JP2000168489A - Starting control device for occupant protecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To start an occupant protecting device with the optimal timing while accurately discriminating a case of ODB collision and a case of low-speed collision from each other. SOLUTION: A starting control device for occupant protecting device is provided with a floor sensor 32 for detecting the impact applied to a vehicle and a starting control means 60 for starting an air bag device 36 in the case where a computing value to be obtained on the basis of the detection value by the sensor 32 exceeds the predetermined threshold value. This device is also provided with a side member deforming configuration detecting means 42 for detecting the deforming configuration of a side member, a collision configuration discriminating means 42 for discriminating the collision configuration of the vehicle on the basis of a result of the detection by the side member deforming configuration detecting means and a threshold value changing means 42 for changing the threshold value on the basis of a result of the detection by the collision configuration discriminating means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an activation control device for an occupant protection device for controlling activation of an occupant protection device such as an airbag device for protecting an occupant in a vehicle when the vehicle collides.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an activation control device for controlling activation of an occupant protection device, an impact applied to a vehicle is usually detected as a deceleration by an acceleration sensor installed on a floor tunnel, and the detected deceleration is detected. A calculated value is obtained based on the calculated value, the calculated value is compared with a preset threshold value, and ignition control of the squib is performed based on the comparison result.

[0003] By the way, the type of vehicle collision depends on the type of collision,
Depending on the direction of the collision, the type of the collision target, and the like, the collision is classified into a head-on collision, an oblique collision, a pole collision, an offset collision, an underride collision and the like. Of these, in the case of a head-on collision, the vehicle is impacted by the collision by the two left and right side members, so that within a predetermined time after the collision, a large deceleration will occur on the floor tunnel where the floor sensor is mounted. Occurs. On the other hand, in the case of a collision other than a head-on collision, such a shock is not received, so that a large deceleration does not occur on the floor tunnel within a predetermined time after the collision.

Therefore, there is an activation control device for an occupant protection device in which a satellite sensor is arranged at the front portion of a vehicle, the type of collision is determined based on the impact detected by the satellite sensor, and the occupant protection device is activated early. (See JP-A-10-152014).

[0005]

When the vehicle collides at a high speed, it is necessary to activate the occupant protection device. However, in the case of a high-speed collision (ODB collision) where the collision object is soft, the occupant protection device must be activated. The acceleration sensor installed on the tunnel receives the same acceleration as in a low-speed collision,
It was difficult to distinguish between an ODB collision and a low-speed collision.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an activation control device for an occupant protection device that accurately distinguishes an ODB collision from a low-speed collision and activates the occupant protection device at an optimal timing.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an occupant protection device activation control device which is disposed at a predetermined position in a vehicle, detects a shock applied to the vehicle, and detects a value detected by the sensor. A start control unit of the occupant protection device for activating the occupant protection device when a calculation value obtained based on the calculated value exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Side member deformation mode detection means, collision mode determination means for determining the collision mode of the vehicle based on the detection result of the side member deformation mode detection means, and changing the threshold value based on the determination result by the collision mode determination means And a threshold changing unit that performs

According to the occupant protection device activation control device of the first aspect, the collision type of the vehicle is determined based on the detection result of the side member deformation mode detection means, and the threshold value is changed based on the determination result of the collision type. Therefore, the occupant protection device can be started accurately in accordance with the type of collision.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an activation control device for an occupant protection device, wherein the side member deformation mode detecting means of the activation control device for an occupant protection device according to the first aspect detects a breakage of the side member. It is characterized by detecting a deformation mode of the member. According to the activation control device of the occupant protection device according to the second aspect, since the deformation of the side member is detected by detecting the bending of the side member, the deformation of the side member can be accurately detected.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an activation control device for an occupant protection device, wherein the side member deformation mode detecting means of the occupant protection device detects a plurality of acceleration sensors fixed to the side member. The bending of the side member is detected based on the value. According to the activation control device of the occupant protection device according to the third aspect, the breakage of the side member can be accurately detected.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an activation control device for an occupant protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an activation control device of an occupant protection device using a satellite sensor, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing locations of the satellite sensor and the floor sensor in FIG.

The activation control device of the occupant protection device is a device for controlling activation of an airbag device 36 which is a kind of the occupant protection device. As shown in FIG. 1, the activation control device mainly includes a control circuit 20, a satellite sensor 30A. , 30B, 31A,
31B, a floor sensor 32 and a drive circuit 34 are provided.

