Side Impact Restraint Deployment Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle safety systems do not effectively minimize rib deflection during side impacts, as they lack a controlled timing mechanism for deploying restraint devices, which is crucial in managing the lateral stiffness of the rib cage.
Innovation Solution
A restraint deployment system that uses sensors to detect impact type and deploys restraint devices at specific, delayed timings during side impacts, including a delay of up to 25 ms for certain devices, to optimize rib deflection reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If restraint devices are deployed immediately upon impact detection, then response time is maximized, but rib deflection is not minimized during side impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the deployment timing of restraint devices based on impact type detection. For side impacts, the system implements a delayed deployment sequence where pretensioners are activated first to compress the rib cage longitudinally, increasing lateral stiffness before airbags deploy. This dynamic timing adjustment resolves the contradiction by optimizing both response time and rib deflection protection specific to side impact scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by deploying pretensioners before airbags in a side impact sequence. The pretensioners pre-compress the rib cage longitudinally, increasing lateral stiffness in advance of the main restraint deployment. This preliminary action prepares the occupant's rib cage to resist lateral deflection more effectively when the airbags subsequently deploy.
2Device complexity
If multiple restraint devices are deployed simultaneously, then system complexity is reduced, but rib cage lateral stiffness cannot be optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the restraint deployment into distinct phases: a first sequence deploying pretensioners to compress the rib cage longitudinally, followed by a second sequence deploying airbags and other restraints. This segmentation allows each device type to perform its specific function optimally, with pretensioners preparing the rib cage structure before main restraints engage, thereby maximizing lateral stiffness without excessive complexity.
3Device complexity
If restraint deployment timing is standardized for all impact types, then control system simplicity is maintained, but side impact protection is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by implementing impact-type-specific deployment sequences. Sensors detect the impact type (frontal vs. side) and trigger appropriate timing profiles. For side impacts specifically, the system activates pretensioners before airbags to maximize rib cage lateral stiffness at the relevant location and time, rather than using a universal deployment schedule for all impacts.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle system includes at least one sensor configured to detect an impact and a restraint device configured to deploy in response to the impact. A processing device is configured to deploy the restraint device in accordance with a first timing if the impact includes a front impact and a second timing if the impact includes a side impact. The second timing includes the first timing delayed by a predetermined value.