Vehicle airbag system

An assembly includes a seat having a seat bottom that includes a top surface. The assembly includes an airbag supported by the seat and inflatable to an inflated position. The airbag in the inflated position includes a bottom end positioned below the top surface. The assembly includes a pyrotechnic retractor supported by the seat bottom. The assembly includes a tether connected to the bottom end of the airbag and to the pyrotechnic retractor such that actuation of the pyrotechnic retractor retracts the tether and urges the bottom end of the airbag toward the seat bottom.

BACKGROUND

A vehicle may include amenities that allow occupants to face one another during operation of the vehicle. As one example, an autonomous vehicle may be autonomously operated, allowing occupants of the vehicle to ride in the vehicle without monitoring the operation of the vehicle. Specifically, the autonomous vehicle may include seats free to rotate between rides of the vehicle between forward-facing and rearward-facing positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An assembly includes a seat having a seat bottom that includes a top surface. The assembly includes an airbag supported by the seat and inflatable to an inflated position, the airbag in the inflated position including a bottom end positioned below the top surface. The assembly includes a pyrotechnic retractor supported by the seat bottom. The assembly includes a tether connected to the bottom end of the airbag and to the pyrotechnic retractor such that actuation of the pyrotechnic retractor retracts the tether and urges the bottom end of the airbag toward the seat bottom.

The assembly may include a webbing elongated along the bottom end of the airbag, the tether fixed to the webbing.

The assembly may include a webbing retractor supported by the seat, the webbing extending from the webbing retractor.

The seat may include a seatback, the webbing retractor supported by the seatback.

The seatback may include a frame, the webbing retractor fixed to the seatback.

The webbing retractor may be supported by the seat at a right side and further comprising a second retractor supported by the seat at a left side, the webbing extending from the second retractor.

The webbing may be fixed to the airbag.

The webbing may be fixed to the airbag between the tether and the webbing retractor.

The seat bottom may include a frame, the pyrotechnic retractor fixed to the frame.

The pyrotechnic retractor may be supported at a front end of the seat bottom.

The pyrotechnic retractor may be supported at a right side of the seat bottom and the assembly may include a second pyrotechnic retractor supported at a left side of the seat bottom and a second tether connected to the bottom end of the airbag and to the second pyrotechnic retractor.

The seat may include a seatback, the airbag supported by the seatback.

The airbag in the inflated position may extend upward from the seatback and forward of the seat bottom.

The airbag in the inflated position may extend from a right side and a left side of the seatback.

The airbag in the inflated position may surround an occupant cavity.

The seat may include a head restraint supported by the seat back, the head restraint disposed with in the occupant cavity surrounded by the airbag in the inflated position.

The airbag in the inflated position may include a first chamber and a second chamber.

The first chamber may be at a right side of the seat and the second chamber may be at a left side of the seat.

The assembly may include a computer having a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to actuate the pyrotechnic retractor a specified amount of time after actuating inflation of the airbag.

With reference to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, an assembly20for controlling kinematics of an occupant of a vehicle22is shown. The assembly20includes a seat24having a seat bottom26that includes a top surface28. The assembly20includes an airbag30supported by the seat24and inflatable to an inflated position. The airbag30in the inflated position includes a bottom end32positioned below the top surface28of the seat bottom26. The assembly20includes a pyrotechnic retractor34supported by the seat bottom26. The assembly20includes a tether36connected to the bottom end32of the airbag30and to the pyrotechnic retractor34.

In the event of certain impacts to the vehicle22, the airbag30may be inflated to the inflated position to surround an occupant of the seat24. The airbag30in the inflated position may control kinematics of the occupant in the seat24. During inflation, the airbag30may travel over a head and shoulders of the occupant as the airbag30moves toward the inflated position. After the airbag30has moved downward over the shoulders of the occupant to below the top surface28of the seat bottom26, the pyrotechnic retractor34may be actuated to retract the tether36and urge the bottom end32of the airbag30toward the seat bottom26, e.g., drawing the airbag30closer to the occupant and controlling kinematics of legs of the occupant.

With reference toFIG.1, the vehicle22may be any suitable type of automobile, e.g., a passenger or commercial automobile such as a sedan, a coupe, a truck, a sport utility, a crossover, a van, a minivan, a taxi, a bus, etc. The vehicle22, for example, may be autonomous. In other words, the vehicle22may be autonomously operated such that the vehicle22may be driven without constant attention from a driver, i.e., the vehicle22may be self-driving without human input.

