Seat Airbag Active Venting for Side Cushion Pressure Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle seat airbag apparatuses are inadequate in effectively restraining passengers during autonomous driving scenarios, as they fail to maintain internal pressure in the side cushion during side collisions, degrading side collision performance.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat airbag apparatus with a diaphragm having an active vent structure between the side and front cushions, which adjusts the deployment speed of the front cushion based on collision type: closing during side collisions to maintain side cushion pressure and opening during frontal collisions to enhance deployment speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If airbag gas quickly moves to the front cushion through the side cushion, then the front cushion deployment speed is improved, but the internal pressure of the side cushion cannot be maintained, degrading side collision performance
Solution Approach 1:
The vent structure transitions from a static configuration to a dynamic one by introducing an active vent hole that can change its state based on collision type. The active vent hole is opened during frontal collisions to enable rapid gas flow to the front cushion, and closed during side collisions to maintain side cushion pressure, thus adapting the system behavior to different operational conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The active vent hole acts as an intermediary element between the side cushion and front cushion gas chambers. It controls the gas flow path by being selectively opened or closed, mediating the pressure distribution between the two cushions based on the detected collision scenario
2Speed
If the active vent hole is opened to increase front cushion deployment speed, then frontal collision performance is improved, but side cushion pressure is not maintained during side collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the vent hole state based on real-time collision detection. The active vent hole is opened during frontal collisions to enable rapid gas flow to the front cushion for improved protection, and closed during side collisions to maintain side cushion pressure, thus adapting the system behavior to different operational conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag control unit receives collision signal information and uses this feedback to control the actuator, which in turn opens or closes the active vent hole. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the vent structure responds appropriately to different collision scenarios
3Reliability
If a diaphragm with active vent structure is added between side and front cushions, then collision performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag system is segmented into distinct functional components: the diaphragm separating the side and front cushion chambers, the active vent hole within the diaphragm, and the actuator mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while working together to achieve the overall goal of improved passenger protection
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
Improves both side and frontal collision performance by maintaining sufficient internal pressure in the side cushion during side collisions and rapidly deploying the front cushion during frontal collisions, thereby enhancing passenger protection.
Implementation Method 1
a diaphragm which is installed at a portion to which the side cushion and the front cushion are connected so as to separate a side chamber and a front chamber, and includes a basic vent hole configured to always connect the side chamber and the front chamber and an active vent hole configured to connect or disconnect the side chamber and the front chamber
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a vehicle seat airbag apparatus, wherein: when a side collision accident occurs, an active vent hole is closed to delay the deployment speed of a front cushion and thus to enable a side cushion so as to have sufficient internal pressure, thereby improving ability to respond to a side collision; and when a frontal collision accident occurs, the active vent hole maintains an open state to rapidly deploy the front cushion, thereby improving ability to respond to a frontal collision.