COLLAPSING A DISPLAY DEVICE IN ORDER TO DEPLOY AN AIRBAG

Abstract

A method is disclosed for triggering at least one airbag, in particular a passenger airbag, positioned behind or next to a display apparatus, an impact being detected and at least one airbag being triggered via a control unit, a triggering unit being triggered in addition to the at least one airbag in order to destroy the display apparatus. Furthermore, an apparatus is disclosed, in particular for use in a vehicle.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A method for triggering at least one airbag positioned in a vehicle behind or next to a display apparatus, the method comprising: detecting, by a control unit, an impact of the vehicle; triggering, by the control unit, at least one airbag; and triggering, by a triggering unit, destruction of the display apparatus in response to the detecting, by the control unit, an impact of the vehicle.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the triggering unit is triggered by the control unit.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the at least one airbag is at least one passenger airbag.

14. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the triggering unit being triggered by a pyrotechnic gas generator, by a cold gas generator or by releasing a preloaded spring.

15. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the triggering, by the triggering unit, comprises driving a punch spike into the display apparatus to destroy the display apparatus.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the triggering, by the triggering unit, comprises driving a punch spike into the display apparatus to destroy the display apparatus.

17. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one glass layer, bonded to a safety film, of the display apparatus being fragmented and mechanically destabilized by way of the destruction of the display apparatus.

18. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein at least one glass layer, bonded to a safety film, of the display apparatus being fragmented and mechanically destabilized by way of the destruction of the display apparatus.

19. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least one glass layer, bonded to a safety film, of the display apparatus being fragmented and mechanically destabilized by way of the destruction of the display apparatus.

20. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the fragmented glass layer bonded to the safety film being collapsed by gravity or by the at least one triggered airbag.

21. An apparatus for use in a vehicle, having at least one airbag and a control unit connected to the at least one airbag, and having a display apparatus which is positioned in front of or next to the at least one airbag in a deploying direction of the at least one airbag, the display apparatus having at least one active layer, at least one glass layer and at least one safety film, the apparatus comprising: a triggering unit, arranged on the display apparatus and in communication with the control unit, to destroy the at least one glass layer in response to the control unit detecting an impact of the vehicle.

22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the triggering unit being fastened to the display apparatus by a fastener, or being configured as a fastener of the display apparatus.

23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 21, the triggering unit including at least one punch spike directed in the direction of the display apparatus, the punch spike being driven against the display apparatus by a pyrotechnic gas generator, by a cold gas generator or by releasing of a preloaded spring.

24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 22, the triggering unit including at least one punch spike directed in the direction of the display apparatus, the punch spike being driven against the display apparatus by a pyrotechnic gas generator, by a cold gas generator or by releasing of a preloaded spring.

25. The apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein the preloaded spring being secured by a locking pin, the locking pin being moved electromagnetically or mechanically to release the preloaded spring.

26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein the preloaded spring being secured by a locking pin, the locking pin being moved electromagnetically or mechanically to release the preloaded spring.

27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the locking pin being moved mechanically by a triggered airbag.

28. The apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein the locking pin being moved mechanically by a triggered airbag.

29. An apparatus for use in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising: at least one airbag; a control unit connected to the at least one airbag; a display apparatus positioned in a deploying direction of the at least one airbag, the display apparatus having at least one active layer, at least one glass layer and at least one safety film; and a triggering unit, arranged on the display apparatus and in communication with the control unit, to destroy the at least one glass layer in response to the control unit detecting an impact of the vehicle.

30. The apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein the triggering unit being fastened to the display apparatus by a fastener, or being configured as a fastener of the display apparatus.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] These and other aspects and advantages will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a dashboard of a vehicle with an arrangement in accordance with one exemplary embodiment according to the invention,

[0038] FIGS. 2a and 2b show detail views of an example of the dashboard from FIG. 1 before and after airbag triggering,

[0039] FIGS. 3a and 3b show an example of a triggering unit in accordance with a first embodiment before and after airbag triggering, and

[0040] FIGS. 4a and 4b show an example of a triggering unit in accordance with a second embodiment before and after airbag triggering.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a vehicle 1 which has an arrangement (or apparatus) 2 according to an example of the invention. The arrangement 2 (apparatus) is arranged in the region of a dashboard 4 of the vehicle 1. In the exemplary embodiment which is shown, a front passenger side of the vehicle 1 is shown.

[0043] The arrangement (apparatus) 2 includes an airbag 6, a display apparatus 8 and a triggering unit 10. A control unit 12 is connected to the airbag 6, and can detect accidents and can correspondingly trigger the airbag 6 to inflate.

[0044] The control unit 12 can optionally also be used to trigger the triggering unit 10, as indicated by way of a dashed line.

[0045] In the description of the figures, one airbag 6, one control unit 12 and one display apparatus 8 are described for the sake of clarity. The arrangement (apparatus) 2 can comprise, however, a multiplicity of different airbags 6 and control units 12, which airbags 6 can be impaired in their unfolding by way of one or more display apparatuses 8. Here, the impairments of the airbag 6 can be taken into consideration in the case of triggering as a result of a frontal impact and/or a side impact of the vehicle 1.

