JP2009143435A - Vehicle control device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle control device capable of sufficiently securing protection of one's own vehicle and occupants. <P>SOLUTION: This vehicle control device 1 is provided with a collision inevitableness decision means 5b for deciding whether or not it is inevitable that one's own vehicle collides with a front object and a vehicle height adjusting means 5e for adjusting a vehicle height of one's own vehicle. When the collision inevitableness decision means 5b decides that it is inevitable that one's own vehicle collides with the front object, the vehicle height adjusting means 5e adjusts the vehicle height to a height (an absolute value of D<δ) suitable for protecting one's own vehicle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle control device that determines whether or not a collision with an object ahead of the host vehicle is inevitable, and controls the height of the host vehicle based on the determination result.

Conventionally, when a host vehicle collides with a front object such as a front vehicle, a structure, or an obstacle, a very large collision energy is input to the vehicle body of the host vehicle, and the vehicle body is greatly deformed. In addition, the impact on passengers in the passenger compartment may be increased. As a technique for preventing such an impact from reaching the occupant as much as possible, there is a technique described in Patent Document 1. In the technique described in Patent Document 1, the impact at the time of collision is transmitted from the front bumper and the front side member of the host vehicle to the wheels, and further, the wheels are positioned on both sides of the floor surface of the host vehicle in the vehicle longitudinal direction. It is transmitted to a rocker, which is a longitudinal vehicle reinforcing member, and shock is absorbed by compressive deformation in the longitudinal direction of the rocker, preventing deformation of the floor, doors, roof, etc., and protecting the vehicle and passengers. Is going.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-25357

  However, depending on the prior art, consideration is given to whether or not there is a difference between the height from the road surface of the wheel and the height from the road surface of the rocker when transmitting the impact at the time of collision to the rocker. If this difference is large, there is a problem that the shock cannot be efficiently absorbed from the wheels to the rocker, and the vehicle and passengers cannot be sufficiently protected. Arise.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle control device that can sufficiently protect the host vehicle and passengers.

In order to solve the above problem, a vehicle control device according to the present invention provides:
A collision unavoidable determining means for determining whether or not the host vehicle is inevitable to collide with a front object; and a vehicle height adjusting means for adjusting a vehicle height of the host vehicle; When it is determined that a collision with a front object is inevitable, the vehicle height adjusting means sets the vehicle height to a vehicle height suitable for protecting the host vehicle.

Here, in the vehicle control device,
When the front object determining means determines whether the front object is a protection target, and the front object determination means determines that the front object is not a protection target, the vehicle height adjustment means The vehicle height is preferably a vehicle height suitable for protecting the host vehicle.

  Note that the front object is a protection object, for example, the front object is an object having a relatively small weight such as a pedestrian, a bicycle, a motorcycle, a small and medium-sized animal, and is given to the own vehicle at the time of a collision. This is a case where the degree of damage to the subject vehicle is small due to the applied impact, and the degree of damage to the front object on the collided side is considered to be large.

  The front object is not a protection target. For example, the front object is a relatively heavy object such as a preceding vehicle, a house, a guardrail, a standing tree, or a power pole, and is given to the host vehicle at the time of a collision. This is a case where it is considered that the degree to which the vehicle is damaged by the impact is large and the degree to which the object on the collision side is damaged is small.

  In such a case, only when the front object is not to be protected, the vehicle height adjusting means sets the vehicle height to a vehicle height suitable for protection of the host vehicle, so that only when necessary, at the time of collision. The vehicle can be protected in

Here, in the vehicle control device,
The vehicle height suitable for protecting the host vehicle includes a height from the road surface at the center of the wheel of the host vehicle and a height from the road surface at the center of the cross section of the vehicle longitudinal direction reinforcing member disposed on both sides of the vehicle body floor surface of the host vehicle. The vehicle height is within a predetermined range. Here, the cross-sectional center is a center of gravity in a cross section perpendicular to the vehicle front-rear direction of the vehicle front-rear direction reinforcing member. In addition, the predetermined range includes a case where a height from the road surface at the center of the wheel and a height from the road surface at the center of the cross section coincide with each other. The impact transmitted from the rear part of the front end of the vehicle, that is, from the front nose to the wheel, is further efficiently transmitted from the wheel to the vehicle longitudinal direction reinforcing member, and the vehicle longitudinal direction reinforcing member is caused by the input of the impact. Can prevent bending deformation and buckling deformation.

