Abstract: An airbag of an airbag device has a primary hole for receiving an inflator and a secondary hole for receiving a securing device which secures the inflator to a base plate. A section surrounding the secondary hole is sandwiched between the inflator put in the airbag and the base plate. Therefore, the section of the airbag sandwiched between the inflator and the base plate can be enlarged and thus a high securing strength of the airbag can be acquired. The primary hole can comprise a vent hole that is used to discharge the gas from the inflator to the outside of the airbag. This structure need not make the vent hole separately. Therefore, the airbag is made simple and the production cost thereof becomes lower.

Abstract: An air bag is folded in such a manner that a first fold-portion of the air bag is folded along a first fold-line approximately parallel to an expanding direction, and then, a second fold-portion thereof is folded along a second fold-line approximately perpendicular to the expanding direction. Accordingly, when the air bag expands, the second fold-portion is stretched out prior to the first fold-portion. As a result, the air bag can expand promptly to securely protect a passenger.

Abstract: An activation control system for controlling activation of a plurality of air bag systems for protecting a passenger by expanding an air bag between the passenger and a vehicular body when the vehicle makes a collision. A collision detector outputs a signal according to the direction and magnitude of the collision. A collisional direction detector detects the direction of the collision on the basis of the signal outputted from said collision detection. An ignition signal output unit outputs an ignition signal to the air bag system which is determined on the basis of the collisional direction detected.

Abstract: An airbag safety module for automotive vehicles is provided. This module includes a box-like cover and a housing. The cover incorporates therein an airbag, an inflator, and an airbag control unit and has a plurality of openings formed in its side wall. The housing includes a base wall on which the airbag and the inflator are mounted and a side wall having thereon a plurality of protrusions engageble with the openings of the cover, respectively to complete the airbag safety module. Each of the protrusions is shaped to allow the housing to be inserted into the cover in an assembling direction of completing the airbag safety module to engage one of the openings of the cover while restricting the cover from being disengaged from the housing in a disassembling direction opposite to the assembling direction.

Abstract: A side collision sensor system for a side airbag apparatus for inflating an airbag between a side door or inner side wall and a passenger of a vehicle, when a transverse collision is detected, to protect the passenger against a secondary collision. The side collision sensor system comprises: a side collision sensor arranged on the side of a vehicle body for outputting a collision detection signal, if it is compressed by a force of a predetermined or higher strength; and an acceleration sensor attached to an arbitrary portion of the vehicle body for outputting a collision detection signal if an acceleration applied sideways to the vehicle body has a predetermined or higher level. The side airbag is inflated if at least one of the side collision sensor and the acceleration sensor outputs its collision detection signal.

Abstract: A crash detection sensor having a supporting member arranged in a space in a door. The supporting member has sufficient strength to maintain its state under normal conditions. First and second electrodes, usually spaced, are provided on the supporting member. A shock larger than a predetermined level applied to the door causes the first and the second electrodes to be brought into contact with each other, thereby allowing a lateral impact to be detected in the door.

Abstract: A collision sensing system for a side air bag system has a door opening state detector and an air bag actuation inhibiter. The side air bag system is provided with an air bag which is confined in a side door of a vehicle and inflated and expanded in a space between an occupant of the vehicle and the inner side wall of the compartment such as the side door when a collision detector detects a vehicle collision. The air bag actuation inhibiter inhibits the inflation of the air bag when the door opening state detector detects the open state of the side door.

Abstract: An air bag is stored in a folded state in a space in a door or an arm rest, laterally of a passenger in a cabin. An inflator for generating a flow of gas is also stored inside the door or the arm rest. When a collision occurs, the inflator discharges a flow of gas directed upward and introduced into the air bag, which causes the air bag to be inflated so that the inflated air bag occupies a space between a passenger and the door or the vehicle body, laterally of passenger. As a result, the passenger is cushioned from any shock caused by the collision, to thereby protect the passenger from injury.

Abstract: A sensor that can rapidly and accurately detect a side collision of a vehicle. The sensor includes a fixed member in a vehicle door and a movable member that has an impact receiving part. The impact receiving part has a high rigidity outside of the fixed member. The impact receiving part also has energy absorbing parts with lower rigidity and a detection part arranged opposite to the movable member at a predetermined interval above the fixed member. When the impact receiving part receives an impact exceeding a predetermined valve, the energy absorption parts are deformed so as to move the movable member. This movement is then detected by the detection part.

Abstract: A charging control unit comprises a voltage detecting means including a first and a second resistor connected in series to an output of the armature coil, a third resistor parallelly connected to the second resistor and a temperature detecting element having a temperature coefficient, and a comparator having its one end connected to the second resistor and the other end connected to a reference voltage source.An arbitrary temperature characteristic can be set by varying the first resistor or the third resistor. At the same time, an arbitrary charging voltage can be set by changing the second resistor without changing the temperature characteristic.

Abstract: An automotive charging apparatus employs a high voltage load, such as a deicing means for deicing a windshield of the automobile, in the line which connects a battery with an alternator. The automotive charging apparatus also employs a switch in parallel with the high voltage load so that an output voltage is supplied both to the high voltage load and to the battery when the switch member is opened and the output voltage is supplied only to the battery when the switch member is closed. The output voltage of the alternator changes to the higher level when the switch member is opened in order to maintain the battery voltage within the range of the predetermined value.