16266 results about "Airbag" patented technology

A vehicle control system and method includes structure and steps for capturing an image of a front seat of the vehicle and outputting image data corresponding thereto. A processor is provided which receives the image data output form the imaging device, compares the received image data with stored image data, and outputs a vehicle equipment control signal based on the comparison. Preferably, the vehicle equipment control signal controls one or more of airbag activation, mirror reflectance, vehicle lights activation, and vehicle intruder alarms. Preferably, the imaging device comprises a single chip camera disposed adjacent the vehicle rearview mirror.

An interactive display system for a vehicle including a heads up display system for projecting text and / or graphics into a field of view of a forward-facing occupant of the vehicle and an occupant-controllable device enabling the occupant to interact with the heads up display system to change the text and / or graphics projected by the heads up display system or direct another vehicular system to perform an operation. The device may be a touch pad arranged on a steering wheel of the vehicle (possibly over a cover of an airbag module in the steering wheel) or at another location accessible to the occupant of the vehicle. A processor and associated electrical architecture are provided for correlating a location on the touch pad which has been touched by the occupant to the projected text and / or graphics. The device may also be a microphone.

A vehicle collision detector is configured to reliably activate an airbag system at a collision and prevent the airbag system from erroneously operating. The collision detector includes two acceleration sensors disposed at different positions in a vehicle to detect acceleration for collision determination, first and second collision routines in which a determination is made on whether or not a variation in the detected acceleration is caused by a collision, and a final collision routine in which an airbag module is activated when all of results of the first and second collision routines indicate a collision.

A warning unit outputs an alert when a first abnormality detector and a second abnormality detector determine detachment or loosening of a tube (110) that can cause abnormal pressure in each balloon (20,54).

A non-hybrid pyrotechnic filterless inflator, i.e., gas generator, for an automotive passive restraint air bag having a generally discoidally-shaped pressure vessel having a diameter that preferably is greater than or about equal to its height formed of a cup-shaped closure cap and a base member and having at least one exhaust nozzle for directing gaseous products out of the inflator and into the air bag. The pressure vessel contains two separated and independently initiated initiator assemblies. By initiating either one or both initiator assemblies, the inflator can generate a modulated gas output between a first minimum output level and a second maximum output level in response to passenger and driver conditions.

A vehicle seat has a seat element that forms a seat surface and has a seat back (10) or backrest. The seat back (10) has a frame (14) and an airbag (19). The airbag (19) has a gas-receiving element (20) and an inflating device (21) for the gas-receiving element (20). The gas-receiving element (20) is defined at one side by a portion (15) of the frame (14) and at the other side by a delimiting element (22) that is fastened to the frame (14) and that can be displaced as the airbag (19) inflates.

The e-Mirrors system promotes a new standard of driving safety views device, which upgrade regular glass mirrors from optical reflective to optoelectronic. The e-Mirrors system overcomes lots problems of conventional mirrors: blind spots, poor rear view, poor object approaching view etc. Variety new design vehicles made in the century 21 need higher standard safety view devices to drive in more & more crowded traffic system since population is growing rapidly. Time to change! Trend to go optoelectronic safety view. The e-Mirrors system integrates ultra night vision multi micro CCD cameras, high definition low distortion Lens, multiple mini LCD panels, New concept design camera mounts, video processor (or switch) all in 1. Each component apply unique design, each view setting has its technique. Using e-Mirrors to fill the absence of central rear mirror in trucks and buses large vehicles, drivers will be stress free. Driving everyday becomes easy, safely and fun! After tested in many vehicles, this e-Mirrors system proofs the most creative and the state of the art safety device since the invention of airbag. Its application will significantly reduce the traffic accidents causing by driver's “did not see it” error every year. Airbags now are legal mandatory devices for motor vehicles. However, airbags deploy to reduce lost of lives only after the collision, not able to reduce traffic accidents. Wish this handy e-mirrors system, cost less than airbags, be the second mandatory device for all vehicles soon!

