1. A method of communicating, comprising:
selecting a plurality of mobile stations for at least receiving a simultaneous transmission from a corresponding plurality of antennas on at least a selected one of a plurality of subcarriers from within a given carrier bandwidth.
2. The method of claim 1, comprising using a first one of the plurality of antennas for transmitting a first communication to the selected mobile stations and using a second one of the plurality of antennas for transmitting a second communication to the selected mobile stations.
3. The method of claim 2, comprising using distributed multiple antenna scheduling for controlling the transmissions from the plurality of antennas such that a first one of the mobile stations effectively receives the first communication and a second one of the mobile stations effectively receives the second communication.
4. The method of claim 1, comprising
determining a power level associated with transmitting to each of at least two mobile stations on at least the selected subcarrier; and
selecting the mobile stations that have a maximum combined transmission data rate for receiving the transmission.
5. The method of claim 1, comprising selecting a plurality of mobile stations for each of the plurality of subcarriers.
6. The method of claim 1, comprising arranging the plurality of the subcarriers into a plurality of subsets, with each subset having at least two of the subcarners.
7. The method of claim 6, comprising determining which mobile stations to select for each of the subcarriers within at least one of the subsets based upon at least one selected criteria associated with at least one of the subcarriers from within the subset.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein there are M antennas for transmitting the simultaneous transmission and comprising arranging the subsets by taking every Mth subcarrier from within the bandwidth for each of the subsets.
9. The method of claim 8, comprising using a plurality of pilots for selecting the mobile stations, wherein the pilots are orthogonal to each other.
10. The method of claim 6, comprising arranging a plurality of adjacent subcarriers into each subset.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the carrier bandwidth is arranged into the plurality of subcarriers according to orthogonal frequency division multiplexing.
12. The method of claim 1, comprising selecting more than one of the plurality of subcarriers for the simultaneous transmission.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the mobile stations uses the entire bandwidth.
14. The method of claim 13, comprising selecting the mobile stations for maximizing a sum rate for receiving the-transmission during a selected time interval across the entire bandwidth.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An inflatable cushion for use in an air bag module, comprising:
a primary inflatable chamber configured for deployment from the air bag module, the primary inflatable chamber having an inlet opening for receipt of an inflation gas, the primary inflatable chamber defining a first volume when inflated with the inflation gas; and
a secondary inflatable chamber secured to the primary inflation chamber, the secondary inflatable chamber defining a second volume when inflated with the inflation gas, the second volume being less than the first volume, the secondary inflatable chamber receiving the inflation gas from the primary inflation chamber through a portion of the primary inflatable chamber that is surrounded by an inlet opening of the secondary inflatable chamber, the portion of the primary inflatable chamber being configured such that the inflation gas must travel into the primary inflatable chamber and create a first predetermined pressure in the primary chamber prior to the inflation gas passing through the portion and into the secondary inflatable chamber;
wherein the portion of the primary inflatable chamber includes at least one vent configured to prevent fluid flow in a first direction through the vent and into the secondary inflatable chamber until the first predetermined pressure is achieved in the primary inflatable chamber, and wherein once the first predetermined pressure is achieved, the at least one vent opens and provides fluid communication between the primary inflation chamber and the secondary inflation chamber, and wherein the at least one vent comprises a plurality of flaps configured to overlap each other and seal the at least one vent until the first predetermined pressure is achieved in the primary inflatable chamber.
2. The inflatable cushion as in claim 1, wherein the portion of the primary inflatable chamber comprises an uncoated material and exterior surfaces of the primary inflatable chamber not surrounded by the inlet opening of the secondary inflatable chamber comprise a coated material, the coated material being less permeable than the uncoated material.
3. The inflatable cushion as in claim 1, wherein the portion of the primary inflatable chamber comprises an uncoated material and exterior surfaces of the primary inflatable chamber not surrounded by the inlet opening of the secondary inflatable chamber comprise a coated material, the coated material being less permeable than the uncoated material and the portion of the primary inflatable chamber includes at least one vent configured to prevent fluid flow in a first direction through the vent and into the secondary inflatable chamber until the first predetermined pressure is achieved in the primary inflatable chamber, once the first predetermined pressure is achieved, the at least one vent opens and provides fluid communication between the primary inflation chamber and the secondary inflation chamber.
4. The inflatable cushion as in claim 3, wherein the primary inflatable chamber is configured to interact with a chest of an occupant positioned in front of the airbag module and the secondary inflatable chamber is configured to interact with a head of the occupant.
5. The inflatable cushion as in claim 4, wherein the inflatable cushion is configured for use with a passenger side airbag module and the secondary inflatable cushion does not have any vent openings.
