Rotatable Airbag Housing Protects Vehicle Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
In autonomous vehicles, the expansion of front airbags during collisions poses a risk of damage or dislodgment to display devices mounted in the cockpit, as the airbag expands between the cockpit and windshield, hitting the display device.
Innovation Solution
An airbag module is designed with a rotatable airbag housing mounted at the rear of the display device, featuring a connection link system that allows the airbag housing to rotate in response to the display device's vertical sliding motion, ensuring the airbag cushion expands either upward to protect the display device or forward to protect the passenger, thereby minimizing damage to the display device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the front airbag is expanded from the portion between the cockpit and windshield to protect the passenger, then the passenger protection is improved, but the display device in the cockpit is damaged or dislodged
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag system is divided into two separate airbags: a first airbag for passenger protection and a second airbag for display device protection. This segmentation allows each airbag to independently perform its specific protective function without interfering with the other, resolving the contradiction between passenger safety and display device integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The second airbag acts as an intermediary protective element between the expanding first airbag and the display device. When the first airbag expands, the second airbag absorbs and redirects the expansion force, preventing direct impact on the display device while still allowing the first airbag to fulfill its passenger protection role
2Ease of operation
If the display device is mounted vertically in the cockpit to be accessible, then the ease of operation is improved, but the airbag expansion path is blocked causing damage to the display device
Solution Approach 1:
The second airbag is pre-positioned behind the display device before any collision occurs. Upon detection of a collision, this pre-positioned airbag rapidly inflates to provide immediate cushioning protection, absorbing the expansion force of the first airbag before it can reach and damage the display device, thus allowing the display device to remain in its accessible vertical position
3Reliability
If the airbag housing is fixed to expand only forward for passenger protection, then the passenger safety is improved, but the display device cannot be protected from airbag impact
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag housing is designed with rotational capability, allowing it to dynamically adjust its orientation based on the situation. The housing can rotate to direct the airbag expansion forward for passenger protection or upward to protect the display device, providing adaptability in expansion direction while maintaining effectiveness in both protective roles
Data Source
AI summary
An airbag module to protect a display device of a vehicle is proposed. The airbag module includes: the display device vertically slidably mounted to a cockpit of the vehicle; and an airbag housing arranged at the rear of the display device, rotatably mounted to the cockpit on a shaft extended in a direction parallel to a transverse direction of the vehicle, and configured to be rotated in response to sliding of the display device.