An airbag and an airbag apparatus includes a vent hole operable to close or open to a small extent until a passenger crashes into the airbag, and open or close to a large extent when the passenger crashes into the airbag. An interior of an airbag is partitioned into a first chamber at a center and a second chamber which surrounds the first chamber by an inner panel. A rear panel includes a vent hole for communicating the second chamber and the outside of the airbag. A lid member configured to cover the vent hole may be disposed on an outer surface of the rear panel. A tether may connect the lid member to the inner panel through the vent hole.

Capacitive sensors used to detect force upon a transparency product for detecting and discriminating crash characteristics of a vehicle, as well as capacitive sensors used in conjunction with a conductive panel functioning as an airbag cover and ground plane for the capacitive sensors. The capacitive sensors are made up of electrodes, of which one may be a conductive coating. The capacitive sensors can be arranged upon a substrate and can include a reference sensor. Long term effects of temperature upon sensor output are compensated for with an algorithm comparing constant desired sensor output to low frequency drift due to temperature effects. Moisture upon a transparency product is distinguished from a nearby object due to the capacitance sensed. A sleep detection algorithm detects when a vehicle operator is drowsy. A capacitive sensor array having a nested circle sensor and L-shaped sensors, along with a dummy sensor is used in a sunroof-equipped vehicle for sensing occupant head position.

A collision mitigation system is proposed which makes use of forward mounted long range ladar sensors and short range ladar sensors mounted in auxiliary lamps to identify obstacles and to predict unavoidable collisions therewith, and a duplex radio link in communication with secondary vehicles, and a number of external airbags deployable under the control of an airbag control unit, to reduce the forces of impact on the host vehicle, secondary vehicles, and bipeds and quadrupeds wandering into the roadway. A suspension modification system makes use of headlight mounted long range ladar sensors and short range ladar sensors mounted in auxiliary lamps to characterize the road surface, identify road hazards, and make adaptations to a number of active suspension components, each with the ability to absorb shock, elevate or lower the vehicle, and adjust the spring rate of the individual wheel suspensions.

An internal airbag device may include an inflator, an airbag housing mounted in a roof in a region between a front seat and a rear seat, and an airbag received in the airbag housing to deploy downwards by gas supplied from the inflator, wherein the airbag includes a horizontal airbag section supported by the roof during the gas may be supplied therein in a deployment thereof, and a vertical airbag section fluid-connected to the horizontal airbag section and extending downwards from an end of the horizontal airbag section opposite the rear seat in a deployment thereof.

A vehicle seat including a backrest which has a middle part laterally confined by side walls; an airbag module arranged in one of the side walls; adjusting means for adjusting the width of the backrest. The adjusting means have an adjusting element, which is arranged together with the airbag module in the side wall and movable relative to the middle part, via which the position of the side wall is changeable relative to the middle part. The adjusting element is connected to a section of the module housing of the airbag module so that the module housing is moved by moving the adjusting element.

An inflatable side airbag apparatus having a thorax cushion and an independently inflatable overlapping high pressure pelvic cushion is disclosed. The airbag system provides for rapid deployment of the pelvic cushion. The thorax cushion inflates adjacent to and provides impact protection for an occupant's thorax and pelvis in a lateral collision. The pelvic cushion inflates between the thorax cushion and the side structure of the vehicle and provides impact protection for the occupant's pelvis. The airbag system also includes an inflator having a gas guide that is in fluid communication with both cushions, and inflates the pelvic cushion to a higher pressure than the thorax cushion. The thorax cushion further includes a diffuser hood for diverting inflation gas toward the pelvic region of the cushion, thereby rapidly positioning the pelvic cushion in its intended deployment position.

An airbag emblem may be backlit or illuminated to provide the emblem with greater visual appeal. In order to accomplish this illumination, an illumination source is used. This illumination source may be electroluminescent foil. The emblem includes colors that are added or inserted onto the emblem. These colors are translucent so that they may be illuminated by the illumination source. This emblem may be placed as part of an airbag cover on a steering wheel.

