Seat-Integrated Side Airbag Deployment to Reduce Occupant Injury
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional side airbags in vehicles deploy into the passenger compartment, potentially causing injury due to excess material being thrown around and direct contact with the occupant, which can lead to secondary injuries.
Innovation Solution
A side airbag system that deploys from within the seat assembly, expanding to deform the seat tub and cushion without direct contact with the passenger, using sensors and inflators to control deployment based on impact detection and imminent collision prediction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional side airbags deploy into the passenger compartment, then they can protect passengers from side impact, but they cause injury due to excess material being thrown around and direct contact with the occupant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the seat assembly (seat back and seat cushion) as an intermediary between the deploying airbag and the passenger. The airbag deploys into the seat assembly rather than directly into the passenger compartment, using the seat structure to absorb and distribute the deployment force, thereby preventing direct contact with the passenger and reducing debris-related injuries.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag is nested within the seat assembly structure during deployment. The airbag chamber is positioned inside the seat back and seat cushion framework, allowing the airbag to expand within the confines of the seat assembly rather than freely into the passenger compartment, thus containing debris and directing force through the seat structure.
2Speed
If the airbag deploys into the passenger compartment, then it can provide immediate protection, but it causes secondary injuries from excessive acceleration and debris
Solution Approach 1:
The seat assembly serves as a mediator that absorbs and distributes the rapid deployment force of the airbag. By deploying into the seat structure rather than directly at the passenger, the system maintains fast deployment speed while the seat assembly cushions the impact, preventing excessive acceleration injuries to the passenger.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the airbag is integrated into the seat assembly, then it prevents injury by deforming seat material without direct contact, but it may complicate seat assembly structure
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag system is merged with the existing seat assembly structure. The airbag chamber, inflator, and associated components are integrated into the seat back and seat cushion framework, combining the protective function with the existing seating structure rather than adding a completely separate system, thus limiting the increase in overall complexity.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the airbag deploys within the seat assembly, then it minimizes debris entry into the compartment, but it requires precise control of deployment timing and force
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors to detect collision conditions and provides feedback to the control logic, which then activates the inflator with precise timing and force control. This feedback mechanism ensures the airbag deploys at the optimal moment and with appropriate force to contain debris effectively while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of collision conditions using sensors before deployment. The control logic evaluates sensor data in advance to determine whether deployment is necessary, and if so, prepares the inflator for activation with precise timing, ensuring optimal deployment control before the actual deployment event occurs.
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
Reduces passenger injuries by preventing excessive acceleration and minimizing debris from entering the compartment, while allowing for easy replacement or maintenance of the seat assembly without disturbing the airbag system.
Implementation Method 1
an inflator may be provided. The inflator may be configured to receive a signal and fill the chamber with gas
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
An airbag for a vehicle, such as a side airbag (102), may be mounted to or proximate to a seat assembly (106) on which a passenger (116) may sit. The side airbag may include a chamber (110) and an inflator (112) configured to cause the chamber to expand toward the passenger to slow an acceleration of the passenger upon impact of the vehicle with another object or surface. Upon deployment of the chamber, the side airbag may cause a portion of the seat assembly (a seat tub, seat pan, and/or cushion coupled thereto) to deform toward the passenger seated thereon while remaining occluded from the passenger by the assembly. In some examples, the chamber may be stored in an unfolded position to allow for a more rapid deployment.