JP2002087200A - Air bag system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air bag system capable of being more accurately protected according to the physique M of an occupant M. SOLUTION: Based on the detected results by a physique detection means 4, a CPU 5 reduces a development pressure and increase an exhaust amount when the physique M of the occupant X is small, increases the development pressure and reduces the exhaust amount when the physique M of the occupant X is medium and, when the physique M of the occupant X is large, after the development of the air bag 1, the rate of lowering of the pressure in the air bag 1 is suppressed until the air bag 1 is interfered by the occupant X.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an airbag device for deploying an airbag in front of an occupant when a collision occurs in a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of airbag device, there has been known an airbag device in which the internal pressure of an airbag is changed in accordance with the occupant's physique (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-216343).
Reference). In this configuration, the deployment pressure of the airbag is controlled based on the weight of the occupant and the entry speed when the occupant enters (interferes) with the airbag.

[0003]

However, for example, an occupant of a large size usually sits with the seat sliding in the front-rear direction at the rear, but the distance between the airbag and the occupant increases. Therefore, it is relatively delayed that the occupant interferes with the deployed airbag. For this reason, when the occupant interferes with the airbag due to gas leaking from the inside of the deployed airbag, the internal pressure of the airbag is reduced. There is a possibility that the power is insufficient. As described above, in the conventional airbag device that controls the internal pressure of the airbag based only on the weight and the approach speed of the occupant, the protection of the occupant may be inappropriate, and there is room for improvement.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an airbag device that can provide more appropriate protection according to the occupant's physique.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for maintaining a sufficient internal pressure in an airbag until the occupant interferes with the airbag when the occupant is large. It was configured to be.

More specifically, the present invention is directed to an airbag apparatus for deploying an airbag in front of an occupant when a collision occurs in a vehicle, and a pressure control for controlling the deployment pressure of the airbag. Means, exhaust amount control means for controlling the exhaust amount of gas from the inside of the deployed airbag, physique detecting means for detecting the physique of the occupant, and deployment control for controlling the pressure control means and the exhaust amount control means. Means.

When the occupant's physique is in a first predetermined range based on the detection result of the physique detecting means, the deployment control means sets the deployment pressure of the airbag to the first pressure and sets the gas pressure to the first pressure. The pressure control means and the displacement control means are controlled in a first mode in which the displacement of the occupant is set to a first displacement, and when the occupant's physique is in a second predetermined range larger than the first predetermined range, In the second mode, the deployment pressure of the airbag is set to a second pressure higher than the first pressure, and the exhaust amount of the gas is set to a second exhaust amount smaller than the first exhaust amount. Controlling the control means and the displacement control means, and when the occupant's physique is in a third predetermined range larger than the second predetermined range, from the completion of the deployment of the airbag until the occupant interferes with the airbag. It takes the degree of decrease in the internal pressure of the airbag is intended to identify matters be configured to control the pressure control means and the exhaust amount control means with a third mode to be smaller than the second mode.

According to the first aspect of the invention, when the occupant's physique is in the first predetermined range (smaller than the standard physique), the deployment pressure of the airbag is reduced to the first pressure (relatively low deployment pressure). ), An occupant with a small physique can be appropriately restrained without excessive restraint. By setting the exhaust amount of gas in the airbag to the first exhaust amount (relatively large exhaust amount), the reaction force from the airbag to the occupant after the small occupant interferes with the airbag. Can be relieved. As described above, by setting the deployment pressure of the airbag to the first pressure and the first mode in which the gas displacement is the first displacement, a small occupant is appropriately protected.

When the occupant's physique is in the second predetermined range (standard physique), the deployment pressure of the airbag is reduced to the first pressure.
By setting the second pressure (relatively high deployment pressure) higher than the pressure of the vehicle, it is possible to reliably restrain an occupant of a standard size. By setting the exhaust amount of the gas to a second exhaust amount (relatively small exhaust amount) smaller than the first exhaust amount, the internal pressure of the air bag can be maintained even after interference between the occupant and the air bag. Is maintained relatively high,
The occupant can be sufficiently supported. in this way,
By using the second mode in which the deployment pressure of the airbag is set to the second pressure and the gas displacement is the second displacement, the occupant of the standard size is appropriately protected.

