3575 results about "Airbag deployment" patented technology

A system and method tracks the movements of a driver or passenger in a vehicle (ground, water, air, or other) and controls devices in accordance with position, motion, and / or body or hand gestures or movements. According to one embodiment, an operator or passenger uses the invention to control comfort or entertainment features such the heater, air conditioner, lights, mirror positions or the radio / CD player using hand gestures. An alternative embodiment facilitates the automatic adjustment of car seating restraints based on head position. Yet another embodiment is used to determine when to fire an airbag (and at what velocity or orientation) based on the position of a person in a vehicle seat. The invention may also be used to control systems outside of the vehicle. The on-board sensor system would be used to track the driver or passenger, but when the algorithms produce a command for a desired response, that response (or just position and gesture information) could be transmitted via various methods (wireless, light, whatever) to other systems outside the vehicle to control devices located outside the vehicle. For example, this would allow a person to use gestures inside the car to interact with a kiosk located outside of the car.

System and method for reacting to an expected impact involving a vehicle including an anticipatory sensor system for determining that an impact involving the vehicle is about to occur prior to the impact and an impact responsive system coupled to the sensor system and actuated after its determination of the expected impact. The sensor system includes wave receivers spaced apart from one another, each receiving waves generated by, modified by, or reflected from a common object exterior of the vehicle. The impact responsive system attempts to reduce the potential harm resulting from the impact and can be a protection apparatus which protects a vehicular occupant or a pedestrian, such as one including an airbag and an inflator for inflating the airbag.

The present invention provides a touch input device for use in a vehicle such as an automobile. The touch input device includes a capacitive touch sensor that is disposed underneath a surface of the vehicle's interior that is accessible and touchable by an occupant of the vehicle. The touch sensor is configured so that a touch to a designated area of the surface activates the touch sensor by capacitive coupling between the touch implement and the touch sensor through the surface. The signals generated can be used to control or otherwise interact with displays and other electronic systems in the vehicle. The touch sensor can be constructed using a wide variety of substrate materials, including paper, cloth, plastic, and the object forming the touch surface. The touch surface can be provided by an airbag cover, and the touch sensor can be constructed to safely blow apart upon airbag deployment. Methods of making a touch input device for use in a vehicle are also provided.

A system and method tracks the movements of a driver or passenger in a vehicle (ground, water, air, or other) and controls devices in accordance with position, motion, and / or body or hand gestures or movements. According to one embodiment, an operator or passenger uses the invention to control comfort or entertainment features such the heater, air conditioner, lights, mirror positions or the radio / CD player using hand gestures. An alternative embodiment facilitates the automatic adjustment of car seating restraints based on head position. Yet another embodiment is used to determine when to fire an airbag (and at what velocity or orientation) based on the position of a person in a vehicle seat. The invention may also be used to control systems outside of the vehicle. The on-board sensor system would be used to track the driver or passenger, but when the algorithms produce a command for a desired response, that response (or just position and gesture information) could be transmitted via various methods (wireless, light, whatever) to other systems outside the vehicle to control devices located outside the vehicle. For example, this would allow a person to use gestures inside the car to interact with a kiosk located outside of the car.

A passenger detecting system is disclosed, that comprises a seat, a plurality of electrodes disposed at predetermined intervals on at least the front surface of the seat, an oscillating circuit for generating a weak electric field between at least one particular electrode (referred to as a first type electrode) of the electrodes and the other electrodes (referred to as second type electrodes), a current / voltage converting circuit for detecting displacement currents that flow corresponding to the weak electric field and for converting the displacement currents into respective voltages, a controlling circuit for detecting a seating pattern of an passenger or the like on the seat corresponding to output signals of the current / voltage converting circuit, and an air bag device for inflating an air bag in case of a collision.

Vehicular monitoring arrangement for monitoring an environment of the vehicle including at least one active pixel camera for obtaining images of the environment of the vehicle and a processor coupled to the active pixel camera(s) for determining at least one characteristic of an object in the environment based on the images obtained by the active pixel camera(s). The active pixel camera can be arranged in a headliner, roof or ceiling of the vehicle to obtain images of an interior environment of the vehicle, in an A-pillar or B-pillar of the vehicle to obtain images of an interior environment of the vehicle, or in a roof, ceiling, B-pillar or C-pillar of the vehicle to obtain images of an interior environment of the vehicle behind a front seat of the vehicle. The determined characteristic can be used to enable optimal control of a reactive component, system or subsystem coupled to the processor. When the reactive component is an airbag assembly including at least one airbag, the processor can be designed to control at least one deployment parameter of the airbag(s).

