US 6,270,115 B1 · Air bag suppression system

Abstract

A dual stage air bag suppression system based upon seat position. A deceleration sensor senses the deceleration of the vehicle during a crash/collision. If the deceleration exceeds a first threshold value, and the seat is rearward of a predetermined value, then the SIR Controller initiates a first/low stage inflation. If the deceleration exceeds a second higher threshold value, and the seat is rearward of a predetermined value, then the SIR Controller initiates both first/low and second/high stages of inflation. If the seat is positioned at a point forward of a predetermined position, then the SIR Controller initiates the first/low stage inflation only when the deceleration exceeds the first/lower or second/higher threshold value and suppresses deployment of the second stage. Thus the SIR Controller initiates the inflation stages not only based on the severity of the collision or deceleration, but also based on the position of the vehicle seat.

Claims12

Dependent claims

An air bag suppression system for a vehicle having a seat movable forward and rearward within said vehicle and having a predetermined seat position within said vehicle, said system comprising:

a seat position detector generating a position signal representative of a position of said seat relative to said vehicle;
a supplemental inflatable restraint system having an air bag inflatable in at least a first low inflation stage and a second high inflation stage;
a collision sensor generating a collision signal representative of at least a low severity and a high severity collision event of said vehicle;
a controller connected to said collision sensor and said seat position detector and receiving said collision signal and said position signal, said controller being connected to said supplemental restraint system and sending a signal to initiate either of said first low and said second high inflation stages, wherein said controller selectively initiates at least one of said first and second inflation stages in response to said collision signal when said seat position signal indicates said seat is positioned rearward of said predetermined position, and when said seat position signal indicates said seat is positioned forward of said predetermined position said controller prohibits initiation of said high inflation stage and selectively initiates said low inflation stage in response to said collision signal.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Air bag suppression system

Life of this patent

Air bag suppression system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12