A vehicle has a dashboard 212 with load sensors 301 and an airbag 304, a seat 213, and a processor configured to: (a) detect load on the dashboard, (b) disable the airbag based on (a). The load sensors may detect load in a vertical direction and in a horizontal direction. The airbag may be disabled when the detected load exceeds a predetermined load. This may occur when an occupant 300 rests their legs on the dashboard or when an object is placed on the dashboard (which may act as a projectile during airbag deployment). The vehicle may further use a camera 303 to determine the presence of an object on the dashboard by utilizing image processing which relies on an amount of light detected by a light sensor. The vehicle may warn the occupant that the airbag is being disabled by use of text, sound, video, or seat vibration.
Vehicle dashboard safety features
2018-03-14
Patent
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
IPC: | B60R Fahrzeuge, Fahrzeugausstattung oder Fahrzeugteile, soweit nicht anderweitig vorgesehen , VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR |