Patent Publication Number: US-2023144430-A1

Title: Airbag apparatus for vehicle

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0154717, filed Nov. 11, 2021, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an airbag apparatus for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a technology related to an airbag apparatus for a vehicle, which is capable of effectively protecting not only a passenger normally seated in a passenger seat but also a passenger relaxedly seated in the passenger seat. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     An autonomous vehicle refers to a smart vehicle to which an autonomous driving technology is applied so that the vehicle autonomously arrives at a destination even though a driver does not directly manipulate a steering wheel, an accelerator pedal, and a brake pedal. Recently, the autonomous vehicle is actively developed. 
     In a case in which autonomous driving is universally implemented, the driver may select a relaxed mode in which the driver may take a rest without directly driving the vehicle while the vehicle travels. In the relaxed mode, a movement, a rotation, and a posture of a seat may be variously changed to meet the passenger’s request. 
     That is, a passenger seated in a passenger seat may select a general, normal seating posture and a relaxed seating posture in which the passenger may travel while taking a rest comfortably in the autonomous driving situation. 
     The normal seating state and the relaxed seating state may be defined depending on an angle of a seatback. Typically, the normal seating state may be defined as a state in which the seatback is rotated rearward within a range of 20 to 25 degrees based on a state in which the seatback is upright at 90 degrees. The relaxed seating state may be defined as a state in which the seatback is rotated rearward by 40 degrees or more. 
     In a situation in which the seating condition of the passenger seated in the passenger seat may be changed to the normal seating posture and the relaxed seating posture, a degree to which an airbag cushion of an airbag apparatus provided in a vehicle in the related art protrudes forward in the event of an accident is insufficient, which makes it difficult to effectively protect a passenger relaxedly seated in the passenger seat. For this reason, a degree of injury to the passenger relaxedly seated in the passenger seat increases. 
     The foregoing explained as the background is intended merely to aid in the understanding of the background of the present invention, and is not intended to mean that the present invention falls within the purview of the related art that is already known to those skilled in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is proposed to solve these problems and aims to provide an airbag apparatus for a vehicle, in which an operation of deploying an airbag cushion in the event of an accident varies depending on whether a passenger seated in a passenger seat is in a normal seating posture or a relaxed seating posture, thereby effectively protecting not only a normally seated passenger but also a relaxedly seated passenger. Therefore, the present invention aims to further improve a function of protecting the passenger. 
     An embodiment of the present invention provides an airbag apparatus for a vehicle, the airbag apparatus including: an airbag cushion configured to be deployed toward a passenger by receiving airbag gas generated by an inflator; a tether releasing device fixed to an airbag housing and configured to operate in response to an electrical signal; a front tether configured to connect a front portion of the airbag cushion and the tether releasing device and configured to be disconnected when the tether releasing device operates; and a lateral tether configured to connect two opposite side portions of the airbag cushion and the tether releasing device and configured to be disconnected when the tether releasing device operates. 
     The airbag housing may be positioned at a position opposite to the front portion of the airbag cushion, and the inflator and the tether releasing device may be fixedly installed in the airbag housing. 
     The inflator and the tether releasing device may operate in response to an electrical signal of an airbag controller configured to receive a signal of a collision sensor and a signal of a seatback angle sensor. 
     When the tether releasing device does not operate, the tether releasing device may hold the front tether and the lateral tether to maintain a shape of the deployed airbag cushion, and when the tether releasing device operates in response to an electrical signal of an airbag controller, the tether releasing device may disconnect any one of the front tether and the lateral tether. 
     The tether releasing device may include: a first operation part connected to the front tether and configured to operate to disconnect the front tether; and a second operation part connected to the lateral tether and configured to operate to disconnect the lateral tether, and the first operation part and the second operation part may independently operate in response to electrical signals of an airbag controller. 
     The lateral tether may be connected to the tether releasing device, extend toward the front portion of the airbag cushion, and then divided into two lines, such that ends of the two lines are respectively coupled to left and right side portions of the airbag cushion by sewing. 
     A length of the lateral tether may be set so that left and right side portions of the airbag cushion are pulled by the lateral tether in a direction in which the airbag cushion is deployed and the lateral tether connects the tether releasing device and the two opposite side portions of the airbag cushion. 
     When a collision accident occurs in a state in which a passenger seated in a passenger seat is in a normal seating state, the airbag cushion may be deployed, the lateral tether may be disconnected by an operation of the tether releasing device, and a state in which the front tether connects the tether releasing device and the front portion of the airbag cushion may be maintained. 
     Based on a deployed state of the airbag cushion, a length of the airbag cushion in a leftward/rightward direction when the lateral tether is disconnected may be longer than a length of the airbag cushion in the leftward/rightward direction when the lateral tether is not disconnected, such that a width of the airbag cushion in the leftward/rightward direction is increased. 
