JP2001018747A - Seat belt device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow an occupant to escape or to be rescued quickly after a vehicle accident by providing an accident detecting means detecting the accident state of a vehicle, and changing the extraction mode of a seat belt by a motor according to the accident state. SOLUTION: A CPU 201 judges whether a turnover flag is set in a flag region or not. If the turnover flag is set in the flag region, the CPU 201 does not extract a seat belt until the prescribed time elapses for a shock to subside after a turnover is detected because an occupant is inverted by the turnover and his head may collide with the ceiling of a vehicle due to the shock of the turnover. The CPU 201 feeds a drive signal to a lock forced release mechanism 102a after the shock of the turnover subsides, and an actuator is operated to release the lock of a reel shaft. A motor is then rotated to the extraction side of the seat belt to give such a slack that the occupant can escape with the seat belt fitted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle seatbelt device for restraining an occupant in a seat to secure the occupant, and more particularly to a vehicle seatbelt device, and more particularly to a power source such as an electric motor. The present invention relates to a seatbelt device using a seatbelt winding device using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the event of a vehicle accident, the occupant is restrained by a seat belt to improve the safety of the occupant. However, after the accident, it is desirable to release the seat belt and quickly leave the accident vehicle.

Conventionally, when a vehicle is submerged, a seat belt is detached from a buckle for evacuation, and evacuation is performed by opening a door or opening a window. In the event of submersion, the occupant is likely to be in a state of confusion, and may attempt to escape by opening the door without removing the seat belt. In this case, the seat belt
It will hinder evacuation. Even when the vehicle falls, the occupant may be confused and try to escape without removing the seat belt.

[0004] Further, when rescuing an occupant from a fallen vehicle, the buckle of the seat belt is attached to the center side in the vehicle compartment, so it is difficult to remove the buckle. For this reason, belts are cut to rescue occupants.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 59-40964 discloses
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. HEI 7-214969 proposes to provide a buckle release device for automatically releasing the buckle and releasing the restraint of the seat belt. According to this configuration, the buckle can be released in an emergency.

[0006]

However, if the buckle is released due to erroneous detection, the occupant must reconnect the tongue plate with the seat belt inserted to the buckle, which is troublesome.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a seat belt device that enables an occupant to escape or rescue an occupant promptly after a vehicle accident.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a seat belt device that enables a seat belt to be withdrawn according to the state of a vehicle accident, thereby ensuring safety and enabling quick escape.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a seat belt device according to the present invention is a seat belt device for restraining an occupant of a vehicle to a seat for safety. An electric winding device, and an accident detecting means for detecting an accident state of the vehicle,
Control means for changing the manner in which the motor pulls out the seat belt in response to the accident condition.

A seat belt device according to the present invention relates to a seat belt device for restraining an occupant of a vehicle to a seat for safety, wherein an electric winding device for winding and pulling out the seat belt by a motor and a vehicle accident. An accident detection means for detecting the accident, and a control means for pulling out the seat belt by the motor after a predetermined time has elapsed from the detection of the accident.

[0011] Preferably, the predetermined time is a time during which an impact on the vehicle due to an accident is settled.

A seat belt device according to the present invention is a seat belt device for restraining an occupant of a vehicle to a seat for safety, wherein an electric winding device for winding and pulling out the seat belt by a motor and a vehicle submerged. Submergence detecting means for detecting the submersion, and control means for rotating the motor in the seat belt withdrawal direction in response to the detection of the submersion.

[0013] The seatbelt device of the present invention is a seatbelt device for restraining an occupant of a vehicle to a seat for safety, wherein an electric winding device for winding and pulling out the seatbelt by a motor and a vehicle falling down. And a control means for rotating the motor in the seat belt withdrawal direction after a predetermined time has elapsed in response to the detection of the fall.

