Abstract: An airbag cushion is disclosed for use in automotive protective systems. The airbag cushion includes at least one closeable vent for re-directing gas out of the cushion when an obstruction is encountered.

Abstract: An airbag cushion is disclosed for use in automotive protective systems. The airbag cushion includes a tube that may be restricted to prevent gas venting. A cord is coupled to the tube and to a surface of the cushion. Upon airbag deployment, the cord extends until taut or extends until the cushion encounters an obstruction. If pulled taut, the cord tightens the tube and restricts gas venting. If the cushion encounters an obstruction, the cord remains lax and the tube is able to vent gas.

Abstract: The application provides airbag cushion deployment restraint systems for use in inflatable airbag cushions. The deployment restraint systems of the invention regulate deployment of an airbag cushion to provide full radial expansion of the cushion prior to final expansion of the cushion toward a vehicle occupant. The deployment restraint systems of the invention thus increase the amount of contact surface area available to a vehicle occupant early in deployment and decrease the force with which the cushion is expanded toward a vehicle occupant during a collision event, thus reducing the likelihood of injury to an out-of-position vehicle occupant.

Abstract: An air bag system is provided for use in a motor vehicle. The air bag system includes at least one air bag module. A multiple level gas generation source is coupled to the air bag module for generating a selected gas generation level applied to the air bag module. An electronic control unit controls the operation of multiple level gas generation source. At least one temperature sensor is coupled to the electronic control unit for sensing ambient temperature. At least one seat belt sensor is coupled to the electronic control unit for sensing seat belt usage. An acceleration sensor is coupled to the electronic control unit for sensing deceleration during a crash. The electronic control unit is responsive to a combination of sensed inputs from the temperature sensor, the seat belt sensor and the acceleration sensor for determining both an optimum gas generation level and inflation sequence times for controlling the multiple level gas generation source.