[0046] The display apparatus 8 is configured by way of example as an OLED display and serves to visualize information or instructions, and to implement inputs in the vehicle 1.

[0047] FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b show detail views of the dashboard 4 or the arrangement (apparatus) 2 from FIG. 1 before and after airbag triggering. Here, FIG. 2b shows a triggered airbag 7 or an air cushion of the airbag 7 which is in a triggered state.

[0048] The display apparatus 8 includes a plurality of glass layers 14, 15 which are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and are configured as stabilizing structures or carrier structures, on which active components 16 for visual display are arranged.

[0049] The glass layers 14, 15 are configured as safety glass and give the display apparatus 8 a rectangular shape which is shown in the side view in FIG. 2a. The triggering unit 10 which allows the glass layers 14, 15 to collapse in the case of airbag triggering is situated at the base of the display or the display apparatus 8. The principle of the triggering unit 10 corresponds to that of an emergency hammer or safety hammer, by way of which an initial or controlled destruction is brought about. In the exemplary embodiment which is shown, the triggering unit 10 is configured as an apparatus-side triggering unit 10 and is arranged directly on the display apparatus 8.

[0050] As a result of the destruction of the glass layers 14, 15 with the aid of the triggering unit 10, the display apparatus 8 can collapse into a destroyed display apparatus 9. The destroyed display apparatus 9 is laid over the dashboard 4 by gravity and therefore does not impede the unfolding of the triggered airbag 7.

[0051] FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b show a triggering unit 10 and a display apparatus 8 in accordance with a first embodiment. Here, FIG. 3a illustrates the display device 8 and the triggering unit 10 in the case of normal operation of the vehicle 1. FIG. 3b illustrates the display apparatus 8 and the triggering unit 10 after airbag triggering.

[0052] The construction of the display apparatus 8 is clarified. The display apparatus 8 includes an active layer or other layer with active components 16, which layer is arranged between two glass layers 14, 15. The glass layers 14, 15 are configured as safety glass layers. Moreover, a safety film 18 is applied on the outer side to each glass layer 14, 15.

[0053] The triggering unit 10 comprises a punch spike 20 and a drive unit 22 of the punch spike 20. In the exemplary embodiment which is shown, the drive unit 22 is configured as a pyrotechnic gas generator or as a cold gas generator and serves for the initial action of force which accelerates the punch spike 20 against at least one of the glass layers 14, 15.

[0054] When the triggering unit 10 is activated, the tip of the punch spike 20 drills into the safety glass of at least one glass layer 14, 15 and causes it to collapse as carrier structure. Here, the respective glass layer 14, 15 disintegrates into a multiplicity of glass splinters 24 which are held together by way of the safety films 18.

[0055] The safety films 18 therefore restrain the glass splinters 24, and protect the airbag 6, in particular the triggered airbag 7, against possible damage. The active layer 16 and the glass splinters 24 can collapse in a controlled manner with the aid of the safety films 18, and can be laid over the contour of the dashboard 4. No components are therefore hurled into the interior of the vehicle 1.

[0056] FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b show, in particular, a triggering unit 10 in accordance with a second embodiment before and after airbag triggering. In contrast to FIGS. 3a and 3b, the triggering unit 10 has the punch spike 20 and a preloaded spring 21 as drive unit 22. A locking pin 26 blocks the preloaded spring 21 and prevents uncontrolled triggering of the triggering unit 10. In order to trigger the triggering unit 10, the locking pin 26 is removed or pulled, with the result that the preloaded spring 21 can be relieved and can accelerate the punch spike 20.

[0057] A wire connection 28 is shown by way of example which serves as a mechanical connection to the locking pin 26. The wire connection 28 can be connected to the airbag 6, with the result that, in the case of triggering of the airbag 6, the locking pin 26 is also removed and the display apparatus 8 is destroyed by way of the punch spike 20. The wire connection 28 can be configured, for example, as a catch strap or catch cable which is pulled by the triggered airbag 7.

[0058] As an alternative, the mechanical connection can be of rigid configuration and can be connected, for example, to an actuator (not shown).

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

[0059] 1 Vehicle [0060] 2 Arrangement (apparatus) [0061] 4 Dashboard [0062] 6 Airbag [0063] 7 Airbag in a triggered state [0064] 8 Display apparatus [0065] 9 Collapsed/destroyed display apparatus [0066] 10 Triggering unit [0067] 12 Control unit [0068] 14 First glass layer [0069] 15 Second glass layer [0070] 16 Active components/active layer [0071] 18 Safety film [0072] 20 Punch spike [0073] 21 Preloaded spring [0074] 22 Drive unit of the triggering unit [0075] 24 Glass fragments/fragmented glass layer [0076] 26 Locking pin [0077] 28 Wire connection/mechanical connection

[0078] A description has been provided with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof and examples, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the claims which may include the phrase at least one of A, B and C as an alternative expression that means one or more of A, B and C may be used, contrary to the holding in Superguide v. DIRECTV, 358 F3d 870, 69 USPQ2d 1865 (Fed. Cir. 2004).