[0014] Preferably, the predetermined time is set to a time during which an impact on the vehicle due to a fall is settled. Thereby, the occupant can be turned upside down, and the occupant can be easily released from the seat belt while reducing the possibility that the occupant hits the east against the ceiling of the vehicle.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a seat belt device. The seat belt device is provided with an electric winding device 100 that winds a belt 302 that restrains an occupant on a seat 301 by an electric motor, a through anchor 303 that turns the belt 302 near a shoulder of the occupant, and a waist portion that is inserted through the belt. Tongue plate 305 and belt 30 engaging with buckle 304
Anchor 306 for fixing the end of the buckle 2 to the vehicle body, a switch (seat belt detection device) 307 incorporated in the buckle for detecting the engagement between the tongue plate and the buckle, the control unit 2
00 (not shown).

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view schematically illustrating the configuration of the electric winding device 100. In the figure, the taking device 100 includes a frame 101. The frame 101 has a reel 10 around which a belt (not shown) is wound.
3. A reel shaft 103a, which is connected to the reel 103 and serves as a center axis of the rotation of the reel, is provided rotatably. Reel axis 1
A known seat belt lock mechanism 102 that locks the seat belt withdrawal when a predetermined deceleration acts on the vehicle or when the belt is pulled out with a predetermined acceleration is fixed to the right end of 03a. A forced lock release mechanism 102a is added to the seat belt lock mechanism 102.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the forced lock release mechanism 102a. The latch plate 71, which forms a part of the seat belt lock mechanism 102, is attached to the reel shaft 103a. A tooth ridge is formed on the outer periphery of the latch plate 71, and a lock is secured by engaging a tip of a pole 72 pivotally supported by a frame (not shown) at the center with the tooth ridge. You. Normally, the lock operation is performed by an emergency lock mechanism (not shown) that operates by detecting a withdrawal acceleration of the belt 302 that is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, an emergency lock mechanism that operates by detecting a predetermined acceleration that acts on the vehicle, or an automatic lock mechanism. Appropriately controlled.

The forcible lock release mechanism 102a is provided with a pole actuator 73, which is activated by a drive signal from the control unit 200. Paul Actuator 73
8, the rod is extended to forcibly rotate the pawl 72 to unlock the pawl 72, as shown in FIG. As a result, the reel shaft 103a becomes free, and the belt can be pulled out.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show the pole actuator 7.
3 shows a configuration example. A rod 73b provided with a ratchet (tooth ridge) is incorporated in a cylindrical cylinder 73a, and a gas generator 73c is provided at the bottom of the cylinder 73a. A stopper 73d is provided at the outlet of the cylinder 73a to lock the ratchet and prevent the rod 73b from returning. When the drive (ignition) signal from the control unit 200 is supplied to the gas generator 73c, as shown in FIG. 10, the explosive is burned to generate inflation gas, and the rod 73b in the cylinder 73a is pushed out. . Rod 7
3b forcibly releases the lock by rotating the pole as shown in FIG.

At the left end of the reel shaft 103a, a pretensioner 104, a pulley 105, a potentiometer 111
Is provided. The pretensioner 104 is activated by the output of a collision detector (not shown), rotates the reel shaft 103a in the belt winding direction, forcibly winds the belt, and restrains the occupant on the seat. The pretensioner 104 is, for example, an explosive-type pretensioner, and controls a gas generator, a cylinder that seals gas generated from the gas generator, a piston that moves in the cylinder by gas pressure, and movement of the piston through a clutch mechanism. And a transmission mechanism for converting the rotational motion of the reel shaft 103a. The pulley 105 fixed to the reel shaft 103a is connected to a pulley 106 fixed to the shaft of the DC motor 110 via a power transmission belt 107. A predetermined number of external teeth are formed on the outer circumference of each of the pulleys 105 and 106, and a predetermined number of internal teeth are also formed on the inner circumference of the belt 107. The tooth ridges of the pulley 105 for the reel shaft, the pulley 106 for the motor, and the belt 107 mesh with each other without excess or shortage.
The rotation of 10 is transmitted to the reel shaft 103a. The motor 110 is fixed to the frame 101 at at least two points, and operates by an output of the control unit 200.

The potentiometer 111 provided at the leftmost end of the reel shaft 103a is a well-known one, and is constituted by a resistor to which a constant voltage is applied to both ends, and a slider interlocked with the rotation of the reel shaft 103a. You. Then, a voltage value corresponding to the rotation amount from the reference position of the reel shaft 103a is output to the control unit 200.