     When a collision accident occurs in a state in which a passenger seated in a passenger seat is in a relaxed seating state, the airbag cushion may be deployed, the front tether may be disconnected by an operation of the tether releasing device, and a state in which the lateral tether connects the tether releasing device and the two opposite side portions of the airbag cushion may be maintained. 
     Based on a deployed state of the airbag cushion, a length of the airbag cushion in a forward/rearward direction when the front tether is disconnected may be longer than a length of the airbag cushion in the forward/rearward direction when the front tether is not disconnected. 
     According to the airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention, the lateral tether connecting the left and right side portions of the airbag cushion is disconnected when a collision accident occurs in the state in which the passenger seated in the passenger seat is in the normal seating state, such that the width of the airbag cushion in the leftward/rightward direction may be increased. Therefore, it is possible to optimally maintain the volume of the airbag cushion and thus effectively protect the passenger seated in the passenger seat in the normal seating state. 
     In addition, according to the airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to the present invention, when a collision accident occurs in the state in which the passenger seated in the passenger seat is in the relaxed seating state, the front tether connecting the front portion of the airbag cushion is disconnected, such that the length of the airbag cushion in the forward/rearward direction may be increased. Therefore, it is possible to restrain the upper body of the passenger seated in the passenger seat in the relaxed seating state at an early stage and thus more effectively protect the passenger seated in the passenger seat in the relaxed seating state. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a view illustrating a state in which a passenger seat airbag apparatus according to the present invention is deployed. 
         FIG.  2    is a top plan view of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is an enlarged view for explaining a configuration of an airbag apparatus according to the present invention. 
         FIG.  4    is a view for explaining a state in which the airbag cushion according to the present invention is deployed in the event of a collision accident in a state in which a passenger seated in a passenger seat is in a normal seating posture. 
         FIGS.  5 A and  5 B  are views for explaining a state of  FIG.  4   , in which  FIG.  5 A  is a view illustrating a state in which a lateral tether is not disconnected, and  FIG.  5 B  is a view illustrating a state in which the lateral tether is disconnected. 
         FIG.  6    is a view for explaining a state in which the airbag cushion according to the present invention is deployed in the event of a collision accident in a state in which a passenger seated in the passenger seat is in a relaxed seating posture. 
         FIGS.  7 A and  7 B  are views for explaining a state of  FIG.  6   , in which  FIG.  7 A  is a view illustrating a state in which a front tether is not disconnected, and  FIG.  7 B  is a view illustrating a state in which the front tether is disconnected. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Specific structural or functional descriptions of embodiments of the present invention disclosed in this specification or application are exemplified only for the purpose of explaining the embodiments according to the present invention, the embodiments according to the present invention may be carried out in various forms, and it should not be interpreted that the present invention is limited to the embodiments described in this specification or application. 
     Because the embodiments according to the present invention may be variously changed and may have various forms, specific embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the present specification or application. However, the descriptions of the specific embodiments are not intended to limit embodiments according to the concept of the present invention to the specific embodiments, but it should be understood that the present invention covers all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and technical scope of the present invention. 
     The terms such as “first” and/or “second” may be used to describe various constituent elements, but these constituent elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one constituent element from other constituent elements. For example, without departing from the scope according to the concept of the present invention, the first constituent element may be referred to as the second constituent element, and similarly, the second constituent element may also be referred to as the first constituent element. 
     When one constituent element is described as being “coupled” or “connected” to another constituent element, it should be understood that one constituent element can be coupled or connected directly to another constituent element, and an intervening constituent element can also be present between the constituent elements. When one constituent element is described as being “coupled directly to” or “connected directly to” another constituent element, it should be understood that no intervening constituent element is present between the constituent elements. Other expressions, that is, “between” and “just between” or “adjacent to” and “directly adjacent to”, for explaining a relationship between constituent elements, should be interpreted in a similar manner. 
     The terms used in the present specification are used only for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless clearly described as different meanings in the context. In the present specification, it should be understood the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “containing,” “has,” “having” or other variations thereof are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. The terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having meanings consistent with meanings in the context of related technologies and should not be interpreted as ideal or excessively formal meanings unless explicitly defined in the present specification. 
     A control unit (controller) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be implemented by a non-volatile memory (not illustrated) configured to algorithm for controlling operations of various constituent elements in a vehicle or store data related to software commands for executing the algorithm, and by a processor (not illustrated) configured to perform the following operations by using the data stored in the corresponding memory. In this case, the memory and the processor may be implemented as separate chips. Alternatively, the memory and the processor may be implemented as a single chip in which the memory and the processor are integrated. The processor may be configured in the form of one or more processors. 
