Abstract: A system and method of inflating an airbag and trajectory control tube are disclosed. The system and method include detecting application of a force at at least one of a plurality of sensors, initiating an inflation system to cause inflation of the airbag and the trajectory control tube responsive to the detecting, inflating the trajectory control tube based on the initiating, inflating the airbag, and breaching the airbag and the trajectory control tube compartment. The system and method include guiding the airbag deployment trajectory via the trajectory control tube guides the airbag deployment trajectory. The system and method include the guiding occurs as the airbag begins to inflate, as the airbag inflates, after the airbag has inflated or before the airbag inflates.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 29, 2017
Date of Patent:
July 9, 2019
Assignee:
NIO NEXTEV LIMITED
Inventors:
Heng Zhang, Jeffrey D. Rupp, Christopher J. Eckert, Yih-Charng Deng