A fabric knee airbag that is capable of withstanding high internal pressures is provided. The knee airbag is formed from one continuous fabric sheet. The knee airbag has a plurality of loops formed in the walls of the airbag. Internal tethers are disposed within the airbag cushion and are attached to oppositely facing loops. The internal tethers enable the airbag to withstand the high internal pressure by maintaining the airbag at a constant volume and shape upon activation by an inflator. The knee airbag further includes an external tether attached to the exterior of the airbag wall to control the direction of the deployment of the knee airbag.

A mounting bracket that may be used to mount an inflatable curtain airbag having a manifold to a vehicle interior is disclosed. The mounting bracket includes a base bracket that has at least one aperture and at least one connecting tab. The mounting bracket also includes a retaining clip that is attachable to the base bracket. The retaining clip has at least one receiving portion and at least one inserting tab. The at least one inserting tab is constructed such that it may be inserted into the at least one aperture. Similarly, the at least one connecting tab is designed to engaged the at least one receiving portion. Preferably, the mounting bracket is constructed such that when the retaining clip is attached to the base bracket, the mounting bracket retains the manifold between the base bracket and the clip.

A side airbag apparatus for vehicle has an airbag and an inflator. An upper chamber, a lower chamber, and an intermediate chamber are defined by a seam in the airbag. When the airbag is deployed, the upper chamber corresponds to a shoulder of an occupant, the lower chamber corresponds to a lumbar region of the occupant, and the intermediate chamber corresponds to a thorax of the occupant. The seam guides gas from the inflator to the upper and lower chambers such that the upper and lower chambers are substantially simultaneously inflated, and the intermediate chamber is inflated after a delay. The thickness of the intermediate chamber is less than the thicknesses of the upper and lower chambers. As a result, the occupant of the vehicle is effectively protected.

An airbag emblem may be backlit or illuminated to provide the emblem with greater visual appeal. In order to accomplish this illumination, an illumination source is used. This illumination source may be electroluminescent foil. The emblem includes colors that are added or inserted onto the emblem. These colors are translucent so that they may be illuminated by the illumination source. This emblem may be placed as part of an airbag cover on a steering wheel.

An airbag (10) has an inflatable chamber (301) defined by a main front panel (12) and a pair of side panels (24), (26). The airbag (10) has a vertically oriented recessed portion (20) on the main panel (12) located on a lower portion of an airbag (10), preferably vertically at or below a gas inlet passageway (30). The recessed portion (20) divides the airbag (10) into two lower lobe portions (40, 42) on each side of the recessed portion (20). Upon inflation an internal tether (50) is attached to the recessed portion (20) and is anchored at or adjacent to the gas inlet passageway (30) thereby limiting forward movement of the recessed portion (20) upon inflation. The airbag (10) is useful as a frontal airbag, particularly a passenger frontal airbag.

An air spring assembly includes a primary airbag mounted to a piston air bag such that the piston airbag provides a rolling surface for the primary airbag. A change in the piston airbag pressure changes the effective rate of the primary air spring. A relatively small change in the piston airbag volume provides a change in the spring rate of air spring assembly as the diameter of the rolloff surface is selectively modified.

An airbag of an airbag apparatus includes an airbag main body capable of expanding in a manner such that the airbag main body covers a steering wheel in front of a driver seated in a driver-side seat, and an upper extending portion that covers a vehicle roof pillar by extending upward from above a left or right side of the airbag main body. The airbag apparatus is designed so as to maintain the airbag shape and position even when the steering wheel is rotated. In the event of an oblique collision, the airbag is capable of preventing a head region of a driver from colliding with the pillar, yet without excessively increasing the required airbag volume.

