Adaptive force vehicle airbag system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11780586-B2
Application number	US-202017009079-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 1, 2020
Priority date	Nov 14, 2018
Publication date	Oct 10, 2023
Grant date	Oct 10, 2023

Abstract

An adaptive force vehicle airbag (AFVA) system includes airbag(s) stowed in a compressed state within an interior of a vehicle. An impact sensor detects a change in motion of the vehicle indicative of a collision. Selectable force gas generator(s) (SFGGs) gas-generating propellant cells that are individually fired. The SFGGs have conduit(s) that receive gas from fired gas-generating propellant cells and direct the gas to inflate at least one of the airbag(s). A controller is communicatively coupled to the inflation initiating component and the gas-generating propellant cells of the SFGGs. The controller enables the AFVA system to: (i) receive an inflation signal from the impact sensor; and (ii) fire a selected number of the gas-generating propellant cells to at least partially inflate the at least one airbag.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An adaptive force vehicle airbag (AFVA) system comprising:
at least one airbag stowed in a compressed state within an interior of a vehicle near at least one vehicle seat;
an impact sensor that detects a change in motion of the vehicle indicative of a collision;
at least one selectable force gas generator (SFGG) separated from the at least one airbag and comprising a housing containing a gas collection chamber and more than one gas-generating propellant cells that are individually fired to produce a selected amount of gas within the gas collection chamber;
at least one gas conduit connecting the gas collection chamber of the at least one SFGG to the at least one airbag that receives gas from fired gas-generating propellant cells within the gas collection chamber and directs the gas to inflate the at least one airbag; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the impact sensor and the more than one gas-generating propellant cells of the at least one SFGG, the controller enabling the AFVA system to:
receive an inflation signal from the impact sensor; and
fire a selected number of the more than one gas-generating propellant cells to at least partially inflate the one or more airbags.

2. The AFVA system of claim 1 , wherein:
the impact sensor detects a rate of deceleration of the vehicle; and
the controller selects the number of the more than one gas-generating propellant cells based at least in part on the rate of deceleration of the vehicle.

3. The AFVA system of claim 2 , wherein:
the impact sensor detects a direction of the deceleration of the vehicle; and
the controller selects one of two or more of the at least one airbag to inflate based at least in part on the direction of the deceleration of the vehicle.

4. The AFVA system of claim 1 , wherein the controller enables the AFVA system to:
receive a configuration value for the vehicle that indicates the number of the one of more than one gas-generating propellant cells required to inflate a selected one of the at least one airbag; and
select the number of the more than one gas-generating propellant cells based at least in part on the received configuration value.

5. The AFVA system of claim 1 , wherein the controller enables the AFVA system to:
monitor a seat sensor that detects weight of a passenger in a selected one of the at least one vehicle seat;
receive a weight value from the seat sensor; and
select the number of the more than one gas-generating propellant cells based at least in part on the weight value.

6. The AFVA system of claim 1 , wherein the controller selects the number of the more than one gas-generating propellant cells to sequentially fire based at least in part on limiting peak pressure in the at least one gas conduit and the at least one airbag.

7. The AFVA system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one SFGG comprises support material contained in the housing adjacent to the gas collection chamber, wherein the more than one gas-generating propellant cells are partially embedded in the support material, and each of the more than one gas-generating propellant cells comprising:
a jacket of material having a convex portion exposed to the gas collection chamber, having a thickness sufficient to withstand increased outer pressure from initiation of another gas-generating propellant cell, and including an orifice through the convex portion,
a propellant packet contained in the jacket;
a fire wire electrically connectable to an electrically-fired initiator and electrically connected to the propellant packet, the fire wire transmitting a firing signal that causes the propellant packet to produce gas, and
a cap positioned between the propellant packet and the jacket and having a tip that blocks the orifice of the jacket from increased outer pressure in the gas collection chamber to prevent sympathetic detonation of the propellant packet.

8. A vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body having an interior; and
one or more vehicle seats attached to the vehicle body within the interior;
an adaptive force vehicle airbag (AFVA) system comprising:
at least one air bag stowed in a compressed state within the interior of the vehicle near at least one of the vehicle seats;
an impact sensor that detects a change in motion of the vehicle indicative of a collision;
at least one selectable force gas generator (SFGG) separated from the at least one airbag and comprising a housing containing a gas collection chamber, and more than one gas-generating propellant cells that are individually fired to produce a selected amount of gas within the gas collection chamber;

at least one gas conduit connecting the gas collection chamber of the at least one SFGG to the at least one airbag that receives gas from fired gas-generating propellant cells within the gas collection chamber and directs the gas to inflate the at least one airbag; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the impact sensor and the more than one gas-generating propellant cells of the one or more SFGGs, the controller enabling the AFVA system to:
receive an inflation signal from the impact sensor; and
fire a selected number of the more than one gas-generating propellant cells to at least partially inflate the one or more airbags.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein:
the impact sensor detects a rate of deceleration of the vehicle; and
the controller selects the number of the more than one gas-generating propellant cells based at least in part on the rate of deceleration of the vehicle.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein:
the impact sensor detects a direction of the deceleration of the vehicle; and
the controller selects one of two or more of the at least one airbag to inflate based at least in part on the direction of the deceleration of the vehicle.

11. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the controller enables the vehicle to:
receive a configuration value for the vehicle that indicates the number of the one of more than one gas-generating propellant cells required to inflate a selected one the at least one airbag; and
select the number of the more than one gas-generating propellant cells based at least in part on the received configuration value.

12. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller enables the vehicle to:
monitor a seat sensor that detects weight of a passenger in a selected one of the vehicle seats;
receive a weight value from the seat sensor; and
select the number of the more than one gas-generating propellant cells based at least in part on the weight value.

13. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the controller selects the number of the more than one gas-generating propellant cells to sequentially fire based at least in part on limiting peak pressure in the at least one gas conduit and the at least one airbag.

14. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein
each of the more than one gas-generating propellant cells comprises:
a jacket of material having a convex portion exposed to the gas collection chamber, having a thickness sufficient to withstand increased outer pressure from initiation of another gas-generating propellant cell, and including an orifice through the convex portion,
a propellant packet contained in the jacket;
a fire wire electrically connectable to an electrically-fired initiator and electrically connected to the propellant packet, the fire wire transmitting a firing signal that causes the propellant packet to produce gas, and
a cap positioned between the propellant packet and the jacket and having a tip that blocks the orifice of the jacket from increased outer pressure in the gas collection chamber to prevent sympathetic det

Assignees

• US Govt as represented by Secretary of Air Force
• Us Air Force

Inventors

• Provenza Jerry

Classifications

• B64D11/0621 Primary

  Airbag initiation or activation means · CPC title

• B60R21/0132

  responsive to vehicle motion parameters {, e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value} · CPC title

• B60R21/0136

  responsive to actual contact with an obstacle {, e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle (monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558)} · CPC title

• B60R21/01516

  using force or pressure sensing means · CPC title

• B60R21/203

  in steering wheels or steering columns · CPC title