The vehicle22includes a body (not numbered) including rockers, roof rails, pillars, body panels, vehicle roof, etc. The vehicle22includes a passenger compartment (not numbered) to house occupants, if any, of the vehicle22. The passenger compartment may extend across the vehicle22, i.e., from one side to the other side of the vehicle22. The passenger compartment includes a front end and a rear end with the front end being in front of the rear end during forward movement of the vehicle22.

With continued reference toFIG.1, the vehicle22may include one or more seats24. Specifically, the vehicle22may include any suitable number of seats24. The seats24are supported by a vehicle floor (not numbered). The seats24may be arranged in any suitable arrangement in the passenger compartment. As in the example shown in the Figures, one or more of the seats24may be at the front end of the passenger compartment, e.g., a driver seat and/or a passenger seat. In other examples, one or more of the seats24may be behind the front end of the passenger compartment, e.g., at the rear end of the passenger compartment. The seats24may be movable relative to the vehicle22floor to various positions, e.g., movable fore-and-aft and/or cross-vehicle. The seat24may be of any suitable type, e.g., a bucket seat.

Each seat24may include a seatback38, the seat bottom26, and a head restraint40. An occupant of the seat24may sit upon the top surface28of the seat24with their back against the seatback38. The head restraint40may be supported by and extend upwardly from the seatback38. The head restraint40may be stationary or movable relative to the seatback38. The seatback38may be supported by the seat bottom26and may be stationary or movable relative to the seat bottom26. The seatback38may extend from an upper end (not numbered) to a lower end (not numbered). The lower end may be connected to the seat bottom26. The upper end of the seatback38may be spaced upwardly from the lower end of the seatback38, i.e., upwardly from the top surface28of the seat bottom26. The seatback38, the seat bottom26, and the head restraint40may be adjustable in multiple degrees of freedom. Specifically, the seatback38, the seat bottom26, and the head restraint40may themselves be adjustable. In other words, adjustable components within the seatback38, the seat bottom26, and the head restraint40may be adjustable relative to each other.

With reference toFIG.2, the seatback38includes a frame42and a covering (not numbered) supported on the frame42. The frame42may include tubes, beams, etc. Specifically, the frame42may include a pair of upright frame members44. The upright frame members44are elongated, and specifically, are elongated in a generally upright direction when the seatback38is in a generally upright position. The upright frame members44are spaced from each other and the frame42includes one or move cross-members (not numbered) extending between the upright frame members44. The frame42, including the upright frame members44, may be of any suitable plastic material, e.g., carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), glass fiber-reinforced semi-finished thermoplastic composite (organosheet), etc. As another example, some or all components of the frame42may be formed of a suitable metal, e.g., steel, aluminum, etc. The covering may include upholstery, padding, and/or plastic portions. The upholstery may be cloth, leather, faux leather, or any other suitable material. The upholstery may be stitched in panels around the frame42. The padding may be between the covering and the frame42and may be foam or any other suitable material.

The seat bottom26can include a frame46. The frame46may include tubes, beams, etc. Specifically, the frame46may include a pair of frame members48elongated in a seat-forward direction, e.g., between the seatback38and a front of the seat bottom26. The frame members48are spaced from each other along a cross-seat axis. The frame42may include cross-members (not numbered) extending between the frame members48. The cross-member may be elongated along the cross-seat axis. The frame46can include a seat pan (not shown). The seat pan may be generally planar and extend from one of the frame members48to the other of the frame members48, e.g., along the cross-seat axis. The seat pan may be fixed to the frame members48. The frame46, including the frame members48, the cross-members, and the seat pan may be of any suitable plastic material, e.g., carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), glass fiber-reinforced semi-finished thermoplastic composite (organosheet), etc. As another example, some or all components of the frame46may be formed of a suitable metal, e.g., steel, aluminum, etc. The seat bottom26can include a covering (not numbered). The covering may include upholstery and padding. The upholstery may be cloth, leather, faux leather, or any other suitable material. The upholstery may be stitched in panels around the frame46. The padding may be between the upholstery and the frame46. The padding may be foam or any other suitable material.

The seat bottom26includes the top surface28. The top surface28may be an outer surface of the covering and facing upward. The top surface28may be a class-A surface, i.e., a finished surface exposed to view by a customer and free of unaesthetic blemishes and defects. The occupant of the seat24may sit upon the top surface28.

