Airbag deployment directional controller

摘要

A vehicule occupant restraint system adjusts the deployment direction of an airbag in accordance with vehicle occupant's seated height and/or projected trajectory. The seated height of a vehicle occupant can be measured directly by infrared, electromagnetic or acoustic sensors, or indirectly by measuring vehicle occupant weight. The projected trajectory of the vehicle occupant can be ascertained by measuring more than one vehicle occupant characteristic. The deployment direction of an airbag in an airbag module (8) is altered in order to minimize head and neck injury to a vehicle occupant. The orientation of the airbag module can be adjusted by rotating the airbag module or by mounting the module on a adjustable platform (6). The platform can be adjusted by a piston that operates pneumatically, hydraulically, pyrotechnically, or electrically.