US6325414B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and arrangement for controlling deployment of a side airbag
Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Inc
•
Filing: 2000-12-14
•
Granted: 2001-12-04
•
Expires: 2020-12-14
Abstract
Abstract Arrangement and method for controlling deployment of a side airbag to protect a vehicular occupant during a crash. The presence and/or position of the occupant is/are determined and deployment of the airbag is controlled based thereon. A transducer receives waves from a space above a seat portion of the seat and a signal representative of the presence and/or position of the occupant is generated based on the received waves. The transducer may transmits waves into the space above the seat portion. The transducer may be mounted in a door of the vehicle and possibly adjacent the airbag module. Deployment of the airbag can be suppressed, the time at which deployment of the airbag starts, the rate of gas flow into the airbag, the rate of gas flow from the airbag and/or the rate of deployment of the airbag is/are controlled based on the presence and/or position of the occupant.
Inventors
- 👤 David S. Breed
- 👤 Wilbur E. DuVall
- 👤 Wendell C. Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 22:17
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/01; B60R21/013; B60R21/0132; B60R21/01332; B60J; B60J10/00; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/002; B60N2/0021; B60N2/0024; B60N2/0027; B60N2/0028; B60N2/0029; B60N2/02; B60N2/0224; B60N2/02246; B60N2/0244; B60N2/0248; B60N2/0268; B60N2/0272; B60N2/0276; B60N2/0278; B60N2/24; B60N2/26; B60N2/28; B60N2/2803; B60N2/2806; B60N2/2857; B60N2/2863; B60N2/80; B60N2/806; B60N2/809; B60N2/829; B60N2/838; B60N2/853; B60N2/888; B60R1/00; B60R1/02; B60R1/08; B60R1/083; B60R1/088; B60R11/00; B60R11/02; B60R11/0241; B60R16/00; B60R16/02; B60R16/037; B60R21/0136; B60R21/015; B60R21/01512; B60R21/01516; B60R21/0153; B60R21/01534; B60R21/01536; B60R21/01538; B60R21/0154; B60R21/01542; B60R21/01552; B60R21/01554; B60R22/00; B60R22/18; B60R22/20; B60R25/00; B60R25/20; B60R25/25; E; E05; E05F; E05F15/00; E05F15/40; E05F15/42; E05F15/43; E05F15/431; G; G01; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/20; G01F23/22; G01F23/28; G01F23/296; G01F23/2962; G01F23/80; G01F23/802; G01F23/804; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/87; G01S15/88; G01S17/00; G01S17/88; G01S7/00; G01S7/02; G01S7/41; G01S7/417; G01S7/48; G01S7/4802; G01S7/52; G01S7/539; G06; G06V; G06V40/00; G06V40/10; B60N2210/00; B60N2210/10; B60N2210/26; B60N2220/00; B60N2220/10; B60N2220/30; B60N2230/00; B60N2230/30; B60R1/12; B60R2001/1223; B60R2021/0027; B60R2021/01315; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/23; B60R21/231; B60R2021/23153; B60R21/26; B60R2021/26094; B60R21/276; B60R2021/2765; B60R2022/208; B60R22/48; B60R2022/4808; B60R2022/4825; B60R21/0134; B60R21/01544; B60R21/01548; B60R21/20; B60R21/215; B60R21/2165; B60R21/21656; E05F2015/432; E05F2015/433; E05Y; E05Y2900/00; E05Y2900/50; E05Y2900/53; E05Y2900/55; G01S13/00; G01S13/02; G01S13/04; G01S15/02; G01S15/04; G01S15/06; G01S17/89; G10; G10K; G10K2210/00; G10K2210/10; G10K2210/128; G10K2210/1282; G10K2210/30; G10K2210/321; G10K2210/3219
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 52
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A vehicle including an arrangement for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of the vehicle in a crash, the arrangement comprising determining means for determining the position of at least a part of the occupant, and a control circuit coupled to said determining means for controlling deployment of the side airbag based on the determined position of the at least a part of the occupant, said determining means comprising at least one receiver arranged to receive electromagnetic waves from a space above a seat portion of the seat and a processor coupled to said at least one receiver for generating a signal representative of the position of the at least a part of the occupant based on the waves received by said at least one receiver.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A vehicle including an arrangement for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of the vehicle in a crash, the arrangement comprising determining means for determining the position of at least a part of the occupant, and a control circuit coupled to said determining means for controlling deployment of the side airbag based on the determined position of the at least a part of the occupant, said determining means comprising at least one receiver arranged to receive electromagnetic waves from a space above a seat portion of the seat and a processor coupled to said at least one receiver for generating a signal representative of the position of the at least a part of the occupant based on the waves received by said at least one receiver.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The vehicle of claim 1 . Wherein said at least one receiver is mounted in a door of the vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said at least one receiver is mounted on or adjacent to the airbag module.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle has a side door, at least a portion of the arrangement residing on the side door of the vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
157 words
A vehicle including an arrangement for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of a vehicle in a crash, the arrangement comprising determining means for determining the position of at least a part of the occupant, and a control circuit coupled to said determining means for controlling deployment of the side airbag based on the determined position of the at least a part of the occupant, said determining means comprising a transmitter arranged to transmit waves into a space above a seat portion of the seat, and at least one receiver arranged to receive waves transmitted by said transmitter from the space above the seat portion of the seat and a processor coupled to said at least one receiver for generating a signal representative of the position of the at least a part of the occupant based on the waves received by said at least one receiver.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
157 words
A vehicle including an arrangement for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of a vehicle in a crash, the arrangement comprising determining means for determining the position of at least a part of the occupant, and a control circuit coupled to said determining means for controlling deployment of the side airbag based on the determined position of the at least a part of the occupant, said determining means comprising a transmitter arranged to transmit waves into a space above a seat portion of the seat, and at least one receiver arranged to receive waves transmitted by said transmitter from the space above the seat portion of the seat and a processor coupled to said at least one receiver for generating a signal representative of the position of the at least a part of the occupant based on the waves received by said at least one receiver.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein said at least one receiver is mounted in a door of the vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein said at least one receiver is mounted on or adjacent to the airbag module.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the vehicle has a side door, at least a portion of the arrangement residing on the side door of the vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein said at least one receiver is an ultrasonic transducer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
137 words
A vehicle including an arrangement for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of a vehicle in a crash, the arrangement comprising determining means for determining the position of at least a part of the occupant, and a control circuit coupled to said determining means for controlling deployment of the side airbag based on the determined position of the at least a part of the occupant. said control circuit being arranged to control deployment of the side airbag by suppressing deployment of the side airbag, controlling a time at which deployment of the side airbag starts, controlling a rate of gas flow into the side airbag, controlling a rate of gas flow out of the side airbag or controlling a rate of deployment of the side airbag.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
137 words
A vehicle including an arrangement for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of a vehicle in a crash, the arrangement comprising determining means for determining the position of at least a part of the occupant, and a control circuit coupled to said determining means for controlling deployment of the side airbag based on the determined position of the at least a part of the occupant. said control circuit being arranged to control deployment of the side airbag by suppressing deployment of the side airbag, controlling a time at which deployment of the side airbag starts, controlling a rate of gas flow into the side airbag, controlling a rate of gas flow out of the side airbag or controlling a rate of deployment of the side airbag.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
130 words
A vehicle including an arrangement for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of a vehicle in a crash, the arrangement comprising determining means for determining whether an occupant is present in the seat, and a control circuit coupled to said determining means for controlling deployment of the side airbag based on whether an occupant is present in the seat, said determining means comprising at least one receiver arranged to receive electromagnetic waves from a space above a seat portion of the seat and a processor coupled to said at least one receiver for generating a signal representative of the presence or absence of an occupant in the seat based on the waves received by said at least one receiver.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
130 words
A vehicle including an arrangement for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of a vehicle in a crash, the arrangement comprising determining means for determining whether an occupant is present in the seat, and a control circuit coupled to said determining means for controlling deployment of the side airbag based on whether an occupant is present in the seat, said determining means comprising at least one receiver arranged to receive electromagnetic waves from a space above a seat portion of the seat and a processor coupled to said at least one receiver for generating a signal representative of the presence or absence of an occupant in the seat based on the waves received by said at least one receiver.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein said at least one receiver is mounted in a door of the vehicle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein said at least one receiver is mounted on or adjacent to the airbag module.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein said control circuit is structured and arranged to suppress deployment of the side airbag if an occupant is not present.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
56 words
The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein said determining means determine a position of at least a part of the occupant when an occupant is in the seat and said control circuit is structured and arranged to control deployment of the side airbag based on the determined position of at least a part of the occupant.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the vehicle has a side door, at least a portion of the arrangement residing on the side door of the vehicle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
150 words
A vehicle including an arrangement for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of a vehicle in a crash, the arrangement comprising determining means for determining whether an occupant is present in the seat, and a control circuit coupled to said determining means for controlling deployment of the side airbag based on whether an occupant is present in the seat, said determining means comprising a transmitter arranged to transmit waves into the space above the seat portion of the seat, and at least one receiver arranged to receive waves transmitted by said transmitter from a space above a seat portion of the seat and a processor coupled to said at least one receiver for generating a signal representative of the presence or absence of an occupant in the seat based on the waves received by said at least one receiver.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
150 words