A protection system features a flexible packaged net with perimeter weighting housed in a deployment box releasably attached to a vehicle. One deployment subsystem includes an airbag packaged in the deployment box behind the net. A sensor subsystem detects an incoming threat and a fire control subsystem is responsive to the sensor subsystem and is configured to activate the deployment subsystem to inflate the airbag and deploy the net in the trajectory path of the incoming threat.

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 dispenser for dispensing a fluid includes a rigid vial that has a main fluid chamber containing a fluid, and a pump assembly that is in fluid communication with the main fluid chamber and is configured to dispense a predetermined quantity of fluid from the main fluid chamber. A flexible bladder is provided which is located within the main fluid chamber and is configured to expand to fill the ullage created within the main fluid chamber during dispensing of fluid by the pump assembly. The resilient bladder tends to force itself outwardly toward the rigid vial and, in turn, increases the pressure within the main fluid chamber in comparison to the interior of the bladder to thereby prevent the ingress of air or vapors through the bladder or otherwise into the main fluid chamber.

A motor vehicle crash sensor system for activating an external safety system such as an airbag in response to the detection of an impending collision target. The system includes a radar sensor carried by the vehicle providing a radar output related to the range and relative velocity of the target. A vision sensor is carried by the vehicle which provides a vision output related to the bearing and bearing rate of the target. An electronic control module receives the radar output and the vision output for producing a deployment signal for the safety system.

This disclosure introduces a system which generates a visual, audio, and / or tactile warning to a driver of a lead vehicle when a possible rear-end collision is detected, based on the approach of a second vehicle from a rear direction. The system may also generate a warning signal (such as quick blinking red brake light, or an array of multi-color lights) directed to the approaching vehicle when it is determined to be approaching at an unsafe speed. The system may include one or more of: approaching-vehicle-sensors mounted on the back end of the lead vehicle, a computer processing system, a set of warning lights, a set of speakers within the lead vehicle, and an antenna and transmitter / receiver for communicating with systems of other vehicles. This system may include a connection to the existing taillight system and other existing systems in the lead vehicle. Extended systems may include connections to and control of head support system, seat-belt systems and airbags system to provide additional safety to the occupants of the lead vehicle. The system may also record and store a few seconds of sensor data of the pre-crash and crash related scene when an impact occurs, and provide blind spot warnings.

A two or more chambered airbag provides much improved safety and / or performance. A modified single chamber airbag can be used as the primary chamber of the two-chamber airbag. A piece of fabric of appropriate size is sewn to the inside or outside surface of the front panel of the primary chamber to create the secondary chamber. One or more apertures are opened between the primary and secondary chambers. In order for the secondary chamber to inflate properly, the tethers of the primary chamber are shortened to 50% to 80% of their original length. The size or location of the tether sewing to the inner surface of the front panel of the primary chamber is also adjusted to create a desired shape of the secondary chamber when deployed.

The present invention relates to a combination heater and occupant sensor device that may be used in an automobile seat. The device will heat a seat and sense the mass of an occupant in the seat. The device provides the ability to combine occupant sensors with a seat heater without damaging the sensors or obtaining incorrect sensor readings. The sensor results may be processed and used to control air bag deployment, for example, or to indicate if the seat belt of an occupied seat is not being employed. To provide flexibility of the device during use, the device may be formed on a polymer substrate and configured to include apertures throughout. In addition, in the heating portion of the device, conductive material may be blended in a polymer and the device may be configured to limit conductor cracking after repeated flexing of the device thus extending the life of the device.

A two or more chambered airbag provides much improved safety and / or performance. A modified single chamber airbag can be used as the primary chamber of the two-chamber airbag. A piece of fabric of appropriate size is sewn to the inside or outside surface of the front panel of the primary chamber to create the secondary chamber. One or more apertures are opened between the primary and secondary chambers. In order for the secondary chamber to inflate properly, the tethers of the primary chamber are shortened to 50% to 80% of their original length. The size or location of the tether sewing to the inner surface of the front panel of the primary chamber is also adjusted to create a desired shape of the secondary chamber when deployed.

