JP2006248276A - Airbag control device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an airbag control device capable of preventing an occupant from being thrown out to the outside of a vehicle by previously detecting the rolling of the vehicle, and deploying a curtain airbag. <P>SOLUTION: The airbag control device is equipped with a right and left rolling direction determination part 32 determining the direction of roll over and rolling of the vehicle, a seat belt wind-up machine 5 winding up the seat belt based on the determination result of the right and left rolling direction determination part 32, a load distribution determination part 31 detecting inclination information related to the occupant on the sitting seat, and an airbag deployment determination means 4 which simultaneously deploys the right and left side airbags 6, 7 having the function of steering the occupant away from the side window 10 based on the inclination information related to the occupant from the load distribution determination part 31, and deploys the right and left curtain airbag 9 after a certain period of time or simultaneously after deployment of the side airbag. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag control device, and more particularly to a rollover-compatible airbag control device.

Conventionally, as a rollover compatible airbag control device, the occupant position sensor calculates the distance between the occupant's head and the vehicle body side inner surface, determines that there is a possibility of vehicle rollover, and the calculated distance is preset. If it is more than a threshold value, there exists some which expand | deploy a curtain airbag (for example, refer patent document 1).
Further, in order to keep the occupant's upper body away from the door at the time of a side collision and rollover of the vehicle, a bottom bag, a side bag, and a curtain airbag are provided to push up the occupant on the door side of the occupant (for example, see Patent Document 2 ).
Further, when a vehicle rolls over, there is a type that deploys a side airbag or a door airbag, deploys a curtain airbag after moving an occupant away from an indoor side wall (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

JP 2001-260802 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-9798 JP 2003-320919 A

  However, in the case of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, there is a disadvantage that the curtain airbag cannot be deployed even if there is a possibility of rollover when the value is below the threshold value. Regardless of the curtain airbag, the bottom and side bags are all deployed, so if the curtain airbag can be protected only, there is a drawback that the repair cost of the airbag will increase. In the case of the above-mentioned Patent Document 3, since the side airbag or the door airbag is deployed regardless of the posture of the occupant immediately before rollover, if the curtain airbag can be protected only, the repair cost of the airbag is high. There are disadvantages.

  In general, in the case of a rollover-compatible airbag control device, a space is required between the vehicle side window and the occupant to deploy the curtain airbag. However, the occupant's posture is restrained to some extent by the seat belt. However, curtain airbags are deployed normally due to vehicle tilt, lateral impact, and occupant consciously seated at the time of rollover (rollover) judgment and before. Space that can be done is not necessarily secured. Therefore, depending on the deployment timing of the curtain airbag, the leading end of the curtain airbag is blocked by the occupant and cannot be deployed normally. In addition, if the curtain airbag is deployed after the occupant's head has gone out of the vehicle, the occupant's head cannot be returned to the interior of the vehicle, so that deployment of the curtain airbag may increase the occupant's injury. It was. In such a situation, since it is necessary to take measures to prohibit the deployment of the curtain airbag, there is a problem that the function of the airbag control device cannot be exhibited.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and can detect the rollover of the vehicle in advance and deploy the curtain airbag to prevent the occupant from being discharged outside the vehicle. An object is to obtain an airbag control device.

  The airbag control device according to the present invention relates to a determination unit that determines a rollover and rollover direction of a vehicle, an inclination information detection unit that detects inclination information about an occupant on a seat, and an occupant from the inclination information detection unit. Side airbag deployment means for deploying left and right side airbags having a function of moving an occupant away from the side window based on inclination information, and left and right curtain airbags after a predetermined time after deployment of the side airbag by the side airbag deployment means And a curtain airbag deployment means for deploying.

  Since the side airbag is deployed only when the occupant is inclined to the side window side, the repair cost of the side airbag is reduced, and when the rollover determination is made, the posture of the occupant is restrained and the curtain is restrained. Since the airbag is deployed, the deployed curtain airbag has an effect of improving the reliability of occupant protection.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
Embodiment 1 FIG.
1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an airbag control apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
In the present embodiment, the seating posture of the occupant is obtained from the load distribution by the load sensors installed at the four points below the seat, and the seat belt pretensioner function is operated before the curtain airbag is deployed. A space where the curtain airbag can be deployed between the side window and the occupant by deploying the side airbag or seat airbag and restraining the seating posture of the occupant when it is determined that the occupant is inclined to the side window Secure. By realizing this function, it is possible to ensure the deployment of the curtain airbag at the time of rollover determination, and to suppress the passenger's release from the vehicle.

  In FIG. 1, the airbag control device uses a load sensor 1 provided between the vehicle floor and the seat slide, or between the seated seat lower portion and the seat slide, and an angular acceleration sensor, for example, that detects rollover of the vehicle. A rollover detection means 2 and a rollover determination means (ECU) 3 to which a detection output from the load sensor 1 and a detection output from the rollover detection means 2 are input are provided. A load distribution determination unit 31 that determines which load of the seat is directed based on the detection output from the sensor 1 and a left-right rollover direction that determines rollover of the vehicle based on the detection output of the rollover detection means 2 And a determination unit 32. Note that the load sensor 1 and the load distribution determination unit 31 substantially constitute inclination information detection means for detecting inclination information related to the occupant on the seat, and the rollover detection means 2 and the lateral rollover direction determination unit 32 are substantially different. And determining means for determining the rollover and rollover direction of the vehicle.

  The airbag control device includes an airbag deployment determination unit 4 that determines deployment of the airbag based on a determination result of the load distribution determination unit 31 of the rollover determination unit 3 and a determination result of the lateral rollover direction determination unit 32; The left and right seat belt hoisting machines 5, the right side airbag 6 and the left side airbag 7 provided on the output side of the airbag deployment determination means 4, and the delay timer 8 on the output side of the airbag deployment determination means 4. Left and right curtain airbags 9 are provided. The left and right seat belt hoisting machines 5, the right side airbag 6 and the left side airbag 7 substantially restrict, ie hold, the posture of the occupant, and the left and right curtain airbags 9 substantially It protects passengers.

  Note that the airbag deployment determination means 4, the right side airbag 6 and the left side airbag 7 are side airbag deployments that deploy the side airbag at the same time by moving the occupant away from the side window substantially based on the tilt information about the occupant. The airbag deployment determination unit 4 and the left and right curtain airbags 9 constitute a curtain airbag deployment unit that deploys the left and right curtain airbags 9 after a certain time or substantially simultaneously after deployment of the side airbags. Moreover, the right side airbag 6 and the left side airbag 7 are installed in a side door lining part, a seat backrest, or a seat seat part.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, the schematic operation of the airbag control device will be described.
The output from the load sensor 1 provided between the vehicle floor and the seat slide or between the seating seat lower part and the seat slide is supplied to the load distribution determination unit 31 in the rollover determination means 3. It is determined from the load distribution whether the occupant is inclined, that is, to which direction the load on the seat is directed. Further, the detection output from the rollover detection means 2 for detecting the rollover of the vehicle is supplied to the left-right rollover direction determination unit 32 in the rollover determination means 3, where the rollover of the vehicle is determined.

  Both the determination results of the load distribution determination unit 31 and the left / right rollover direction determination unit 32 are supplied to the airbag deployment determination unit 4. Here, based on the determination result of the load distribution determination unit 31 and the determination result of the left / right rollover direction determination unit 32. Thus, the deployment of the airbag is determined. In the airbag deployment determination means 4, when the occupant is inclined from the determination result of the load distribution determination unit 31, the seat belt hoisting function by the left and right seat belt hoisting machines 5 and the occupant by the side airbags 6, 7 are By using the airbag deployment function that moves away from the vehicle, the seating posture of the occupant is moved toward the interior of the vehicle, and the deployment space for the left and right curtain airbags 9 is secured via a delay timer 8 after a certain period of time. To reduce the passenger's release from the vehicle.

  Further, the airbag deployment determination means 4 deploys the right side airbag 6 or the left side airbag 7 based on the rollover rollover direction determination result of the left / right rollover direction determination unit 32, and is fixed via the delay timer 8. After a while, the left and right curtain airbags 9 are deployed. Note that the deployment of the left and right curtain airbags 9 may be performed simultaneously with the deployment of the side airbags 6, 7 without using the delay timer 8.

  FIG. 2 shows the deployed state of the left and right curtain airbags 9 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2 (a) shows the normal deployment of the curtain airbags 9. The timing which can ensure the space which can expand | deploy the bag 9 is represented. FIG. 2B shows a state in which when the curtain airbag 9 is deployed, the tip of the curtain airbag 9 hits the head 12 of the occupant and does not deploy in a curtain shape.

