Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Jeffrey Steven Vinton

Stephen Hongbin Kang

Sean Timothy Ryan

Janak Chitalia

Donald N Sullivan

Michelle L Tsai

A seat back for a vehicle includes a frame and an electronic display. A pyrotechnic fastener supports the electronic display on the frame. The pyrotechnic fastener includes a first portion fixed to the frame, a second portion fixed to the electronic display, and a pyrotechnic element. During a frontal impact of the vehicle, the pyrotechnic element may be activated to lower the electronic display resulting in increased travel space for the occupant.

Vehicle seat back including a pyrotechnic fastener

A display assembly for a vehicle includes an electronic display and a rod coupled to the electronic display. A guide defines a slot which receives the rod. The rod is movable along the slot from a first position to a second position. An energy absorption element is disposed along the slot and is deformable by the rod when the rod moves from the first position to the second position. During a frontal impact of the vehicle, a head of an occupant may contact the display assembly and may move the rod from the first position to the second position, during which movement the energy absorption element absorbs energy.

Vehicle display assembly including an energy absorption element

An airbag () is provided that can be sequentially deployed for minimizing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant (). This airbag () is an inflatable bag having a primary chamber () and a secondary chamber () that is adjacent to the primary chamber (). The primary chamber () is configured for inflating before the secondary chamber (). In addition, this primary chamber () is utilized for applying a generally downward force the vehicle occupant's lap () and abdomen (). In this way, a substantial portion of the initial deployment force of the airbag () is allocated to the occupant's more durable lower body. Also, the primary chamber () can be utilized for positioning the occupant's body () in a manner best suited for impacting the airbag (). This airbag () is then sequentially deployed in a generally linear direction upward from the primary chamber () to the secondary chamber ().

Airbag with internal positioning panels for sequential deployment

An apparatus for venting an inflatable restraint assembly . The apparatus includes a conventional pyrotechnic cylinder which is communicatively coupled to a controller , a selectively pivotable door which selectively seals and/or covers an opening within assembly , and a latch mechanism which is coupled to the cylinder and which selectively engages and disengages door Controller is communicatively coupled to a seat position sensor , seat belt sensor and crash severity sensor(s) . Controller determines when a crash situation has occurred or will imminently occur and selectively activates assembly if such a determination is made, thereby protecting the vehicle occupant from harm and/or injury. Controller further determines whether and/or when to vent air bag module based upon the data received from sensors and selectively activates cylinder in response to such a determination.

Method for apparatus for venting an inflatable restraint assembly

A method of adjusting air bag deployment in a vehicle having a seat adjustable along a seat track and an adjustable pedal includes sensing the adjusted position of the seat along the seat track and sensing the adjusted position of the adjustable pedal. Air bag deployment is then adjusted based upon the sensed positions of the seat and pedal. Preferably, the air bag is deployable at low output and high output, and the adjusting step includes sending a signal operative to enable or disable the high output of air bag deployment.

Vehicle air bag deployment system and method

An air bag deployment system for a vehicle having an air bag cushion having at least one pyrotechnic vent, an inflator in communication with the air bag cushion for inflating the air bag cushion, at least one sensor, and a restraint control module electrically connected to the pyrotechnic vent and the at least one sensor. The restraint control module being operative to receive and analyze a signal from the at least one sensor and to signal the pyrotechnic vent to deploy thereby allowing gas to vent from inside the air bag cushion.

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Farmington Hills, MI, United States of America

Jeffrey Steven Vinton