Far-Side Airbag Structure for Bidirectional Side-Impact Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing far-side airbag devices are inadequate in protecting occupants from side collisions on both sides of a vehicle, as they are generally shaped for collisions from one side and fail to effectively restrain movements during impacts from the opposite side, and providing individual airbags for each seat increases system costs.
Innovation Solution
A single far-side airbag device with a shoulder protection air chamber and a head protection air chamber, deployable in different shapes based on the collision direction, utilizing a first deployment controller and a side airbag to adaptively change its deployment form, and a system of restraining tethers to ensure effective protection for occupants on both sides.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single far-side airbag is used for both sides of the vehicle, then system cost is reduced, but protective performance against collisions from both sides deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag device employs dynamic deployment control where the deployment shape and timing are adjusted based on the collision direction detected by sensors. The controller selectively deploys either the left or right side airbag elements depending on whether a left-side or right-side collision is detected, enabling a single airbag system to adaptively provide optimal protection for collisions from either side rather than maintaining a fixed symmetric structure
Solution Approach 2:
The far-side airbag is divided into separate deployable segments or elements on the left and right sides, controlled independently by the deployment controller. This segmentation allows selective activation of only the necessary side based on collision direction, reducing unnecessary deployment while maintaining protection effectiveness and lowering system complexity and cost
2Ease of manufacture
If the airbag deploys in a fixed shape, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to different collision directions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag structure incorporates dynamic deployment characteristics where the final deployed shape is determined by the collision direction. The airbag elements can deploy in different configurations (left-side protection shape or right-side protection shape) based on sensor input, allowing the same physical structure to adapt to different collision scenarios without requiring multiple pre-configured airbag designs
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 device effectively protects occupants from side collisions on either side by adaptively changing its deployment form, reducing overall system costs compared to having separate airbags for each seat while maintaining protective performance.
Implementation Method 1
a shoulder protection air chamber configured to protect a shoulder of an occupant and including air chamber elements configured to deploy in a vertical tubular shape
Implementation Method 2
The shoulder protection air chamber is provided with a restraining tether configured to squeeze the shoulder protection air chamber toward the seat when the shoulder protection air chamber is deployed
Data Source
AI summary
An airbag device includes a far-side airbag and a first deployment controller configured to control deployment of the far-side airbag. The far-side airbag is provided in a seat backrest of the seat at a location adjacent to a center console, and includes shoulder and head protection air chambers configured to protect respectively a shoulder and a head, of an occupant. The shoulder protection air chamber includes air chamber elements configured to deploy in a vertical tubular shape. The head protection air chamber is configured to deploy in a semicircular shape. A base fabric of the far-side airbag in a deployed state is longer at a side adjacent to the center console than at a side adjacent to the seat. The shoulder protection air chamber is provided with a restraining tether configured to squeeze the shoulder protection air chamber toward the seat when the shoulder protection air chamber is deployed.