Airbag-Integrated Display Inflation Control for Variable Driver Distance
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Solution Overview
Problem
In autonomous vehicles, the movement of displays and retractable steering wheels affects airbag inflation, limiting occupant visibility and safety due to inconsistent airbag volume based on display position and distance from the driver.
Innovation Solution
An airbag-integrated display system that adjusts airbag inflation volume based on the display's position and distance from the driver, using a slim airbag with tethers of varying lengths that are sequentially broken by an active adaptive unit to maintain or increase airbag depth according to the driver's position and distance, ensuring optimal safety and visibility during different driving modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the display is moved forward to improve occupant visibility and convenience, then the distance between the occupant and display is reduced, but the airbag inflation volume becomes insufficient to provide adequate safety protection
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag system dynamically adjusts its inflation volume based on the display's position. When the display is in the forward position, the airbag inflates to a first (larger) volume; when the display is in the rearward position, the airbag inflates to a second (smaller) volume. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the safety system responsive to changing spatial conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameter of airbag inflation volume according to the display position. The airbag control unit receives signals about display position and adjusts the inflation parameter accordingly, using multiple tethers of different lengths that break at different inflation pressures to achieve the required volume changes.
2Reliability
If the airbag inflation volume is increased to ensure safety when the display is in the forward position, then occupant protection is improved, but the space available for other components like head-up display is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag system uses dynamic inflation control to provide large volume when needed for safety (when display is forward) and small volume when space is needed (when display is rearward). This resolves the space conflict by making the airbag volume adaptive rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag system is divided into multiple tethers of different lengths (first tether, second tether, third tether) that can break sequentially. This segmentation allows the airbag to inflate in stages, providing different volume levels depending on which tethers remain intact, thereby accommodating both safety requirements and space constraints.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple tethers of varying lengths are used to control airbag inflation stages, then the airbag can adapt to different display positions, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag system uses passive tethers that automatically break at predetermined points during inflation based on pressure and length. The system self-regulates the inflation stages without requiring active control mechanisms for each tether, reducing the complexity of control systems while maintaining adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are an airbag integrated moving display and a control method where the airbag-integrated display includes a display movable to a forward or rearward position according to a driving mode of a vehicle, and an airbag mounted to the rear of the display and being configured to move along with a movement of the display, and vary a level of inflation of the airbag based on at least one of a position of the display or a distance from a driver of the vehicle.