Advanced supplemental restraint system associated with occupant detection and weight responsive classification system operable for controlling resistance of the supplemental restraint system such that in an accident, an occupant of the vehicle impacts the supplemental restraint system without injury. The supplemental restraint system is associated with a weight-sensing unit mounted to one or more seats positioned between the seat mounting frame and the floor of the vehicle for sensing the weight of a sitting occupant and for classifying the occupant accordingly, a computerized system is configured for calculating an operating weight value corresponding to the classified weight value, and an airbag system is disposed, comprising one or more airbags in association with a deployment unit configured to inflate the airbags with a deployment force and acceleration that is proportionate to the operating weight value when a collision force is sensed above a predetermined collision force value by a collision sensor.

Coated inflatable fabrics, more particularly airbags to which very low add-on amounts of coating have been applied, are provided which exhibit extremely low air permeability. The inventive inflatable fabrics are primarily for use in automotive restraint cushions that require low permeability characteristics (such as side curtain airbags). Traditionally, heavy, and thus expensive, coatings of compounds such as neoprene, silicones and the like, have been utilized to provide such required low permeability. The inventive fabric utilizes an inexpensive, very thin coating to provide such necessarily low permeability levels. Thus, the inventive coated inflatable airbag comprises a film laminated on at least a portion of the target fabric surface wherein the film possesses a tensile strength of at least 2,000 and an elongation at break of at least 180%. The film provides a low permeability airbag cushion exhibiting a leak-down time of at least 5 seconds wherein the film is present on the surface in an amount of at most 3.0 ounces per square yard of the fabric.

In a head protecting air bag device according to the present invention, a clip for attaching an attaching portion of an air bag to a fixing part on the side of a vehicle body includes a clip body and a locking part. The clip body has a shaft having a pair of securing legs protruded. The pair of securing legs are inserted in the fixing slot of the fixing part from an in-vehicle side via the attaching slot of the attaching portion and secured to the peripheral edge on an out-vehicle side of the fixing slot. The shaft is composed of a shell member of a metallic plate on the outer periphery and a core member of synthetic resin on the inner periphery. The core member is arranged on the opposite sides of a pair of securing lugs of the shell member. The core member has an inserting space in which a spacer of the locking part is inserted between the pair of securing lugs. The spacer limits the mutual approaching of the pair of securing legs. In the head protecting air bag according to this invention, using the clip, the attaching portion of the air bag can be easily attached to the vehicle body side with assured attaching stability.

Provided are an airbag and an airbag device, which can reduce a pressure loss while the airbag is being inflated and expanded and which can exhibit the shock absorbing force of the airbag device efficiently according to the physical features of a passenger. The airbag device comprises a gas generator for generating a gas under a predetermined condition, an airbag connected to the gas generator so that it is inflated and expanded, and a retainer for housing the airbag. This airbag includes bulges for forming externally protruded portions at the portions of the airbag, vent holes formed in the bulges, straps connected at their one-ends to the bulges and at their other ends to the inside of the airbag, and through holes for guiding the other ends of the straps into the inside of the airbag. The vent holes are arranged at such regions in the bulges that the bulges and the airbag do not overlap when the bulges are pulled by the straps.

[PROBLEMS] To cushion impact acting on an occupant who is not in a regular position. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] When an abnormality occurs, an airbag device (1) inflates and expands in front of an occupant and absorbs an impact from the front of a vehicle. An airbag (2) to which gas from an inflator is supplied in an abnormality is provided with a vertical recess (2c) facing the head (Ph) of the occupant (P). The recess (2c) is located at the center, in the right and left direction of the vehicle, of an occupant restriction surface (2b) formed at a position facing the occupant (P) sitting on the seat during inflation and expansion. At least one fixed vent (2ea, 2eb) and at least one variable vent (2fan, 2fb) are provided at each of opposite sidewalls (2da, 2db). The fixed vent (2ea, 2eb) has an invariant opening area, and the variable vents (2fan 2fb) has an opening area variable depending on the sitting position of the occupant (P) during expansion. The recess (2c) and the opposite sidewalls (2da, 2db) are coupled in the airbag (2) by shape control members (3a,3b). [EFFECT] Even an occupant of out of position or an occupant not wearing a seat belt can be received relatively flexibly, and trouble caused on the occupant by the airbag is reduced.