Patent ID: 6536799
Filing Date: 2003-03-25
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A safety device for a motor vehicle, comprising:a single-chamber airbag configuration configured to operate as a sensing airbag and as a protective airbag, said single-chamber airbag configuration, when operating as said sensing airbag, having a main deployment direction and having a rear region as seen in the main deployment direction; said single-chamber airbag configuration having given wall sections at said rear region and having catch straps disposed at said given wall sections, said catch straps being formed with at least one set breaking point; said single-chamber airbag configuration being configured to be deployed in an inflation sequence, said catch straps prevent at least portions of said given wall sections from being unfolded in an initial stage of the inflation sequence such that first said single-chamber airbag configuration is inflated to operate as said sensing airbag, and, subsequent to said single-chamber airbag configuration being inflated for operating as said sensing airbag and with increasing pressure in said single-chamber airbag configuration, said catch straps tear at the at least one set breaking point and said single-chamber airbag configuration is fully inflated such that said single-chamber airbag configuration operates as said protective airbag; said single-chamber airbag configuration, when operating as said sensing air bag, being finger-shaped and having a first volume, and said single-chamber airbag configuration, when operating as said protective airbag, having a second volume, said first volume being smaller than said second volume; at least one gas generator configured to be activatable in a vehicle impact event and configured to inflate said single-chamber airbag configuration with a relatively lower power in order to operate as said sensing airbag substantially prior to inflating said single-chamber airbag configuration with a relatively higher power in order to operate as said protective airbag; said single-chamber airbag configuration, when operating as said protective airbag, being inflated into a given inflation zone for providing a support function; said single-chamber airbag configuration, when operating as said sensing airbag, being configured to extend into the given inflation zone and configured to sense an obstacle disposed in the given inflation zone; a touch-sensing device connected to said single-chamber airbag configuration, said touch-sensing device providing a given control signal when said single-chamber airbag configuration operates as said sensing airbag and encounters the obstacle; a control device connected to said touch-sensing device for receiving the given control signal from said touch-sensing device; said control device, when being provided with the given control signal from said touch-sensing device, performing a control operation selected from the group consisting of preventing said at least one gas generator from further inflating said single-chamber airbag configuration in order to prevent said single-chamber airbag configuration from operating as said protective airbag and enabling said at least one gas generator to perform a reduced-power inflation function for inflating said single-chamber airbag configuration in order to operate as said protective airbag; and said control device, when the given control signal from said touch-sensing device is absent, enabling said at least one gas generator to perform a full-power inflation function for inflating said single-chamber airbag configuration in order to operate as said protective airbag.