Each seat24may rotate about a vertical axis (not numbered) that extends through the vehicle roof and the vehicle floor. For example, the seats24may rotate between a forward-facing position and a rearward-facing position. In the forward-facing position, an occupant of the seat24faces the front end of the passenger compartment. In the rearward-facing position, an occupant of the seat24faces the rear end of the passenger compartment. The seats24may rotate completely, i.e., 360°, about the vertical axis. The seats24may rotate between fixed positions, e.g., the forward-facing position and the rearward-facing position, or may be rotatable to an infinite number of positions.

With reference toFIGS.2-4, one or more of the seats24may include an airbag assembly. The airbag assembly includes the airbag30, an inflator50, and may include a housing (not shown). The airbag assembly may be supported by the seatback38. Specifically, the airbag30is supported by the seatback38, e.g., by the frame42of the seatback38at an upper end of the seatback38. In an example in which the airbag30assembly20includes the housing, the housing may be fixed directly to the seat24, e.g., to the frame42of the seatback38. The airbag assembly may be fixed to the upper end of the frame42of the seatback38. The airbag assembly may be concealed by the covering, e.g., the upholstery of the seat24. In other words, the airbag assembly may be between the frame42of the seatback38and the upholstery of the seatback38. The covering may be releasable along the airbag30, e.g., the covering may include a tear seam that is releasable as the airbag30moves from an uninflated position to the inflated position.

As shown inFIG.2, the airbag30in the uninflated position may extend along the frame42of the seatback38. Specifically, the airbag30in the uninflated position may extend along the upright frame members44and across an upper cross-member of the frame42of the seatback38.

As shown inFIGS.3and4, the airbag in the inflated position is positioned to control kinematics of an occupant of the seat24supporting the airbag30, e.g., including controlling kinematics of legs of the occupant. The airbag30in the inflated position may surround an occupant cavity52, e.g., with the airbag30in the inflated position extending along a top, a front, and sides of the occupant cavity52, and with the seatback38of the seat24extending along a back of the occupant cavity52. The head restraint40may be disposed within the occupant cavity52surrounded by the airbag30in the inflated position. For example, the airbag30may extend upward from the seatback38away from the seat bottom26and behind the head restraint40and may extend forward relative to the seat24over the head restraint40. The airbag30in the inflated position may extend from a right side54and a left side56of the seatback38, e.g., in a seat forward direction and enclosing the sides of the occupant cavity52. The airbag30extends, e.g., from the seat back, to forward of the seat bottom26.

The airbag30in the inflated position includes the bottom end32. Kinematics of legs of the occupant may be controlled by the bottom end32. For example, the legs of the occupant may be between the bottom end32of the airbag30and the seat bottom26of the seat24supporting the airbag30. The bottom end32of the airbag30in the inflated position extends laterally, i.e., along the cross-seat axis, in front of the seat bottom26, e.g., with a gap between a front of the seat bottom26and the bottom end32of the airbag30. The bottom end32may extend longitudinally, i.e., parallel to the seat-forward direction, from in front of the seat24in a seat rearward-direction toward the seatback38. The bottom end32of the airbag30is positioned below the top surface28of the seat bottom26. For example, the top surface28may be between the bottom end32of the airbag30and the head restraint40along the vertical axis.

The airbag30may include one or more inflation chambers58, e.g., enclosed between respective inner panels60and outer panels62. Inflation of the chamber(s)58moves the airbag30to the inflated position. For example, the airbag30may include a single inflation chamber58, as shown inFIG.3. As another example, the airbag30may include first and second chambers58, as shown inFIG.4. The first chamber may be at the right side54of the seat24and the second chamber may be at the left side56of the seat24. Both the first and second inflation chambers58may inflate to the inflated position simultaneously, i.e., at the same time. The first chamber and the second chambers58may be releasably fixed to each other, e.g., via clips, Velcro®, etc. The airbag30may include any number or shape of chambers58.

The inflator50may be supported by the frame42of the seatback38. The inflator50is fluidly connected to the airbag30, e.g., to the inflation chamber(s)58. The inflator50inflates the airbag30with inflation medium, such as a gas, to move the airbag30from the uninflated position to the inflated position. In other examples, the airbag assembly may include a second inflator (not shown). In such an example, the inflator50may be fluidly connected to one inflation chamber58and the second inflator may be fluidly connected to the other inflation chamber58. The airbag30assembly20may include any suitable number of inflators50to inflate the airbag30. The inflator50may be, for example, a pyrotechnic inflator that ignites a chemical reaction to generate the inflation medium, a stored gas inflator that releases (e.g., by a pyrotechnic valve) stored gas as the inflation medium, or a hybrid.

