US007481453B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Breed
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`(54) INFLATOR SYSTEM
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`(75) Inventor: David S. Breed, Boonton Township,
`Mon-is County’ N] (US)
`(73) Assignee: Automotive Technologies
`International, Inc., Denv1lle, NJ (US)
`
`.
`
`-
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`9/1936 Coanda
`2,052,869 A
`3,158,314 A 11/1964 Young et a1.
`i
`gadeler
`3,414,292 A 0/1968 Oldberg et a1‘
`
`,
`
`,
`
`3y
`
`( * ) Not1ce:
`
`.
`
`.
`
`Subject‘ to any d1scla1mer, the term ofth1s
`patent 1s extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 307 days.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`(21) Appl N 11/131,623
`0.2
`.
`
`(22) Filed;
`
`May 18, 2005
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`Us 2007/0228703 A1
`Oct. 4, 2007
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`(63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 10/974,919,
`?led on Oct. 27, 2004, noW Pat. No. 7,040,653, and a
`continuation-in-part of application No. 10/817,379,
`?led on Apr. 2, 2004, noW abandoned, and a continu-
`ation-in-part of application No. 10/638,743, ?led on
`Aug. 11, 2003, and a continuation-in-part of applica-
`tion No. 10/278,721, ?led on Oct. 23, 2002, and a
`continuation_in_pan of application NO_ 10/043,557,
`?led on Jan 11 2002 HOW Pat NO 6 905 135
`'
`’
`’
`'
`'
`’
`’
`'
`
`(51) Int Cl
`'
`l
`B60R 21/16
`360R 21/30
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006 01)
`'
`(52) US. Cl. ..................................... .. 280/738; 280/740
`(58) Field of Classi?cation Search ............... .. 280/736,
`280/738, 739, 740, 741, 742, 728.2, 730.1,
`280/730.2, 732
`See application ?le for complete search history.
`
`3,632,133 A
`
`1/1972 H
`
`21974 Hzislilton
`3,791,669 A
`4/1974 Katter et a1‘
`3,801,127 A
`9/1975 Stewart
`3,909,037 A
`3,910,595 A * 10/1975 Katter et a1. .............. .. 280/732
`g
`3,938,826 A
`2/1976 Gior ini et a1.
`3,947,056 A
`3/1976 SchWanZ
`4,043,572 A
`8/1977 Hattori et a1.
`4,130,298 A 12/1978 Shaunnessey
`
`(Commued)
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`GB
`
`2191450
`
`12/1987
`
`Primary ExamineriEric culbreth
`Assiszanz Examineriloseph Rocca
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or FirmiBrian Roffe
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`_
`_
`_
`_
`_
`Method for 1n?at1ng an a1rbag 1n a veh1cle to protect an
`occupant inthe event of a crash involving the vehicleinWhich
`an in?ator having a propellant is arranged in the vehicle, the
`propellant is ignited after determination of a crash involving
`the vehicle to generate gas therefrom, the gas is directed into
`. b
`d
`. h . b .
`11 db d
`h
`ana1r agan pressure1ntea1r aglscontro e ase ont e
`occupant by vary1ng the How of gas 1nto the a1rbag. Var1at1on
`in the ?ow of gas into the airbag may be Obtained by Varying
`a How of aspirating gas into a mixing chamber in Which the
`aspirating gas mixes With gas generated from the propellant.
`
`48 Claims, 50 Drawing Sheets
`
`Takata Ex. 1006
`IPR Petition - USP 9,043,093
`
`

`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`Page 2
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4/1983 Davisetal
`4,380,346 A
`5/1989 Hayashi er 91
`4,833,996 A
`4,877,264 A * 10/1989 Cuevas ..................... .. 280/731
`4909549 A
`3/1990 P99191111
`4928991 A
`5/1990 Thorn _
`5,004,586 A
`4/1991 Hayashl er 91
`5,060,973 A 10/1991 Giovanetti
`5,078,422 A *
`1/1992 Hamilton et a1. .......... .. 280/736
`5,085,465 A
`2/1992 Hleahlm
`5,100,172 A *
`3/1992 VanVoorhies et a1. ..... .. 280/738
`5,129,674 A
`7/1992 Levosinski
`5,193,847 A
`3/1993 Nakay?ma
`5,207,450 A
`5/1993 Pack, Jr er 41
`5,226,670 A *
`7/1993 Wright et a1. ............. .. 280/738
`5,286,054 A
`2/1994 Cuevas
`5332259 A
`7/1994 (3911199 eta1~
`5,366,242 A * 11/1994 Faigle et a1. .............. .. 280/736
`5,406,889 A
`4/1995 Letendre et a1.
`5,423,571 A
`6/1995 Hawthorn
`5,435,594 A
`7/1995 Gille
`5,435,595 A
`7/1995 LauritZen etal.
`5,437,473 A
`8/1995 Henseler
`5,458,367 A 10/1995 Marts et a1.
`
`2/1996 Huber
`5,489,117 A
`4/1996 Shepherd et a1.
`5,509,686 A
`2/1997 Shyr et a1.
`5,599,042 A
`4/1997 Lauritzen et a1. .......... .. 102/288
`5,623,115 A *
`4/l998 Seymour __________________ u 280/739
`5,743,558 A >1<
`6/1998 Breed et a1.
