JP3786241B2 - Vehicle occupant restraint protection device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an occupant restraint protection device for a vehicle that protects an occupant by using a seat belt device mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as shown in JP-A-9-175327, in a vehicle occupant restraint protection device in which an electric retractor is used for a seat belt device, when a collision risk signal is input by a collision risk prediction means, the seat belt The vibration due to the compression / release to the occupant using the electric vehicle was performed by the electric retractor, and the vibration due to the compression / release was continued until the collision inevitable signal was input or the collision danger signal was not input.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional occupant restraint protection device for a vehicle has been demanded for further improvement in the following points. That is, the collision risk degree predicting means is only a predicting means, and predicts the previous phenomenon, so that it is impossible to predict completely. Therefore, the collision risk signal is not output in the conventional configuration in which the vibration due to the compression / release is stopped due to the no collision risk signal being input, even though it may be expected to be in a dangerous situation. There was a risk that the vibration due to the compression / release would stop and a sufficient alarm would not be given.
[0004]
Therefore, the present invention provides a vehicle occupant who can continue to vibrate due to compression / release to the occupant and provide a sufficient alarm while a dangerous situation is expected even if the collision danger signal is not input. An object is to provide a restraint protection device.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a vehicle occupant restraint protection device according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises a risk level predicting means for determining the risk level of a vehicle collision, and the vehicle according to the determined risk level. A collision danger signal output means for outputting a collision danger signal when there is a possibility of a collision, and a seat belt driving means for increasing or decreasing the tension of the seat belt when the collision danger signal is outputted, Speed detection means for detecting the speed of the vehicle in a vehicle occupant restraint protection device that increases the tension of the seat belt and restrains the occupant when the collision of the vehicle is unavoidable due to the determined risk. the rate at which the speed of the vehicle in which the collision risk signal is detected Kunar immediately before such output, minus the speed of the vehicle detected after the collision risk signal is not output A speed difference calculation means for calculating, to a speed difference the calculated becomes larger than a predetermined value, the seat belt driving means is continuously driven without stopping, when the calculated speed difference is greater than a predetermined value , characterized in that a seat belt driving control means Ru stopping the seat belt drive means.
[0006]
Here, the speed difference is a speed obtained by subtracting the vehicle speed detected by the speed detection means after the collision danger signal is not output from the vehicle speed detected by the speed detection means immediately before the collision danger signal is not output. A difference is preferred.
[0007]
Moreover, as a risk prediction means, the output signal of the relative distance sensor which outputs the voltage according to the distance of a target object and the own vehicle, and the dozing detection sensor which detects that it is dozing when the rudder angle changes suddenly And determining the risk of collision based on the output signal.
[0008]
Further, the seat belt driving means includes an electric retractor that winds up the seat belt, and drives the electric retractor to perform vibration by pressing / releasing the occupant.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of a vehicle occupant restraint protection device of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle occupant restraint protection device. The vehicle occupant restraint protection device 1 includes a collision risk prediction detection unit 2, a speed detection unit 3, a control unit 4, a drive unit 5, and a retractor unit 6.
[0010]
The collision risk prediction detection unit 2 includes a collision unavoidable signal indicating that a collision with an obstacle in front of the vehicle has reached a degree of danger that cannot be avoided by the occupant's operation, and the occupant's operation is imminent. A collision danger signal indicating that the degree of danger can be avoided is output. The speed detector 3 outputs a signal corresponding to the traveling speed of the host vehicle.
[0011]
The control unit 4 controls the drive unit 5 based on the signal from the collision risk prediction detection unit 2 and the signal from the speed detection unit 3. The drive unit 5 drives a retractor unit 6 that winds and pulls out the seat belt.
[0012]
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific configuration of the vehicle occupant restraint protection device. The collision risk prediction detection unit 2 includes a relative distance sensor 11, a dozing detection sensor 12, an interface unit (I / F) 13, and a microcomputer unit (MCU) 14. An example of the relative distance sensor 11 is one that outputs a voltage corresponding to the distance between the object and the host vehicle. As the drowsiness detection sensor 12, for example, a sensor that detects that the patient is dozing when the rudder angle detected by the rudder angle sensor provided in the steering is suddenly changed can be used.
[0013]
The speed detector 3 includes a speed sensor 15 and outputs the detected traveling speed V of the host vehicle to the MCU 14 via the interface 13.