With reference toFIGS.2-5, the assembly20includes one or more pyrotechnic retractors34supported by the seat bottom26. For example, the assembly20may include a pair of pyrotechnic retractors34spaced from each other by the seat bottom26, i.e., one pyrotechnic retractor34supported at the right side54of the seat bottom26and another pyrotechnic retractor34supported at the left side56of the seat bottom26. The pyrotechnic retractors34may be supported at a front end64of the seat bottom26, i.e., closer to a front edge of the seat24than a to a rear edge of the seat24. The pyrotechnic retractors34may be fixed to the frame42of the seat bottom26, e.g., to the frame members48via fasteners, weld, or any suitable structure.

Each pyrotechnic retractor34is actuatable to retract the tether36connected thereto, e.g., in response to a command received from a computer66. The pyrotechnic retractor34includes a pyrotechnic charge that is activated to actuate the pyrotechnic retractor34. The pyrotechnic retractor34may be, for example, a rotary actuator or a linear actuator. In examples where the pyrotechnic retractors34are rotary, the pyrotechnic charge rotates a shaft connected to the tether36such that the tether36winds around the shaft. In other examples, the pyrotechnic retractor34may be a piston linkage, in which the pyrotechnic charge for example, drives a piston attached to the tether36; a ball-in-tube linkage, in which a pyrotechnic charge propels a ball or balls over a cogwheel connected to the tether36; or any other suitable type.

The tethers36in a packaged state (prior to inflation of the airbag30) may be routed along the frame members48and then along the upright frame members44up to the airbag30, as shown inFIG.2. Guides or breakable push pins (not shown) may be used to place the tether36in the route in the package state The tethers36are connected to the bottom end32of the airbag30. For example, the tethers36may be fixed to a webbing68that extends along the bottom end32of the airbag30. One tether36may be fixed to the webbing68at the right side54. The other tether36may be fixed to the webbing68at the left side56. The tethers36are connected to the respective pyrotechnic retractor34, e.g., one tether36connected to the pyrotechnic retractor34at the right side54and one to the pyrotechnic retractor34at the left side56. Retraction of the tethers36from actuation of the pyrotechnic retractors34urges the webbing68and the bottom end32of the airbag30toward the front end64of the seatback38.

The webbing68controls the trajectory of the airbag30and kinematics of the occupant. The webbing68is elongated along the bottom end32of the airbag30, e.g., extending from the webbing retractor70at one side of the seatback38along the along the bottom end32of the airbag30to the webbing retractor70at the other side of the seatback38. The webbing68may be a fabric, e.g., woven nylon. The webbing68may extend along the inner panel60or the outer panel62.

The webbing68is fixed to the airbag30, e.g., to the inner panel60or the outer panel62. The webbing68may be fixed via stitching72, adhesive, friction weld, etc. The webbing68may be fixed to the airbag30between the tether36and the webbing retractor70, e.g., leaving a portion74of the webbing68not fixed to the airbag30. The portion74of the webbing68not fixed to the airbag30may be retracted by, and paid out from, the respective webbing retractor70. The webbing68may include portions74not fixed to the webbing68the right side54and the left side56of the seatback38.

The assembly20may include one or more webbing retractors70supported by the seatback38of the seat24. For example, one webbing retractor70may be supported by the seat24at the right side54and another webbing retractor70may be supported by the seat24at the left side56. The webbing68may extend from both of the webbing retractors70. The webbing retractors70provide tension to the webbing68and may pay-out and take-up the webbing68. The webbing retractors70may be fixed to the seatback38, e.g., to the upright frame members44. The webbing retractors70may be concealed under the cover of the seatback38.

The webbing retractors70may each include a spool (not shown), the webbing68wound around the spool. The spools are rotatable to allow the webbing68to pay-out or take-up. The webbing retractors70may each include a housing (not numbered) and a spring (not shown) between the spool and the housing to provide torque to the spool. As the spool rotates within the housing, the spring may bias the spool toward a direction opposite of the rotation of the spool.

With reference toFIG.5, the vehicle22can include an impact sensor76that is configured to detect certain impacts to the vehicle22. The impact sensor76may be of any suitable type, for example, post-contact sensors such as accelerometers, pressure sensors, and contact switches; and pre-impact sensors such as radar, LIDAR, and vision-sensing systems. The vision-sensing systems may include one or more cameras, CCD image sensors, CMOS image sensors, etc. The impact sensor76may be located at numerous points in or on the vehicle22.

