A driver seat airbag device restrains an occupant seated in a driver seat of a vehicle, and includes, a chest protecting cushion that expands and deploys behind a yoke steering wheel; and a head protecting cushion that expands and deploys adjacent to and above the chest protecting cushion. The head protecting cushion extends from an upper portion of the chest protecting cushion to an upper surface of an instrument panel when expanded and deployed, and contacts and restrains the head of the occupant from the front.

A side airbag inflatable between an occupant of a vehicle seat and structure of the vehicle adjacent the vehicle seat. The side airbag includes a first airbag panel for being positioned facing away from the vehicle seat and a second airbag panel for being positioned facing the vehicle seat. The first and second panels define an inflatable volume of the side airbag. A tether assembly includes a first anchor panel attached to a first portion of the first airbag panel, a second anchor panel attached to a second portion of the first airbag panel, and a strap that interconnects the first anchor panel and the second anchor panel. The tether assembly is dimensioned and configured to limit movement of the first and second portions away from each other in response to inflation of the side airbag so that the side airbag assumes a curved shape when inflated.

An occupant protection device for protecting an occupant sitting in a front seat of a vehicle. The occupant protection device includes a front airbag device that is adapted to be mounted in front of the front seat and a roof airbag device that is adapted to be mounted on a roof of the vehicle. The front airbag device includes a front airbag that is inflatable and deployable for protecting an upper body of the occupant when an impact is applied to the vehicle from forward. The roof airbag includes a roof airbag that is inflatable and deployable downwardly between the front airbag and the front seat for protecting a head of the occupant when an impact is applied to the vehicle from forward.

The present disclosure relates to a method for imaging an optical signal received by a graded index (GRIN) optical element to account for known variations in a graded index distribution of the GRIN optical element. The method may involve using a plurality of optical detector elements to receive optical rays received by the GRIN optical element at a plane, where the plane forms a part of the GRIN optical element or is downstream of the GRIN optical element relative to a direction of propagation of the optical rays. The optical rays are then traced to a plurality of additional specific locations on the plane based on the known variations in the graded index distribution of the GRIN optical element. A processor may be used to determine information on both an intensity and an angle of the received optical rays at each one of the plurality of specific locations on the plane of the GRIN optical element.

Airbag configurations and systems are provided to protect a vehicle occupant in an oblique crash event. In one embodiment an airbag includes first and second side panels and a main panel coupled to the first side panel along a first seam and coupled to the second side panel along a second seam. The main panel can include a curved configuration to match expansion of the second side panel. The airbag configuration is provided for protection for an oblique crash event to absorb energy from occupant movement in the oblique direction and to retain and reduce head rotation of an occupant. In one embodiment, a method for controlling an airbag system is provided that includes detecting a crash event and activation of an airbag and a side curtain airbag (SCAB). The SCAB may be activated to contact the airbag and to control volume/loading of the airbag.

An airbag apparatus includes two airbags. The airbags are respectively accommodated in side accommodation portions in a seat back. The airbags include two side inflation portions and two front inflation portions. Each airbag further includes a tether. Each airbag includes a non-inflation portion. Each tether includes a pass-through section at which the tether is passed through the non-inflation portion. A portion of each tether between the pass-through section and a distal end is arranged along a rear surface of the front inflation portion. A portion of each tether between the pass-through section and a basal end is arranged along an inner surface of the side inflation portion. The basal end of each tether is configured to be fixed to a rear end of the side inflation portion or the seat back. The distal end of each tether is fixed to a front end of the front inflation portion.

A vehicle safety seat system comprises: i) a vehicle seat configured to move to a substantially reclining position, the vehicle seat comprising a seat back and a seat bottom; and ii) a first support arm associated with the seat back, the first support arm including a first airbag on a lower surface of the first support arm, the first support arm holding the first airbag in a position above the thorax of a passenger reclining in the vehicle seat. The first airbag inflates in the event of a collision and provides protection between the first support arm and the thorax of the passenger.

An occupant protection system for a vehicle may include an expandable curtain and/or an expandable bladder configured to be expanded from a stowed state to a deployed state. In the deployed state, the expandable curtain may include first and second sides configured to extend along respective portions of first and second interior sides of the vehicle. The expandable curtain may also include a transverse portion extending between the first and second sides, and the first and second sides, and the transverse portion of the expandable curtain may form a contiguous barrier. The expandable bladder when deployed may be supported by the expandable curtain during contact by an occupant. The occupant protection system may also include a deployment control system configured to cause the expandable curtain and/or the expandable bladder to expand to the deployed state. The occupant protection system may be used in vehicles having a carriage-style seating arrangement.

An airbag for an airbag device includes an outer bag and an inner bag inflatable inside the outer bag. The outer bag includes a driver-side wall for receiving the driver and a vehicle-side wall that is supported by a ring surface of a ring portion of the steering wheel at airbag deployment, and includes an inlet port of inflation gas and a mounting portion on the steering wheel. The inner bag includes a supply port for supplying the gas to the outer bag. The inner bag completes inflation prior to the outer bag, and the outer bag is inflated with the gas supplied from the supply port. The inner bag as inflated has such a shape that the rear portion protrudes farther rearward than a rear end of the ring surface, and that a height from the ring surface is greater in the rear portion than in the front portion.

An assembly includes a seatback and a head restraint supported by the seatback. The assembly includes a panel slidably engaged with the seatback. The panel is movable relative to the head restraint to a deployed position rearward of the head restraint. The assembly includes an airbag supported by the panel and inflatable forward toward the head restraint.