Air bag system for a motor vehicle

US5411289A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Morton International, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Bradley W. Smith · Ogden, US
• James D. Erickson · West Haven, US
• Patrick Jamison · North Ogden, US
• Peter Tyroller · Adelschlag, DE
• Dietrich Bergfried · Böblingen, DE
• Bernhard Mattes · Sachsenheim, DE
• Werner Nitschke · Ditzingen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 29, 1993
• Grant date: May 2, 1995
• Expiry date: Oct 29, 2013

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60R2021/2633
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An air bag system is provided for use in a motor vehicle. The air bag system includes at least one air bag module. A multiple level gas generation source is coupled to the air bag module for generating a selected gas generation level applied to the air bag module. An electronic control unit controls the operation of multiple level gas generation source. At least one temperature sensor is coupled to the electronic control unit for sensing ambient temperature. At least one seat belt sensor is coupled to the electronic control unit for sensing seat belt usage. An acceleration sensor is coupled to the electronic control unit for sensing deceleration during a crash. The electronic control unit is responsive to a combination of sensed inputs from the temperature sensor, the seat belt sensor and the acceleration sensor for determining both an optimum gas generation level and inflation sequence times for controlling the multiple level gas generation source.