The computer66includes a processor and a memory. The memory includes one or more forms of computer readable media, and stores instructions executable by the processor for performing various operations, processes, and methods, as disclosed herein. For example, the computer66can be a generic computer with a processor and memory as described above and/or may include an electronic control unit (ECU) or controller for a specific function or set of functions, and/or a dedicated electronic circuit including an ASIC that is manufactured for a particular operation, e.g., an ASIC for processing sensor data and/or communicating the sensor data. As another example, the computer66may be a restraints control module. In another example, computer66may include an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) which is an integrated circuit manufactured to be configurable by a user. Typically, a hardware description language such as VHDL (Very High-Speed Integrated Circuit Hardware Description Language) is used in electronic design automation to describe digital and mixed-signal systems such as FPGA and ASIC. For example, an ASIC is manufactured based on VHDL programming provided pre-manufacturing, whereas logical components inside an FPGA may be configured based on VHDL programming, e.g., stored in a memory electrically connected to the FPGA circuit. In some examples, a combination of processor(s), ASIC(s), and/or FPGA circuits may be included in the computer66. The memory can be of any type, e.g., hard disk drives, solid state drives, servers, or any volatile or non-volatile media. The memory can store the collected data sent from the sensors.

The computer66is generally arranged for communications on a communication network78that can include a bus in the vehicle22such as a controller area network (CAN) or the like, and/or other wired and/or wireless mechanisms. Via the communication network78, the computer66may transmit messages to various devices in the vehicle22, and/or receive messages (e.g., CAN messages) from the various devices, e.g., the pyrotechnic retractors34, the inflator50, the computer66, the impact sensor76, etc. Alternatively or additionally, in cases where the computer66comprises a plurality of devices, the communication network78may be used for communications between devices represented as the computer66in this disclosure.

The computer66is programmed to, i.e., the memory stores instructions executable by the processor to, actuate the pyrotechnic retractor34a specified amount of time after actuating inflation of the airbag30. The specified amount of time is sufficient to permit movement of the bottom end32of the airbag30over the head restraint40and down to below the top surface28, e.g., such that actuation of the pyrotechnic retractor34draws the bottom end32of the airbag30rearward toward the seat bottom26after the bottom end32is below the top surface28of the seat bottom26. The specified amount of time may be determined through empirical testing or simulation indicating an amount of time necessary for the airbag30to move to the inflated position once the inflator50is activated. The specified amount of time may be pre-stored in the memory of the computer66, e.g., upon manufacture. The specified amount of time may be, for example, between 30 and 50 milliseconds.

For example, the computer66may first transmission a command, such an electric pulse, to the inflator50in response to receiving information from the impact sensor76indicating certain impacts and/or a preimpact to the vehicle22. After triggering the inflator50, the computer66waits the specified amount of time, and then transmits a command to the pyrotechnic retractor34instructing actuation and retraction of the tether36. Retraction of the tether36may draw the bottom end32of the airbag30toward the seat bottom26to control kinematics of the legs of the occupant therebetween.

In the drawings, the same reference numbers indicate the same elements. With regard to the media, processes, systems, methods, etc. described herein, it should be understood that, although the steps of such processes, etc. have been described as occurring according to a certain ordered sequence, unless indicated otherwise or clear from context, such processes could be practiced with the described steps performed in an order other than the order described herein. Likewise, it further should be understood that certain steps could be performed simultaneously, that other steps could be added, or that certain steps described herein could be omitted.

The adjectives “first” and “second” are used throughout this document as identifiers and do not signify importance, order, or quantity.

Computer executable instructions may be compiled or interpreted from computer programs created using a variety of programming languages and/or technologies, including, without limitation, and either alone or in combination, Java, C, C, Visual Basic, Java Script, Perl, HTML, etc. In general, a processor e.g., a microprocessor receives instructions, e.g., from a memory, a computer readable medium, etc., and executes these instructions, thereby performing one or more processes, including one or more of the processes described herein. Such instructions and other data may be stored and transmitted using a variety of computer readable media. A file in a networked device is generally a collection of data stored on a computer readable medium, such as a storage medium, a random-access memory, etc. A computer readable medium includes any medium that participates in providing data e.g., instructions, which may be read by a computer. Such a medium may take many forms, including, but not limited to, non-volatile media and volatile media. Instructions may be transmitted by one or more transmission media, including fiber optics, wires, wireless communication, including the internals that comprise a system bus coupled to a processor of a computer. Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, or any other medium from which a computer can read.

Use of in “response to,” “based on,” and “upon determining” herein indicates a causal relationship, not merely a temporal relationship.