DE102012010503A1 - Airbag arrangement for motor vehicle, has gas bag for displaying steering wheel pad that is provided with area associated with unborn fetus of vehicle occupant, where area is designed with reduced wall thickness through control unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The airbag arrangement has a gas bag (1) for displaying a steering wheel pad, while the filling of the gas bag is controlled by a control unit (2). The steering wheel pad has an area associated with an unborn fetus of a vehicle occupant. The area is designed with the reduced wall thickness through the control unit. One of the two segments of the gas bag is filled by the control unit. A retaining strap of the gas bag, whose extension length is predetermined by the control unit. The control unit has an input unit for the manual selection of the configuration of the steering wheel pad. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a method for filling a gas bag of an air-bag arrangement; and (2) a computer program product with a program code stored on a computer readable medium.

Description

The present invention relates to an airbag assembly for a motor vehicle, wherein the airbag assembly comprises a gas bag for displaying a baffle cushion and a control means for controlling a filling of the gas bag, a gas bag and a control means for such an airbag assembly, a motor vehicle with such an airbag assembly, a method for Filling of such a gas bag and a computer program product for carrying out such a method.

After DE 102 26 255 A1 is a sensor for detecting women in advanced pregnancy, a prerequisite for neonatal protection. Its signal is after the DE 102 26 255 A1 logically linked such that a Gurtblockierung and tightening automatically turns off sensory detection of a pregnancy, filling a gas bag softer and a knee airbag and retraction of a steering wheel depending on the seat of the detected pregnant women is used.

This solution can be improved.

The object of the present invention is therefore to improve the protection of unborn fetuses.

This object is achieved by an airbag assembly having the features of claim 1. Claim 5 provides an airbag and claim 6, a control means for such an airbag assembly, claim 7, a motor vehicle with such an airbag assembly, claim 8 a executed by the control means and claim 9 a computer program product for performing such a method under protection. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

According to one aspect of the present invention, an airbag arrangement which is provided or arranged to be arranged in a motor vehicle has an airbag for the representation or formation of a baffle cushion. In an unfilled state, the gas bag can be packed, in particular folded. When filled with a filling gas, in particular by pyrotechnic generating and / or releasing stored under pressure filling gas, the gas bag forms a baffle, the training characteristic and / or filled shape by the design of the airbag, in particular its blank, chambers, seams, tethers and Like, and / or by a controlled filling, for example, the ignition of pyrotechnic blowing agents and / or opening and / or closing of valves, can be specified. In one embodiment, in a first inflation mode, the impact pad may have a predetermined, in particular at least substantially, circular disk shape, preferably with a peripheral edge with greater wall thickness for centering and / or for side protection. The gas bag may in particular be a steering wheel airbag arranged in a steering wheel or provided for arrangement in a steering wheel or a passenger airbag arranged in an instrument panel or provided for arrangement in an instrument panel. Likewise, it can also be a side airbag.

The impact cushion or the filled gas bag has an area which is assigned to an unborn fetus of a vehicle occupant. In particular, the region may be an inner region of the impact pad, a region of the impact pad lower in the vehicle vertical direction, and / or a region of the impact pad facing the vehicle interior in the vehicle longitudinal direction. In the present case, an assigned area is understood in particular to be a region of the impact pad intended or arranged to catch a body area of a vehicle occupant, in particular a standard vehicle occupant, in which unborn fetuses are arranged during pregnancy, or in the area of an amniotic sac. An area assigned to an unborn baby of a vehicle occupant can be arranged, in particular, in the vehicle vertical direction at height and / or in the vehicle transverse direction to the width of a body area of a vehicle occupant, in particular a standard passenger vehicle, in which unborn fetuses are arranged during pregnancy, ie. H. in the area of a amniotic sac.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the airbag arrangement has a control means which is or is provided for controlling a filling of the gas bag, in particular for carrying out a method according to a further aspect of the present invention. The control means may be designed in terms of hardware and / or software, and may in particular comprise a memory, processing and / or communication means and / or a program, in particular a program module.

