JP2006176074A - Occupant protection device and vehicle with occupant protection device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an occupant protection device for thoroghly contributing to the protection of the occupant at the time of vehicular accident. <P>SOLUTION: In the occupant protection device 100 mounted on the vehicle, an air bag 101 attached to a vehicle seat 10 can be reversibly operated between the usual storage state and the collision preparation state. When the collision of the vehicle is predicted by a radar sensor 130, the airbag 101 is previously deployed/inflated so as to become in the collision preparation state and is prepared for the collision of the vehicle possibly generated later. When the collision is not actually generated after the collision of the vehicle is predicted, the airbag 101 is returned to the usual storage state and is prepared for next prediction of collision. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an occupant protection device mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various occupant protection device construction techniques for protecting an occupant from colliding with a vehicle side wall such as a side window or a door in the event of a vehicle accident such as a vehicle side collision or rollover have been proposed. For example, a configuration of an occupant protection device including an airbag that is accommodated along a side roof rail of an automobile is known (for example, see Patent Document 1 below).
This document proposes a technique for protecting an occupant by deploying and inflating an airbag in a region between the occupant and the vehicle side wall in the event of a vehicle accident. In order to realize the technology at a high level, further technical exploration is required.
JP 2001-328504 A

  This invention is made in view of this point, and makes it a subject to provide the passenger | crew protection apparatus which contributes to passenger | crew protection thorough in the case of a vehicle accident.

  The present invention is configured to solve the above problems. In addition, this invention is a technique applicable to the structure of the passenger | crew protection apparatus mounted in various vehicles, such as a motor vehicle, a train, and a ship.

(First invention of the present invention)
A first aspect of the present invention is an occupant protection device as set forth in claim 1.
The occupant protection device according to claim 1 is a device mounted on a vehicle, and includes at least occupant protection means, drive means, and control means.

  The occupant protection means of the present invention is mounted on a vehicle seat and is configured as means for protecting the vehicle occupant on the vehicle seat in the event of a vehicle accident. Typical examples of the occupant protection means include an elastic airbag and a protection pad member that can alleviate the impact force acting on the occupant during a vehicle accident. The occupant protection means is installed in the vehicle corresponding to the occupant's protection target part. The parts to be protected by the occupant protection means include the head, neck, shoulder, chest, abdomen, knee, and lower limbs. The occupant protection means of the present invention includes an occupant protection means for protecting an occupant who intends to move to the side of the vehicle in the event of a vehicle accident, or a seat belt that is placed in front of the seat or obliquely below the seat in the event of a vehicle accident. It is applied as an occupant protection means that protects the occupant by preventing the so-called “submarine phenomenon” that tries to pass through.

  The drive means of the present invention is configured as means for enabling the occupant protection means to reversibly operate between the normal accommodation state and the collision preparation state. In other words, the occupant protection means is allowed to operate between the normal accommodation state and the collision preparation state by this driving means.

  The control means of the present invention is configured as means for controlling the drive means. In the present invention, when a vehicle collision is predicted, the control means controls the driving means so as to operate the occupant protection means from the normal accommodation state to the collision preparation state before the vehicle collision. In addition, when the vehicle collision is avoided, the control unit controls the driving unit so as to return the occupant protection unit from the collision preparation state to the normal accommodation state. The “normal accommodation state” in the present invention is typically defined as a normal initial state in which the occupant protection means is accommodated in a normal state. The “collision preparation state” in the present invention is defined as a state (preliminary state) prepared for an actual vehicle collision when a collision occurs. This collision preparation state includes a state where the vehicle is disposed in an area that substantially matches an occupant protection area that protects an occupant in the event of a vehicle accident, and a state that is disposed in an area outside the occupant protection area. That is, the occupant protection means may perform occupant protection as it is in the normal accommodation state, or may perform occupant protection after operating in a state different from the normal accommodation state. In order to promptly protect the occupant in the event of a vehicle accident, the occupant protection means is preferably configured so that the collision preparation state is closer to the vehicle occupant than the normal accommodation state.