  Thus, by positioning the wheel center of the host vehicle at the center of the cross section of the vehicle longitudinal direction reinforcing member, the impact transmitted from the rear part of the front end of the host vehicle to the wheel at the time of the collision is further reduced from the wheel. It is efficiently transmitted to the vehicle longitudinal direction reinforcing member, and the vehicle longitudinal direction reinforcing member is prevented from causing bending deformation and buckling deformation due to the input of the impact, and can be compressed and deformed. Thus, the impact can be efficiently borne and absorbed by the vehicle longitudinal direction reinforcing member, a space necessary for ensuring the safety of the occupant of the host vehicle can be secured, and the protection of the host vehicle and the occupant can be sufficiently secured. it can.

  The vehicle longitudinal direction reinforcing member corresponds to a rocker, the front end portion corresponds to a front bumper, and the rear portion of the front end portion corresponds to a front nose. By causing the rocker to bear the impact, it is possible to prevent the shock from being transmitted to other structural members such as the floor, the side door, the side member outer, the roof, the windshield, and to reinforce these structural members other than the rocker. The need can be abolished.

In addition, in the vehicle control device,
When the front object determining means determines that the front object is a protection object, the vehicle height adjusting means preferably sets the vehicle height to a vehicle height suitable for protecting the front object.

  According to this, when the front object is a protection object, the vehicle height adjusting means sets the vehicle height to a vehicle height suitable for protecting the front object, thereby protecting the front object. Can be done actively.

Here, in the vehicle control device,
The vehicle height suitable for protecting the front object is the vehicle height at which the front end of the host vehicle is lowest.

  In this way, by setting the vehicle height to the vehicle height at which the front end of the host vehicle, that is, the front bumper is the lowest, when the front object is a protection target, It is possible to prevent the front object from being damaged as much as possible by riding on the rear part of the front end of the vehicle, that is, the front nose.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the vehicle control apparatus which can fully ensure the protection of the own vehicle and a passenger | crew can be provided.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a vehicle control device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an installation form of an embodiment of the vehicle control apparatus according to the present invention.

  The vehicle control device 1 includes a millimeter wave radar sensor 2, an object recognition camera sensor 3, a near-infrared projector 4, a vehicle control ECU 5, a buzzer 6, a warning lamp 7, and an air suspension 8. The The vehicle control ECU 5 is connected to the air suspension 8, the engine ECU 9, the brake ECU 10, and the transmission ECU 11 according to a communication standard such as CAN (Controller Area Network).

  The millimeter wave radar sensor 2 measures the distance between a front object located in front of the host vehicle and the host vehicle, and is provided on a front grill or a front bumper of the host vehicle as shown in FIG. The millimeter wave radar sensor 2 can be replaced by a laser radar.

  The object recognition camera sensor 3 is, for example, a CCD camera or a CMOS camera. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the object recognition camera sensor 3 is disposed at the center upper part of the windshield in the vehicle room so that the optical axis coincides with the front of the vehicle. Images of front objects in front of the vehicle, that is, pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles, small and medium-sized animals, preceding vehicles, houses, guardrails, standing trees, utility poles, and the like.

The near-infrared projector 4 includes a projector, a receiver, and a signal processor, and mainly measures the temperature of a front object located in front of the host vehicle. As shown in FIG. The vehicle control ECU 5 (Electronic Control Unit) provided in the front grille or the front bumper is also composed of, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and a data bus connecting them, and the CPU performs predetermined processing described below according to a program stored in the ROM. The detection means 5a, the collision inevitable determination means 5b, the forward object determination means 5c, the vehicle control means 5d, and the vehicle height adjustment means 5e are configured.