`5,772,238 A
`9/1999 McFarland et a1.
`5,951,040 A
`5,984,352 A 11/1999 Green, Jr. et a1.
`6,142,515 A 11/2000 Mika
`6,179,326 B1
`1/2001 Breed et 31‘
`6,227,565 B1
`5/2001 McFarland et a1.
`6,290,256 B1
`9/2001 McFarland et 31‘
`6,314,889 B1
`11/2001 Smith
`6,315,322 B1
`11/2001 Mika
`6,533,316 B2
`3/2003 Breed et a1.
`6,543,805 B2
`4/2003 McFarland et 31‘
`6,648,367 B2 11/2003 Breed et a1.
`6,655,712 B1
`12/2003 Larsen et a1.
`6,702,323 B2
`3/2004 GOetZ
`6,733,036 B2
`5/2004 Breed et 31‘
`6,905,135 B2
`6/2005 Breed
`2003/0209894 A1 11/2003 Larsen et a1.
`2004/0145166 A1
`7/2004 Smith
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 1 0f50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 2 0f 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`NEURAL NETWORK SINGLE POINT, PASSENGER COMPARTMENT MOUNTED SENSOR PERFORMANCE
`
`SCALE!)
`VELOCITY
`
`BARRIER SCALING FACTOR
`
`8 MPH
`10 MPH
`12 MPH
`14 MPH
`16 MPH
`18 MPH
`20 MPH
`22 MPH
`24 MPH
`26 MPH
`28 MPH
`30 MPH
`32 MPH
`34 MPH
`
`1
`NT
`NT
`0.0/1.1
`00/12
`0.0/1.4
`0.0/1.6
`0.0/1.8
`00/19
`0.0/2.1
`0.0/23
`00/25
`00/27
`0.0/2.8
`00/30
`
`1.2
`NT
`07/29
`0.8/3.5
`09/41
`0.9/4.4
`0.8/4.2
`0714.3
`05/39
`0.1/2.3
`0.1/2.5
`00/21
`00/23
`00/24
`00/23
`
`1.4
`NT
`09/31
`09/35
`10/38
`1.0/4.0
`0.7/3.6
`0.7/4.0
`07/40
`0.8/4.4
`05/40
`01/24
`0.1/2.6
`01/28
`00/20
`
`‘Fly. 3
`
`1.6
`NT
`10/30
`10/34
`1.2/4.0
`1.1/4.0
`1.2/4.5
`1.1/4.3
`09/41
`0.8/4.2
`09/45
`07/42
`0.1/2.3
`01/25
`0.0/1.8
`
`1.8
`NT
`NT
`1.4/3.9
`1.3/4.0
`1.4/4.3
`1.6/4.8
`1.3/4.4
`1.2/4.6
`1.3/5.0
`1.0/4.4
`0.8/4.1
`0.8/4.4
`09/47
`0.6/4.2
`
`2
`NT
`NT
`2.0/4.7
`1.7/4.5
`1.7/4.6
`1.8/4.9
`1.0/3.8
`1.1/4.2
`1.4/4.8
`1.2/4.6
`0.5/3.2
`1.2/5.0
`1.1/4.9
`1.2/5.3
`
`OPTIMIZED SINGLE POINT, PASSENGER COMPARTMENT MOUNTED SENSOR PERFORMANCE
`
`SCALED
`VELOCITY
`
`BARRIER SCALING FACTOR
`
`8 MPH
`10 MPH
`12 MPH
`14 MPH
`16 MPH
`18 MPH
`20 MPH
`22 MPH
`24 MPH
`26 MPH
`28 MPH
`30 MPH
`32 MPH
`34 MPH
`
`1
`NT
`4.7/10.3*
`2.2/6.7
`2.2/7.2
`2.2/7.6
`2.2/8.0
`2.0/7.9
`1.0/5.3
`.5/4.2
`.4/4
`.4/4.1
`.4/4.2
`.3/4.2
`.3/4.0
`
`1.2
`NT
`NT
`5.81121
`2.7/7.5
`2.7/7.9
`2.8/8.7
`3.1/9.3
`2.7/8.9
`1.6/6.5
`1.2/5.7
`.6/4.0
`.5/4.0
`.5/4.1
`.5/4.2
`
`1.4
`NT
`NT
`NT
`3.9/8.9
`3.4/8.5
`3.6/9.2
`3.7/9.7
`3.9/10.4
`3.9/10.8
`2.0/6.8
`1.8/6.6
`.8/4.2
`.7/7.2
`.7/4.3
`
`1.6
`NT
`NT
`NT
`NT
`4.2/9.3
`4.2/9.7
`4.3/11.2
`4.5/10.9
`4.8/11.6
`4.5/11.5
`2.7/7.8
`2.2/6.9
`2.1/7.0
`.9/4.5
`
`1.8
`NT
`NT
`NT
`NT
`NT
`5.0/10.5
`5.0/10.9
`5.21115
`5.4/12.0
`5.8/13
`5.9/13.5
`6.4/145
`2.6/7.4
`2.65/75
`
`2
`NT
`NT
`NT
`NT
`NT
`17.8/27.5
`5.9/11.7
`5.9/12.2
`6.1/12.8
`6.41135
`6.8/14.4
`7.1/15.1
`3.4/8.4
`4.0/9.6
`
`TzLg. 4
`
`

`
`U.S.
