Patent ID: 7874576

Claim:
An adjustable airbag system for attachment to a structure of a vehicle, the adjustable airbag system comprising: an airbag assembly having an inflatable airbag within a housing; an actuator mechanically coupled to the housing, the actuator comprising: a spring coupled to the housing such that the spring is positioned between the housing and the structure of the vehicle, wherein the spring biases the housing away from the structure; a shape memory alloy device coupled to the housing such that the shape memory alloy device is positioned between the housing and the structure of the vehicle, wherein the shape memory alloy device is operable to compress the spring when a current is supplied to the shape memory alloy device; a sensor operable to measure a physical characteristic of an occupant of the vehicle; and a controller in communication with the sensor and the actuator such that upon receiving a feedback signal from the sensor relating to the physical characteristic of the occupant, the controller sends a control signal to the actuator to adjust a position of the housing with respect to the occupant, wherein the spring and the shape memory alloy device of the actuator are arranged such that the position of the housing is adjusted only when the actuator is actuated by the control signal.