Temperature compensated air bag control system
AssigneeDelphi Technologies, Inc.
InventorsKevin D. Kincaid, David R. Little
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An air bag restraint system and control system for controlling an air bag in a vehicle and compensating for ambient temperature variations. The control system includes a temperature sensor for sensing temperature of an air bag device, and an air bag controller for controlling actuation of an air bag. The controller controls restraining force produced by the air bag as a function of the sensed temperature. Accordingly, the air bag compensates to changes in temperature so as to optimize the air bag performance.
Claims19
A temperature compensated air bag control system for controlling an air bag on a vehicle, said control system comprising:
- a temperature sensor for sensing temperature of an air bag device;
- and
- an air bag controller for controlling actuation of an air bag in a vehicle, wherein the controller controls restraining force produced by the air bag as a function of the sensed temperature, and wherein the air bag has a venting mechanism and the controller controls the length of time the venting mechanism is open to vary the amount of gas inflated into the air bag by venting excess gas with the venting mechanism.
An air bag restraint system for a vehicle, said air bag restraint system comprising:
- an air bag;
- an inflator assembly for inflating gas into the air bag;
- a temperature sensor for sensing temperature of the inflator assembly, wherein the temperature sensor senses temperature of an air bag initiator;
- and
- a controller for controlling actuation of the air bag, wherein the controller controls restraining force produced by the air bag as a function of the sensed temperature.
A method of controlling an air bag in a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
- sensing temperature of an air bag device;
- sensing a crash event of a vehicle;
- initiating deployment of the air bag upon sensing the crash event by generating gas;
- and
- controlling the amount of restraining force produced by the air bag as a function of the sensed temperature by varying an amount of the gas inflated into the air bag, wherein the gas is varied by venting excess gas with a venting mechanism and controlling the length of time the venting mechanism is open.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.