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 3 0f 50
`
`Us 7,481,453 B2
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 4 0f50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`El
`RUBBER
`
`-
`TIN COATED BRASS PLASTIC
`TIQ. 12
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 5 0f50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`Hg. 15
`
`‘FIG‘ 16 :IGREASE
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 6 0f50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`SIDE IMPACT
`CRUSH ZONE
`
`ENsoR
`
`1 59
`
`S
`
`/
`
`LAVA
`
`8
`
`/
`ELECTRONIC
`sENsoR 1
`
`T19. 20
`
`CRUSH ZONE
`/SENSOR
`\
`l6)0
`L5
`l
`?
`
`161
`\
`/
`]
`ELECTRONIC
`SENSOR 1
`?
`
`BALL-IN-TUBE
`
`/SENSOR
`\ |_‘?
`162
`NON-CRUSH
`£- ZONE-MOUNTED -|
`l sENs0R
`-?—
`
`AIRBAG Hg. 21
`
`MODULE
`
`2119.212
`
`ELECTRONIC
`/SENSOR
`
`5 163
`
`NON-CRUSH
`_1_— ZONE-MOUNTED
`i
`sENsoR :
`
`AIRBAG
`ODUL
`
`TIQ. 21<B
`
`Mg. 210
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 7 0f50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`M m
`
`_) cmsl'rzonefogrnugwn —— 170
`
`169
`
`—> Jli?i§f§§§§1°§$§
`
`Is there
`reac?on In
`crush zone’?
`
`Modify
`algorh‘hm or
`parameter based
`on reaction in A _/
`rush zon
`
`Are there
`condl‘rlons for
`deployment of resTrainT
`
`Deploy occupant
`resTrainT device
`
`FIG. 21a)
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 8 0f50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`9 9 1
`
`111g. 24
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 9 0f50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`111g. 27
`
`Occupant
`Sensor
`
`Accelerometer
`Anticipatory
`Crash Sensor / Crash Sensor
`
`Control
`Module
`
`‘Fly. 28
`
`m e h P s 0 m A
`
`Gas Generator
`
`Atmosphere
`
`5 nsor
`
`\?brotion Sens
`r
`25
`H
`
`Component
`
`266
`
`Voltage or
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 10 0f50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`Q I
`O u."
`
`Hg. 30
`
`14
`
`1
`
`22
`
`Monitor operaiion
`oi camponeni
`
`Pressure Sensor
`
`Cellular Phone
`
`266 DiQgnOS-?c
`Module
`
`Generals Signal
`g indicaiing abnormal
`operalian
`
`Determine currenl
`locair‘on of vehicle and
`locaiion ofl roadway
`
`Direct
`Direct signal la
`veiy'cle
`Orr [ guidance sysiem
`roadway 8 v
`‘
`44
`Operale guidance
`syslern i0 guide
`5f vehicle off
`0
`roadway
`
`Deierrnine paih from
`curreni iocaiion i0
`locairon qff roadway
`yum
`Direcl vehicle
`along pan
`
`Er
`
`NO
`
`Preveni
`\reenirv
`0i vehicle
`onio roadway
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 11 0f 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`r62
`
`Component
`
`operation monitoring
`system
`
`/,—64
`
`Operational soiellite-
`
`bosed/ground-bosed iocotion determining
`lslem
`
`/,_66
`
`_
`
`eu'dunce Mien‘
`
`g.
`
`1i Obtain data from staged crashes and other
`non-crash events plus occupant position
`weight, size, velocity etc, from sled tests
`
`I
`
`2. Analytically derive additional crash and
`event data from staged crashes and
`analytically determine occupant motion.
`
`I IMU
`L
`
`I
`
`314\
`I DGPS receiver I
`i
`
`I 0% receiverI
`l
`If
`Processor including T I g’,
`Kolmon filter
`
`_
`
`T15. 36
`
`(
`
`3. Design candidate neural network.
`
`v
`4. Train the candidate neural network.
`v
`5. Test the neural network using different data.
`V
`I 6. Redesign the network ifnecessary.
`
`I
`
`I 7. Output neural network algorithm.
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 12 0f50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`321 339 335 330 3 7
`
`33
`
`338
`
`345
`
`341
`
`323
`324 Mg. 38
`
`320
`
`333
`
`346
`
`329
`
`3
`
`327 325
`
`33
`
`332 326 328
`
`331
`
`322
`
`3 5 4
`
`PRIOR ART
`352
`350
`
`Mg. 39
`
`avg. 40
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 13 0f50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`383 -
`
`-.
`
`. L.
`
`FIG. 46
`
`393
`
`390
`
`391
`
`383
`
`384
`
`383
`
`384
`
`92
`
`82
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 14 0f50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`407
`
`406
`
`405
`
`421
`
`5 1 4
`
`5
`
`413
`
`426
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 15 0f50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`430
`
`Mg. 534;
`
`Mg. 536
`w
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 16 0f50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`(Hg. 53m
`
`451
`
`Mg. 53¢
`
`456
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 17 0f50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`433
`
`5
`456a1Vۤ
`
`455
`
`M56211
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 18 0f50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 19 of 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`
`
` .\\\\I§\‘§\‘_
`\\\\\\%\§‘
`
`
`
`521
`
`520
`
`
`
`I
`III:
`(£:::?')“Vg ..%.‘:.;§‘-\ 3
`I
`’!:::I
`IIIIII
`'
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 20 of 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`
`
`QC, 7:" " ’,
`
`
`
`Hg. fl
`
`‘L5 5
`
`
`
`Mg. 690
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 21 of 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 22 of 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`I9. 746
`
`Mg. 75,4
`
`831
`
`75D
`
`I” <%@JT"
`
`332
`
`"1
`1 750
`
`esa/\
`
`\«63o
`
`Mg. 7503
`
`.