Further, when the occupant has a third predetermined range (larger than a standard value) larger than the second predetermined range, the occupant interferes with the airbag after the deployment of the airbag is completed. The degree of decrease in the internal pressure of the airbag up to this point is made smaller than in the second mode.
Thereby, even when the occupant interferes with the airbag relatively slowly by sitting down with the seat in the rear sliding position, the internal pressure of the airbag at the time of the interference is maintained at a sufficiently high state. . As a result, a large occupant can be restrained with a sufficient restraining force. In the third mode, after the interference between the occupant and the airbag, if the gas inside the airbag is exhausted with a relatively small exhaust amount (an exhaust amount equal to or less than the second exhaust amount), the interference after the interference can be obtained. The internal pressure of the airbag is maintained relatively high, so that a large occupant can be reliably supported.

As described above, by changing the deployment pressure and the displacement of the airbag in consideration of the time until the occupant interferes with the airbag according to the physique, more optimal protection according to the physique is realized. In particular, a large occupant can be reliably protected without lack of binding power.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the airbag is configured so that the deployment capacity can be changed, and the deployment control means includes:
In the third mode, by controlling the pressure control means so that the deployment capacity of the airbag is changed to be greater than the deployment capacity in the second mode, the airbag is completed after the deployment of the airbag. The degree of decrease in the internal pressure of the airbag until the occupant interferes with
It is configured to be smaller than the mode.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the third mode, by increasing and changing the deployment capacity of the airbag, the distance between the deployed airbag and the occupant is reduced, and the seat is moved to the rear sliding position. Even when sitting, the occupant will interfere with the airbag relatively quickly. As a result, the degree of decrease in the internal pressure of the airbag from the completion of deployment of the airbag until the occupant interferes with the airbag becomes smaller than in the second mode. Accordingly, the internal pressure of the airbag at the time of interference between the occupant and the airbag is in a sufficiently high state, and an occupant of a large size can be restrained with a sufficient restraining force.

Here, as means for changing the deployment capacity of the airbag, for example, a sewn portion obtained by sewing a part of a cloth material constituting the airbag to the airbag is attached to the airbag. The sewing section is configured to be broken by a deployment pressure equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and the deployment control means controls the pressure control means in the third mode so that the deployment pressure is equal to or greater than the predetermined value. Thus, the sewing capacity of the sewn portion may be broken to change the deployment capacity of the airbag to a greater value than the deployment capacity in the second mode.

According to the third aspect of the invention, when the sewn portion sewes a part of the cloth material together, the expansion of the airbag is restricted by the sewn, and the deployment capacity of the airbag is reduced to a normal value. Be made to capacity. On the other hand, when the sewing of the sewn portion is broken by a predetermined or more deployment pressure, the airbag expands without being regulated by the sewing, and the deployment capacity of the airbag is increased and changed. Thus, the deployment capacity of the airbag can be changed only by providing the sewing portion on the airbag.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the expansion control means includes:
In the third mode, by controlling the exhaust amount control means so as to regulate the exhaust from the airbag for a predetermined time from the start of the deployment of the airbag, the airbag is controlled after the completion of the deployment of the airbag. It is a specific matter that the configuration is such that the degree of decrease in the internal pressure of the airbag until an occupant interferes is made smaller than in the second mode.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, in the third mode, the exhaust from the airbag is restricted for a predetermined time from the start of the deployment of the airbag, so that the airbag is maintained at a high internal pressure state. Therefore, even when interference between the occupant and the airbag is delayed due to the seat being seated in the rear sliding position, the internal pressure of the airbag at the time of the interference becomes sufficiently high, Large occupants are sufficiently restrained.

