Airbag Head Orienting Extension and Depression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current airbag systems fail to effectively manage occupant displacement during oblique vehicle impacts, as the head may collide with the center console, violating regulatory standards such as Annex 8 of ECE16 and GB11522, which require the head not to impact the instrument panel.
Innovation Solution
An airbag system with a main portion and an extension that inflate to different thicknesses, featuring a depression and gap to catch and retain the head or chest, limiting sliding and rotation, and incorporating a control system with sensors and a dual-stage inflator to adjust inflation pressure based on impact type.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a standard frontal airbag is used, then the head is protected during straight impacts, but the head may still impact the center console during oblique impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is divided into a main portion and an extension portion. The extension portion projects laterally from the main portion to provide additional coverage in oblique impact scenarios, preventing head contact with the center console while maintaining protection during straight impacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The extension portion is provided with a different thickness (second thickness) compared to the main portion (first thickness). This local variation in thickness allows the airbag to adapt to different impact angles and provide optimized protection in specific regions.
2Device complexity
If the airbag inflates to uniform thickness, then the structure is simple, but it cannot effectively limit head rotation and sliding during oblique impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The depression is formed in the extension portion with a thickness less than the surrounding areas. This local thickness variation creates a geometric feature that effectively limits head rotation and sliding during oblique impacts, while the overall structure remains relatively simple.
3Device complexity
If a single-stage inflator is used, then the system is simple, but it cannot provide adaptive inflation pressure for different impact types
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a dual-stage inflator that can provide different inflation pressures based on the detected impact type. The inflator transitions from a first inflation stage to a second inflation stage, dynamically adjusting the protection level to match the severity and type of impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system receives signals from impact sensors to determine the type of impact occurred. Based on this feedback, the control system activates the appropriate inflation stage of the dual-stage inflator, ensuring the airbag provides optimal protection for the specific impact scenario.
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 airbag system effectively absorbs energy, limits further displacement and rotation of the occupant's head, and prevents impact with the instrument panel during oblique impacts, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards by providing targeted and adaptive inflation responses.
Implementation Method 1
dual-stage inflator to adjust inflation pressure based on impact type
Implementation Method 2
The airbag system effectively absorbs energy, limits further displacement and rotation of the occupant's head
Data Source
AI summary
An airbag system includes an airbag having a main portion having a first periphery. The main portion is inflatable in an inflation direction to a first thickness. An extension extends from the main portion and has a second periphery spaced from the first periphery. The extension is inflatable in the inflation direction to a second thickness. The first periphery and the second periphery define a gap therebetween. A depression is disposed between the main portion and the extension at the gap and the depression has a third thickness in the inflation direction less than the first thickness and the second thickness. The extension and the depression may receive a head of an occupant during an oblique impact, in which the head of the occupant may avoid the main portion of the airbag.