Abstract: A gas generator for a passive airbag restraint has a housing including a combustion chamber and a gas passage end, the chamber containing a solid gas generating fuel. A diffuser plate having a plurality of orifices is located in the gas passage to direct a gas generated by the combustion of the solid fuel to an airbag. The diffuser plate is shaped preferably by bending or folding, to have a greater surface area than the cross-sectional area of the gas passage. The greater surface area allows for an increased number of orifices to maximize port area to increase gas flow therethrough.