Side Impact Airbag

Side air bags with a volume of about 975 cubic inches (16 liters) each are concealed behind the inner door trim above the armrest. If the air bag is triggered during a lateral collision, the air bag tears open a seam on the inner door trim and inflates within 0.007 seconds to form a protective cushion between the passenger and the door. Thus the impact on the passenger's thorax and the ejecting motion of the head, which might otherwise cause serious injuries, are reduced.

The ORC and the IC each contain a central processing unit and programming that allow them to communicate with each other using the Controller Area Network (CAN). This method of communication is used by the ORC for control of the airbag warning indicator lamp.




Both side impact airbags are deployed individually by an electrical signal generated by the left or right side impact sensor to which it is connected through left or right side squib line 1 and line 2 circuits. The hybrid-type inflator assembly for each airbag contains a small canister of highly compressed inert gas. When the ORC sends the proper electrical signal to the airbag inflator, the electrical energy creates enough heat to ignite chemical pellets within the inflator. Once ignited, these chemicals burn rapidly and produce the pressure necessary to rupture a containment disk in the inert gas canister. The inflator and inert gas canister are sealed and connected to a tubular manifold so that all of the released gas is directed into the folded airbag cushion, causing the cushion to inflate.

As the airbag cushion inflates it will rip open a predetermined area in the driver or passenger door to form a cushion to protect the vehicle occupants during a side impact collision. Following the airbag deployment, the airbag cushion quickly deflates by venting the inert gas through the loose weave of the cushion fabric, and the deflated cushion hangs down loosely from the door trim panel.