The physique detecting means may detect the physique of the occupant based on the weight of the occupant and the sliding position of the seat on which the occupant is seated in the front-rear direction. May be.

Thus, when the occupant is heavy and the seat is located at the rear position, it is possible to detect that the occupant has a large size, while the occupant is light and the seat is located at the front position. When it is, it becomes possible to detect that it is a small physique. As described above, by detecting the occupant's physique based on both the occupant's weight and the sliding position of the seat in the front-rear direction, the occupant's physique can be accurately detected, and as described above, More optimal protection is realized in consideration of the time until interference with the bag.

[0020]

As described above, according to the airbag apparatus of the present invention, the deployment pressure and the displacement of the airbag are changed in consideration of the time until the occupant interferes with the airbag according to the physique. Thereby, more appropriate protection of the occupant according to the physique is realized.

Particularly, for a large occupant, the deployment capacity of the airbag is changed, or after the airbag is deployed,
By restricting the exhaust from the airbag for a predetermined time, the occupant can be surely protected without insufficient binding force.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which comprises an airbag 1 and a pressure for controlling the deployment pressure of the airbag 1. A control means 2; an exhaust amount control means 3 for controlling an exhaust amount of gas from the inside of the airbag 1 after the deployment;
Physique detection means 4 for detecting the physique of the occupant X (see FIG. 6)
And a CPU 5 as deployment control means for controlling the pressure control means 2 and the displacement control means 3.

The airbag 1 is formed in a bag shape as schematically shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and is in a folded state in a normal state (a state in which no collision occurs in the vehicle). The steering wheel 80 in front of the driver's seat (FIG. 6)
Reference). Then, when a collision occurs in the vehicle, as shown in FIG. 2, the inflator 15 operates (ignites a chemical substance and generates gas (nitrogen gas or the like)), so that gas is stored in the airbag 1. It is configured to be filled and deployed in front of an occupant (driver).

The base end portion of the airbag 1 is sandwiched between a retainer 11 and a retainer ring 12, which are connected to each other by a plurality of attachment members 13, 13. The inflator 15 is provided on a surface of the retainer 11 opposite to the side on which the airbag 1 is deployed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the inflator 15 includes a pair of inflators 15a and 15b disposed on both sides of the partition 16 respectively. The operation of the inflator 15 is controlled by the pressure control means 2 as described later.

As shown in FIG. 2, the retainer 11 is arranged such that one end is opened inside the deployed airbag 1 and the other end is opened outside the airbag 1. A vent pipe 31 is provided as the displacement control means 3, and gas in the airbag 1 is supplied to the vent pipe 31.
(See arrows in the figure). A throttle-type exhaust control valve 32 is provided in the vent pipe 31, and the opening degree can be changed continuously or stepwise by an actuator 33. The operation of the actuator 33 is controlled by the CPU 5, and the CPU 5 changes the valve opening of the exhaust control valve 32 via the actuator 33, thereby changing the size of the gas exhaust amount in the airbag 1. It is configured to be possible. Note that two vent holes 14 are provided in the base end portion of the airbag 1, and the gas in the airbag 1 is exhausted from each of the vent holes 14.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the airbag 1 shown in FIGS.
As shown in (a), cloth materials opposed to each other in the vehicle front-rear direction (the direction in which the occupant X enters) at a position inside the outer edge of the bag-shaped airbag 1 formed in a substantially circular shape when viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction. Are sewn to each other in a circumferential shape, and the sewn portion of the sewn portion 12 is configured to break when a deployment pressure equal to or more than a predetermined pressure is applied. When the sewn portion 12 is broken, the deployment capacity of the airbag 1 is increased as shown in FIG.

The physique detecting means 4 comprises a seat slide position detecting sensor 41 for detecting a sliding position P of the seat 7 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a weight detecting sensor 42 for detecting the weight W of the occupant X. Each of these sensors 41, 42, as shown in FIGS.
It is provided on the seat 7 on which the occupant X sits.

