Driver airbag module with lighting device, control method, and manufacturing method of same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12036939-B2
Application number	US-202217984789-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 10, 2022
Priority date	Aug 5, 2022
Publication date	Jul 16, 2024
Grant date	Jul 16, 2024

Abstract

A driver airbag module with a lighting device is proposed. The driver airbag module comprises an airbag cover, covering a driver airbag, configured to unfold toward a front space of a driver when the driver airbag is operated, wherein the airbag cover is located above the driver airbag. The airbag module further comprises the lighting device, wherein the lighting device comprises a plurality of lamps which are arranged to be spaced apart from each other, configured to emit light, located below the airbag cover, and coupled to the airbag cover such that the light emitted from the plurality of lamps is exposed to an upper space of the airbag cover. The airbag module further comprises a lighting controller configured to control flashing of the lighting device based on a driving condition of a vehicle, a charging status of a power source, and/or a driver condition.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A driver airbag module, comprising:
an airbag cover configured to cover a driver airbag which unfolds toward a front space of a driver when a driver airbag is operated,
wherein the airbag cover covers the driver airbag and is located above the driver airbag;
a lighting device comprising a plurality of lamps, wherein the plurality of lamps:
are arranged such that the plurality of lamps are spaced apart from each other,
are configured to emit light,
are located below the airbag cover, and
are coupled to the airbag cover such that the light emitted from the plurality of lamps is exposed to an upper space of the airbag cover; and

a lighting controller configured to control flashing of the lighting device based on a charging status of a power source or a driver condition;
wherein, when it is detected that the vehicle is in a normal charging status of the power source, the lighting controller is configured to control the lighting device in a pattern in which some or all of the plurality of lamps is turned on at a ratio corresponding to a charging amount of the power source; or
wherein, when it is detected that the vehicle is in an abnormal charging status of the power source, the lighting controller is configured to control the lighting device in a pattern in which the plurality of lamps is simultaneously turned on, having light of a warning color.

2. The driver airbag module of claim 1 , wherein the airbag cover is mounted to a center portion of a steering wheel of the vehicle, together with the driver airbag, in a non-operation state of the driver airbag.

3. The driver airbag module of claim 1 , wherein the lighting controller is further configured to control the flashing of the lighting device based on a driving condition of a vehicle.

4. The driver airbag module of claim 1 , wherein:
the airbag cover comprises a plurality of penetration holes through which the light emitted from the plurality of lamps penetrates, and
the driver airbag module further comprises:
a diffuser, inserted into the plurality of penetration holes, configured to expose the light emitted from the plurality of lamps toward the upper space of the airbag cover.

5. The driver airbag module of claim 1 , wherein the lighting controller is configured to control the lighting device such that the plurality of lamps is turned on and off in a preset pattern.

6. The driver airbag module of claim 1 , wherein, when a risk in the driving condition of the vehicle is detected, the lighting controller is configured to control the lighting device in a pattern in which the plurality of lamps is simultaneously turned on, having light of a preset warning color, and then the plurality of lamps is simultaneously turned off.

7. The driver airbag module of claim 1 , wherein the lighting controller is configured to control the lighting device such that a brightness of a lamp, among the plurality of lamps, located at a generally outer portion of the airbag cover, is lower than a brightness of a lamp, among the plurality of lamps, located at a center portion of the airbag cover.

8. The driver airbag module of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lamps is arranged in a straight line while being spaced apart from each other.

9. A driver airbag module, comprising:
an airbag cover configured to cover a driver airbag which unfolds toward a front space of a driver when a driver airbag is operated,
wherein the airbag cover covers the driver airbag and is located above the driver airbag,
a lighting device comprising a plurality of lamps, wherein the plurality of lamps:
are arranged such that the plurality of lamps are spaced apart from each other,
are configured to emit light,
are located below the airbag cover, and
are coupled to the airbag cover such that the light emitted from the plurality of lamps is exposed to an upper space of the airbag cover; and

a lighting controller configured to control flashing of the lighting device based on a charging status of a power source or a driver condition;
wherein, when it is detected that the driver condition is a boarding state into the vehicle or a leaving state from the vehicle, the lighting controller is configured to control the lighting device in a pattern in which:
the plurality of lamps is sequentially turned on and off from a first side to a second side thereof; or
the plurality of lamps is gradually turned on from the first side to the second side thereof.

10. A driver airbag module, comprising:
an airbag cover configured to cover a driver airbag which unfolds toward a front space of a driver when a driver airbag is operated,
wherein the airbag cover covers the driver airbag and is located above the driver airbag,
a lighting device comprising a plurality of lamps, wherein the plurality of lamps:
are arranged such that the plurality of lamps are spaced apart form each other,
are configured to emit light,
are located below the airbag cover, and
are coupled to the airbag cover such that the light emitted from the plurality of lamps is exposed to an upper space of the airbag cover; and

a lighting controller configured to control flashing of the lighting device based on a charging status of a power source or a driver condition:
wherein, when it is detected that the driver condition is a state in which the driver inputs manipulation into the vehicle, the lighting controller is configured to control the lighting device in a pattern in which the plurality of lamps is simultaneously turned on, having light of a preset manipulation color, and then the plurality of lamps is simultaneously turned off.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Corp
• Zf Overseas Inc

Inventors

• Min Jun Yong
• Kim Seong Bin
• Jang Dae Kyo
• Yoo Sun Woo
• Song Mun Gyu

Classifications

• B60Q3/70

  characterised by the purpose · CPC title

• B60Q3/283 Primary

  Steering wheels; Gear levers · CPC title

• B60R21/21656

  Steering wheel covers or similar cup-shaped covers · CPC title

• B60R21/215 Primary

  characterised by the covers for the inflatable member {(B60R21/2176 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60Q3/20

  for lighting specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments; mounted on specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments (lighting for dashboards B60Q3/10) · CPC title