Passenger Airbag Tethering to Prevent Curtain Airbag Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicle occupant protection systems, interference between frontal collision airbags and curtain airbags during deployment can lead to deformation and positional displacement, compromising occupant protection performance.
Innovation Solution
An occupant protection device featuring a first bag (passenger seat airbag) with a main air chamber and protruding second air chambers, and a deployment restriction member (tether) that restricts the protrusion of the second air chamber during specific collision modes to prevent interference with the curtain airbag, allowing for controlled deployment and improved protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the second air chamber is allowed to protrude freely from the first air chamber, then the first bag can provide adequate protection in normal collisions, but the first bag will interfere with the second bag during side collision deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The deployment restriction member is configured to be disabled in the first deployment mode (normal collision) and enabled in the second deployment mode (side collision). This dynamic switching allows the second air chamber to protrude when needed for frontal protection while restricting protrusion during side collisions to prevent interference with the curtain airbag deployment
Solution Approach 2:
The deployment restriction member acts as an intermediary mechanism between the first and second bags. It selectively controls the interaction between these two airbags based on collision mode, allowing the first bag to protrude during normal collisions while preventing protrusion during side collisions, thus mediating the potential harmful interference
2Reliability
If the first bag deploys with full protrusion, then it provides optimal protection for frontal collisions, but it causes deformation and positional displacement when the curtain airbag deploys simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the deployment characteristics of the first bag based on collision mode detection. In side collision mode, the deployment restriction member is enabled to limit the protrusion of the second air chamber, maintaining positional stability and preventing deformation when the curtain airbag deploys, while allowing full protrusion in normal collision mode for optimal protection
Data Source
AI summary
An occupant protection device for a vehicle includes a first bag, a second bag, and a deployment controller. The first bag deploys in front of an occupant of the vehicle. The second bag deploys adjacent to the first bag. The deployment controller selects a first deployment mode in which the first bag deploys or the second bag does not deploy and a second deployment mode in which the first bag and the second bag deploy according to a collision mode. The first bag includes a first air chamber and a second air chamber protruding from the first air chamber toward the second bag. The occupant protection device further includes a deployment restriction member that restricts an amount of protrusion of the second air chamber from the first air chamber. The deployment restriction member is disabled in the first deployment mode and enabled in the second deployment mode.