The seat 7 has a seat cushion 71,
It comprises a seat back 72 and a headrest 73, and a movable rail 74 is attached to the lower part of the seat cushion 71. The movable rail 74 is mounted on the bracket 7.
The seat 7 is slidably engaged with the fixed rail 75 fixed to the floor panel 81 via the seats 6 and 76 in the vehicle front-rear direction, whereby the seat 7 can change the sliding position in the vehicle front-rear direction. (See the arrow in the figure).

The above-mentioned seat slide position detecting sensor 41
Is constituted by a variable resistor 41a provided between the fixed rail 75 and the movable rail 74, and by changing the sliding position of the seat 7 in the front-rear direction, the resistance of the variable resistor 41a is changed. Is to change. The seat slide position detection sensor 41 is configured to detect the slide position of the seat based on the amount of change in voltage or current.

As shown in FIG. 7, the weight detecting sensor 42 is constituted by a pressure-sensitive film sensor 42a disposed on the seating surface of the seat cushion 71. The pressure-sensitive film sensor 42a includes a number of pressure-sensitive sensors 42b.
Is buried, and if the occupant X sits on the seat (on the pressure-sensitive film sensor 42a), the weight (weight W) of the occupant X
Accordingly, the resistance value of the pressure-sensitive body constituting the pressure-sensitive sensor 42b changes. Weight detection sensor 4
2 is configured to detect the weight of the occupant X by taking out the resistance change as a voltage change, determining the difference in the weight of the occupant X based on the difference in the output voltage pattern.

As shown in FIG. 1, the CPU 5 has a seat slide position detecting sensor 41 and a weight detecting sensor 4.
2 and a vehicle acceleration speed V constituted by an acceleration sensor.
B, respectively, are connected to a collision sensor 6, which detects the slide position P from the seat slide position detection sensor 41, the weight W of the occupant X from the weight detection sensor 42, and the collision speed VB from the collision sensor 6. And
It is configured to be input to the CPU 5.

The CPU 5 includes a physique determining section 51 for determining the physique M of the occupant X based on the weight W of the occupant X and the sliding position P of the seat 7, and the occupant X and the airbag based on the sliding position P. The collision speed of the occupant X with respect to the airbag 1 based on the distance L and the collision speed VB, that is, based on the distance L and the collision speed VB,
An entry speed calculation unit 53 is provided for calculating a relative speed (entry speed) V0 between the occupant X and the airbag 1 when the occupant X interferes with the airbag 1. The CPU 5 stores a control program for controlling the deployment of the airbag 1, a ROM 54, a map for controlling the deployment of the airbag (see FIGS. 10 and 11), and other necessary data. Are connected to the RAM 55 in which is stored.

Further, the CPU 5 is connected to the pressure control means 2 comprising a low-pressure inflator driver 21 and a high-pressure inflator driver 22, and the exhaust amount control means 3, respectively. With such a configuration,
The CPU 5 controls the pressure control means 2 (low-pressure and high-pressure inflator driver 2) in accordance with a program stored in the ROM 54 and a map stored in the RAM 55, based on signal inputs from the detection sensors 41, 42, and 6.
1, 2), the deployment pressure of the airbag 1 is controlled, and the displacement of the gas in the deployed airbag 1 is controlled by the control of the displacement control means 3 (actuator 33). .