A vehicle including an arrangement for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of a vehicle in a crash, the arrangement comprising determining means for determining whether an occupant is present in the seat, and a control circuit coupled to said determining means for controlling deployment of the side airbag based on whether an occupant is present in the seat, said determining means comprising a transmitter arranged to transmit waves into the space above the seat portion of the seat, and at least one receiver arranged to receive waves transmitted by said transmitter from a space above a seat portion of the seat and a processor coupled to said at least one receiver for generating a signal representative of the presence or absence of an occupant in the seat based on the waves received by said at least one receiver.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein said transmitter transmits ultrasonic waves and said at least one receiver is an ultrasonic transducer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein said at least one receiver is mounted in a door of the vehicle.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein said at least one receiver is mounted on or adjacent to the airbag module.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein said control circuit is structured and arranged to suppress deployment of the side airbag if an occupant is not present.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
56 words
The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein said determining means determine a position of at least a part of the occupant when an occupant is in the seat and said control circuit is structured and arranged to control deployment of the side airbag based on the determined position of at least a part of the occupant.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the vehicle has a side door, at least a portion of the arrangement residing on the side door of the vehicle.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of a vehicle in a crash, comprising the steps of: determining the position of at least a part of the occupant by transmitting waves into a space above a seat portion of the seat, receiving waves from the space above the seat portion of the seat and generating a signal representative of the position of the at least a part of the occupant based on the received waves, and controlling deployment of the side airbag based on the determined position of the at least a part of the occupant.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of a vehicle in a crash, comprising the steps of: determining the position of at least a part of the occupant by transmitting waves into a space above a seat portion of the seat, receiving waves from the space above the seat portion of the seat and generating a signal representative of the position of the at least a part of the occupant based on the received waves, and controlling deployment of the side airbag based on the determined position of the at least a part of the occupant.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 24 , wherein the step of receiving waves comprises the step of arranging an ultrasonic transducer in the vehicle in a position to receive waves from the space above the seat portion of the seat.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 24 , wherein the step of receiving waves comprises the step of mounting a transducer capable of receiving waves in a door of the vehicle in a position to receive waves from the space above the seat portion of the seat.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 24 , wherein the step of receiving waves comprises the step of mounting a transducer capable of receiving waves in a door of the vehicle on or adjacent to the airbag module in a position to receive waves from the space above the seat portion of the seat.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
134 words
A method for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of a vehicle in a crash, comprising the steps of: determining the position of at least a part of the occupant by receiving waves from a space above a seat portion of the seat and generating a signal representative of the position of the at least a part of the occupant based on the received waves, and controlling deployment of the side airbag based on the determined position of the at least a part of the occupant, the step of receiving waves comprising the step of arranging a receiver capable of receiving electromagnetic waves in the vehicle in a position to receive electromagnetic waves from the space above the seat portion of the seat.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
134 words
A method for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of a vehicle in a crash, comprising the steps of: determining the position of at least a part of the occupant by receiving waves from a space above a seat portion of the seat and generating a signal representative of the position of the at least a part of the occupant based on the received waves, and controlling deployment of the side airbag based on the determined position of the at least a part of the occupant, the step of receiving waves comprising the step of arranging a receiver capable of receiving electromagnetic waves in the vehicle in a position to receive electromagnetic waves from the space above the seat portion of the seat.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 28 , wherein the step of receiving waves comprises the step of mounting a transducer capable of receiving waves in a door of the vehicle in a position to receive waves from the space above the seat portion of the seat.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 28 , wherein the step of receiving waves comprises the step of mounting a transducer capable of receiving waves in a door of the vehicle on or adjacent to the airbag module in a position to receive waves from the space above the seat portion of the seat.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of a vehicle in a crash, comprising the steps of: determining the position of at least a part of the occupant, and controlling deployment of the side airbag based on the determined position of the at least a part of the occupant, the step of controlling deployment of the side airbag comprising at least one of the steps of suppressing deployment of the side airbag, controlling a time at which deployment of the side airbag starts, controlling a rate of gas flow into the side airbag, controlling a rate of gas flow out of the side airbag and controlling a rate of deployment of the side airbag.