Dual-Airbag Deployment Control for Relaxed Passenger Seating

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing airbag apparatuses struggle to effectively protect passengers in relaxed seating positions during accidents, leading to increased injury risk due to inadequate deployment strategies.

Innovation Solution

The proposed airbag apparatus includes a passenger seat airbag and a support airbag, with an airbag control unit that deploys only the passenger seat airbag for normal seating positions and both the passenger seat airbag and support airbag for relaxed seating positions, ensuring comprehensive passenger protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If only the passenger seat airbag is deployed for normal seating positions, then the deployment strategy is simple and effective for normal seating, but it fails to provide adequate protection for passengers in relaxed seating positions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection effectivenessVSAvoidseating position adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The airbag control system dynamically adjusts deployment strategy based on real-time detection of seating position. The system transitions from a static single-airbag deployment mode to a dynamic multi-mode deployment mode that adapts to either normal or relaxed seating positions, ensuring optimal protection for each scenario

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The protection system is segmented into multiple independent airbags (passenger seat airbag and support airbag) that can be deployed independently or together. This segmentation allows the system to provide targeted protection: only the passenger seat airbag for normal seating, or both airbags for relaxed seating positions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If both passenger seat airbag and support airbag are deployed for relaxed seating positions, then protection coverage is improved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection coverageVSAvoidairbag system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of seating position before an accident occurs. By pre-classifying the seating position as normal or relaxed, the control unit can immediately execute the appropriate deployment strategy without complex real-time calculations during the accident event, reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the airbag system is configured to detect and respond to different seating positions, then protection for relaxed seating is improved, but the detection and control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseating position-based protectionVSAvoidseating position detection

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

A seatback angle sensor serves as an intermediary device that objectively measures and communicates seating position to the control unit. This intermediary translates the physical seating state into detectable signals, enabling accurate differentiation between normal and relaxed seating positions without requiring complex direct measurement systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12344182B2Airbag apparatus for vehicle and method of controlling operation of the same

Publication Date: 2025.07.01 HYUNDAI MOBIS CO LTD

AI summary

An airbag apparatus for a vehicle includes a passenger seat airbag disposed at a cockpit module of the vehicle and having a first cushion configured to deploy toward a passenger seated at a passenger seat of the vehicle; a support airbag disposed at a body of the vehicle on a lateral side of the passenger seat and having a second cushion configured to deploy toward the passenger seated at the passenger seat; and an airbag control unit configured to control individual deployment of the passenger seat airbag and the support airbag.