The controller may in particular have a computer for data processing and a memory means for storing data and programs and, for example, control a supply voltage of one or more electric drives of the actuator. The controller can in particular one with a Memory system and a bus system data-connected digital microprocessor unit (CPU) possess. The CPU is preferably designed to execute instructions executed as a program stored in a memory system, to detect input signals from the data bus and / or to output output signals to the data bus. The storage system may have various storage media such as optical, magnetic, solid state and / or other non-volatile media. The program may be arranged to be capable of embodying the methods described herein so that the CPU may perform the steps of such methods.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the area assigned to an unborn fetus of a vehicle occupant is optionally formed by the control means at most with a reduced wall thickness. In particular, the impact pad may be formed by the control means in a first inflation mode in the region associated with an unborn fetus of a vehicle occupant and in a second inflation mode in the region associated with an unborn fetus of a vehicle occupant having a smaller wall thickness than the first wall thickness. In the present case, a smaller wall thickness is understood to mean a non-filling of the gas bag in the corresponding area for a more compact representation. Thus, it can be provided in a development that the impact pad is not formed by the control means in the second inflation mode in the area associated with an unborn fetus of a vehicle occupant or the gas bag is not filled in this area.

In contrast to the above-explained DE 102 26 255 A1 in which an airbag continues to be completely, only softer, or even filled when a pregnancy is detected, a portion of the baffle pad associated with an unborn fetus of a vehicle occupant can advantageously be withdrawn, in particular recessed, so as to put pressure on an unborn fetus to reduce.

The impact pad may be formed, in particular not filled, in the area of lesser wall thickness by, in one development of the present invention, the gas bag having two or more segments, one or more of which are assigned to an unborn fetus of a vehicle occupant, optionally by the control means are different fillable. The control means can in particular selectively activate filling gas sources which communicate with such segments. Additionally or alternatively, the control means may selectively open and / or close fill gas lines communicating with such segments, in particular by (de) activating or controlling valves.

Additionally or alternatively, the gas bag may include one or more tethers associated with an unborn fetus of a vehicle occupant. The control means can optionally specify their extension length, in particular optionally specify a first or a second, smaller extension length, which in particular can also be equal to zero. In a further development, the control means can optionally open a bondage of a tether which limits its extension length, in particular, preferably pyrotechnic destroy, so as to specify its extension length or to vary.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control means comprises an input means for manual selection of the formation of the impact pad. The input means may, in particular, comprise a switch or a button, a routine of a menu of an on-board computer or the like. It can be provided that, basically or without input, the gas bag is formed in the first inflation mode or with a first wall thickness, and when the input is detected or made in the second inflation mode or with a wall thickness that is smaller in comparison. Since pregnant vehicle occupants are relatively rare, the input effort can be reduced. Equally, conversely, it may be provided that, basically or without input, the gas bag is formed in the second inflation mode or with the smaller wall thickness, and when the input is detected or made in the first inflation mode or with a larger wall thickness. In this way it can be ensured that an unborn fetus is protected, even if the vehicle occupant forgets the input.

In contrast to the above-explained DE 102 26 255 A1 , in which the automatic recognition of pregnancy is seen as a prerequisite, can be protected by the manual input, especially in not yet automatically recognizable pregnancies, so at a very early stage of the unborn fetus. Of course, in addition to or in addition to a manual input and an automatic detection of a pregnant vehicle occupant, as for example from the DE 102 26 255 A1 is therefore known, the content of which is therefore expressly incorporated into the present disclosure, carried out and an area associated with an unborn fetus of a vehicle occupant Depending on such an automatic detection optionally be formed at most with reduced wall thickness.

In one embodiment, for two or more impact pads associated with one or more vehicle seats, an area associated with an unborn fetus of a vehicle occupant is optionally formed at most with reduced wall thickness. In particular, two or more bumpers associated with a vehicle seat, for example a frontal and a side airbag, may each be formed at most with a reduced wall thickness in an area assigned to an unborn fetus of a vehicle occupant. In addition or as an alternative, impact pillows assigned to different vehicle seats, for example a driver's and a passenger's airbag, can each optionally be designed at most with reduced wall thickness in a region assigned to an unborn fetus of a vehicle occupant.

Further advantageous developments of the present invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the following description of preferred embodiments. This shows, partially schematized:

1 a motor vehicle with an airbag assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention from the side;

2 the impact pad of the airbag assembly after 1 in a plan view; and

3 a method according to an embodiment of the present invention for filling the airbag of the airbag assembly according to 1 . 2 ,

1 shows an airbag assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention seen from the side, with a filled airbag 1 which represents or forms a baffle cushion. 2 shows the filled gas bag 1 ie, this impact pad, which is therefore denoted by the same reference numeral, seen in a plan view from the front, ie from the perspective of a vehicle occupant.

