Front Passenger Seat Airbag Head Rotation Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing front passenger seat airbag devices fail to effectively suppress the rotation of a passenger's head during oblique or small overlap collisions, as the head may rotate when contacting the airbag, leading to inadequate restraint.
Innovation Solution
A front passenger seat airbag device is designed with a center airbag that deploys on the vehicle width direction center side, featuring a second head contact face extending rearward and outward, which surrounds the head from the front and collision side, combined with an upper body contact face positioned further forward to provide simultaneous restraint of the head and shoulder region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the head contact face only contacts the head at the front or collision side, then the structure is simpler, but the head rotation cannot be suppressed
Solution Approach 1:
The head contact face is designed to extend in multiple directions: front-rear direction (extending rearward from the front), and vehicle width direction (extending outward from the center). This multi-dimensional extension creates a surrounding contact surface that can suppress head rotation about the up-down axis while maintaining structural efficiency
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the head contact face extends rearward and outward to surround the head, then head rotation is suppressed, but the airbag structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The center airbag integrates multiple functions into a single structure: it provides head contact surface, upper body restraint, and head rotation suppression simultaneously. The head contact face is formed as an integral part of the center airbag, combining what could have been separate components into one unified airbag unit
3Reliability
If the head and shoulder are restrained at different times, then the restraint system is simpler, but protection effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The upper body contact face is positioned forward relative to the head contact face, so that when the airbag deploys, the upper body is contacted and restrained first. This preliminary restraint of the upper body prevents excessive forward movement before the head contact face engages, ensuring coordinated restraint of both head and shoulder from the outset
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
This configuration effectively suppresses head rotation and enhances occupant protection by ensuring the head and shoulder are restrained simultaneously, improving safety in oblique and small overlap collisions.
Implementation Method 1
a front passenger seat airbag that receives a supply of gas and inflates and deploys
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a front passenger seat airbag device including a front passenger seat airbag that receives a supply of gas and inflates and deploys in front of a front passenger seat, and that is formed with a vehicle rear-facing first head contact face at a vehicle up-down direction upper portion in an inflated and deployed state, and a center airbag that is integrally formed to the front passenger seat airbag, that receives a supply of gas and inflates and deploys on a vehicle width direction center side of the front passenger seat airbag, and that is formed in an inflated and deployed state with a second head contact face extending from a vehicle width direction center side end portion of the first head contact face toward the vehicle rear, and facing both the vehicle rear and the vehicle width direction outside.