Passenger Airbag Deployable Extensions for Oblique Impact Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

During oblique or head-on frontal impacts, the momentum of a vehicle occupant's head or upper body can cause them to slide off or twist, reducing the effectiveness of passenger airbags and potentially leading to neck strain due to inadequate protection against the airbag and A-pillar or door.

Innovation Solution

The passenger airbag system includes extensions that can be selectively extended to prevent the occupant's head or upper body from sliding off, featuring a main portion and extensions that inflate from the instrument panel, with a control system to determine the direction of impact and deploy the extensions accordingly, using a tether mechanism to control inflation and prevent twisting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a traditional passenger airbag is used, then the basic protection function is provided, but the occupant's head or upper body can slide off or twist during oblique or head-on impacts, reducing protection effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection effectivenessVSAvoidhead sliding off or twisting

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The airbag is divided into a main portion and one or more extensions. The extensions are selectively deployable segments that extend laterally from the main airbag to prevent head sliding off, while the main portion provides central protection. This segmentation allows the airbag to address both central and lateral protection needs independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The extensions are selectively deployable rather than permanently extended. The control system determines whether to deploy extensions based on impact direction detection, making the airbag configuration dynamic and adaptive to different collision scenarios, thereby optimizing protection effectiveness for each specific impact type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If extensions are added to the airbag to prevent head sliding, then protection coverage is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components and control mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection coverageVSAvoidairbag system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The extensions are integrated with the main airbag structure, sharing common components such as the inflatable curtain, tether mechanisms, and control systems. This merging approach allows the extensions to be deployed from the existing airbag structure rather than requiring completely separate systems, thereby reducing overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The extensions serve multiple functions: they prevent head sliding off laterally, provide additional impact surface area, and work in conjunction with the main airbag to distribute impact forces. This multi-functionality means a single added component achieves multiple protection objectives, improving coverage without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Force

If the airbag inflates with high force to stop the occupant, then the stopping effectiveness is improved, but the risk of neck strain increases due to head twisting upon contact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestopping forceVSAvoidneck strain

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The extensions provide localized lateral support at the edges of the airbag where head sliding typically occurs. By concentrating protection at these critical locations, the extensions prevent head twisting upon contact with the main airbag, allowing the high stopping force to be applied more uniformly and reducing neck strain risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The extensions are positioned to provide preliminary cushioning before the head contacts the main airbag. By extending laterally, they create a broader impact surface that catches the head earlier in the deceleration process, preventing the head from twisting as it contacts the main airbag and reducing neck strain from sudden rotational forces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The extended airbag system effectively keeps the occupant's head facing forward, reducing the likelihood and severity of injury by maintaining proper positioning and distributing impact forces effectively during vehicle collisions.

Implementation Method 1

an inflation chamber in communication with the controller to inflate the passenger airbag in response to a vehicle impact

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas inflation:

Data Source

PatentUS9650011B1Passenger airbag including deployable extensions

Publication Date: 2017.05.16 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

A restraint system includes an instrument panel and an airbag inflatable from the instrument panel to an inflated position. The airbag includes a main portion and an extension selectively extendable from the main portion in the inflated position. The main portion has a front panel spaced from the instrument panel in the inflated position. The extension is fixed to the front panel and has an inflation chamber defined by at least the front panel.