Air Bag Systems: Description and Operation

Air Bag System Construction:

Air Bag System Construction

Driver and Front Passenger Air Bags
The major components of this air bag system are;
- 2-stage air bags on the driver seat side and front passenger seat side
- Seat belt with pretensioner
- SDM located on the underside of the center panel
- Forward sensor located on the vehicle body panel under the head light
- Seat position sensors installed to the driver seat and front passenger seat respectively
- Seat belt buckle sensor installed in driver and passenger seat belt buckle.
- Occupant classification system

When SDM deploys the air bags at the occurrence of a frontal collision, it determines the extent of the air bag deployment for both the driver seat and front passenger seat according to the extent of the collision impact force, seat belt buckle signals and seat position signals provided then. At the same time, it activates the seat belt pretensioners on the driver seat side and front passenger seat side.

The occupant classification system installed to the front passenger seat consists of the occupant classification module (OCM) located under the passenger seat, the weight sensor included in the seat, seat position sensor and seat belt buckle sensor.

In the case of the air bag for the front passenger seat, the OCM transmits the conditions of the front passenger based on signals from the weight sensor and seat position to SDM. Thereby, SDM determines nondeployment or deployment of the air bag of the front passenger seat. While there is an occupant in the front passenger seat, if the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator located in the center of the instrument panel is lit, its air bag and seat belt pretensioner will not operate. While there is no occupant there, even though the above indicator is not lit, the air bag or seat belt pretensioner of the front passenger seat will not operate.