`
`4
`
`
`
`Mg. 754)
`
`Mg. 756
`
`“*3
`
`831
`
`636
`
`\a630
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 23 of 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`644
`
`640
`
`642
`
`647
`
`643
`
`678
`
`675
`
`677
`
`657
`
`T19. 81(B
`
`646
`
`671
`
`Mg. 77
`
`672
`
`695
`
`-595
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 24 of 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`Hg. 86}!
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 25 of 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 26 of 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`
`
`
`,4/
`
`
`
`760
`
`735
`
`
`
`751 752 753
`
`7§3/716
`75071
`
`1* .-—
`AIIIIIIIEM
` '
`“
`,
`7
`\
`J “
`‘
`,.
`T19 91
`
`\755
`757759
`/
`DOOOOOC
`\755 758/ \\75>755
`“'79- 93
`avg. 92%!
`
`
`
`
`3
`
`T'"'I"f,-"'"
`"o‘a‘o“"‘
`'
`‘:5
`IoIQ.,.,..,.,ofa:o: .,_ ~
`.
`
`
`o 9 /
`.5p¢gqfia
`*.*s,:§:§:§:atm*.‘3.=.3 /
`
`
`‘’o‘''°'LT '9‘ ’o‘2~:~3°
`o‘a‘a‘“c;:=‘ ‘is’:
`
`‘
`«~—a:Ia7°f"I*3:~:~:
`
`~"~"~"* ~.«..
`A .‘.‘.J..
`9719.93}!
`
`786
`
`7 5
`<
`
`750
`\
`77‘\\ 761 76377§
`781 777
`~.
`\’
`
`762
`
`. 773 776
`
`776
`/755 767 575
`77/4 /6%68/
`I
`
`7
`
`"
`
`/772
`
`.
`
`
`
`
`780
`
`
`\77o
`\780
`779 782 784 776779
`V64
`avg. 93
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 27 of 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`Mg. 94
`
`«Hg. 96
`
`Hg. 95;:
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 28 of 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`«1-‘Ig. 93¢
`
`)7,-/817
`qarg. 9ag28‘8
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 29 of 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`
`
`820
`
` rg. 98:
`
`82 1
`
`
`
`Q
`0‘
`*0‘
`54
`
`826
`
`827
`FIG. 9894
`
`{of
`z‘
`
`823
`
`824
`
`Mg. 931:
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 30 of 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`CHEST ACCELERATION AND OCCUPANT
`
`MOTION WITH A CONVENTIONAL AIR BAG
`
`EHfiiI
`
`0»)O
`
`IQO
`
`DISPLACEMENT CHESTG(G/2),
`
`
`
`VELOCITY(MPH),DISPLACEMENT(INCH)
`
`-10
`
`0
`
`25
`
`50
`
`75
`
`100
`
`125
`
`TIME (MILLISECOND)
`
`Q;-I-g_ 101
`
`CHEST ACCELERATION AND OCCUPANT
`MOTION WITH A VARIABLE-VENT AIRBAG
`
`45O
`
`I
`150
`
`03O
`
`Ix.)0
`
`CHEST G
`
`§ DISPLACEMENT
`
`(INCH)
`CHESTG(G/2),VELOCITY(MPH),DISPLACEMENT
`
`
`
`
`0
`
`25
`
`50
`
`75
`
`100
`
`125
`
`150
`
`TIME (MILLISECOND)
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 31 of 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`
`
`11
`
`Mg. 103
`
`84
`
`9
`
`850
`48 841
`
`Mg. 104
`
`105A
`
`851
`
`84 '7
`
`Mg. 105
`
`854
`
`: 841
`
`Mg. 106
`
`Mg. 103;:
`
`-
`-
`-
`-
`- --I
`A
`8W 0
`
`TI .103$
`
`Mg. 106,1
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 32 of 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
` soc/847
`
`Mg. 108
`847
`
`868
`
`Mg. 108}!
`
`$70847
`T19‘. 1094
`
`72
`
`Mg. 109;:
`
`ga 11”
`
`
`
`
`Airbag '
`Exterior
`
`Detection Unit:
`Morphology, Type,
`Identification,
`Pos't'on,
`Craeili Severity
`
`8 76
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 33 0150
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`
`
`Airbag
`Interior
`
`Exterior
`
`
`
`
`
`asaeck rulin=25
`—-—-
`:2 F:;.: ::::::
`—- — Fzlu usa:\:\ mh'u=VW
`—o— experimenhl
`
`/
`
`/
`
`,1
`
`I,’
`
`/
`
`/
`
`/
`
`1/’,
`
`//
`
`‘
`
`2:0
`
`C
`g
`3
`8 150
`E
`-
`T:
`o ‘
`0)
`§
`2
`
`o
`
`0.02
`
`.
