Exterior airbag deployment techniques
US8447474B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 5, 2009 |
| Grant date | May 21, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 5, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S2013/93274
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Externally deployed airbag system for a vehicle including one or more inflatable airbags deployable outside of the vehicle, an anticipatory sensor system for assessing the probable severity of an impact involving the vehicle based on data obtained prior to the impact and initiating inflation of the airbag(s) in the event an impact above a threshold severity is assessed, and an inflator coupled to the anticipatory sensor system and the airbag for inflating the airbag when initiated by the anticipatory sensor system. The airbag may be housed in a module mounted along a side of the vehicle, in a side door of the vehicle (both for side impact protection), at a front of the vehicle (for frontal impact protection) or at a rear of the vehicle (for rear impact protection). Also, the externally deployed airbag can be deployed to cushion a pedestrian's impact against the vehicle.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.