Patent · US Expired

Occupant protection and signal apparatus and method

US6124784A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
24References
37Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 11, 1998
Grant dateSep 26, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 11, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60R21/01
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An occupant protection and signal apparatus (10) that is for a vehicle (12) has an air bag module (18). The air bag module (18) includes an inflatable air bag (20) and an inflation fluid source (24) actuatable for protecting a vehicle occupant (14). The air bag module (18) includes an initiator (30) for initiating actuation of the fluid source (24) in response to receipt of an electrical initiation signal (32). Circuitry (40-46) determines a vehicle crash event and, in response thereto, provides the electrical initiation signal (32) to the initiator (30). A sensor (56) detects the electrical initiation signal (32), and a radio beacon controller (50) and antenna (52) broadcast a signal (54) in response to the detection.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.