     Hereinafter, an airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     An airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to the present invention is a passenger seat airbag apparatus that may be mounted in an instrument panel (dash panel) of a vehicle and operate to protect a passenger seated in a passenger seat. In particular, the airbag apparatus is configured to effectively protect the passenger seated in the passenger seat in both a normal seating state and a relaxed seating state. 
     That is, as illustrated in  FIGS.  1  to  7   , the airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to the present invention includes: an inflator  10  configured to operate to generate airbag gas; an airbag cushion  20  configured to be deployed toward the passenger seated in the passenger seat by receiving airbag gas generated by the inflator; a tether releasing device  40  fixed to the airbag housing  30  and configured to operate in response to an electrical signal; a front tether  50  configured to connect a front portion  21  of the airbag cushion  20  and the tether releasing device  40 , the front tether  50  being configured to be disconnected when the tether releasing device  40  operates; and a lateral tether  60  configured to connect two opposite side portions  22  of the airbag cushion  20  and the tether releasing device  40 , the lateral tether  60  being configured to be disconnected when the tether releasing device  40  operates. 
     The airbag housing  30  is fixedly installed on the instrument panel and disposed at a position opposite to the front portion  21  of the airbag cushion  20 . The inflator  10  and the tether releasing device  40  are fixedly installed in the airbag housing  30 . 
     The inflator  10  and the tether releasing device  40  operate in response to an electrical signal of an airbag controller (ACU)  90  configured to receive a signal of a collision sensor  70  mounted in the vehicle and a signal of a seatback angle sensor  80  mounted in a vehicle seat. 
     The normal seating state and the relaxed seating state of the passenger seated in the passenger seat are determined depending on an angle of a seatback of the passenger seat. Typically, the normal seating state may be as a state in which the seatback is rotated rearward within a range of 20 to 25 degrees based on a state in which the seatback is upright at 90 degrees. The relaxed seating state may be defined as a state in which the seatback is rotated rearward by 40 degrees or more. 
     The angle of the seatback of the passenger seat is detected by the seatback angle sensor  80 , and a signal of the seatback angle sensor  80  is transmitted to the airbag controller  90 . The airbag controller  90  receives a signal of the seatback angle sensor  80  and a signal of the collision sensor  70  and controls an operation of the inflator  10  and an operation of the tether releasing device  40 . 
     The tether releasing device  40  according to the present invention operates in response to an electrical signal of the airbag controller  90 . When the tether releasing device  40  does not operate, the tether releasing device  40  holds the front tether  50  and the lateral tether  60  to maintain a shape of the deployed airbag cushion  20 . When the tether releasing device  40  operates, the tether releasing device  40  disconnects any one of the front tether  50  and the lateral tether  60 . 
     The tether releasing device  40  may be configured as an explosive explosion device such as an inflator or a cutting device capable of easily cutting the tether so that the tether releasing device  40  may disconnect the front tether  50  or the lateral tether  60 . 
     The tether releasing device  40  according to the present invention includes a first operation part  41  connected to the front tether  50  and configured to operate to disconnect the front tether  50 , and a second operation part  42  connected to the lateral tether  60  and configured to operate to disconnect the lateral tether  60 . The first operation part  41  and the second operation part  42  independently operate in response to the electrical signals of the airbag controller  90 . 
     A rear end of the front tether  50  according to the present invention is connected to the first operation part  41  of the tether releasing device  40 , and a front end of the front tether  50  is installed and coupled to the front portion  21  of the airbag cushion  20  by sewing. 
     A rear end of the lateral tether  60  according to the present invention is connected to the second operation part  42  of the tether releasing device  40 , extends toward the front portion  21  of the airbag cushion  20 , and then divided into two lines, such that ends of the two lines are respectively coupled to the left and right side portions  22  of the airbag cushion  20  by sewing. 
     Further, in a state in which the airbag cushion  20  is deployed and the lateral tether  60  connects the tether releasing device  40  and the two opposite side portions  22  of the airbag cushion  20 , i.e., a state in which the lateral tether  60  is not disconnected, a length of the lateral tether  60  may be set to a length that may allow the left and right side portions  22  of the airbag cushion  20  to be pulled by the lateral tether  60 . Therefore, the state of the deployed airbag cushion  20  may be maintained. 
       FIG.  4    is a view for explaining a state in which the airbag cushion is deployed in the event of a collision accident in the state in which the passenger seated in the passenger seat is in the normal seating state.  FIG.  5 A  is a view illustrating a state in which the lateral tether is not disconnected, and  FIG.  5 B  is a view illustrating a state in which the lateral tether is disconnected. 
     As illustrated, when a collision accident occurs in the state in which the passenger seated in the passenger seat is in the normal seating state, the inflator  10  operates in response to a control signal of the airbag controller  90  and generates airbag gas, and the airbag cushion  20  is deployed toward the passenger seated in the passenger seat by the airbag gas. 
