Seat-Side Airbag Vent Control for Rotating Seat Restraint
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Solution Overview
Problem
The development of autonomous driving technologies has led to challenges in ensuring adequate airbag restraint for occupants, as seat positions can change, potentially resulting in insufficient airbag deployment during collisions.
Innovation Solution
An airbag device with first and second airbag cushion parts on each side of a vehicle seat, equipped with active vents controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU) to open or close based on seat rotational positions, ensuring optimal pressure release or maintenance during deployment to improve occupant restraint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the seat position is changed to accommodate passenger preference during autonomous driving, then the comfort and versatility of the vehicle is improved, but the restraining performance of the airbag during collision may become insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag device employs dynamic control of vent openings based on detected seat positions. The controller adjusts which vents open or remain closed according to the seat's rotational angle, enabling the airbag to adapt its deployment characteristics to different seat configurations and maintain effective restraining performance regardless of seat orientation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the airbag by selectively opening or closing different vents based on seat position. This parameter adjustment allows the airbag to optimize its pressure distribution and deployment pattern according to the detected seat orientation, ensuring reliable restraint in various configurations.
2Stress or pressure
If both active vents are opened during airbag deployment, then the pressure release is improved, but the restraining performance may be insufficient when the occupant is positioned closer to one airbag cushion part
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag system applies local quality control by selectively opening specific vents based on occupant position relative to the airbag cushion parts. When an occupant is closer to one airbag, the corresponding vent is opened to provide appropriate pressure release in that local region, while the other vent remains closed to maintain restraining pressure on the opposite side, ensuring effective restraint despite asymmetric positioning.
Data Source
AI summary
The airbag device includes a first airbag cushion part and a second airbag cushion part installed on each side of a seat of a vehicle, a first active vent provided in the first airbag cushion part and a second active vent provided in the second airbag cushion part, and a controller that controls the first active vent or the second active vent to open and the other to close when the first airbag cushion part and the second airbag cushion part are expanded and deployed.