Here, the deployment pressure of the airbag 1 due to the operation of the inflator 15 will be described. When only one of the pair of inflators 15a and 15b is operated by the low-pressure inflator driver 21, as shown in FIG. As the developing pressure gradually increases to the predetermined pressure P1, a low pressure characteristic that changes at the predetermined pressure P1 is obtained (see the solid line a in the figure). On the other hand, the low-pressure inflator driver 21 and the high-pressure inflator driver 2
2, the pair of inflators 15a, 1
5b are operated simultaneously, the predetermined pressure P3
The developing pressure increases relatively rapidly until (P3> P1), and a high-pressure characteristic that changes at the predetermined pressure P3 is obtained (see the dashed-dotted line b in the figure). Further, when one inflator 15a is operated by the low-pressure inflator driver 21 and then the other inflator 15b is operated by the high-pressure inflator driver 22 with a delay of a predetermined time (delay time ΔT), as shown by a broken line c in FIG. Until the predetermined time ΔT, the deployment pressure increases with substantially the same characteristics as the low-pressure characteristic, and thereafter the deployment pressure sharply increases, and the two-stage deployment characteristic changes at a predetermined pressure P2 (P1 <P2 <P3). Is obtained. In this two-stage development characteristic, the predetermined pressure P2 changes by changing the delay time ΔT (the predetermined pressure P2 increases when the delay time ΔT is shortened, and the predetermined pressure P2 increases when the delay time ΔT is increased). Is lower).

When the deployment pressure is P1 or P2 (low pressure characteristics and two-stage deployment characteristics),
The unfolding is controlled by the sewing portion 12 (see FIG. 5A). On the other hand, when the deployment pressure is P3
In this case (high pressure characteristic), the sewing portion 12 is broken, so that the regulation by the sewing portion 12 is released, and gas flows into the outer edge of the airbag 1. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2B, the airbag 1 expands more in the vehicle front-rear direction (see D1 and D2), and the deployment capacity increases.

Next, the operation of the airbag device will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step S11, the collision speed VB of the vehicle is detected from the value detected by the collision sensor 6. Next, in step S12, the detection value W from the weight detection sensor 42 is read, and in step S13, the detection value P from the seat slide position detection sensor 41 is read.

Then, in step S14, the CP
The physique determination section 51 of U5 determines the physique M of the occupant X based on the weight W and the seat slide position P of the occupant X. This determination is made based on the occupant X stored in the RAM 55.
Is performed using a map A1 (see FIG. 10) in which the vertical axis represents the weight of the vehicle and the horizontal axis represents the seat slide position. This map A1 determines that the occupant X is large (large) when the weight W is heavy and the seat slide position P is behind (corresponding to the vicinity of the lower right of A1 in the map),
When the weight W is light and the seat slide position P is forward (corresponding to the vicinity of the upper left in the map A1), the occupant X is determined to be small (small), and when the occupant X is between them (map A1). Near the center of)
The occupant X may be determined to have a standard physique (medium).

Next, in step S15, the CP
The distance estimation unit 52 of U5 estimates the distance L between the occupant X and the airbag 1 based on the seat slide position P.

In step S16, the approach speed calculator 53 of the CPU 5 calculates the approach speed V0 of the occupant X based on the distance L and the vehicle collision speed VB. Then, it is determined whether this approach speed belongs to any of the categories “large”, “medium”, and “small”.

This is because, in step S17, according to the physique M of the occupant X and the approach speed V0, the RAM 55
The deployment mode of the airbag 1, that is, the deployment pressure and the exhaust amount are determined based on the map A2 (see FIG. 11) stored in the storage device.

The map A2 shows the physique M of the occupant X in a column.
Is divided into three of "large", "medium" and "small", and the approach speed V0 is divided into three of "large", "medium" and "small" in a row, and the deployment pressure, the displacement and the Are set in a matrix.

Here, the deployment pressure "extra large" is the deployment pressure (predetermined pressure P3 in the high-pressure characteristic) when both the pair of inflators 15a and 15b are simultaneously operated, and the deployment pressure "large" is the pair of inflators 15a. , 15b, after operating only one inflator 15a,
The deployment pressure when the other inflator 15b is actuated (the predetermined pressure P2 (second pressure) in the two-stage deployment characteristic) and "small" are the deployment pressure when only one inflator 15a is actuated (in the low pressure characteristic). Predetermined pressure P1
(First pressure)).