The control unit 200 includes a seat belt device detector 307 for detecting the attachment / detachment of the seat belt, a submergence detection device 401 for detecting submergence of the vehicle, a fall detection device 402 for detecting vehicle fall, a vehicle and an obstacle. Each output of the collision prediction device 403 for predicting the possibility of collision with the vehicle is supplied. The water immersion detecting device 401 can use, for example, a change in capacitance between the two electrodes caused by intrusion of water or seawater between the opposing electrodes as a water immersion sensor. The impedance of the sensor is measured by an impedance measuring device, and when the impedance becomes equal to or less than a predetermined impedance, it is determined that the sensor is submerged. The submergence detecting device 401 is disposed, for example, in a lower part of a vehicle compartment of a vehicle, a center console, or the like. The fall detection device 402 can be configured by, for example, a roll angle sensor and a determination unit. The roll angle sensor is, for example,
It is possible to use a strain gauge type acceleration sensor that detects vertical acceleration. When the roll angle becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined value, the determination unit determines that the roll has fallen (rollover). For example, during normal traveling, the detected acceleration is 1 G, but when the vehicle rotates in the front-rear direction as the axial direction, the detected acceleration is 0.5 G at 45 degrees rotation. Therefore, it is possible to determine the fall from the change in the gravity value. Collision prediction device 403
Measures the distance to an obstacle using an infrared laser radar, a millimeter-wave radar, an ultrasonic radar, or the like, and divides the distance by a temporal change (speed) of the distance to calculate a time until a collision. . The time until the collision is a predetermined value, for example, 0.
If it is shorter than one second, it is determined that a collision is inevitable, and a collision signal is output.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the control unit 200. As shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 00 denotes a microcomputer system and a motor drive circuit 210. CPU 201 is a ROM
The control program and data held in the RAM 202 are stored in the RAM 2
03, and executes various programs described later to forcibly release the seat belt lock mechanism.
It controls operations such as forward rotation, reverse rotation, and stop of the motor 110.
The output voltage corresponding to the rotation amount of the potentiometer 111 is A / D-converted by the A / D converter of the input interface 204 at a predetermined cycle. The input interface 204 has a built-in CPU, and converts the converted output voltage data into the axis 103a of the RAM 203 by a DMA operation.
Is written in the rotation amount area of. The input CPU monitors output voltage data. For example, the previous value and the present value of the output voltage data are compared to determine the state of the shaft 103a, such as normal rotation, reverse rotation, and stop, and the corresponding flag is set in the flag area (flag register) of the RAM 203 by the DMA operation. .

The CPU of the input interface 204 receives the output of the seat belt attachment detecting device 307 which is built in the buckle of the seat belt and generates an output corresponding to the presence / absence of the attachment of the belt. Set flag to indicate presence / absence.

When the CPU of the input interface 204 receives a signal indicating that the vehicle has been submerged from the submergence detecting device 402, it sets a submerged flag in the flag area of the RAM 203.

When the CPU of the input interface 204 receives a signal indicating that the vehicle has fallen (rolled over) from the fall detecting device 402, it sets a fall flag in the flag area of the RAM 203.

The communication interface 205 is constituted by a microcomputer system. When the collision prediction device outputs a collision signal, the RAM
A collision flag is set in the flag area of No. 3.

When a predetermined condition set in a control program described later is satisfied, the CPU 201 gives an unlock command, a forward rotation command, a reverse rotation command, and a drive stop command of the motor 110 to the output interface 206. The output interface 205 supplies a drive signal (ignition signal) to the gas generator 73c of the forced lock release mechanism 102a in response to the lock release command. Also, the output interface 206
Generates gate control signals G1 and G2 corresponding to the forward rotation command, the reverse rotation command, and the drive stop command,
Control the power transistor bridge circuit. The motor drive circuit 206 supplies a forward or backward drive current to the motor 110 or stops the supply.