`(1.04
`
`.
`0.14
`0.12
`0.1
`one
`(me
`Volume frocfion of filler
`
`0.15
`
`0.13
`
`(12
`
`6"
`TD
`‘Y .1
`E ‘:0
`°\° 9
`8 O 5
`°’ E 7
`E C ‘
`0)“
`5
`'* E‘
`PE 2
`U ‘
`3 °,
`
`'5
`
`_"_,, "u,,
`,';
`,',
`,1,
`Weight °/o Microlite
`
`Mg. 113
`
`Mg. 114
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 34 0150
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`Cyan
`
`cfio iii
`
`Permeabilityreuasassssasséééié
`
`MAXIMUM % SOLIDS WITH VARYING
`
`. MICROLITE [W/BL100)
`
`Maximum%solids
`
`n
`
`5
`
`In
`:5
`2c
`weight % Microlite
`
`25
`
`JD
`
`35
`
`5
`
`H
`
`‘
`5
`
`‘
`W
`
`'
`'5
`
`'
`'
`‘
`’
`79% lliflicrnbliteu
`
`""'*‘ :‘
`M’
`A5
`H
`
`9"-'9 115
`
`mg. 116
`
`O M,
`=8 4.»
`-5 mm
`%’ Ii:
`
`m.»
`
`4; nor
`W
`1:?
`
`BUTYL./FILLER RATIO FOR
`VARYING MICROLITE
`[W/BL1 00)
`
`‘
`
`‘
`"'3/0 Miaomé
`Mg. 117
`
`£7
`c“3;;;
`23;:
`E é’:::
`§ girfi-_
`5“?F935
`Ep
`E:
`5:3
`.
`
`°
`
`’
`
`AFNH
`
`—¢—Before
`
`,
`Weigfif °/0 R"/licrolife
`H9. 118
`
`-Coo1ed(3) 30
`
`¢Normo|[1)
`
`¢Normo|(2]
`
`ACorcoss[1)
`ACorcoss(2)
`OCocI1ed[1)
`OCocned(2]
`
`4D
`
`Tirzrie [days]
`Mg. 119
`
`§
`
`C Q
`
`$9
`D.
`§
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 35 of 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`x
`
`‘1""IG- 1222"!
`
`I
`
`V
`
`r1~"Ig.122m
`into companments
`
`Cut two pieces of
`fabric wflh optional
`barrier coatin
`
`
`
`ea eges 0 pieces
`
`
`1oge1her1o form
`airbag whlle leaving
`
` e ermrne oc on o
`
`partifion lines for
`partitioning airbag
`
`
`
`Airbag dessgn
`accep1abIe
`
`(913
`
`F1\/xz
`
`«Mg. 125;;
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 36 of 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`
`
`‘R’-E
`
`mg. 126$
`
`"T
`
`mg. 1274;
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 37 of 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`FIG. 128
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 38 of 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`FIG. 129
`
`.36.
`,.::.*.‘ .?'};f:;« ..‘‘‘a\
`
`.
`
`FIG. 130
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 39 of 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`FIG. 131
`
`\ F
`
`IG. 132
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 40 of 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`FIG. 133
`
`FIG. 134
`
`FIG. 135
`
`4o ----~5
`
`3o
`
`10
`
`20
`
`30
`
`9° vb;8R/o
`
`
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 41 of 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`Pnwe:G:aphics
`EFACE'I‘= 1
`AVRE5=Mat
`SMX =61D.316
`
`
`
`D7
`
`6.29
`152.579
`223.369
`3 U5 . 158
`3B1.44B
`457.737
`534.027
`610.316
`
`FIG. 136
`
`
`
`FIG. 137
`
`
`
`FIG. 138
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 42 of 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`FIG. 139
`
`
`
`FIG. 140
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 43 of 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`I
`..__-_-r--.___
`I
`I
`I
`I
`__-__,------___-__,._--__
`I
`I
`I
`
`II
`
`_.I_________-.._;.-__--
`
`0O1
`
`0
`
`0.002
`
`0.006
`0.004
`dist. rn
`
`0.008
`
`0.01
`
`0.02
`
`0.04
`
`0.06
`dist. m
`
`0.08
`
`0.1
`
`0.12
`
`FIG. I4lA
`
`FIG. 141B
`
`/___,__\_/_____
`
`
`
`
`
`OO0UU9..46n_..0.
`
`mnE.mm:u_
`
`0.002
`
`_..___.__,.,_________I./_IIILIIII
`
`._._0______V—/..__,.II4IJIIIIAIIIIAIIII
`
`0.006
`0.004
`dist. rn
`
` G__._,___,_______Im____|.||_||||.|I||_llII_W.___4____,,__,__I0.___III.\4\\\I_IIII_IIII
`
`
`
`0.008
`
`0.01
`
`FIG. 141C
`
`321
`
`
`
`max.w..:mmo..m
`
`so
`
`100
`150
`Tim e. m s
`
`200
`
`FIG. 142
`
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 44 of 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`Kasp
`
`FIG. I44
`
`1
`
`—
`
`»
`
`
`
`9u
`
`2E
`
`.03
`C7
`
`600
`
`.