The satellite sensors 30A and 30A
B, 31A and 31B are electronic sensors for detecting the magnitude of the impact applied to the vehicle 46, and specifically, detect the deceleration applied to the vehicle 46 and indicate the detected deceleration. Outputs a detection signal. In addition, the floor sensor 32
Is a so-called acceleration sensor for measuring the impact applied to the vehicle 46. Specifically, the acceleration sensor measures the deceleration applied to the vehicle 46 in the front-rear direction at any time, and outputs the measured value as a measurement signal. .

The control circuit 20 includes a central processing unit (CPU)
22, a read only memory (ROM) 26, a random access memory (RAM) 28, an input / output circuit (I / O circuit) 24, and the like, and each component is connected by a bus. Of these, the CPU 22 is the ROM 2
6, various processing operations of the start control are performed. The RAM 28 stores the sensors 30A and 30A.
A memory for storing data obtained by signals from B, 31A, 31B and 32, results calculated by the CPU 22 based on the data, and the like. Further, the I / O circuit 24 includes the sensors 30A, 30B, 31A, 31B, 32
This is a circuit for receiving a signal input from and outputting a start signal to the drive circuit 34.

Further, the CPU 22 compares a value obtained based on the measurement result of the floor sensor 32 with a predetermined threshold value according to a program stored in the ROM 26 and the like, and based on the comparison result, the airbag device 36. Control unit 40 and satellite sensor 30 for controlling the start of the satellite
It functions as a threshold changing unit 42 that changes the threshold based on the deceleration detected by A, 30B, 31A, and 31B.

The drive circuit 34 starts the squib 3 in the airbag device 36 in response to an activation signal from the control circuit 20.
A circuit for energizing and igniting 8. On the other hand, the airbag device 36 includes a squib 38 as an ignition device, a gas generating agent (not shown) ignited by the squib 38, a bag (not shown) that is inflated by the generated gas, and the like. .

Of these components, the control circuit 20, the floor sensor 32 and the drive circuit 34 correspond to the ECU shown in FIG.
(Electronic control unit) 44, which is mounted on a floor tunnel substantially in the center of the vehicle 46. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the satellite sensors 30A, 30A
B is disposed on the left and right side surfaces at the front of the right side member 33a disposed along the right side of the vehicle 46. Further, the satellite sensors 31A and 31B are disposed on the left and right side surfaces at the front of the left side member 33b disposed along the left side of the vehicle 46.

Next, the satellite sensors 30A, 30B, 31A, 31B and the floor sensor 3 in the event of a vehicle collision
2 and the operation of the CPU 22 will be described. FIG. 3 is FIG.
Satellite sensors 30A, 30B, 31A, 31 shown in FIG.
FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram for explaining operations of the floor sensor 32 and the CPU 22; As shown in FIG. 3, the activation control unit 40 in the CPU 22 includes a calculation unit 58 and an activation determination unit 60.

The floor sensor 32 measures the deceleration G (t) applied to the vehicle 46 in the front-rear direction as needed, and outputs the deceleration G (t) as a measurement signal. Activation control unit 4
The arithmetic unit 58 of 0 performs a predetermined operation, that is, an operation according to Expressions 1 and 2 on the deceleration G (t) output from the floor sensor 32 to obtain operation values V ₁₀ and V _n . This operation value V
_10, V _n is input to the activation determination part 60, arithmetic value V _10,
Threshold VH of determination map value determined by V _n is stored by the threshold changing unit 42, is compared with any of the VL.

[0020]

(Equation 1)

(Equation 2) That is, the threshold value changing unit 42 has the threshold value VH as shown in FIG.
(High map) and a judgment map having VL (low map) are stored. This determination map is one in which measurements were taken V ₁₀ on the vertical axis with the horizontal axis taking the calculation value V _n.

The threshold changing unit 42 includes the satellite sensor 3
Deceleration G detected by 0A, 30B, 31A, 31B
Is input, and the threshold VH is set to the threshold V based on the deceleration G.
Change to L. That is, when the deceleration G detected by the satellite sensor 30A and the deceleration G detected by the satellite sensor 30B have waveforms as shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, respectively.
The time difference Δt between the first peak value of the deceleration G detected by A and the first peak value of the deceleration G detected by the satellite sensor 30B is Δt> α (predetermined value that differs depending on the vehicle type). If the side member is
Assuming that a collision (low-speed head-on collision) causing a break as shown in (a) has occurred, the threshold used for the start-up determination is maintained at VH (high map). Here, in the case of a low-speed head-on collision, the impact may be statically applied to the side member, so that the side member may be broken.

