초록 ▼

Externally deployed airbag system for a vehicle including one or more inflatable airbags deployable outside of the vehicle, an anticipatory sensor system for assessing the probable severity of an impact involving the vehicle based on data obtained prior to the impact and initiating inflation of the

Externally deployed airbag system for a vehicle including one or more inflatable airbags deployable outside of the vehicle, an anticipatory sensor system for assessing the probable severity of an impact involving the vehicle based on data obtained prior to the impact and initiating inflation of the airbag(s) in the event an impact above a threshold severity is assessed, and an inflator coupled to the anticipatory sensor system and the airbag for inflating the airbag when initiated by the anticipatory sensor system. The airbag may be housed in a module mounted along a side of the vehicle, in a side door of the vehicle (both for side impact protection), at a front of the vehicle (for frontal impact protection) or at a rear of the vehicle (for rear impact protection). Also, the externally deployed airbag can be deployed to cushion a pedestrian's impact against the vehicle.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A vehicle having a passenger compartment, a seat on which an occupant can sit, and a seatbelt associated with the seat, an anticipatory crash system for reacting to an expected impact involving the vehicle, comprising:at least one anticipatory crash sensor structured and

The invention claimed is: 1. A vehicle having a passenger compartment, a seat on which an occupant can sit, and a seatbelt associated with the seat, an anticipatory crash system for reacting to an expected impact involving the vehicle, comprising:at least one anticipatory crash sensor structured and arranged to receive waves generated by, modified by or reflected from an object exterior of the vehicle;a processor coupled to said at least one anticipatory crash sensor and configured to predict an impact involving the vehicle and the object exterior to the vehicle prior to the impact and assess the probable severity of the predicted impact; andsaid processor being further configured to activate at least one occupant restraint device in response to the predicted impact based on the assessed probable severity of the predicted impact, said processor being arranged to activate said at least one occupant restraint device prior to the impact; andsaid at least one occupant restraint device comprising a seatbelt tensioner,wherein the seatbelt tensioner is, upon activation by said processor, operable to tighten the seatbelt prior to the impact in an attempt to reduce the potential harm to the occupant resulting from the impact.