On the other hand, the exhaust amount “large” means the exhaust amount when exhausting the gas in the airbag 1 from both the vent pipe 31 and the vent hole 14 by fully opening the exhaust amount control valve 32. The term “medium” means the amount of exhaust (second amount of exhaust) when exhausting the gas through both the vent pipe 31 and the vent hole 14 by setting the valve opening of the exhaust amount control valve 32 to a medium degree. In the case of "small", the exhaust amount control valve 32 is fully closed, and the exhaust amount when exhausting only from the vent hole 14 (first
Displacement).

According to the map A2, when the approach speed V0 is "small" and the physique M is "large" or "medium",
Both the deployment pressure and the displacement are "large", while when the physique M is "small", the deployment pressure is "small" and the displacement is "large". Also, when the approach speed V0 is medium, the physique M
Is "large" or "medium", the deployment pressure and the displacement are both "large", while when the physique M is "small", the deployment pressure is "small" and the displacement is "large" .

When the approach speed V0 is "large",
When the physique M is "small", the deployment pressure is set to "small" and the displacement is set to "large" (first mode). When the physique M is "medium", the deployment pressure is set to "large" and the displacement is set to "medium" (second mode). When the physique M is "large", the deployment pressure is set to "extra large" and the displacement is set to "small" (third mode).

When the deployment pressure and the exhaust amount of the airbag 1 are set in this way, the deployment of the airbag 1 is performed in step S18.

As described above, when the physique M of the occupant X is smaller than the standard physique (the first predetermined range), the deployment pressure of the airbag 1 is set to "small", so that the occupant X has a small physique. The occupant X can be appropriately restrained without an excessive restraining force. By setting the gas displacement of the airbag 1 to “large”, the reaction force from the airbag 1 to the occupant X after the small occupant X interferes with the airbag 1 can be reduced. Will be possible. That is, the small occupant X can be appropriately protected.

When the physique M of the occupant X is in the standard physique (second predetermined range), the deployment pressure of the airbag 1 is set to "large" to securely restrain the occupant X of the standard physique. Will be possible. When the approach speed V0 is “small” or “medium”, the amount of gas exhausted is set to “large” so that the occupant X interferes with the airbag 1 from the airbag 1 after the occupant X interferes with the airbag 1. The reaction force can be reduced. On the other hand, when the approach speed V0 is “large”, that is, when the kinetic energy of the occupant X at the time of the collision of the vehicle becomes large, the displacement of the gas is set to “medium” so that the occupant X Even after the interference with the airbag 1, the internal pressure of the airbag 1 is maintained relatively high, so that the occupant X can be sufficiently supported. That is, the occupant X having the standard physique can be appropriately protected.

Furthermore, when the physique M of the occupant X is larger than the standard value (third predetermined range) and the approach speed V0 is "large", the deployment pressure is set to "extra large" and the sewing of the airbag 1 is performed. The sewing of the portion 12 is broken, and the airbag 1
Increase the deployment capacity. As a result, the distance between the deployed airbag 1 and the occupant X decreases, and the seat 7
Even if the occupant X is sitting at the rear sliding position,
The occupant X comes to interfere with the airbag 1 relatively quickly. As a result, the internal pressure of the airbag 1 at the time of interference between the occupant X and the airbag 1 becomes sufficiently high,
The large occupant X can be restrained with a sufficient restraining force. In addition, by setting the gas exhaust amount to “small”, the internal pressure of the airbag 1 after the interference is maintained relatively high, and the large-sized occupant X can be sufficiently supported.

Thus, taking into account the time until the occupant X interferes with the airbag 1 according to the physique M, the airbag 1
By changing the deployment pressure and the displacement of the engine, more optimal protection according to the physique M is realized. In particular, it is possible to reliably protect the occupant X having a large physique without insufficient binding force.

The physique M of the occupant X is changed by the weight W of the occupant X.
And the slide position P of the seat 7 on which the occupant X is seated in the front-rear direction, so that the physique M of the occupant X can be accurately detected and the occupant X can be detected until the occupant X interferes with the airbag 1. Optimal protection in consideration of the time can be realized.

