptive valve, can then be closed, partially open, or fully open as required when triggered. This can be achieved, for example, by covers that are moved back and forth accordingly or by other valve devices.

[0031] In the alternative gas generator, the additional drain valve 24 is replaced or added, so that the initial pressure can also be set by the gas generator and can then also be released, for example, through the adaptive valve.

[0032] In particular, the additional drain valve 24 represents a further additional valve for adjusting the pressure, while the drain valves 18, 20 in the side airbag continue to serve functionally for venting the airbag.

[0033] The side airbag device 12 thus features the adaptive valve, which is specifically controllable and therefore adjustable. Alternatively or additionally, the side airbag device 12 features a second gas generator or a two-stage gas generator, so that an initial pressure level can be set.

[0034] Overall, the invention demonstrates a side airbag with adaptive pressure control.

Claims

1. Side airbag apparatus (12) for a motor vehicle (10), comprising a gas bag (14) in which, during an impact, a gas is introduced by means of a gas generator (16) of the side airbag apparatus (12), and comprising a release valve (18, 20) for venting the gas immediately after the impact, the side airbag apparatus (12) having an electronic computing device (22), an occupant (28) of the motor vehicle (10) being detected by means of a detection device (26) of the side airbag apparatus (12), and the side airbag apparatus (12) being filled with the gas in order to protect this occupant (28) during the impact, characterized in that the side airbag apparatus (12) has a further release valve (24), the electronic computing device (22) being configured, depending on the detected occupant (28), to determine a gas pressure in the gas bag (14) by actuating the further release valve (24) before the impact, and to adapt the gas pressure to the occupant (28) during the impact, the further release valve (24) having at least three opening positions, and a first opening position being fully open, a second opening position specifying a partial opening, and a third opening position specifying a closed state, and, depending on a control signal from the electronic computing device (22), one of the opening positions being actuated during the impact.

2. Side airbag apparatus (12) according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic computing device (22) is configured to determine the gas pressure depending on a size of the occupant (28) and / or a weight of the occupant (28).

3. Side airbag apparatus (12) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the electronic computing device (22) is configured to additionally adjust the gas pressure in the gas bag (14) depending on the impact intensity.

4. Side airbag apparatus (12) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in order to generate at least three opening positions, the further release valve (24) has at least one cover which is movable depending on the control signal.

5. Method for operating a side airbag apparatus (12) for a motor vehicle (10), in which method, during an impact, a gas is introduced into a gas bag (14) of the side airbag apparatus (12) by means of a gas generator (16) of the side airbag apparatus (12), and in which method the gas is vented immediately after the impact by means of a release valve (18, 20), the side airbag apparatus (12) having an electronic computing device (22), an occupant (28) of the motor vehicle (10) being detected by means of a detection device (26) of the side airbag apparatus (12), and the side airbag apparatus (12) being filled with the gas in order to protect this occupant (28) during the impact, characterized in that the side airbag apparatus (12) has a further release valve (24), the electronic computing device (22), depending on the detected occupant (28), determining a gas pressure in the gas bag (14) by actuating the further release valve (24) before the impact, and the gas pressure being adapted to the occupant (28) during the impact, the further release valve (24) having at least three opening positions, and a first opening position being fully open, a second opening position specifying a partial opening, and a third opening position specifying a closed state, and, depending on a control signal from the electronic computing device (22), one of the opening positions being actuated during the impact.