  The air suspension 8 is provided between the vehicle body for each wheel of the host vehicle, and cushions and attenuates the impact based on the relative displacement between the wheel and the vehicle body by the action of the air spring. Has a function of adjusting the relative position between the vehicle body and the wheel by adjusting the internal pressure. The internal pressure of the air spring is controlled based on a command from the vehicle height adjusting means 5e of the vehicle control ECU 5, and the vehicle body and the wheel are controlled. Relative displacement, that is, the vehicle height is adjusted.

  The engine ECU 9 (Electronic Control Unit) is composed of, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and a data bus connecting them, and the CPU performs predetermined processing in accordance with a program stored in the ROM. Based on the command from the means 5d, the opening degree and the rotational speed of the throttle valve of the engine are controlled.

  The brake ECU 10 (Electronic Control Unit) includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and a data bus that connects them, and the CPU performs predetermined processing according to a program stored in the ROM. Based on the command from the means 5d, the brake device provided on each wheel of the vehicle is controlled to brake the vehicle.

  The transmission ECU 11 (Electronic Control Unit) is composed of, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and a data bus connecting them, and the CPU performs predetermined processing according to a program stored in the ROM. Based on a command from the control means 5d, shift control of a transmission gear ratio (not shown) is performed here.

  The detection means 5a of the vehicle control ECU 5 detects the shape and moving speed of the front object from the image captured by the object recognition camera sensor 3, detects the temperature of the front object by the near infrared projector 4, and detects the millimeter wave radar. The sensor 2 detects the distance between the front object and the host vehicle, and detects the vehicle speed of the host vehicle from the engine ECU 9 or the brake ECU 10.

  The collision inevitable determination means 5b of the vehicle control ECU 5 is based on the distance between the host vehicle and the front object and the deceleration of the host vehicle. It is determined whether or not a collision can be avoided by a steering operation, and it is determined whether or not the host vehicle is inevitable to collide with a front object.

  When the collision unavoidable determination means 5b determines that the collision inevitable determination means 5b is inevitable, the vehicle control means 5d of the vehicle control ECU 5 decreases the engine throttle valve opening degree by the engine ECU 9 to reduce the rotational speed, and the brake ECU 10 , And the vehicle is controlled so as to reduce the speed of the host vehicle. In addition, the vehicle control means 5d of the vehicle control ECU 5 issues a warning to the driver by sounding the buzzer 6 provided on the cab and turning on the warning lamp 7.

  The front object determination means 5 c of the vehicle control ECU 5 acquires the shape and moving speed of the front object from the image captured by the object recognition camera sensor 3, and acquires the temperature of the front object detected by the near infrared projector 4. Then, from the shape, moving speed and temperature of these front objects, specify whether the front objects are pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles, small and medium-sized animals, preceding vehicles, houses, guardrails, trees, utility poles, etc. To do.

  At the same time, the forward object determination means 5c determines whether or not the forward object is a protection target of approximately 500 kg or less, such as a pedestrian, a bicycle, a motorcycle, and a small and medium-sized animal, and a preceding vehicle, a house, a guardrail, It is determined whether or not the standing trees, utility poles, etc. are not subject to protection of approximately 500 kg or more.

  The vehicle height adjusting means 5e of the vehicle control ECU 5 determines that the vehicle height of the host vehicle is suitable for protecting the front object when the front object determining means 5c determines that the front object is a protection object. When the air suspension 8 is controlled so that the front object determining means 5c determines that the front object is not to be protected, the vehicle height of the host vehicle is suitable for protecting the host vehicle. The air suspension 8 is controlled so as to obtain the vehicle height.

  Here, the vehicle height suitable for protecting the host vehicle is, as shown in FIG. 3, the height H1 from the road surface of the wheel of the host vehicle, that is, the wheel center C1, and the both sides of the vehicle body floor surface. The difference D between the rocker's cross-sectional center C2 and the height H2 from the road surface is within a predetermined range (the absolute value of D <δ, where D is a positive value when C1 is higher than C2). Is high. In addition, a wheel shows the wheel with which the tire was mounted | worn.

