Distribution of gas for airbag inflation in a vehicle

A gas distribution method for airbag inflation in a vehicle including a passenger airbag with a plurality of inflatable chambers, each respective chamber having a chamber inlet in fluid communication with an interior of the respective chamber, the gas distribution method comprising:

• sensing a collision involving the vehicle using a plurality of sensors disposed in or around the vehicle, upon which an airbag inflation device produces a gas and supplies the gas to the passenger airbag, causing deployment of the passenger airbag;
• acquiring collision data relating to the collision using the plurality of sensors;
• selecting a gas distribution position among a plurality of predetermined gas distribution positions based on the acquired collision data;
• and
• controlling operation of an inflation gas distributor disposed at least partially between the airbag inflation device and the passenger airbag, causing rotation of a distributor belt to the selected gas distribution position, such that the inflation gas distributor allows passage of the gas from the airbag inflation device to a first subset of the plurality of chambers, and impedes passage of the gas from the airbag inflation device to a second subset of the plurality of chambers,
• wherein the inflation gas distributor further includes one or more pistons operatively coupled to the distributor belt, the one or more pistons configured to cause the rotation of the distributor belt.

A gas distribution system for airbag inflation in a vehicle, the gas distribution system comprising:

• a passenger airbag for use in the vehicle, the passenger airbag including a plurality of inflatable chambers, each respective chamber having a chamber inlet in fluid communication with an interior of the respective chamber;
• an airbag inflation device configured to produce a gas when a collision involving the vehicle is sensed and to supply the gas to the passenger airbag, causing deployment of the passenger airbag;
• an inflation gas distributor disposed at least partially between the airbag inflation device and the passenger airbag, the inflation gas distributor including a rotatable distributor belt, the inflation gas distributor configured to allow passage of the gas from the airbag inflation device to a first subset of the plurality of chambers, and to impede passage of the gas from the airbag inflation device to a second subset of the plurality of chambers, by rotating the distributor belt to a gas distribution position selected among a plurality of predetermined gas distribution positions;
• and
• a control unit in operative communication with the inflation gas distributor and a plurality of collision sensors disposed in or around the vehicle, the control unit configured to select the gas distribution position among the plurality of predetermined gas distribution positions based on collision data relating to the collision acquired by the plurality of collision sensors, and to control operation of the inflation gas distributor, causing the rotation of the distributor belt to the selected gas distribution position,
• wherein the control unit is configured to actuate one or more pistons operatively coupled to the distributor belt so as to cause the rotation of the distributor belt to the selected gas distribution position.