6. The inflatable cushion as in claim 1, wherein the first volume is approximately 80 liters and the second volume is approximately 15 liters and the first predetermined pressure is greater than 45 KPa and the first predetermined pressure is achieved using no more than 60% of an output of an inflator required to achieve a peak pressure of approximately 40 KPa in a single chamber inflatable cushion having a volume of approximately 115 liters.
7. The inflatable cushion as in claim 1, wherein the first volume is approximately 80 liters and the second volume is approximately 15 liters and the first predetermined pressure is greater than 45 KPa.
8. The inflatable cushion as in claim 7, wherein the portion of the primary inflatable chamber comprises an uncoated material and exterior surfaces of the primary inflatable chamber not surrounded by the inlet opening of the secondary inflatable chamber comprise a coated material, the coated material being less permeable than the uncoated material.
9. The inflatable cushion as in claim 7, wherein the portion of the primary inflatable chamber includes at least one vent configured to prevent fluid flow in a first direction through the vent and into the secondary inflatable chamber until the first predetermined pressure is achieved in the primary inflatable chamber, once the first predetermined pressure is achieved, the at least one vent opens and provides fluid communication between the primary inflation chamber and the secondary inflation chamber.
10. The inflatable cushion as in claim 7, wherein the first volume is configured to reach a first volume peak pressure greater than 50 KPa and less than 70 KPa during inflation of the inflatable cushion and the secondary inflatable chamber is configured to reach a second chamber peak pressure greater than 50 KPa and less than 60 KPa during inflation of the inflatable cushion.
11. An airbag module, comprising:
a housing portion;
an inflatable cushion for deployment from the housing portion, the inflatable cushion comprising: a primary inflatable chamber configured for deployment from the air bag module, the primary inflatable chamber having an inlet opening for receipt of an inflation gas, the primary inflatable chamber defining a first volume when inflated with the inflation gas; and
a secondary inflatable chamber secured to the primary inflation chamber, the secondary inflatable chamber defining a second volume when inflated with the inflation gas the second volume being less than the first volume, the secondary inflatable chamber receiving the inflation gas from the primary inflation chamber through a portion of the primary inflatable chamber that is surrounded by an inlet opening of the secondary inflatable chamber, the portion of the primary inflatable chamber being configured such that the inflation gas must travel into the primary inflatable chamber and create a first predetermined pressure in the primary chamber prior to the inflation gas passing through the portion and into the secondary inflatable chamber, wherein fluid communication between the primary inflatable chamber and the secondary inflatable chamber is provided by at least one vent disposed in the portion, said vent being configured to open when the first predetermined pressure is achieved in the primary inflation chamber; and
an inflator For providing the inflation gas;
wherein the primary inflatable chamber is formed out of a coated material and the secondary inflatable chamber is formed out of an uncoated material, the coated material being less permeable than the uncoated material, and wherein the at least one vent comprises a plurality of flaps configured to allow fluid flow in a first direction through said vent while limiting fluid flow in a second direction opposite to said first direction, and wherein the primary inflatable chamber is configured to interact with a chest of an occupant positioned in front of the airbag module and the secondary inflatable chamber is configured to interact with a head of the occupant, and wherein the airbag module is a passenger side airbag module.
12. The airbag module as in claim 11, wherein the secondary inflatable cushion does not have any vent openings and the first volume is approximately 80 liters and the second volume is approximately 15 liters and the first volume is configured to reach a first volume peak pressure greater than 50 KPa and less than 70 KPa during inflation of the inflatable cushion and the secondary inflatable chamber is configured to reach a second chamber peak pressure greater than 50 KPa and less than 60 KPa during inflation of the inflatable cushion and the inflator is a single stage inflator.
13. A method for deploying an inflatable cushion of an airbag module, the method comprising the steps of:
inflating a primary inflatable chamber of the inflatable cushion with an inflating gas released from an inflator in fluid communication with the primary inflatable chamber, the primary inflatable chamber defining a first volume when inflated with an inflation gas; and
inflating a secondary inflatable chamber of the inflatable cushion by opening at least one vent in the primary inflatable chamber and venting a portion of the inflation gas in the primary inflatable chamber into the secondary inflatable chamber after the primary inflatable chamber has been inflated to a predetermined pressure, the secondary inflatable chamber defining a second volume when inflated with the inflation gas, the first volume being greater than the second volume, and the at least one vent comprises a plurality of flaps configured to overlap each other and seal the at least one vent until the predetermined pressure is achieved in the primary inflatable chamber.