<Second Embodiment> FIG. 12 shows a map A3 of the deployment pressure and the displacement according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the first embodiment is that when the physique M of X is "large", the airbag 1 is configured to prohibit evacuation for a predetermined time from the start of deployment of the airbag 1.

In the second embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the sewing portion 12 is not provided in the airbag 1 and the deployment capacity of the airbag 1 is fixed at a predetermined capacity. Although not shown, the airbag 1 is different from the first embodiment in that no vent hole 14 is provided in the airbag 1 and gas is exhausted only from the vent pipe 31.

The other structure of the airbag device is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the operation of the airbag device is the same as that of the first embodiment. The description is omitted here.

In the second embodiment, as described above, when the approach speed V0 is "large" and the physician M of the occupant X is "large", the deployment pressure of the airbag 1 is set as follows.
"Large" is the same as when the physique M is "medium". On the other hand, the displacement control valve 3 for a predetermined time from the start of deployment of the airbag 1.
By completely closing the valve 2, the exhaust of the gas from the airbag 1 is restricted ("0"), and after a predetermined time has elapsed, the opening degree of the exhaust amount control valve 31 is set to "small". (3rd mode).

As described above, by restricting the exhaust from the airbag 1 for a predetermined time from the start of the deployment of the airbag 1, the airbag 1 is maintained at a high internal pressure state.
For this reason, even if the interference between the occupant X and the airbag 1 is delayed due to the seat 7 being seated at the rear sliding position, the internal pressure of the airbag 1 at the time of the interference becomes sufficiently high. Therefore, the large occupant X can be sufficiently restrained.

<Other Embodiments> It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes various other embodiments. That is, in the above-described embodiment, the weight detection sensor 42 is configured by the pressure-sensitive film sensor 42a, but is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, for example, load cells 42c and 4 of a strain gauge type.
2c. That is, the load cells 42c, 42c are fixed to the floor panel 81 by the brackets 76, 76 in a plate-like sheet mounting member 77.
, And a lower surface of the seat cushion 71, a total of four are provided so as to correspond to the four corners of the lower portion of the seat cushion 71. In this way, the strain caused by the occupant X sitting on the seat 7 is detected by the strain gauge, and the weight W of the occupant X can be detected based on the output signals of the load cells 42c and 42c. become able to.

The physique detecting means 4 is not limited to the seat slide position detecting sensor 41 for detecting the sliding position of the seat 7 in the front-rear direction and the weight detecting sensor 42 for detecting the weight of the occupant X, as shown in FIG. For example, an optical sensor, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor 43, or the like for detecting the physique of the occupant X is attached to the roof 82 above the seat 7, and the physique M of the occupant X is determined based on a detection signal of the sensor 43. May be configured.

Even if the physique detecting means 4 is not provided, for example, the occupant X can change his / her physique M to “large”, “medium”,
An input switch for selecting and inputting any of "small" may be provided.

Further, in the above embodiment, the airbag device provided in the driver's seat has been described. However, the airbag device according to the present invention is not limited to the one provided in the driver's seat, but is provided in the passenger seat. It may be applied to things. The seat is not limited to the seat in the first row in the passenger compartment such as the driver's seat or the passenger seat, but is provided in the seat in the second or third row if it is configured to be deployed in front of the occupant X. It may be applied to things. However, the airbag device according to the present invention is disposed in the driver's seat such that the airbag 1 is disposed in the steering wheel 80 so that the occupant X and the airbag 1 are relatively close to each other. It is particularly suitable as an airbag device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an airbag device.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a base end portion of the airbag in a deployed state.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an inflator.

FIG. 4 is a front view schematically showing an airbag.

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a normal deployment state of an airbag. (B) It is sectional drawing which shows typically the deployment state of the airbag in the state where the sewing part was fractured.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a seat provided with a seat slide position detection sensor.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a sheet provided with a pressure-sensitive sensor.

