Air Bag Systems: Description and Operation
Air Bag System ConstructionAir 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
- Side air bag on the driver and front passenger seats
- Seat belt with pretensioner
- SDM located on the underside of the center console box
- Forward sensor located on the vehicle body panel near the head light
- Side sensor located on the vehicle body.
- Seat position sensors installed to the driver seat
- 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 and seat position signal (only driver side) provided then. At the same time, the seat belt pretensioner is activated according to ON or OFF of the seat belt buckle switch.
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, 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 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 information display is lit, its air bag will not operate. While there is no occupant there, even though the above indicator is not lit, the air bag of the front passenger seat will not operate.
Side air bag (inflator) module is deployed from the side of the seat back in occurrence of a sideward collision with an impact larger than a certain set value.