Adaptive Airbag Deploying to Variable Longitudinal Distances
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional airbags deploy to a single condition regardless of the occupant's position, which may not optimally protect both reclined and upright occupants, and can result in knee impacts with the instrument panel during collisions, leading to potential injuries.
Innovation Solution
An airbag system that adjusts its deployment configuration based on the seat angle, deploying to different longitudinal distances to accommodate both non-reclined and reclined positions, with a release mechanism and sensor system to determine the occupant's posture and adjust the airbag's deployment accordingly, and an optional knee airbag for additional protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the airbag deploys to a single fixed condition, then the deployment structure is simple, but it cannot optimally protect both reclined and upright occupants
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag system transitions from a static single-deployment-mode design to a dynamic multi-mode deployment system. The airbag can adjust its deployment characteristics (first deployed condition with first longitudinal distance for non-reclined seats, second deployed condition with second longitudinal distance greater than the first for reclined seats) based on real-time detection of seat position, enabling the same airbag structure to adapt to varying occupancy conditions optimally
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the deployment parameter (longitudinal distance of airbag expansion) based on the detected seat position. When the seat is in a non-reclined condition, the airbag deploys to a first longitudinal distance; when the seat is reclined, the airbag deploys to a second longitudinal distance that is greater, thereby optimizing protection for different seating postures without requiring physically different airbag units
2Reliability
If the airbag deploys to a fixed longitudinal distance, then the deployment control is simple, but it may cause knee impacts with the instrument panel for reclined occupants
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a seat position detection mechanism that provides feedback about the seat's reclined or non-reclined state. Based on this feedback, the control system selectively activates the appropriate deployment mode (first deployed condition or second deployed condition), ensuring that the airbag extends to the appropriate longitudinal distance to protect against knee impacts while maintaining reliable protection effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of the seat position before a collision occurs. This advance knowledge allows the control system to pre-select the appropriate deployment configuration, ensuring that when deployment is triggered, the airbag is already configured to extend to the correct longitudinal distance for the detected seat position, preventing knee impacts before they can occur
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an airbag configured to be mounted to a support structure of the vehicle. The airbag is inflatable to deploy from a stored condition away from the support structure toward a vehicle seat in which the occupant is seated to one of a first deployed condition in which the airbag is configured for a non-reclined condition of the vehicle seat, and a second deployed condition in which the airbag is configured for a reclined condition of the vehicle seat. The airbag is configured to deploy to the first deployed condition in response to determining a non-reclined condition of the vehicle seat and to the second deployed condition in response to determining a reclined condition of the vehicle seat.