The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 07, 1999
Filed:
Nov. 04, 1997
Charles Allen Gray, Noblesville, IN (US);
James Hill Brogoitti, Russiaville, IN (US);
David R Little, Kokomo, IN (US);
Delco Electronics Corp., Kokomo, IN (US);
Abstract
The airbag system includes in addition to conventional crash sensing apparatus seat sensors to gauge occupant mass, an occupant position sensor and a vehicle speed sensor. Desired initial restraining force is calculated from speed at impact and the occupant's mass, and an appropriate degree of inflation is effected. The occupant speed is continuously calculated from the position sensor signal and the vehicle speed. A target speed profile is established based on an estimated restraint period and the vehicle speed, and an airbag vent is varied to control the occupant speed to the target speed. The target speed profile is adjusted as a function of passenger compartment acceleration to account for vehicle speed variations and for vehicle crush.