Vehicle airbag restraint system having an indicator to alert driver when airbag is disarmed and seat belt is fastened

摘要

Airbag restraint system for use in a vehicle having a passenger seat 12, an airbag 18 and a seat belt 14 provides an indication to the vehicle driver that airbag 18 is disabled when an infant seat 11 is secured to the passenger seat 12 using the seat belt 14. The system includes an occupancy classification system 20 such as a weight sensor and/or a non-contact occupancy sensor 22 and a seat belt sensor 24 for detecting whether seat belt 14 is fastened or unfastened. An airbag module 26 receives input from the occupancy system 20,22 and in response arms or disarms the airbag 18. An airbag condition indicator 28 alerts the driver when the passenger seat airbag 18 is disarmed because the seat is considered to be unoccupied and the seat belt 14 is fastened, therefore when an infant seat 11 is secured to the passenger seat 12 using seat belt 14, and infant seat 11 and infant have a weight too low to provide a seat occupied condition to the airbag control module 26, the airbag condition indicator 28 indicates to the driver that the airbag 18 is disarmed.