FIGS. 4 to 6 show the CPU 2 of the control unit 200.
11 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment. CPU2
01 monitors the flag area periodically or when an interrupt instruction is generated. It is determined whether a collision flag has been set in the flag area (S12). If the collision flag is set (S12; Yes), the output interface 206 is instructed to wind up the seat belt for a predetermined time, for example, 5 seconds. As a result, the motor 110 rotates the shaft 103a in the direction in which the seat belt is wound, and the slack of the belt is taken to restrain the occupant to the seat, thereby ensuring safety in the event of a collision (S14). If the collision flag is not set, this routine ends (S12; No),
Check other flags.

Next, the CPU 201 determines whether or not a submergence flag is set in the flag area (S22). When the submergence flag is set in the flag area (S22; Yes)
s) The CPU 201 provides a drive signal to the seat belt forcible unlocking mechanism 102a of the winding device 100 to give a slack (for example, 30 cm) to such an extent that the occupant can evacuate even if the occupant wears the seat belt. 7
3 forcibly release the seat belt lock,
The reel shaft 103a is made rotatable (S24). The output interface 206 is commanded to rotate the motor in the reverse direction (the direction in which the seat belt is pulled out). When the motor 110 rotates, C
The PU 201 detects the rotation amount based on the output of the potentiometer, and instructs the output interface 206 to stop the motor when the rotation amount reaches a predetermined amount (S26). When the submergence flag is not set in the flag area (S22; N
o), proceed to checking of other flags.

Next, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the overturn flag is set in the flag area (S32). When the fall flag is set in the flag area (S32; Ye)
s) Since the occupant is turned upside down due to the fall and the head may hit the ceiling of the vehicle due to the impact of the fall, the CPU 201 sets the seat until a predetermined time enough to absorb the impact after the fall is detected. Do not pull out the belt (S3
4). After the impact due to the overturn disappears, the CPU 201
Gives a drive signal to the lock forcible release mechanism 102a,
The actuator 73 is operated to unlock the reel shaft 103a (S36). Next, the motor is rotated on the belt withdrawal side. The CPU 201 instructs the output interface 206 to rotate the motor in the reverse direction (the direction in which the seat belt is pulled out) so as to allow the passenger to evacuate even when wearing the seat belt (for example, 30 cm).
When the motor 110 rotates, the CPU 201 detects the rotation amount based on the output of the potentiometer, and instructs the output interface 206 to stop the motor when the rotation reaches a predetermined amount (S38). When the fall flag is not set in the flag area (S32; No), the process proceeds to the check of another flag.

As described above, according to the seat belt device of the embodiment, the slack of the seat belt is removed before the vehicle collides, and when the vehicle is submerged, the seat belt is loosened to facilitate the escape. It is planned. In addition, when the vehicle falls, the seat belt is loosened after the vehicle shakes and the impact due to the fall is reduced, and the occupant can easily escape from danger.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, when an accident is detected, the seat belt is loosened after the impact of the accident is settled, so that the occupant can easily escape. Further, a control mode for loosening the seat belt is determined according to the state of the accident (or the type of the accident). For example, in a submergence accident or a rollover accident, the seat bell is loosened at a separate appropriate timing, so that the situation is good.

In the embodiment of the present invention, an example of a vehicle being immersed in water or falling over has been described as an accident state of a vehicle. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other accident states may be used.

[0035]

As described above, the seat belt device of the present invention removes the slack of the seat belt and restrains the occupant to the seat immediately before the accident, and responds to the accident condition of the vehicle after the accident. Since the seat belt is slackened at an appropriate timing, it is preferable because the occupant can easily and safely evacuate.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a seat belt device.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an electric belt winding device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a belt winding process of a CPU 201 for collision prediction.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a belt withdrawal process of the CPU 201 when the vehicle is submerged in water.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a belt withdrawal process of the CPU 201 when the vehicle falls.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a lock release mechanism (lock operation state).

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a lock release mechanism (unlocked state).

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a non-operating state of the pole actuator.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an operation state of a pole actuator.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 electric belt winding device 110 electric motor 200 control unit 401 submergence detection device 402 fall detection device 403 collision prediction device

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A seat belt device for restraining an occupant of a vehicle to a seat for safety, comprising: an electric winding device for winding and drawing out the seat belt by a motor; and an accident detecting an accident state of the vehicle. A seat belt device comprising: a detection unit; and a control unit that changes a manner in which the motor pulls out the seat belt according to the accident state.