  Here, the predetermined range includes the case where the height H1 from the road surface of the wheel center C1 and the height H2 from the road surface of the cross-sectional center C2 of the rocker coincide with each other, and the difference between these heights falls within the predetermined range. If so, the impact transmitted from the front nose of the host vehicle to the wheel at the time of collision between the host vehicle and the front object is further efficiently transmitted from the wheel to the rocker, and the rocker bends due to the input of the impact. It shall be possible to prevent deformation and buckling deformation.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the vehicle height suitable for protecting the front object is a vehicle height at which the front end of the host vehicle, that is, the front bumper FB is the lowest, and the height of the front bumper FB from the road surface is It is preferable to be lower than the height of the pedestrian's knee.

  Hereinafter, the control content of the vehicle control apparatus 1 of a present Example is demonstrated using a flowchart. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the control contents of the vehicle control ECU 5 of the vehicle control apparatus 1 according to the present invention.

  In S1, the detection means 5a of the vehicle control ECU 5 detects the shape and moving speed of the front object based on the image captured by the object recognition camera sensor 3. In S2, the detection means 5a The sensor 2 detects the distance to the front object, and the near-infrared projector 4 detects the temperature of the front object. In S3, the detection means 5a of the vehicle control ECU 5 detects the vehicle speed of the host vehicle.

  In S4, the collision inevitable determination means 5b of the vehicle control ECU 5 is based on the distance between the host vehicle and the front object acquired in S2, the vehicle speed acquired in S3, and a predetermined deceleration of the host vehicle. Whether the vehicle is inevitable to collide with the front object by judging whether it can be stopped before the front object by the brake operation and the collision can be avoided by the steering operation. If it is determined that the collision is inevitable, the process proceeds to S5. If not determined, the control is terminated.

  If it is determined in S4 that the collision is unavoidable, the vehicle control means 5d of the vehicle control ECU 5 reduces the engine throttle valve opening by the engine ECU 9 to reduce the rotation speed, and operates the brake by the brake ECU 10. The transmission ECU 11 shifts down and controls the vehicle so as to reduce the speed of the host vehicle. The vehicle control means 5d of the vehicle control ECU 5 lights the buzzer 6 provided on the cab and lights the warning lamp 7. To alert the driver.

  In S5, the forward object determination means 5c of the vehicle control ECU 5 determines that the forward object is a pedestrian, bicycle, motorcycle, small / medium sized animal, preceding vehicle, house, guardrail, standing tree based on the shape, moving speed, and temperature of the forward object. , Specify whether it is a utility pole or the like.

  Furthermore, in S5, the forward object determination means 5c determines whether or not the forward object is a protection target of approximately 500 kg or less, such as a pedestrian, a bicycle, a motorcycle, and a small and medium-sized animal, and the preceding vehicle, the house, the guardrail. It is judged whether it is a thing that is not subject to protection of 500 kg or more, such as standing trees, utility poles, etc. If it is determined that the front object is a protection target, the process proceeds to S6. If it is determined that the front object is not a protection target, the process proceeds to S7.

  In S6, since the front object determining means 5c determines that the front object is a protection object, the vehicle height adjusting means 5e of the vehicle control ECU 5 determines the vehicle height of the host vehicle to protect the front object. The air suspension 8 is controlled so that the vehicle height is suitable for the vehicle. In S7, since the front object determining means 5c determines that the front object is not to be protected, the vehicle height adjusting means 5e of the vehicle control ECU 5 determines the vehicle height of the own vehicle. The air suspension 8 is controlled so that the vehicle height is suitable for the protection of the vehicle.

  According to the vehicle control device 1 of the first embodiment realized by the control contents described above, the following operational effects can be obtained. In other words, only when the front object is not a protection target, the vehicle height adjusting means 5e of the vehicle control ECU 5 makes the vehicle height of the host vehicle suitable for the protection of the host vehicle, so that a collision occurs only when necessary. It is possible to protect the host vehicle at the time.

  Further, by positioning the height H1 from the road surface of the wheel center C1 of the own vehicle and the height H2 from the road surface of the cross-sectional center C2 of the rocker within the predetermined range described above, the vehicle and the front object The impact transmitted from the front nose of the vehicle to the wheels at the time of a collision is further efficiently transmitted from the wheels to the rocker, preventing the rocker from bending and buckling due to the input of the impact. Thus, the rocker can be compressed and deformed. As a result, it is possible to efficiently load and absorb the impact by the rocker, to secure a space necessary for ensuring the safety of the occupant of the host vehicle, and to sufficiently protect the host vehicle and the occupant.