[0014]
The control unit 4 mainly includes a microcomputer unit (MCU) 14, and the MCU 14 is connected to the relative distance sensor 11, the dozing detection sensor 12, and the speed sensor 15 through the interface 13 as described above. Yes. Further, the MCU 14 stores the traveling speed V of the host vehicle detected by the speed sensor 15 in its internal memory, and internally generates a collision danger signal and a collision unavoidable signal based on output signals of the relative distance sensor 11 and the dozing detection sensor 12. And signals corresponding to the collision risk signal and the collision inevitable signal are output to the switches SW1, SW2, and SW3 described later.
[0015]
The drive unit 5 includes a motor 23, switches SW1, SW2, and SW3, a DC power source 21, and an oscillator 22. When a signal corresponding to a collision danger signal is input from the MCU 14, the switch SW1 is closed and the switches SW2 and SW3 are switched to A. Connect to side contact. As a result, an output signal from the oscillator 22 is supplied to the motor 23. In this embodiment, the oscillation frequency of the oscillator 22 is 20 Hz.
[0016]
When a signal corresponding to the collision inevitable signal is input from the MCU 14, the switch SW1 is closed and the switches SW2 and SW3 are connected to the B side contact. As a result, the output voltage of the DC power supply 21 is applied to the motor 23.
[0017]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a seat belt device including an electric retractor. In this seat belt device, the seat belt 31 starting from the fixed portion 32 is wound around the retractor portion 6 through the buckle portion 33 and the shoulder portion 34. The driving of the motor 23 directly connected to the retractor 6 causes the seat belt 31 to be wound and pulled out, and the tension is increased or decreased.
[0018]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation processing procedure of the vehicle occupant restraint protection apparatus. This process is executed at predetermined time intervals during the seat belt wearing period in the electric retractor control. First, it is determined whether or not a collision with an obstacle ahead is unavoidable. If the collision is unavoidable, it is determined whether or not there is a danger of a collision (steps S1 and S2). Specifically, these determinations are made as follows.
[0019]
That is, the MCU 14 detects the relative distance Δd from the relative distance sensor 11. Using the detected relative distance Δd, a relative speed ΔV (= Δdi−Δdi−1) between the object and the host vehicle is calculated. A time t (= Δd / ΔV) until the collision is predicted using the calculated relative speed ΔV.
[0020]
It is determined whether or not the time t until the collision is equal to or longer than the predetermined time t1, that is, whether or not there is a possibility of a collision. If the time t until the collision is less than the predetermined time t1, it is determined whether there is a possibility of a collision, and whether or not the time t until the collision is equal to or longer than the predetermined time t2 shorter than the predetermined time t1 is determined. When the time t until the collision is less than the predetermined time t2, the MCU 14 generates a collision unavoidable signal because it is impossible to avoid a collision with an obstacle ahead of the vehicle by the occupant's operation. On the other hand, when the time t until the collision is equal to or longer than the predetermined time t2, the MCU 14 generates a collision danger signal.
[0021]
On the other hand, when the time t until the collision is equal to or longer than the predetermined time t1, it is determined whether or not a detection signal is output from the doze detection sensor 12, and when the detection signal is output from the doze detection sensor 12, Generate a danger signal. Further, when the detection signal is not output from the dozing detection sensor 12, the MCU 14 does not generate a collision danger signal because there is no possibility of a collision.
[0022]
If it is determined in step S1 that a collision is unavoidable, the MCU 14 outputs a signal corresponding to the collision unavoidable signal to the switches SW1, SW2, and SW3, closes the switch SW1, and switches both the switches SW2 and SW3. Connect to B side contact. As a result, the output voltage of the DC power source 21 is applied to the motor 23, and the motor 23 is driven to start the winding of the seat belt 31 (step S3). Waiting for a predetermined time to elapse (step S4), and when the predetermined time elapses, the winding is stopped (step S5) and the process is terminated. The predetermined time is sufficient to increase the tension of the seat belt 31 by driving the motor 23 and restrain the occupant to the seat.
[0023]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2 that there is a collision risk, the MCU 14 outputs a signal corresponding to the collision risk signal to the switches SW1, SW2, and SW3, closes the switch SW1, and switches both the switches SW2 and SW3 to the A side. Connect to contact. As a result, an output signal (frequency 20 Hz) from the oscillator 22 is supplied to the motor 23, and the tension of the seat belt 31 wound around the retractor unit 6 by the driving of the motor 23 is periodically increased and decreased. And vibration by compression / release to the occupant is performed (step S6). And the running speed V1 of the own vehicle detected by the speed sensor 15 is recorded on the internal memory of MCU14 (step S7), and a process is complete | finished.
