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:
Jun. 28, 2016
Filed:
Sep. 10, 2001
Joseph Y. Yoon, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
David R. Little, Kokomo, IN (US);
Joseph Y. Yoon, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
David R. Little, Kokomo, IN (US);
Other;
Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling the deployment of a passive inflatable restraint system wherein driver and passenger air bags are employed each having two independently actuatable gas generators of the same or different sizes which are activated in a fixed time sequence. The sequence is timed to provide an initial low inflation rate to just open the airbag container and initially deploy the airbag followed by a higher gas flow rate to complete filling of the cushion. An electronic control unit containing a control algorithm and connected to external sensors monitors vehicle decelerations, detects impacts, and determines if impact severity warrants deployment of an airbag for occupant protection. The external sensors include one or more sensors located in the forward portion of the vehicle to provide early impact detection and crash severity indications; a weight based occupant detection system located in the passenger seat to identify infants and small children and provide airbag suppression; and a seat belt mode or seat belt tension sensor to determine the presence of a cinched child seat and provide additional airbag suppression. The control algorithm monitors the above described sensors and if a deployment is required, a signal for activating the first initiator and a second signal for activating the second initiator are provided, the second signal being delayed a predetermined time after the first signal is generated.