`
`-
`
`-
`
`075-1,2,3, closed
`
`---~o—— 075—|
`——¢-075-II
`—o:—O75-I closed calculated
`500 ——A—075-|l calculated
`—o—o75-III
`waw 075-I, calculated
`
`0,IiterIsec
`400
`
`—
`
`d
`
`300
`
`200
`
`100
`
`0
`
`-
`
`.
`5
`
`no-"""""'
`
`V...--==—'
`/A“%/
`A/A-~A
`
`—1
`
` £/A13,
`
`1o
`
`15
`
`FIG. 145
`
`20
`
`25
`
`P,atm
`
`.
`so
`
`35
`
`40
`
`10,0
`
`9’ 0
`
`
`
`’
`
`4,0
`
`3.0
`2,0
`
`1,0
`0,0
`
`E
`
`‘
`
`
`
`20 P’ am 25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`
`V
`"°I‘=d=-‘«"*" D‘D75_1‘ ulallttd
`:
`—o—o7s_|
`8,0
`:
`—u—o75_2
`T
`—o—a75_2,u|:msn
`7.0 1’
`—o—a7s_3
`KaS|:5,o EL
`5,0 {-1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`—
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 45 of 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`
`
`P, atm
`
`FIG. 147
`
`FIG. 148
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 46 of 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`FIG. 149
`
`0.100, Z—2,3‘4. closed
` 0
`—O—O.1CO, Z-2
`—a—o,1oo,z-3
`—a—0,1Co,Z-4
`
` 700
`
`
`
`
`600
`
`500
`
`1:
`
`Co 83
`
`3
`
`9 §
`
`3 400
`E
`< 300
`
`3
`
`:
`*5
`5- 200 ‘
`3
`_
`O 100 '
`E
`.
`
`o "
`
`0
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`—-a-—o,1oo.z-4
`_D*0,100,z—3-
`
`:
`
`I
`
`a i5
`
`P
`
`50
`
`3.5
`
`L
`
`Inlet Pressure, atm
`
`D.
`on
`
`~
`1
`
`5
`
`1'0
`
`2‘o
`1'5
`Inlet Pressure. atm
`
`2'5
`
`FIG. 150
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 47 of 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`FIG. 151
`
`FIG. 153
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 48 of 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`FIG. 154
`
`—n—0.100,2z=50-1.open
`—a—o_1oo.2z=34,5o-1,cIosed
`
`—o—0.100.2z=34-1, open
`
`‘
`
`—u—0,1o0. 21=34-2, open
`—O—0.1w. 2z=34.50-2, closed
`
`—o—0.1m,2z=S0-2, open
`
`1200
`
`1000
`
`800
`
`600
`
`400
`
`200
`
`
`
`
`
`TotalOutputAirflow,literslsecon
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`Inlet Pressure, atm
`
`Kasp
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`Inlet Pressure, atm
`
`FIG. 155
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 49 of 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`_____Um._
`
`__._____
`
`-1:---:_....-:_.....
`
`
`
`In,....:__....--__....
`
`omm:2__.o
`
`_____.__M‘_,OOO0O0OOO0O5O5052211
`
`
`
` run...|xn|III.III|u:1.IIIIIIIIIII||I___V____.__.
`
`
`
`
`
`__________._
`
`
`_.:_....
`
` -L_....L._______.____,___.,_|I._xI:I1....II::nn..vII||4J___,________NH--.n----;_....J.....--
`
`50304138D.2212SSSXD.D.D.D.eXXXXeeee5______4.___..__,,
`
`
`
`.wm.wm.wm_fi.wm.w.m.fi.w.mhohohohohohohoho
`
`mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
`
`
`
`
`
`__+++;vx4xX{OIOIOI
`
`FIG. 156
`
`P, kPa
`
`75(exp5) —+o~—
`75(exp20) -—+—
`xx/\
`75(exp23) —I—
`150(exp1 0)
`1 50(exp24)
`s1
`s3
`s8
`
`IOA
`
`P, kPa
`
`FIG. 157
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 50 of 50
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`
`
`
`
`TotalOutputAirflow,literslsecond
`
`FIG. 158
`
`1200
`
`1000
`
`800
`
`600
`
`400
`
`200
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`Inlet Pressure, atm
`
`

`
`1
`INFLATOR SYSTEM
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is a continuation-in-part of:
`1) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/043,557 filed Jan. 11,
`2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,905,135 which is a continu-
`ation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/925,
`062 filed Aug. 8, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,036,
`which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applica-
`tion Ser. No. 09/767,020 filed Jan. 23, 2001, now U.S.
`Pat. No. 6,533,316, which is:
`A) a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent
`application Ser. No. 09/073,403 filed May 6, 1998,
`now U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,326, which is:
`1) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application
`Ser. No. 08/571,247 filed Dec. 12, 1995, now U.S.
`Pat. No. 5,772,238; and
`2) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application
`Ser. No. 08/550,217 filed Oct. 30, 1995, now aban-
`doned; and
`B) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser.
`No. 09/356,314 filed Jul. 16, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No.
`6,326,704, which is:
`1) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application
`Ser. No. 08/947,661 filed Oct. 9, 1997, now aban-
`doned which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §1 19
`(e) of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.
`60/028,046 filed Oct. 10, 1996; and
`2) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application
`Ser. No. 09/137,918 filedAug. 20, 1998, now U.S.
`Pat. No. 6,175,787;
`2) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/278,721 filed Oct.
`23,2002 claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e)ofU.S.
`provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/348,720 filed
`Oct. 23, 2001;
`3) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/638,743 filed Aug.
`11, 2003 which is:
`A) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser.
`No. 08/962,827 filed Nov. 3, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No.
`6,609,903 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
`patent application Ser. No. 08/476,076 filed Jun. 7,
`1995, now U.S. patent application Ser. No. 05/684,
`701;
`B) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser.
`No. 10/331,060 filed Dec. 27, 2002 which is:
`1) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application
`Ser. No. 09/862,530 filed May 22, 2001, now U.S.
`Pat. No. 6,557,889, which is:
`a) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application
`Ser. No. 09/452,735 filed Dec. 1, 1999, now U.S.
`Pat. No. 6,234,519; and
`b) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application
`Ser. No. 09/748,489 filed Dec. 26, 2000, now
`U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,126; and
`2) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application
`Ser. No. 08/865,525 filed May 29, 1997, now U.S.
`Pat. No. 6,532,408;
`C) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser.
`No. 09/435,045 filed Nov. 8, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No.
`6,685,218, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
`patent application Ser. No. 09/114,962 filed July 14,
`1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,265;
`D) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser.
`No. 10/188,673 filed Jul. 3, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No.
`6,738,697 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`2
`
`patent application Ser. No. 09/753,186 filed Jan. 2,
`2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,080, which is a con-
`tinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
`09/137,918 filed Aug. 20, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No.
`6,175,787.
`E) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser.
`No. 10/330,938 filed Dec. 27, 2002,now U.S. Pat.No.
`6,823,244;
`4) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/817,379 filedApr. 2,
`2004, now abandoned, which is:
`A. a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser.
`No. 09/888,575 filed Jun. 25, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No.
`6,715,790, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
`patent application Ser. No. 09/535,198, filed Mar. 27,
`2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,668, which is a con-
`tinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
`09/071,801, filed May 4, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No.
`6,149,194, which is a continuation-in-part of:
`1) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/626,493, filed
`Apr. 2, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,446, whichis
`a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application
`Ser. No. 08/571,247, filed Dec. 12, 1995, now U.S.
`Pat. No. 5,772,238; and
`2) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/795,418, filed
`Feb. 4, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,068; and
`B. a continuation-in part of U.S. patent application Ser.
`No. 10/413,318 filed Apr. 14, 2003 now abandoned
`which claims priority under35 U.S.C. §119(e)ofU.S.
`provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/374,282
`filed Apr. 19, 2002; and
`5) U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/974,919 filed Oct. 27,
`2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,040,653.
`This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser.
`No. 08/247,763 filed May 23, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,
`485, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/539,676, filed
`Oct. 5, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,464, all of which
`provide pertinent disclosure relative to this specification and
`are incorporated by reference herein.
`All of the above applications and patents, and any applica-
`tions, publications and patents mentioned below, are incor-
`porated herein by reference in their entirety and made a part
`hereof.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for
`sensing a vehicle crash, such as a frontal crash, a side impact,
`a rear impact or a rollover, for the purpose of, for example,
`controlling an occupant protection system.
`The present invention also relates to steering wheel assem-
`blies for vehicles and vehicles including the same and more
`particularly to steering wheel assemblies which interact with
`an occupant protection system to improve the deployment
`thereof.
`
`The present invention also relates to a side curtain airbag
`system which deploys to prevent injury to vehicle occupants
`in a side impact or rollover accident.
`The present invention also relates to airbags made from
`plastic film such as a side curtain airbag arranged to deploy
`along the side of a vehicle to protect occupants during a crash
`involving the vehicle, including a rollover. The side curtain
`airbag may even wrap around a front-seated occupant, i.e.,
`have a frontal portion designed to deploy between a front-
`seated occupant and the dashboard. Also there may be a
`plurality plastic film airbags that deploy in the event of a
`vehicle crash. In some cases, such plastic film airbags may
`
`

`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`3
`deploy to fill substantially all of the front passenger compart-
`ment of an automotive or truck vehicle.
`
`The present invention also relates to airbags having inter-
`connected compartments
`for use in vehicular crashes
`whereby the airbags deploy before or during the crash to
`cushion the occupant of the vehicle and prevent injury to the
`occupant. The present invention also relates to a method for
`making an airbag having interconnected compartments and
`an occupant protection system including an airbag with inter-
`connected compartments.
`The present invention also relates to vehicular airbags hav-
`ing a low mass and made substantially from thin plastic film
`which are designed to deploy in a crash involving the vehicle
`so that if they impact the vehicle occupant wherever located,
`they will not cause significant injury to the occupant. In order
`to make a film airbag of sufficiently low mass so as not to
`injure the occupant, it has been recognized that the film airbag
`should be designed to arrest the propagation of a tear so that
`a small hole or break in the film does not result in a cata-
`
`strophic failure, i.e., cause the airbag to burst like a balloon or
`otherwise prevent the airbag from deploying properly. One
`particular method of arresting the propagation of a tear ofthis
`invention is to use a combination of an elastomeric film and a
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`reinforcement structure which in certain embodiments may
`be the elastomeric material itself constructed in a variable
`
`25
`
`thickness pattern, i.e., have thinner and thicker sections, or in
`a manner so that it has strategically placed thicker sections,
`i.e., relative to remaining portions of the material, in view of
`stress considerations during deployment. Another particular
`method of arresting the propagation of a tear is to formulate
`the plastic film so that it exhibits the property of blunting, as
`described below. One method of achieving this property is to
`laminate two or more plastic films having different properties
`together. Typically, one ofthe films is more rigid and the other
`more elastic. One example is a lamination comprising
`NYLON 6,6® and polyurethane films.