     In addition, the second operation part  42  of the tether releasing device  40  operates in response to the control signal of the airbag controller  90  and disconnects the lateral tether  60 , and the first operation part  41  of the tether releasing device  40  does not operate. Therefore, the state in which the front tether  50  connects the first operation part  41  of the tether releasing device  40  and the front portion  21  of the airbag cushion  20  is continuously maintained. 
     As described above, when the collision accident occurs in the state in which the passenger seated in the passenger seat is in the normal seating state, the lateral tether  60  is disconnected, and the state in which the front tether  50  connects the tether releasing device  40  and the front portion  21  of the airbag cushion  20  is maintained, a length of the deployed airbag cushion  20  in a forward/rearward direction is kept short, and instead, a width of the airbag cushion  20  in a leftward/rightward direction is extended and increased. Therefore, the airbag cushion  20  may maintain an optimal volume, thereby effectively protecting the passenger seated in the passenger seat in the normal seating state. 
     Based on the deployed state of the airbag cushion  20 , a length L2 of the airbag cushion  20  in the leftward/rightward direction when the lateral tether  60  is disconnected as illustrated in  FIG.  5 B  is longer than a length L1 of the airbag cushion  20  in the leftward/rightward direction when the lateral tether  60  is not disconnected as illustrated in  FIG.  5 A . Therefore, a width D of the airbag cushion  20  in the leftward/rightward direction may be increased, such that the airbag cushion  20  may maintain the optimal volume, thereby effectively protecting the passenger seated in the passenger seat in the normal seating state. 
       FIG.  6    is a view for explaining a state in which the airbag cushion is deployed in the event of a collision accident in the state in which the passenger seated in the passenger seat in the relaxed seating state.  FIG.  7 A  is a view illustrating a state in which the front tether is not disconnected, and  FIG.  7 B  is a view illustrating a state in which the front tether is disconnected. 
     As illustrated, when a collision accident occurs in the state in which the passenger seated in the passenger seat is in the relaxed seating state, the inflator  10  operates in response to a control signal of the airbag controller  90  and generates airbag gas, and the airbag cushion  20  is deployed toward the passenger seated in the passenger seat by the airbag gas. 
     In addition, the first operation part  41  of the tether releasing device  40  operates in response to the control signal of the airbag controller  90  and disconnects the front tether  50 , and the second operation part  42  of the tether releasing device  40  does not operate. Therefore, the state in which the lateral tether  60  connects the second operation part  42  of the tether releasing device  40  and the two opposite side portions  22  of the airbag cushion  20  is continuously maintained. 
     As described above, when the collision accident occurs in the state in which the passenger seated in the passenger seat is in the relaxed seating state, the front tether  50  is disconnected, and the state in which the lateral tether  60  connects the tether releasing device  40  and the side portions  22  of the airbag cushion  20  is maintained, a width of the deployed airbag cushion  20  in the leftward/rightward direction is restricted by the lateral tether  50 , such that the volume is maintained, and instead, a length of the airbag cushion  20  in the forward/rearward direction is increased. Therefore, an upper body of the passenger seated in the passenger seat in the relaxed seating state may be restrained at an early stage, thereby more effectively protecting the passenger seated in the passenger seat in the relaxed seating state. 
     Based on the deployed state of the airbag cushion  20 , a length L4 of the airbag cushion  20  in the forward/rearward direction when the front tether  50  is disconnected as illustrated in  FIG.  7 B  is further extended and longer than a length L3 of the airbag cushion  20  in the forward/rearward direction when the front tether  50  is not disconnected as illustrated in  FIG.  7 A . Therefore, a length of the deployed airbag cushion  20  in the forward/rearward direction may be increased, such that the upper body of the passenger seated in the passenger seat in the relaxed seating state may be restrained at an early stage, thereby more effectively protecting the passenger seated in the passenger seat in the relaxed seating state. 
     As described above, according to the airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention, the lateral tether  60  connecting the left and right side portions  22  of the airbag cushion  20  is disconnected when a collision accident occurs in the state in which the passenger seated in the passenger seat is in the normal seating state, such that the width of the airbag cushion  20  in the leftward/rightward direction may be increased. Therefore, it is possible to optimally maintain the volume of the airbag cushion  20  and thus effectively protect the passenger seated in the passenger seat in the normal seating state. 
     In addition, according to the airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to the present invention, when a collision accident occurs in the state in which the passenger seated in the passenger seat is in the relaxed seating state, the front tether  50  connecting the front portion  21  of the airbag cushion  20  is disconnected, such that the length of the airbag cushion  20  in the forward/rearward direction may be increased. Therefore, it is possible to restrain the upper body of the passenger seated in the passenger seat in the relaxed seating state at an early stage and thus more effectively protect the passenger seated in the passenger seat in the relaxed seating state. 
     While the specific embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be variously modified and changed without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention defined in the appended claims.