As in 2 recognizable, the gas bag points 1 eight segments 1A - 1H on, of which the two lower, inner 1G and 1H which are associated with an unborn baby of a vehicle occupant, ie in the case of a pregnant vehicle occupant of their amniotic sac opposite or are intended to catch this area, optionally be filled differently.

For this purpose, a control means 2 an input means, such as a switch (not shown) for manually selecting the formation of the baffle pad. With this switch, in particular, between a first inflation mode, in which the segments 1G . 1H (Full), and a second inflation mode are selected, in which the segments 1G . 1H not or not completely filled and thus in this area a smaller wall thickness is formed. For this purpose, the control means may for example be one with the segment 1G and or 1H selectively activate or deactivate the communicating filling gas source and / or one with the segment 1G and or 1H communicating filling gas line, in particular pyrotechnic, open and / or close.

Additionally or alternatively, the segment 1G and or 1H optionally be retained by a tether, the extension length can be predetermined by the control means, for example by pyrotechnic destruction of a bondage of the tether (not shown).

3 shows the sequence of a method for filling the gas bag 1 that by the control means 2 is performed:
First, in a step S10, the first or second inflation mode is selected by the input means in response to an unborn fetus of a vehicle occupant. It can be provided that the first or second Aufblasmodus is selected by the input means for different vehicle seats, depending on whether, for example, sitting on a driver's seat, a passenger seat and / or a rear seat a pregnant vehicle occupant. The control means 2 then selects the second inflation mode for the seats entered or selected in a step S20, for the other seats, in particular, if they are occupied, the first inflation mode. If two or more impact bags are associated with a vehicle seat for which the second inflation mode has been selected, the control means correspondingly controls the inflation gas sources or conduits communicating therewith such that the impact pads associated with a vehicle seat are suitable for the vehicle the second inflation mode has been selected to be formed in the second inflation mode, if such an inflation mode is provided on the respective impact pad.

Although exemplary embodiments have been explained in the foregoing description, it should be understood that a variety of modifications are possible. It should also be noted that the exemplary embodiments are merely examples that are not intended to limit the scope, applications and construction in any way. Rather, the expert is given by the preceding description, a guide for the implementation of at least one exemplary embodiment, with various changes, in particular with regard to the function and arrangement of the components described, can be made without departing from the scope, as it turns out according to the claims and these equivalent combinations of features. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 1 (filled) gas bag or impact pad 1A - 1F not associated with an unborn fetus of a vehicle occupant segments (areas) of the gas bag or impact pad 1G . 1H Segments (areas) of the gas bag or impact pad assigned to an unborn fetus of a vehicle occupant 2 control means

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 10226255 A1 [0002, 0002, 0011, 0015, 0015]

Claims (9)

Airbag arrangement for a motor vehicle, having an airbag ( 1 ) for displaying an impact pad ( 1 ); and a control means ( 2 ) for controlling a filling of the gas bag ( 1 ), the impact pad ( 1 ) an area assigned to an unborn fetus of a vehicle occupant ( 1G . 1H ), and wherein the control means ( 2 ) is set up to cover this area ( 1G . 1H ) Optionally form at most with reduced wall thickness. Airbag arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the gas bag ( 1 ) at least two segments ( 1A - 1H ), of which at least one ( 1G . 1H ) by the control means ( 2 ) optionally can be filled differently. Airbag arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the gas bag ( 1 ) has at least one tether whose extension length by the control means ( 2 ) is optionally definable. Airbag arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control means ( 2 ) an input means for manually selecting the formation of the impact pad ( 1 ) having. Gas bag ( 1 ) for displaying an impact pad ( 1 ) for an airbag assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the impact pad ( 1 ) an area assigned to an unborn fetus of a vehicle occupant ( 1G . 1H ) having. Control means ( 2 ) for an airbag assembly according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, which is adapted to a region associated with an unborn fetus of a vehicle occupant ( 1G . 1H ) of the impact pad ( 1 ) Optionally form at most with reduced wall thickness. Motor vehicle with an airbag arrangement according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 4. Method for filling an airbag ( 1 ) an airbag assembly according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, comprising the steps of: selecting (S10) an inflation mode in response to an unborn fetus of a vehicle occupant; and controlling (S20) a filling of the gas bag (S20) 1 ) based on the selected inflation mode. A computer program product having a program code stored on a computer-readable medium for carrying out the method according to the preceding claim.

Images