Seatback Rear Airbag Control for Adaptive Passenger Posture

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In autonomous driving scenarios, passengers in first-row and second-row seats face injuries due to collisions between seatbacks and crash pads, or between passengers and seatbacks, as existing airbag systems do not adequately account for varying seating postures and positions.

Innovation Solution

An airbag device with a sensor part to detect seating status and posture, and a controller to adjust the deployment status and inflation amount of an airbag cushion deployed toward the rear space of a seatback, including the option to deploy the airbag at varying pressures and to release or restrain a tether connected to the airbag cushion based on seating information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the airbag cushion is deployed at high pressure to protect passengers in look-forward mode, then protection effectiveness is improved, but the risk of injury to passengers in look-behind mode increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection effectivenessVSAvoidinjury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The airbag deployment system transitions from a static, fixed-pressure design to a dynamic, adaptive design. The controller adjusts deployment pressure and tether release status in real-time based on sensor-detected seating postures (look-forward vs. look-behind mode), ensuring high-pressure deployment only when needed for optimal protection while preventing injury in look-behind scenarios

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes critical deployment parameters (pressure level and tether release status) based on detected seating conditions. In look-forward mode, high pressure with tether release provides maximum protection. In look-behind mode, low pressure without tether release prevents injury. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction between protection effectiveness and injury prevention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the tether is released to allow full airbag expansion, then protection coverage is improved, but the airbag may cause injury to passengers in look-behind mode

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection coverageVSAvoidinjury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The tether release status is changed as a control parameter based on seating posture detection. In look-forward mode, the tether is released to allow full airbag expansion for maximum protection coverage. In look-behind mode, the tether remains unreleased to restrict airbag expansion and prevent injury. This binary parameter change effectively resolves the contradiction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the airbag deployment is activated for all collision scenarios, then passenger safety is improved, but unnecessary deployments increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassenger safetyVSAvoidunnecessary deployment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates sensor feedback that detects seating posture and collision characteristics. The controller processes this feedback information to make intelligent deployment decisions, activating the airbag only when both collision detection and appropriate seating posture are confirmed. This feedback mechanism prevents unnecessary deployments while maintaining safety when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor part performs preliminary detection of seating status and posture before collision occurs. This preliminary information is stored and used during collision events to determine whether deployment is necessary, preventing unnecessary activation while ensuring protection when genuinely needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 airbag device effectively protects passengers by deploying the airbag cushion in a manner suitable for the seating condition, reducing unnecessary deployments and enhancing passenger safety during collisions.

Implementation Method 1

an airbag cushion configured to be deployed toward a rear space of a seatback

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas expansion:

Implementation Method 2

a sensor part configured to detect a seating status and a seating posture of a passenger with respect to each seat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSensing:

Implementation Method 3

a controller, in an event of a collision, configured to adjust, change and control deployment (i.e., deployment status, mode, etc.) of the airbag cushion and an inflation amount of the airbag cushion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure control:

Data Source

PatentUS12304411B2Airbag device and method for controlling deployment

Publication Date: 2025.05.20 HYUNDAI MOBIS CO LTD

AI summary

An airbag device and a method for controlling deployment of the same are proposed. The airbag device is configured to protect a passenger by controlling an airbag cushion deployed toward the rear space of a seatback in an event of a vehicle collision, and the airbag device includes an airbag cushion deploying toward the rear space of the seatback, a sensor part detecting a seating status and a seating posture of a passenger with respect to each seat, and a controller, in an event of a collision, configured to change and control a deploying status of the airbag cushion and an inflation amount of the airbag cushion in response to the seating status and the seating posture of the passenger.