  In addition, the rocker, which is a reinforcing member extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, bears the impact caused by the collision between the host vehicle and the front object, thereby allowing the floor, side door, side member outer, roof, front It is possible to prevent an impact from being transmitted to other components such as glass, and to eliminate the need to reinforce components other than these rockers.

  Further, when the front object determining means 5c of the vehicle control ECU 5 determines that the front object is a protection object, the vehicle height adjusting means 5e of the vehicle control ECU 5 is a vehicle suitable for protecting the front object. By setting it high, when the front object is a protection object, the front object can be positively protected.

  In addition, by setting the vehicle height to a vehicle height at which the front end portion of the host vehicle, that is, the front bumper FB is lower, when the front object is a protection target, the front object such as a pedestrian is at the time of the collision. It is possible to prevent the front object from being damaged as much as possible by riding on the front nose that is the rear part of the front end of the vehicle.

  In the first embodiment, in determining the front object ahead of the host vehicle, the shape and moving speed of the front object based on the image captured by the object recognition camera sensor 3 and the near-infrared projector 4 The temperature and the shape of the front object are measured by providing a plurality of millimeter wave radar sensors 2 and counting the reflected waves of a plurality of millimeter waves emitted toward the front object. Therefore, the object recognition camera sensor 3 and the near-infrared projector 4 can be omitted by estimating whether the object is a protection target.

  In the vehicle control apparatus 1 shown in the first embodiment described above, the vehicle height of the host vehicle is suitable for protecting the host vehicle when the front object is not a protection target. However, if the front object is protected by another device and is inevitable to collide with the front object, the vehicle height of the vehicle is always set to a vehicle height suitable for protecting the vehicle. It can also be set as the structure adjusted. The second embodiment will be described below.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the vehicle control device according to the present invention. In addition, about the component same as the component of the vehicle control apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the overlapping description is omitted.

  The vehicle control device 21 includes a millimeter wave radar sensor 2, a vehicle control ECU 5, a buzzer 6, a warning lamp 7, an air suspension 8, and a pedestrian protection airbag 12. The vehicle control ECU 5 is connected to an air suspension 8, an engine ECU 9, a brake ECU 10, a transmission ECU 11, and a pedestrian protection airbag 12 according to a communication standard such as CAN (Controller Area Network).

  The vehicle control ECU 5 (Electronic Control Unit) is also composed of, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and a data bus connecting them, and the CPU performs predetermined processing described below in accordance with a program stored in the ROM. 5a, collision unavoidable determination means 5b, vehicle control means 5d, and vehicle height adjustment means 5e.

  The pedestrian protection airbag 12 is provided in the vicinity of the front grille of the host vehicle. When the collision inevitable determining unit 5b of the vehicle control ECU 5 determines that the host vehicle is inevitable to collide with the front object, the vehicle control unit 5d. Based on the control, the built-in inflator is ignited, and the airbag is deployed to damage a relatively light front object such as a pedestrian, bicycle, motorcycle, small and medium-sized animal at the time of collision. This is to prevent this.

  The detection means 5a of the vehicle control ECU 5 detects the distance from the front object by the millimeter wave radar sensor 2, and detects the vehicle speed of the host vehicle from the engine ECU 9 or the brake ECU 10.

  The collision inevitable determination means 5b of the vehicle control ECU 5 is based on the distance between the host vehicle and the front object and the deceleration of the host vehicle. It is determined whether or not a collision can be avoided by a steering operation, and it is determined whether or not the host vehicle is inevitable to collide with a front object.

  When the collision unavoidable determination means 5b determines that the collision unavoidable determination means 5b is inevitable, the vehicle control ECU 5d of the vehicle control ECU 5 reduces the rotational speed by reducing the opening of the engine throttle valve by the engine ECU 9, and the brake ECU 10 The brake is operated, the transmission ECU 11 shifts down, and vehicle control is performed so as to reduce the speed of the host vehicle. In addition, the vehicle control means 5d of the vehicle control ECU 5 issues a warning to the driver by sounding the buzzer 6 provided on the cab and turning on the warning lamp 7.