A video recording system is responsive to an automotive controls system. The video recording system includes a video camera, capable of capturing either still photos or video footage. The video camera may be integral to the interior of a vehicle, for example in a navigation unit, or may be coupled to a detachable electronic device like a cellular telephone. The video recording system communicates with the controls system by either hard wire link or wireless link. The controls system includes one or more sensors capable of detecting when a collision has occurred. One such sensor is an airbag deployment sensor. When the controls system detects that a collision has occurred, it sends an actuation signal to the video recording system, thereby causing the video recording system to begin capturing either photos or video footage. This video footage may then be stored locally or transmitted to a remote server. In one application, the video footage may be used by emergency personnel to determine the conditions inside the vehicle immediately following an accident.

A wireless phone having an internal GPS-receiver is turned on by an auxiliary switch coupled to a Microwire bus for turning on the phone and the internally carried GPS receiver so that the phone can be made to call a predetermined number and report location. If the switch closure is a result of paging, a phone can be paged to report location whether or not the phone is initially off. This accommodates such applications as Alzheimer patients, truck-tracking, kid-tracking, pet-tracking and in general any application in which a wireless communications device such as a cell phone can be caused to report location, with the phone initially in an off condition. Alternative activations through the closure of specialized switches responsive to airbag deployment, car alarm activation, medical condition alerts, and perimeter violations, provides local activation of the system.

A reusable shipping system comprises a closable shipping container and a packing ensemble disposed in the container's interior which includes an expandable cushioning assembly and at least one reusable packing accessory. The expandable cushioning assembly may be a layered arrangement having at least one foam layer and an inflatable bladder, while the packing accessory may be one or more cushioned bags or the like. Methods are also described for preparing a shipping container having a padded interior and a layered cushioning assembly. One or more items are inserted into the shipping container, and its cushioning assembly is thereafter expanded, for example by inflating a bladder, to compress the container's padded interior against the item(s).

An air bag cover assembly comprises a flexible plastic air bag door closing an air bag deployment opening in a hard plastic retainer. A door outer edge abuts and is mechanically locked to an inner edge of the opening. The interlock comprises a protrusion in the door outer edge, which mates with a complementary recess in the inner edge of the opening. The interlock blocks outward and inward air bag door movement. The door and retainer are made of plastics, which generally do not adhere easily to one another. Silicone may be sprayed on the door outer edge to further reduce adhesion or where plastics, which generally adhere to one another, are used. Preferably, the exterior and interior surfaces of the door and retainer lie flush with one another. The door includes a flexible hinge flange that extends from an interior door surface and attaches the door to the vehicle structure. The hinge flange allows the door to swing outward upon air bag deployment while retaining the door to the vehicle structure. A steel door insert may be included to add rigidity, strength or dimensional stability to the door. The assembly is constructed by molding molten retainer material in a mold cavity that contains the door so that the retainer material flows around the door to form the mechanical interlock.

A system or method (collectively “classification system”) is disclosed for classifying sensor images into one of several pre-defined classifications. Mathematical moments relating to various features or attributes in the sensor image are used to populated a vector of attributes, which are then compared to a corresponding template vector of attribute values. The template vector contains values for known classifications which are preferably predefined. By comparing the two vectors, various votes and confidence metrics are used to ultimately select the appropriate classification. In some embodiments, preparation processing is performed before loading the attribute vector with values. Image segmentation is often desirable. The performance of heuristics to adjust for environmental factors such as lighting can also be desirable. One embodiment of the system is to prevent the deployment of an airbag when the occupant in the seat is a child, a rear-facing infant seat, or when the seat is empty.

The safety of occupants in a vehicle is increased by avoiding an unnecessary deployment of a safety device, such as an air bag in the vehicle. For this purpose the trigger signal for deploying the safety device is generated either in response to a vehicle motion signal exceeding a high threshold level or in response to the vehicle motion signal exceeding a low threshold level as determined by a precrash signal (S1) followed by a crash signal (S2) preferably within a limited time duration (TMAX). For this purpose the signals (S1) and (S2) are logically linked and the resulting signal at the output of an AND-gate or at the output of a timing circuit determines whether the vehicle motion signal is compared with the high threshold level or with the low threshold level for generating the trigger or deployment signal (DS). Only when this double condition occurs, is the trigger threshold lowered for deploying the safety device. An optical sensor is preferably used as the crash signal generator.

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.

