An activation control device for at least one occupant protection device is applied to a vehicle including occupant protection devices. The activation control device includes a front left sensor, a front right sensor and an activation control unit. The front left sensor is configured to detect an acceleration in a vehicle widthwise direction, and the front right sensor is configured to detect an acceleration in the vehicle widthwise direction. The activation control unit is configured to calculate a movement amount of the front left sensor in the vehicle widthwise direction based on GLy, calculate a movement amount of the front right sensor in the vehicle widthwise direction based on GRy, and determine to which region out of regions each defined in advance for each collision form a point defined by those movement amounts belongs, thereby specifying a collision form.

An airbag device of a vehicle and a control method thereof. The airbag device of a vehicle includes a detection unit configured to detect collision information of a vehicle and seating state information of an occupant, an airbag unit including a plurality of airbag modules, each of the airbag modules being configured to be inflated from a contracted state as working gas is supplied and to be restored to the contracted state as the working gas is discharged, a valve unit configured to regulate the working gas supplied to the airbag unit, and a control unit configured to determine a hitting position based on the collision information and the seating state information, and to control the valve unit to supply the working gas to a target airbag module installed at the hitting position, thereby inflating the target airbag module.

An airbag device of a vehicle and a control method thereof. The airbag device of a vehicle includes a detection unit configured to detect collision information of a vehicle and seating state information of an occupant, an airbag unit including a plurality of airbag modules, each of the airbag modules being configured to be inflated from a contracted state as working gas is supplied and to be restored to the contracted state as the working gas is discharged, a valve unit configured to regulate the working gas supplied to the airbag unit, and a control unit configured to determine a hitting position based on the collision information and the seating state information, and to control the valve unit to supply the working gas to a target airbag module installed at the hitting position, thereby inflating the target airbag module.

A vehicle occupant protection device includes: a seat belt device having a selectable force limiter that is configured to switch a force limiter load from a high load to a low load; an airbag device that deploys an airbag in front of the occupant; a movement direction detector that detects a direction in which a head region of the occupant will move relative to the vehicle at the time of frontal collision; an initial position detector that detects a position of the head region prior to the movement; and a control unit that makes a determination whether or not the head region will move outside of an area of protection by the airbag based on detection results of the movement direction detector and the initial position detector and, in a case in which the determination is affirmative, maintains the high load of the force limiter load.

The present disclosure relates to a method for collision impact force reduction for a vehicle. The method comprises determining a smallest relative distance (D) between a head of a driver of the vehicle and a steering wheel assembly comprising an airbag of the vehicle, obtaining information of an imminent collision, the collision being at least partly frontal, comparing (300) the smallest relative distance (D) to a pre-defined threshold, and, when said smallest relative distance (D) is equal to or less than said pre-defined threshold, initiating a forward displacement of a driver seat of the vehicle and a retraction of the steering wheel assembly comprising an airbag, preferably a retraction along the steering column of the steering wheel assembly.

A multi-frontal airbag for a vehicle and an airbag deployment system using the same are provided. The system includes a sensing unit that collects the state information of a seat. A first airbag module is disposed within the vehicle and includes a first cushion that is deployed toward the front of a passenger and a first inflator that supplies gas to the first cushion. A second airbag module is disposed within a roof above the passenger and includes a second cushion that is deployed downwards and a second inflator that supplies gas to the second cushion. A controller receives the state information of the seat from the sensing unit, and adjusts the operations or operation timings of the first airbag module and the second airbag module.

A vehicle includes one or more sensors and engages at least one of the one or more sensors to evaluate at least one of a count or location of vehicle occupants prior to an incident. The vehicle determines that an incident has occurred and that at least one of an evaluated count or location of at least one vehicle occupant has changed following the incident. Also, the vehicle engages at least one of the one or more sensors to detect a presence of a prior occupant outside the vehicle following the incident, responsive to determining that the at least one of the evaluated count or location of the at least one vehicle occupant changed and, responsive to detecting the presence of the prior occupant outside the vehicle following the incident, reports the presence to a 3.sup.rd party response entity.

A vehicle occupant protection device includes: a seat belt device having a selectable force limiter that is configured to switch a force limiter load from a high load to a low load; an airbag device that deploys an airbag in front of the occupant; a movement direction detector that detects a direction in which a head region of the occupant will move relative to the vehicle at the time of frontal collision; an initial position detector that detects a position of the head region prior to the movement; and a control unit that makes a determination whether or not the head region will move outside of an area of protection by the airbag based on detection results of the movement direction detector and the initial position detector and, in a case in which the determination is affirmative, maintains the high load of the force limiter load.

A notification system for indicating a side door of a vehicle is about to opened is disclosed. The notification system includes a control module in electronic communication with the illumination device. The control module executes instructions to receive as input a movement signal indicating the vehicle is either stationary or is traveling at an exit speed. The control module also receives as input an actuation signal indicating the passenger is actuating a door input. In response to receiving the movement signal and the actuation signal, the control module determines the passenger is about to open the side door. The control module then activates the illumination device. The illumination device generates a visual indicator when activated to provide a notification to individuals located outside of the vehicle that the side door of the vehicle is about to be opened.

Method and apparatus are disclosed for determining vehicle seat occupancy. An example vehicle includes a vehicle seat, an accelerometer coupled to the vehicle seat, and a restraint control module. The restraint control module is configured to determine a minute of arc measurement for the vehicle seat based on data received from the accelerometer, determine that the vehicle seat is occupied based on the minute of arc measurement, and provide an alert.