`The present invention also relates to airbags including bar-
`rier coatings which provide reductions in gas, chemical and
`vapor permeability, especially side curtain airbags.
`The present invention also relates to methods for manufac-
`turing airbag modules including an airbag having a barrier
`coating and an associated inflator.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The invention relates to several different areas and a dis-
`
`cussion of some particular areas of interest follows. All men-
`tioned patents, published patent applications and literature
`are incorporated by reference herein.
`1. Crash Sensors
`
`1.1 Pattern Recognition Approach to Crash Sensing
`Pattern recognition techniques, such as artificial neural
`networks are finding increased application in solving a vari-
`ety of problems such as optical character recognition, face
`recognition, voice recognition, and military target identifica-
`tion. In the automotive industry in particular, pattern recog-
`nition techniques are applied to identify various objects
`within the passenger compartment of the vehicle, such as a
`rear facing child seat, as well as to identify threatening objects
`with respect to the vehicle, such as an approaching vehicle
`about to impact the side ofthe vehicle (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos.
`5,829,782, 6,343,810 and U.S. RE37260).
`Pattern recognition techniques are also applied to sense
`automobile crashes for the purpose of determining whether or
`not to deploy an airbag or other passive restraint, or to tighten
`the seatbelts, cutoff the fuel system, or unlock the doors after
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`4
`
`the crash (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,684,701). In the past,
`pattern recognition techniques were not applied to forecast
`the severity of automobile crashes for the purpose of control-
`ling the flow of gas into and/or out of an airbag to tailor the
`airbag inflation characteristics and/or to control seatbelt
`retractors, pretensioners and energy dissipaters to match the
`crash severity. Furthermore, such techniques were also not
`used to control the flow of gas into and/or out of an airbag to
`tailor the airbag inflation characteristics to the size, position
`and/or relative velocity of the occupant or other factors such
`as seatbelt usage, seat and seat back positions, headrest posi-
`tion, vehicle velocity, etc.
`Neural networks are constructed of processing elements
`known as neurons that are interconnected using information
`channels often called interconnects organized into different
`layers. Each neuron can have multiple inputs but generally
`only one output. Each output however is usually connected to
`all other neurons in the next layer in the direction of process-
`ing. The neurons in the first layer operate collectively on the
`input data as described in more detail below. Neural networks
`learn by extracting relational information from the data and
`the desired output. Neural networks have been applied to a
`wide variety of pattern recognition problems including auto-
`mobile occupant sensing, speech recognition, optical charac-
`ter recognition, and handwriting analysis.
`1.2 Electronic Crash Sensors
`
`Electronic crash sensors currently used in sensing frontal
`impacts typically include accelerometers mounted in the pas-
`senger compartment that detect and measure vehicle accel-
`erations during the crash. The accelerometer produces an
`analog signal proportional to the acceleration experienced by
`the accelerometer and hence the vehicle on which it
`is
`
`mounted. An analog to digital converter (ADC) transforms
`this analog signal into a digital time series. Crash sensor
`designers study this digital acceleration data and derive there-
`from computer algorithms which determine whether the
`acceleration data from a particular crash event warrants
`deployment of the airbag. This is usually a trial and error
`process wherein the engineer or crash sensor designer
`observes data from crashes where the airbag is desired and
`when it is not needed, and other events, such as rough road
`and abusive incidents, where the airbag is not needed. Finally,
`the engineer or crash sensor designer settles on the “rules” for
`controlling deployment of the airbag which are programmed
`into an algorithm which seem to satisfy the requirements of
`the crash library, i.e., the crash data accumulated from numer-
`ous crashes and other events and the associated desired
`
`restraint reaction. The resulting algorithm is not universal and
`most such engineers or crash sensor designers will answer in
`the negative when asked whether their algorithm will work
`for all vehicles. Such an algorithm also merely determines
`that the airbag should or should not be triggered. Prior to the
`current assignee’s activities, no attempt is believed to have
`been made to ascertain or forecast the eventual severity of the
`crash or, more specifically, to forecast the velocity change
`versus time of the passenger compartment from the previous
`acceleration data obtained from the accelerometer.
`
`Several papers as listed below have been published point-
`ing out some of the problems and limitations of electronic
`crash sensors mounted out of the crush zone of the vehicle,
`usually in a protected location in the passenger compartment
`ofthe vehicle. These sensors are frequently called single point
`crash sensors. Technical papers which discuss the limitations
`of current single point sensors along with discussions of the
`theory of crash sensing are listed below. The only use of
`electronic sensors at the time of the filing of the current
`assignee’s earliest parent patent application (US. Pat. No.
`
`

`
`US 7,481,453 B2
`
`5
`5,842,716 filed Sep. 16, 1993) was for non-crush zone sens-
`ing of frontal crashes. U.S. Pat. No. 3,701,903 shows crash
`sensors mounted near the front ofthe vehicle but it also point