  The vehicle height adjusting means 5e of the vehicle control ECU 5 is suitable for protecting the own vehicle when the collision inevitable determining means 5b determines that the own vehicle is inevitable to collide with the front object. In addition to controlling the air suspension 8 so as to achieve the vehicle height, the vehicle control means 5d of the vehicle control ECU 5 controls the pedestrian protection airbag 12 so as to deploy the pedestrian protection airbag 12.

  Here, the vehicle height suitable for protecting the host vehicle is the height H1 from the road surface of the wheel of the host vehicle, that is, the wheel center C1, as shown in FIG. The difference D with the height H2 from the road surface of the cross-sectional center C2 of the rocker arranged on both sides of the vehicle body floor surface of the host vehicle is within a predetermined range (the absolute value of D <δ, D is higher in C1 than in C2) The vehicle height is a positive value.)

  Also, here, the predetermined range is the same as that shown in the first embodiment when the height H1 from the road surface of the wheel center C1 and the height H2 from the road surface of the cross-sectional center C2 of the rocker coincide. If the difference in height is within a predetermined range, the impact transmitted from the front nose of the host vehicle to the wheel at the time of collision between the host vehicle and the front object is further efficiently transmitted from the wheel to the rocker. It is transmitted to prevent the rocker from causing bending deformation and buckling deformation due to impact input.

  Hereinafter, the control contents of the vehicle control device 21 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to flowcharts. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the control contents of the vehicle control ECU 5 of the vehicle control device 21 according to the present invention.

  In S <b> 11, the detection means 5 a of the vehicle control ECU 5 detects the distance to the front object by the millimeter wave radar sensor 2. In S12, the detection means 5a of the vehicle control ECU 5 detects the vehicle speed of the host vehicle.

  In S13, the collision inevitable determining means 5b of the vehicle control ECU 5 is based on the distance between the host vehicle and the front object acquired in S11, the vehicle speed of the host vehicle acquired in S12, and a predetermined deceleration of the host vehicle. Whether the vehicle is inevitable to collide with the front object by judging whether it can be stopped before the front object by the brake operation and the collision can be avoided by the steering operation. If it is determined that a collision is inevitable, the process proceeds to S14. If not determined, the control is terminated.

  In S14, the vehicle control means 5d of the vehicle control ECU 5 reduces the engine throttle valve opening degree by the engine ECU 9 to reduce the rotational speed, operates the brake by the brake ECU 10, and shifts down by the transmission ECU 11. Vehicle control is performed so as to reduce the speed of the host vehicle, and the vehicle control means 5d of the vehicle control ECU 5 alerts the driver by sounding the buzzer 6 provided in the cab and turning on the warning lamp 7.

  In S14, the vehicle height adjusting means 5e of the vehicle control ECU 5 controls the air suspension 8 so that the vehicle height of the host vehicle becomes a vehicle height suitable for protecting the host vehicle, and proceeds to S15. The control means 5d outputs a command to operate the pedestrian protection airbag 12, and the pedestrian protection airbag 12 is deployed based on this command.

  According to the vehicle control device 21 of the second embodiment realized by the control contents described above, the following operational effects can be obtained. That is, when it is determined that the host vehicle is inevitable to collide with the front object, the vehicle height adjusting means 5e of the vehicle control ECU 5 sets the vehicle height of the host vehicle to a vehicle height suitable for protecting the host vehicle. It is possible to protect the host vehicle and passengers in the event of a collision.

  Further, by positioning the height H1 from the road surface of the wheel center C1 of the own vehicle and the height H2 from the road surface of the cross-sectional center C2 of the rocker within a predetermined range, at the time of a collision between the own vehicle and the front object The shock transmitted from the front bumper FB of the host vehicle to the wheel is further efficiently transmitted from the wheel to the rocker, and the rocker is prevented from bending and buckling deformation due to the input of the shock, and compressed. Thus, the impact can be efficiently borne by the rocker, the space necessary for ensuring the safety of the occupant of the host vehicle can be secured, and the protection of the host vehicle and the occupant can be sufficiently secured.