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of a vehicle in a crash, comprising the steps of: determining the position of at least a part of the occupant, and controlling deployment of the side airbag based on the determined position of the at least a part of the occupant, the step of controlling deployment of the side airbag comprising at least one of the steps of suppressing deployment of the side airbag, controlling a time at which deployment of the side airbag starts, controlling a rate of gas flow into the side airbag, controlling a rate of gas flow out of the side airbag and controlling a rate of deployment of the side airbag.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of a vehicle in a crash, comprising the steps of: determining whether an occupant is present in the seat by transmitting waves into a space above a seat portion of the seat, receiving waves from the space above the seat portion of the seat and generating a signal representative of the presence or absence of an occupant in the seat based on the received waves, and controlling deployment of the side airbag based on the presence or absence of an occupant in the seat.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of a vehicle in a crash, comprising the steps of: determining whether an occupant is present in the seat by transmitting waves into a space above a seat portion of the seat, receiving waves from the space above the seat portion of the seat and generating a signal representative of the presence or absence of an occupant in the seat based on the received waves, and controlling deployment of the side airbag based on the presence or absence of an occupant in the seat.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 32 , wherein the step of receiving waves comprises the step of arranging an ultrasonic transducer in the vehicle in a position to receive waves from the space above the seat portion of the seat.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 32 , wherein the step of receiving waves comprises the step of mounting a transducer capable of receiving waves in a door of the vehicle in a position to receive waves from the space above the seat portion of the seat.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 32 , wherein the step of receiving waves comprises the step of mounting a transducer capable of receiving waves in a door of the vehicle on or adjacent to the airbag module in a position to receive waves from the space above the seat portion of the seat.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 32 , further comprising the steps of: determining a position of at least a part of the occupant when an occupant is in the seat, and controlling deployment of the side airbag based on the determined position of at least a part of the occupant.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of a vehicle in a crash, comprising the steps of: determining whether an occupant is present in the seat by receiving waves from a space above a seat portion of the seat and generating a signal representative of the presence or absence of an occupant in the seat based on the received waves, and controlling deployment of the side airbag based on the presence or absence of an occupant in the seat, the step of receiving waves comprising the step of arranging a receiver capable of receiving electromagnetic waves in the vehicle in a position to receive electromagnetic waves from the space above the seat portion of the seat.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of a vehicle in a crash, comprising the steps of: determining whether an occupant is present in the seat by receiving waves from a space above a seat portion of the seat and generating a signal representative of the presence or absence of an occupant in the seat based on the received waves, and controlling deployment of the side airbag based on the presence or absence of an occupant in the seat, the step of receiving waves comprising the step of arranging a receiver capable of receiving electromagnetic waves in the vehicle in a position to receive electromagnetic waves from the space above the seat portion of the seat.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 37 , wherein the step of receiving waves comprises the step of mounting a transducer capable of receiving waves in a door of the vehicle in a position to receive waves from the space above the seat portion of the seat.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 37 , wherein the step of receiving waves comprises the step of mounting a transducer capable of receiving waves in a door of the vehicle on or adjacent to the airbag module in a position to receive waves from the space above the seat portion of the seat.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 37 , further comprising the steps of: determining a position of at least a part of the occupant when an occupant is in the seat, and controlling deployment of the side airbag based on the determined position of at least a part of the occupant.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of a vehicle in a crash, comprising the steps of: determining whether an occupant is present in the seat, and controlling deployment of the side airbag based on the presence or absence of an occupant in the seat, the step of controlling deployment of the side airbag comprising at least one of the steps of suppressing deployment of the side airbag controlling a time at which deployment of the side airbag starts, controlling a rate of gas flow into the side airbag, controlling a rate of gas flow out of the side airbag and controlling a rate of deployment of the side airbag.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of a vehicle in a crash, comprising the steps of: determining whether an occupant is present in the seat, and controlling deployment of the side airbag based on the presence or absence of an occupant in the seat, the step of controlling deployment of the side airbag comprising at least one of the steps of suppressing deployment of the side airbag controlling a time at which deployment of the side airbag starts, controlling a rate of gas flow into the side airbag, controlling a rate of gas flow out of the side airbag and controlling a rate of deployment of the side airbag.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-12-03 | 2005-06-04 | 2005-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-12-03 | 2009-06-04 | 2009-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-12-03 | 2013-06-04 | 2013-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |