Vehicle Seat Protection Element with Adaptive Motion Impulse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle occupant protection systems fail to adapt the intensity and distance of motion impulse effectively to varying accident severities and types, potentially subjecting occupants to undue forces during collisions.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that utilize sensors and a control unit to vary the intensity and distance of a motion impulse exerted on vehicle occupants by protection elements, such as inflatable or movable armrests, based on detected accident severity and type, ensuring optimal displacement away from collision zones before impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protection element is triggered to exert a motion impulse on the vehicle occupant, then the vehicle occupant is moved away from the collision section, but the intensity of the motion impulse cannot be adapted to different accident severities, potentially subjecting the occupant to undue forces
Solution Approach 1:
The protection element's motion impulse intensity is made dynamic and adjustable based on detected accident severity. The system transitions from a fixed-intensity protection mechanism to one that dynamically adapts its force characteristics, allowing the motion impulse to vary according to the specific collision conditions detected by sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of motion impulse intensity based on accident severity detection. By monitoring collision characteristics and adjusting the protection element's activation parameters accordingly, the system optimizes the balance between protective effectiveness and comfort, avoiding excessive forces in less severe accidents while maintaining adequate protection in severe collisions.
2Reliability
If the motion impulse intensity is increased to ensure protection in severe accidents, then the occupant is adequately protected, but the occupant is subjected to undue strong impulses in less severe accidents
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback from sensors that detect accident severity to control the protection element's activation. The detected collision parameters feed back to the control system, which then adjusts the motion impulse intensity accordingly, creating a closed-loop control mechanism that prevents excessive forces while ensuring adequate protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial action by providing motion impulse intensity proportional to the actual accident severity rather than always applying maximum force. This allows the protection element to exert just enough force for the specific situation, avoiding the harmful effects of excessive impulses in less severe accidents while maintaining sufficient protection capability.
3Reliability
If a protection element is triggered before collision to displace the occupant, then the occupant is moved away from the collision section, but the system complexity increases with sensors and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it processes sensor signals, determines accident severity, decides on protection element activation, and controls the motion impulse intensity. By consolidating these functions in a single control unit, the system achieves the required sophisticated control capability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
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
The system effectively reduces the impact force on occupants by adapting the motion impulse to the severity and type of the accident, minimizing stress and acceleration, and providing additional deformation distance, thereby enhancing protection and comfort.
Implementation Method 1
a motion impulse is exerted on the vehicle occupant or at least on a body section of the vehicle occupant, by which motion impulse the vehicle occupant or at least a body section of the vehicle occupant is moved away from a collision section
Data Source
AI summary
A method for protecting a vehicle occupant in a vehicle seat of a vehicle that includes at least one protection element arranged on the vehicle seat and that can be triggered in order to protect the vehicle occupant located on the vehicle seat is triggered in the event of an impending collision or in the event of a collision. A momentum (motion impulse) is exerted on the vehicle occupant or at least one body section of the vehicle occupant when the protection element is triggered. Due to the momentum the vehicle occupant or at least one body section of the vehicle occupant is moved away from a collision section of the vehicle that is colliding or will collide with the object. The intensity of the momentum is varied in relation to a determined accident severity and/or a determined accident type.