  In addition, the rocker, which is a reinforcing member extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, bears the impact caused by the collision between the host vehicle and the front object, thereby allowing the floor, side door, side member outer, roof, front It is possible to prevent an impact from being transmitted to other components such as glass, and to eliminate the need to reinforce components other than these rockers.

  In addition, when it is determined that a collision is inevitable without determining whether the front object is a protection object, the pedestrian protection airbag 12 is deployed to be a protection object at the time of the collision. It is possible to prevent as much as possible that a front object having a small weight such as a pedestrian is damaged by the front bumper of the host vehicle.

  Furthermore, the object recognition camera sensor 3 and the near-infrared projector 4 which are necessary in the vehicle control apparatus 1 shown in the first embodiment are omitted, and the front object determination unit 5c is also eliminated in the vehicle control ECU 5. Therefore, the configuration and control contents can be simplified.

  Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and substitutions are made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. be able to.

  For example, in the first and second embodiments described above, an air suspension is used as a specific means for adjusting the vehicle height. However, a hydraulic cylinder of an active suspension can be used, or an electric motor and a ball screw mechanism are combined. It is also possible to use a mechanism. Further, before the host vehicle collides, a means for adjusting the vehicle height to be increased by using the fact that the front nose of the host vehicle sinks, that is, nose diving, is used to increase the damping force of the shock absorber. You can also.

  Moreover, in Example 2 mentioned above, although the pedestrian protection airbag 12 was used as a means to prevent the damage to the front object at the time of a collision, the height from the road surface of the front bumper FB can be adjusted. When it is determined that a collision is inevitable by providing a means for the front nose, the front bumper FB is lowered with respect to the front nose to reduce the height from the road surface, and the front object is moved to the front nose at the time of the collision. It is also possible to adopt a configuration that prevents the damage to the front object by getting on.

  The present invention relates to a vehicle control device that can sufficiently protect the host vehicle and passengers, and can improve the safety of passengers of vehicles, so that it can be applied to various vehicles such as passenger cars, trucks, and buses. It is useful to apply.

It is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a vehicle control device concerning the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the installation form of one Embodiment of the vehicle control apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the control content of the vehicle control apparatus concerning this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the control content of the vehicle control apparatus concerning this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of one Embodiment of the vehicle control apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a vehicle control device concerning the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of one Embodiment of the vehicle control apparatus which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle control apparatus 2 Millimeter wave radar sensor 3 Object recognition camera sensor 4 Near-infrared projector 5 Vehicle control ECU
5a Detection means 5b Collision inevitable determination means 5c Front object determination means 5d Vehicle control means 5e Vehicle height adjustment means 6 Buzzer 7 Warning lamp 8 Air suspension 9 Engine ECU
10 Brake ECU
11 Transmission ECU
12 Pedestrian protection airbag 21 Vehicle control device

Claims (5)

  A collision unavoidable determining means for determining whether or not the host vehicle is inevitable to collide with a front object; and a vehicle height adjusting means for adjusting a vehicle height of the host vehicle; A vehicle control device characterized in that, when it is determined that a collision with a front object is inevitable, the vehicle height adjusting means sets the vehicle height to a vehicle height suitable for protecting the host vehicle.   When the front object determining means determines whether the front object is a protection target, and the front object determination means determines that the front object is not a protection target, the vehicle height adjustment means The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle height is a vehicle height suitable for protecting the host vehicle.   The vehicle height suitable for protecting the host vehicle includes a height from the road surface at the center of the wheel of the host vehicle and a height from the road surface at the center of the cross section of the vehicle longitudinal direction reinforcing member disposed on both sides of the vehicle body floor surface of the host vehicle. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle height is within a predetermined range.   When the front object determining unit determines that the front object is a protection target, the vehicle height adjusting unit sets the vehicle height to a vehicle height suitable for protecting the front object. The vehicle control device according to claim 2 or 3.   The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a vehicle height suitable for protecting the front object is a vehicle height at which a front end portion of the host vehicle is lowest.

Images