  FIG. 3 is a top view, a front view, and a side view showing the arrangement of the load sensor 1, and the load sensor is located between the four corner portions (a) to (d) of the upper vehicle floor 14 and the seat slide of the slide rail 15. 1 is installed, and the load sensor 1 is installed between the lower part of the seating seat 11 and the seat slide of the slide rail 15. The seat back 16 is attached to the seating seat 11.

  FIG. 4 shows the output of each load sensor 1 installed at the four corners (a) to (d) of the vehicle floor 14, that is, (1) normal seating, (2) tilted to the right side, (3 ) The case of inclination on the left side is shown. Now, assuming that the load values are h1, h2, and h3, the relationship between these loads (g) is h1> h2> h3> 0.

  FIG. 5 shows a transition state of normal side airbag deployment in which the side airbag is deployed from the side window side. FIG. 5 (a) shows that the occupant's head 12 approaches the side window 10 and FIG. FIG. 5B shows a state where the side airbags 6 and 7 are deployed, and FIG. 5C shows a state where the curtain airbag 9 is deployed. In FIG. 5A, since the head 12 of the occupant is in contact with the side window 10, when the curtain airbag 9 is deployed, the tip of the curtain airbag 9 hits the occupant's head 12, and the curtain airbag 9 Does not expand into a curtain. On the other hand, in FIG. 5B, the side airbag 6 or 7 is deployed, the occupant's head 12 is pulled away from the side window 10, and a gap through which the curtain airbag 9 can be deployed is provided. Moreover, in FIG.5 (c), the curtain airbag 9 is expand | deployed after the fixed time ((DELTA) t (s)) which expanded the side airbag 6 or 7. FIG.

  FIG. 6 shows a transition state of the side airbag deployment in which the side airbag is deployed from the seating seat side. FIG. 6 (a) shows that the occupant's head 12 approaches the side window 10 and FIG. The side airbags 6 and 7 are deployed, and FIG. 6C shows a state in which the curtain airbag 9 is deployed. In FIG. 6A, since the head 12 of the occupant is in contact with the side window 10, when the curtain airbag 9 is deployed, the tip of the curtain airbag 9 hits the occupant's head 12, and the curtain airbag 9 Does not expand into a curtain. On the other hand, in FIG. 6B, the side airbag 6 or 7 is deployed from the seating seat 11, the occupant's head 12 is pulled away from the side window 10, and a gap through which the curtain airbag 9 can be deployed is provided. In FIG. 6C, the curtain airbag 9 is deployed after the side airbag 6 or 7 is deployed (Δt (s)).

  FIG. 7 shows a transition state of the side airbag deployment in which the side airbag is deployed from the seat back side. FIG. 7 (a) shows that the occupant's head 12 approaches the side window 10 and FIG. FIG. 6C shows a state in which the side airbags 6 and 7 are deployed, and FIG. 6C illustrates a state in which the curtain airbag 9 is deployed. 7A, since the occupant's head 12 is in contact with the side window 10, when the curtain airbag 9 is deployed, the tip of the curtain airbag 9 hits the occupant's head 12, and the curtain airbag 9 Does not expand into a curtain. On the other hand, in FIG. 7B, the side airbag 6 or 7 is deployed from the seat back 16 and the occupant's head 12 is pulled away from the side window 10 to provide a gap in which the curtain airbag 9 can be deployed. Moreover, in FIG.7 (c), the curtain airbag 9 is expand | deployed after the fixed time ((DELTA) t (s)) which expanded the side airbag 6 or 7. FIG.

  FIG. 8 shows the timing of the rollover determination, the side airbag or seat airbag deployment command, and the curtain airbag deployment command. The rollover determination in FIG. 8A and the timing in FIG. The deployment command for the side airbag or the seat airbag is issued at substantially the same timing, and the deployment command for the curtain airbag in FIG. 8C is the rollover determination in FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B. This is carried out with a delay of a certain time (Δt (s)) from the timing of the deployment command of the side airbag or the seat airbag.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is determined whether the occupant is inclined from the load distribution by the load sensor installed in the lower part of the seat, and when the occupant is inclined, the seat belt hoisting function and the occupant are By using the deployment function of the airbag that has the function of moving away from the side window, the seating posture of the occupant is moved in the vehicle direction to secure the deployment space of the curtain airbag, realizing the original curtain airbag function, It is possible to suppress occupant release from the vehicle. In the first embodiment, the seat belt hoisting function and the airbag deployment function are used together. However, if the seating posture of the occupant can be moved in the vehicle direction by the airbag deployment function, the seat belt hoisting function is provided. There is no need to use it together.

In the present embodiment, since the side airbag is deployed only when the occupant is inclined to the side window, the repair cost of the side airbag is reduced. Further, when the rollover determination is made, the posture of the occupant is restrained and the curtain airbag is deployed, so there is no non-deployment condition, and the reliability of occupant protection is improved.
Also, the side airbag is stored in the seat back, seat seating or side door lining (lining), and this side airbag is deployed. Lifting the buttocks and pulling the occupant away from the side window can create a deployment space for the curtain airbag.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a main part of an airbag control apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
In this embodiment, a touch sensor is installed on the lining part of the side door, and before the curtain airbag is deployed, the seat belt pretensioner function is operated, and the occupant touches the side window side by the touch sensor and tilts. When it is detected that the vehicle is leaning, the side airbag or seat airbag is deployed, and the seating posture of the occupant is suppressed, so that the curtain airbag is deployed between the side window and the occupant. Secure the space you can. By realizing this function, it is possible to ensure the deployment of the curtain airbag at the time of rollover determination, and to suppress the passenger's release from the vehicle.

  In the first embodiment, the case where it is determined whether the occupant is inclined from the load distribution by the load sensor 1 has been described. However, in the present embodiment, the occupant's occupant's touch sensor is installed on the lining portion of the side door. It detects the approach to the side window, that is, the inclination of the occupant.

  In FIG. 9, the touch sensor 17 is attached to a side door lining portion 18 provided below the side window 10, and the touch sensor 17 detects a state in which the occupant is inclined toward the side window 10. Other configurations are the same as those in FIG. 1 except that the touch sensor 17 is used in place of the load sensor 1 and the load distribution determination unit 31 is not necessary, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

Thus, in the present embodiment, the touch sensor 17 can be installed in the vehicle front-rear direction (longitudinal direction) on the front-rear and left-right side door lining portions 18, so that the front-rear position of the seat is not affected, and the rear seat is the same. There is an effect that it can be realized by the configuration.
Note that the touch sensor is used to detect whether the occupant is inclined, that is, the approach of the occupant to the side window. However, the present invention is not limited to this, but other means such as an infrared sensor May be used. In the above-described embodiment, the left and right curtain airbags are deployed after a predetermined time after the deployment of the side airbag. However, the predetermined time includes the occupant's inclination status and the vehicle status (vehicle speed, rotation angle, Depending on the rollover situation, etc., it may be increased or decreased or newly set.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the airbag control apparatus by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the airbag control apparatus by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of attachment of the load sensor in the airbag control apparatus by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a timing chart for demonstrating operation | movement of the load sensor in the airbag control apparatus by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the airbag control apparatus by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the airbag control apparatus by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the airbag control apparatus by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a timing chart for demonstrating operation | movement of the airbag control apparatus by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part of the airbag control apparatus by Embodiment 2 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Load sensor, 2 Roll over detection means, 3 Roll over determination means, 4 Air bag deployment judgment means, 5 Left and right seat belt winding machines, 6 Right side airbag, 7 Left side airbag, 8 Delay timer, 9 Left and right curtain air Bag, 10 side window, 11 seat, 12 passenger head, 13 passenger shoulder, 14 vehicle floor, 15 slide rail, 16 seat back, 17 touch sensor, 18 side door lining, 31 load distribution determination unit, 32 Left-right roll-over direction determination unit.

Claims (5)

In an airbag control device having a rollover determination function,
Determining means for determining the rollover and rollover direction of the vehicle;
Inclination information detection means for detecting inclination information regarding the occupant on the seat;
Side airbag deployment means for deploying the side airbag to move the occupant away from the side window based on the inclination information about the occupant from the inclination information detection means;
An airbag control device comprising: curtain airbag deployment means for deploying left and right curtain airbags after a predetermined time after deployment of the side airbag by the side airbag deployment means.   2. The airbag control device according to claim 1, further comprising seat belt hoisting means for winding up the seat belt based on the determination result of the determining means.   2. The airbag control device according to claim 1, wherein the side airbag deployment means deploys the right side or the left side of the side airbag based on the determination result of the rollover rollover direction in the determination unit.   The side airbag is housed in the seat back window side, the seat seating portion window side or the side door, is deployed based on the determination result of the determination means, and pulls away the occupant who is seated inclined to the side window side from the side window. The airbag control device according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein The inclination information detecting means detects inclination information relating to an occupant on a seating seat by using either a load sensor or a touch sensor installed at a side door lining portion and installed at the lower part of the seating seat. The airbag control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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