FIG. 8 is a characteristic diagram showing a change in a development pressure with respect to time.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of airbag deployment control.

FIG. 10 is a map for determining the physique of the occupant with respect to the weight of the occupant and the position of the seat slide.

FIG. 11 is a map for setting a deployment pressure and an exhaust amount with respect to an approach speed and a physique according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a map for setting a deployment pressure and an exhaust amount with respect to an approach speed and a physique according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a side view showing a seat provided with a load cell according to another embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a side view showing a roof provided with a physique detecting unit according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 airbag 2 pressure control means 3 displacement control means 4 physique detection means 5 CPU (deployment control means) 7 seat 12 sewing section 21 low pressure inflator driver (pressure control means) 22 high pressure inflator driver (pressure control means) 31 vent pipe ( Displacement control means) 32 Displacement control valve (displacement control means) 33 Actuator (displacement control means) 41 Seat slide position detection sensor (physique detection means) 42 Weight detection sensor (physique detection means) 43 Sensor (physique detection means) 41a Variable resistor (seat slide position detection sensor) 42a Pressure sensitive sheet (weight detection sensor) 42c Load cell (weight detection sensor) X Occupant X

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3D054 AA02 AA03 AA04 AA13 CC08 CC15 CC23 CC34 CC35 CC42 DD28 EE09 EE14 EE15 EE19 EE29 EE30 EE32

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An airbag device for deploying an airbag in front of an occupant when a collision occurs in a vehicle, comprising: a pressure control means for controlling a deployment pressure of the airbag; Displacement control means for controlling the displacement of the gas, physique detection means for detecting the physique of the occupant, and deployment control means for controlling the pressure control means and the displacement control means, wherein the deployment control means When the physique of the occupant is in the first predetermined range based on the detection result of the physique detecting means, the deployment pressure of the airbag is set to the first pressure, and the exhaust amount of the gas is set to the first exhaust amount. Controlling the pressure control means and the displacement control means in the first mode, and when the physique of the occupant is in a second predetermined range larger than the first predetermined range, the deployment pressure of the airbag is increased. The pressure control means and the displacement control in a second mode in which the second pressure is set to a second pressure higher than the first pressure and the displacement of the gas is set to a second displacement which is smaller than the first displacement. Means for controlling the internal pressure of the airbag from the completion of deployment of the airbag until the occupant interferes with the airbag when the occupant's physique is in a third predetermined range larger than the second predetermined range. An airbag device, wherein the pressure control means and the displacement control means are controlled in a third mode in which the degree of reduction is smaller than the second mode. 2. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein an expansion capacity of the airbag is configured to be changeable, and the expansion control means determines that the expansion capacity of the airbag in the third mode is larger than that in the second mode. By controlling the pressure control means so that it is greatly changed,
An airbag apparatus characterized in that the degree of decrease in the internal pressure of the airbag from the completion of deployment of the airbag until the occupant interferes with the airbag is made smaller than in the second mode. 3. The airbag according to claim 2, wherein the airbag is provided with a sewn portion in which a part of a cloth material constituting the airbag is sewn to each other. In the third mode, the deployment control means controls the pressure control means so that the deployment pressure is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, thereby breaking the sewing of the sewing portion. An airbag device characterized in that the deployment capacity of the airbag is changed to be larger than the deployment capacity in the second mode. 4. The expansion control means according to claim 1, wherein in the third mode, the expansion amount control means controls the exhaust amount control means so as to restrict the exhaust from the airbag for a predetermined time from the start of the expansion of the airbag. The airbag is characterized in that the degree of decrease in the internal pressure of the airbag after completion of deployment of the airbag until the occupant interferes with the airbag is smaller than in the second mode. apparatus. 5. The physique detecting means according to claim 1, wherein the physique detecting means is configured to detect the physique of the occupant based on a weight of the occupant and a sliding position of the seat on which the occupant slides in a front-rear direction. An airbag device characterized by the above-mentioned.