[0024]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2 that there is no danger of collision and the collision danger signal is not output, the current traveling speed V2 of the host vehicle is subtracted from the traveling speed V1 of the host vehicle recorded in step S7. It is determined whether or not the speed difference ΔV is larger than a predetermined value (step S8). The predetermined value is set to a value at which it is determined that the host vehicle is not sufficiently decelerated after the collision danger signal is not output and the vehicle does not fall into a dangerous situation.
[0025]
If it is determined that the speed difference ΔV is larger than the predetermined value, it is assumed that a dangerous situation has been sufficiently avoided, and the switch SW1 is opened according to the signal from the MCU 14 to stop energization of the motor 23 and stop the vibration by the seat belt 31. (Step S9). On the other hand, if it is determined that the speed difference ΔV is equal to or less than the predetermined value, it is assumed that a dangerous situation is not sufficiently avoided, and the switch SW1 is closed and the switches SW2 and SW3 are both connected to the A-side contact. The state is continued and the process is terminated.
[0026]
In the above embodiment, the switches SW1 to SW3 are switched by the signal from the MCU 14 to supply the output of the DC power supply 21 or the oscillator 22 to the motor 23. However, the present invention provides such a switch group and two power supplies. For example, an interface circuit and a motor drive circuit that detect a voltage between terminals of a motor and a supply current are provided, and the MCU 14 detects a voltage between terminals of the motor and a supply current using the interface circuit. The motor driving circuit may be controlled in accordance with the detected voltage between the terminals of the motor or the supplied current, and the seat belt may be wound and pulled out by driving the motor.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
According to the vehicle occupant restraint protection apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, there is a possibility that the risk degree of the collision of the vehicle is determined by the risk level predicting means, and the vehicle may cause a collision according to the determined risk level. In some cases, a collision risk signal is output by the collision risk signal output means, and when the collision risk signal is output, the tension of the seat belt is increased or decreased by the seat belt driving means, and the vehicle is determined according to the determined risk level. When the collision of the vehicle cannot be avoided, when the tension of the seat belt is increased to restrain and protect the occupant, the speed of the vehicle is detected by the speed detection means, and the collision risk signal is output by the speed difference calculation means. from the speed of the vehicle detected immediately before is not outputted, and calculates a speed difference obtained by subtracting a speed of the vehicle detected after the collision risk signal is not output, the sheet Until the speed difference, which is the calculated by the belt drive control means is larger than a predetermined value, the seat belt driving means is continuously driven without stopping, when the calculated speed difference is greater than a predetermined value, the seat belt Runode stopping the driving means, while the collision risk signal is expected to fall to a dangerous situation is no longer input may be carefully alarm continues vibration due to compression and release to the occupant. Thus, the vehicle occupant restraint protection device can be effectively used as an alarm device.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle occupant restraint protection device for a vehicle.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific configuration of the vehicle occupant restraint protection device.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a seat belt device including an electric retractor.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation processing procedure of the vehicle occupant restraint protection device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle occupant restraint protection apparatus 2 Collision danger prediction detection part 3 Speed detection part 4 Control part 6 Retractor part 14 MCU
23 Motor 31 Seat belt

Claims (1)

A risk prediction means for determining the risk of a vehicle collision;
A collision danger signal output means for outputting a collision danger signal when there is a possibility that the vehicle will cause a collision according to the judged degree of danger;
A seat belt driving means for increasing or decreasing the tension of the seat belt when the collision danger signal is output;
In the vehicle occupant restraint protection device for restraining the occupant by increasing the tension of the seat belt when the collision of the vehicle is unavoidable due to the determined risk level,
Speed detecting means for detecting the speed of the vehicle;
From the speed of the vehicle detected in the collision Kunar immediately before danger signal is output, the speed difference calculation means for calculating a speed difference obtained by subtracting the rate of said detected vehicle after the collision risk signal is not output When,
The driving is continued without stopping the seat belt driving means until the calculated speed difference becomes larger than a predetermined value, and when the calculated speed difference becomes larger than the predetermined value, the seat belt driving means is stopped. A vehicle occupant restraint protection device comprising: a seat belt drive control means.

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