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:
Mar. 25, 2003
Filed:
Aug. 06, 2001
Ruprecht Sinnhuber, Gifhorn, DE;
Thomas Wohllebe, Braunschweig, DE;
Volkswagen AG, Wolfsburg, DE;
Abstract
A safety device for a motor vehicle includes an airbag configuration with a sensing airbag and a protective airbag. The sensing air bag is finger-shaped and has a small volume. A gas generator inflates the sensing airbag with a low power in the event of a vehicle impact. The inflated sensing airbag extends into an inflation zone of the protective airbag in order to sense any obstacle disposed therein. A touch-sensing device is connected to the front of the sensing airbag and provides a control signal when the sensing airbag encounters an obstacle. When the control device receives the control signal, the control device prevents or at least reduces the inflation of the protective airbag. When the control device does not receive the control signal, the protective airbag is inflated with full power.