Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-18
2001-06-26
Dickson, Paul N. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C180S268000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250672
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to automotive vehicle inflatable occupant restraint systems such as airbags. More particularly, it relates to such a restraint system having an automatic airbag disable system and an indicator for alerting the driver of the vehicle when the passenger seat airbag is disarmed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Since inflatable occupant restraint systems have come into widespread use in the automotive industry, it has been observed that there are certain instances in which it may be desirable to deactivate the airbag system, or a portion thereof. Exemplary of such an instance is that present when a rear-facing infant seat is placed in the front passenger position and is not properly positioned for use with the airbag. Another example is that of a driver who is small in stature and must operate a vehicle from a seating position that is very close to the steering wheel of the vehicle.
Airbag systems have been developed which include a manually actuated switch for deactivating the airbag for the passenger seat and/or driver seat positions. It is known to provide a visual indicator such as a lamp to indicate to occupants of the vehicle when one or both of the airbags are deactivated. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,880, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
It is also known to provide an airbag system in which either airbag may be disabled automatically depending upon one or more inputs from sensors in the vehicle passenger compartment. For example, it is known to provide a weight sensor in the passenger seat and institute control logic which turns OFF or disables the passenger side airbag automatically when a weight below a certain threshold level is present in the passenger seat. The threshold weight level may be selected to constitute a cut-off line between a large-statured person, for whom normal airbag operation is considered appropriate, and a small statured person, for whom the airbag should be disabled. An indicator lamp is illuminated when the airbag is OFF to provide confirmation to the driver and the passenger of the fact that the airbag is disabled.
The above-described control logic may be further configured so that when the passenger seat weight sensor detects a weight below a second, lower threshold value (for example, 15 lbs.), the seat is considered to be completely unoccupied, as opposed to occupied by a small-statured person. In this case, the airbag is disabled because it is not needed, but the lamp is not illuminated because the driver does not require positive confirmation of the airbag being disabled. The lower threshold value is preferably not zero so that relatively light objects such as grocery bags, packages, purses, or the like may be set on the passenger seat without unnecessarily illuminating the “airbag off” lamp.
One possible shortcoming inherent in the above-described system may become apparent if a light-weight infant carrier seat containing a small infant is placed in the passenger seat and secured in place for travel. The total weight of the seat and infant will be less than the upper threshold, so that the airbag is disabled, as is appropriate. However the weight may also be below the lower threshold value so that the “airbag off” lamp is not illuminated, and hence the driver is not provided with any positive confirmation that the airbag is disabled.
It is also known to provide an airbag circuit which includes a sensor for determining the status of the seat belt buckle so that the operation of the airbag system may be adjusted depending on whether the occupant is belted or unbelted. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,982,048.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention contemplates an inflatable passenger restraint system for use in an automotive vehicle having at least one passenger seat adapted to receive either an occupant in a normal sitting position or a child safety seat. The restraint system includes a passenger airbag in front of the passenger seat and a seat belt associated with the passenger seat for securing persons or a child safety seat position. An occupant classification system is operative to determine physical characteristics of the passenger seat occupant, such as size, weight and position. A seat belt sensor is operative to detect whether or not the seat belt is in a fastened condition. An airbag control circuit receives inputs from the occupant classification system and alternatively arms or disarms the passenger airbag in response thereto.
An airbag condition indicator is provided in the passenger compartment of the automobile and is operative to alert the vehicle driver when the passenger seat airbag is disarmed. In keeping with the prior art, the airbag condition indicator does not alert the driver if the occupant classification system indicates that the seat is not occupied by a person. According to the invention, the logic controlling activation of the airbag condition indicator takes into account whether the seat belt is fastened or unfastened and activates the indicator if the belt is fastened even if the seat otherwise appears to be unoccupied. Accordingly, if an infant carrier seat is secured in the passenger seat using the seat belt and the infant seat and infant do not have the proper size, weight, or other characteristics to cause the occupant classification system to send a “seat occupied” signal to the airbag control circuit, the airbag condition indicator provides the driver with positive confirmation that the airbag is disarmed.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5174600 (1992-12-01), Jahn et al.
patent: 5400867 (1995-03-01), Muller et al.
patent: 5482314 (1996-01-01), Corrado et al.
patent: 5720519 (1998-02-01), Barnes
patent: 5721527 (1998-02-01), Simmons et al.
patent: 5982048 (1999-11-01), Fendt et al.
patent: 5992879 (1999-11-01), Bogge
patent: 5992880 (1999-11-01), Cuddihy
patent: 6026340 (2000-02-01), Corrado et al.
patent: WO 98/51547 (1998-11-01), None
patent: WO 00/13945 (2000-03-01), None
Abramczyk William Michael
Ryan Sean Timothy
Dickson Paul N.
Fleming Faye M.
Ford Global Technologies Inc.
Smith Gary A.
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