On the other hand, when the deceleration G detected by the satellite sensor 30A and the deceleration G detected by the satellite sensor 30B have waveforms as shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C, respectively. Satellite sensor 30A
When the time difference Δt between the first peak value of the deceleration G detected by the above and the first peak value of the deceleration G detected by the satellite sensor 30B is substantially 0, the satellite sensors 30A and 30B Assuming that a collision (a high-speed head-on collision) in which axial compression occurs on the side member in front of the disposition position has occurred,
Change from VH (high map) to VL (low map). Here, in the case of a high-speed head-on collision, the impact is applied to the left and right side members, which are the skeleton of the vehicle, so that the side members are axially compressed, and the impact applied to the occupant due to the axial compression is reduced.

The first peak value of the deceleration G detected by the satellite sensor 31A and the satellite sensor 3
If the time difference Δt between the first peak value of the deceleration G detected by 1B and Δt is Δt> α, it is determined that a low-speed head-on collision has occurred, and the threshold value used for the startup determination is
Maintain VH (high map). Also, the first peak value of the deceleration G detected by the satellite sensor 31A and the deceleration G detected by the satellite sensor 31B
If the time difference Δt between the first peak value and the first peak value is approximately 0, a collision (a high-speed head-on collision) in which axial compression occurs in the side member in front of the positions where the satellite sensors 31A and 31B are provided. Is changed, the threshold used for the activation determination is changed from VH (high map) to VL (low map).

Therefore, the start-up judging section 60 sets the threshold value changing section 4
2 threshold VH or from, acquires the threshold VL if the threshold VH is changed to VL, a value determined by the threshold VH or calculated value V ₁₀ obtained by either the arithmetic unit 58 of the VL, V _n in comparison, when the value determined by the calculation value V _{1 0,} V _n exceeds one of the threshold VH or VL, the activation determination section 60 outputs an activation signal a to the driving circuit 34 (see FIG. 1) I do. As a result, the drive circuit 34 energizes the squib 38 to activate the airbag device 36, and ignites the gas generating agent (not shown) with the squib 38.

Here, the values determined by the operation values V ₁₀ and V _n obtained by the operation unit 58 may show the same value in the case of a low-speed head-on collision and the case of a high-speed ODB collision. When a collision (low-speed head-on collision) that causes the side member to be broken occurs, the threshold value used for the activation determination is V
When a high-speed head-on collision occurs while being maintained at H (high-map), the threshold used for the start-up determination is changed from VH (high-map) to VL (low-map). In the case of (1), the airbag device can be activated at an early stage in the case of a high-speed ODB collision without activating the airbag device.

[0026]

According to the present invention, the type of collision of the vehicle is determined based on the detection result of the side member deformation mode detection means, for example, the breakage of the side member, and the threshold value is changed based on the determination result of the type of collision. The occupant protection device can be started accurately in accordance with the embodiment.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an activation control device of an occupant protection device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing locations where satellite sensors and floor sensors are arranged in the activation control device of the occupant protection device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining operations of a satellite sensor, a floor sensor, and a CPU of the activation control device of the occupant protection device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a determination map used in the activation control device of the occupant protection device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing deceleration and the like detected by a satellite sensor of the activation control device of the occupant protection device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing deceleration and the like detected by a satellite sensor of the activation control device of the occupant protection device according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference numeral 20: control circuit, 22: CPU, 24: I / O circuit, 2
6 ROM, 28 RAM, 30A, 30B, 31A,
31B: satellite sensor, 32: floor sensor, 34
... drive circuit, 36 ... airbag device, 38 ... squib,
40: start control unit, 42: threshold change unit, 44: ECU,
46 ... Vehicle.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A sensor disposed at a predetermined position in a vehicle for detecting an impact applied to the vehicle, and an occupant when a calculation value obtained based on a value detected by the sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold value An activation control device for an occupant protection device including activation control means for an occupant protection device for activating a protection device, wherein a side member deformation mode detection unit for detecting a deformation mode of a side member, and detection of the side member deformation mode detection unit Activating an occupant protection device, comprising: collision type determination means for determining a collision type of a vehicle based on a result; and threshold value changing means for changing the threshold value based on a determination result by the collision type determination means. Control device. 2. The side member deformation mode detecting means,
2. The activation control device for an occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein the deformation of the side member is detected by detecting the bending of the side member. 3. The side member deformation mode detecting means,
3. The activation control device for an occupant protection device according to claim 2, wherein the breakage of the side member is detected based on detection values of a plurality of acceleration sensors fixed to the side member.