Airbag with tear seam sensor and deployment rate sensor

A vehicle safety system comprising:

• an airbag in gas receiving relation to an inflator module;
• at least one airbag deployment rate sensor;
• portions of an airbag cover forming a tear seam, the tear seam positioned so that the airbag passes through the tear seam as the airbag is inflated;
• a sensor positioned with respect to the tear seam to detect when the tear seam is opened as the airbag is inflated by gas from the inflator;
• a vent that can be actuated to permit the escape of gas from the inflator module to terminate airbag inflation;
• and
• an electronic system in signal receiving relation to the at least one airbag deployment rate sensor, and in signal receiving relation to the tear seam sensor, and in controlling relation to the vent.

A vehicle safety system comprising:

• an inflator module;
• an airbag in gas receiving relation to the inflator module;
• at least one airbag deployment rate sensor having a tape which is attached to the airbag, so that tape is withdrawn from a cartridge fixedly mounted with respect to the inflator module as the airbag is inflated by gas from the inflator module;
• an airbag cover, portions of the airbag cover forming a tear seam, the airbag cover positioned so that the airbag will pass through the tear seam as the airbag is inflated;
• a tear seam sensor positioned with respect to the tear seam to detect when an opening is created at the tear seam by the airbag when inflated by gas;
• an inflator vent, mounted to the inflator module for venting gas from the inflator module;
• and
• an electronic system in signal receiving relation to the at least one airbag deployment rate sensor, and in signal receiving relation to the tear seam sensor, and in controlling relation to the inflator vent.

A method of deploying an airbag comprising:

• initiating an inflator module;
• filling an airbag with gas received from the inflator module;
• opening a tear seam to create an opening in a cover positioned in front of the airbag;
• detecting the opening of the tear seam with a sensor, the sensor positioned with respect to the tear seam to detect the creation of the opening;
• and
• controlling a vent that can be actuated to permit the escape of gas from the inflator module upon detection of the condition that the opening of the tear seam has been detected.

A method of deploying an airbag comprising:

• initiating an inflator module;
• filling an airbag with gas received from the inflator module;
• opening a tear seam to create an opening in a cover positioned in front of the airbag;
• detecting the opening of the tear seam with a sensor, the sensor positioned with respect to the tear seam to detect the creation of the opening;
• after detecting the opening of the tear seam, monitoring airbag deployment rate with at least one airbag deployment rate sensor having a tape which is attached to the airbag, so that tape is withdrawn from a cartridge fixedly mounted with respect to the inflator module as the airbag is inflated by gas from the inflator module;
• and
• opening a vent to vent the inflator module on the condition that the opening of the tear seam has been detected, and the airbag deployment rate decreases indicating the airbag has prematurely engaged an object.

A vehicle safety system comprising:

• an inflator module;
• an airbag in gas receiving relation to the inflator module;
• at least one airbag deployment rate sensor having a tape which is attached to the airbag, so that tape is withdrawn from a cartridge fixedly mounted with respect to the inflator module as the airbag is inflated by gas from the inflator module;
• an airbag cover, portions of the airbag cover forming a rupturable tear seam, the airbag cover positioned so that the airbag will rupture and pass through the tear seam as the airbag is inflated;
• a tear seam sensor positioned with respect to the tear seam to detect the rupture of the tear seam;
• a vent for venting gas from the inflator module;
• and
• an electronic system in signal receiving relation to the at least one airbag deployment rate sensor, and in signal receiving relation to the tear seam sensor, and in controlling relation to the inflator vent.