An inflatable suspension harness / body jacket and method of use in medical partial weight-bearing therapy. The suspension harness / body jacket is fit onto a patient and has bladders that are inflated sufficiently to achieve a tight conforming fit. Deflating and re-inflating the bladders where necessary to re-achieve the tight conforming fit allows for successful weight-bearing therapy without discontinuing the therapy for an extended period or removing the patient. The suspension harness / body jacket has shoulder straps and jacket portions that may pass through D-rings that, when attached to a frame or other apparatus, provide additional offloading capacity.

A method and apparatus for use in locating the eyes of a vehicle driver or passenger in a vehicle for controlling vehicle systems including the positioning of vehicle sideview mirrors in relation to the driver's eyes to maximize the view of traffic on either side of the vehicle or the characteristics of vehicle airbag deployment. The location of a driver's or passenger's eyes is derived from the adjustment by the driver (or passenger, if capable of doing so) of adjustable light beam(s) emanating from light source(s) or illuminated indicia, until it (or they) intersect the driver's or passenger's eyes. From the angles of adjustment of the light beam(s) and other known coordinates of the vehicle, the location of the driver's or passenger's eyes or the target may be computationally derived as a set of Cartesian coordinates. The determined eye location of the driver may be used together with the known mounting locations of the driver's and passenger's sideview mirror assemblies to derive exterior sideview mirror pitch and azimuth adjustment signal sets correlated to the vehicle blind spots. The adjustment signals are applied to servo motors operating in a feedback control loop to correct the actual driver's side and passenger's side sideview mirror pitch and azimuth settings to properly reflect images of the driver's side and passenger'side vehicle blind spots to the driver's eyes. The determined eye locations of the driver and passenger may be also or alternatively employed in the control of the airbag deployment system and in other vehicle safety and comfort systems. The relative fore-aft distance away from the airbag and the height of the person or target can be computed, and airbag deployment force and / or duration adjusted to compensate for deviation from the standard height and fore-aft distance.

An inflator (10) includes a housing (20). A first inflation fluid source (240) in the housing (20) is actuatable to effect flow of inflation fluid to inflate an inflatable device. A first actuatable initiator (130) in the housing (20), when energized, effects actuation of the first inflation fluid source (240). A second inflation fluid source (250) in the housing (20) is actuatable to effect flow of inflation fluid to inflate the inflatable device. A second actuatable initiator (152) in the housing (20), when energized, effects actuation of the second inflation fluid source (250). The housing (20) has a fluid passage (90) for directing flow of inflation fluid out of the housing (20) to the inflatable device. The housing (20) deforms due to the pressure of inflation fluid in the housing upon actuation of one or both of the inflation fluid sources (240, 250). The flow area of the fluid passage (90) increases due to deformation of the housing (20) and varies in accordance with the pressure of inflation fluid in the housing.

The present invention is directed to an improved sports helmet including a quick release connector assembly for the faceguard that allows for rapid disconnection of the faceguard from the helmet shell. The connector includes a bracket, and a coupler mechanism featuring an elongated pin, a head component, a spring, a retractable engaging element and a washer. The connector assembly is moveable between a use position wherein the faceguard is secured to the shell by the bracket and the coupler mechanism, and a released position wherein the bracket and the faceguard are disconnected from the shell. An inwardly directed actuation force that lacks a rotational component is applied to the elongated pin to move from the use position to the released position. In addition, the sports helmet includes an adjustable pad assembly comprised of an inflatable bladder and a pad member, wherein the bladder displaces the pad member towards the center of the shell. Once sufficiently displaced, the pad member, which includes a molded pad element, cradles a portion of the helmet wearer's skull.

The invention discloses an airbag laminating device and method for curved glass on a touch screen. The airbag laminating device comprises a support plate and a fixture platform located below the support plate, wherein the fixture platform is used for positioning the curved glass; a main airbag is arranged on one side of the support plate close to the fixture platform; an auxiliary airbag is arranged at a position inside the main airbag corresponding to a bent part of the curved glass; the auxiliary airbag is used for tightly laminating a flexible film to the bent part of the curved glass. The airbag laminating device improves a stress structure of the bent part of the curved glass during lamination by arranging the auxiliary airbag corresponding to the bent part of the curved glass in the main airbag, and increases pressure of the bent part during lamination, so that the flexible film is further laminated to the bent part of the curved glass under compression effect of the auxiliary airbag, thereby eliminating the lamination bubbles of the flexible film and the curved glass, increasing the lamination quality and reducing yield loss.

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 as well as a very low packing volume (for more efficient use of storage space within a vehicle) for the target side curtain airbag.