As described above, according to the occupant protection device of the first aspect, when a vehicle collision is predicted, the occupant protection means is operated in advance from the normal accommodation state to the collision preparation state, and then occurs. It is possible to prepare for possible collisions. Accordingly, it is possible to quickly perform occupant protection in the event of a subsequent vehicle accident using the occupant protection means that has been operated in the collision preparation state. The occupant protection means having such a configuration is more effective for prompt occupant protection than the occupant protection means having a configuration that operates only when a vehicle accident occurs. Further, when a vehicle collision does not actually occur after the vehicle collision is predicted, it is possible to return the occupant protection means from the collision preparation state to the normal accommodation state to prepare for the next collision prediction.
As described above, by using the occupant protection device of the present invention, it is possible to quickly cope with occupant protection when a vehicle accident occurs by the occupant protection means set in advance in the collision preparation state before the vehicle collision. . In particular, according to the configuration in which the occupant protection means is mounted on the vehicle seat arranged close to or in close contact with the vehicle occupant as in the present invention, it becomes possible to respond more quickly to the occupant protection when a vehicle accident occurs. . Moreover, it is reasonable that the occupant protection means is returned to the normal accommodation state when an actual collision does not occur.

(Second invention of the present invention)
The second invention of the present invention is an occupant protection device as set forth in claim 2.
In this occupant protection device according to claim 2, the occupant protection means according to claim 1 is configured by using an inflatable and deflated airbag. The drive means of the present invention is configured to include at least a gas supply means and a gas discharge means. The gas supply means is configured as means for enabling supply of inflation gas into the airbag. Typically, the gas supply means is configured using an air supply path for supplying compressed air into the airbag, an air pump for introducing the compressed air into the air supply path, and the like. As the gas for expansion, air or a gas other than air can be used as appropriate. The gas discharge means is configured as means for enabling the gas in the airbag to be discharged out of the airbag. Typically, the gas discharge means is configured using an air discharge path that connects the inside and the outside of the airbag.

  In the present invention, when a vehicle collision is predicted, the control means controls the gas supply means and the gas discharge means so that the airbag is inflated as a collision preparation state. That is, the gas supply means is operated in a state where the operation of the gas discharge means is stopped. Thereby, the gas for inflation is filled in the airbag, and the airbag is inflated so as to be ready for collision. In addition, when the vehicle collision is avoided, the control unit controls the gas supply unit and the gas discharge unit so that the airbag contracts in the normal accommodation state. That is, the gas discharge means is operated in a state where the operation of the gas supply means is stopped. As a result, the gas filled in the airbag is discharged out of the airbag, and the airbag contracts to return to the normal accommodation state.

  As described above, according to the occupant protection device of the second aspect, it is possible to realize a configuration using an air bag to perform quick occupant protection when a vehicle accident occurs. That is, in this occupant protection device, when a vehicle collision is predicted, the airbag is inflated in advance from the normal accommodation state to the collision preparation state, and prepared for a collision accident that may occur thereafter. Is possible. Accordingly, it is possible to quickly perform passenger protection in the event of a subsequent vehicle accident by using an airbag that has been deployed and inflated in a collision ready state in advance. When a vehicle accident occurs, the vehicle occupant may be protected as it is with the airbag inflated so as to be in a collision preparation state, or the airbag is further expanded and inflated from the collision preparation state. It may be configured to protect the vehicle occupant in this state. When a collision does not actually occur after a vehicle collision is predicted, the airbag can be returned from the collision preparation state to the normal accommodation state to prepare for the next collision prediction. Thus, by using the occupant protection device of the present invention, it is possible to quickly respond to occupant protection in the event of a vehicle accident by using an airbag that has been deployed and inflated in advance so as to be ready for collision before a vehicle collision. Become.

(Third invention of the present invention)
A third aspect of the present invention is an occupant protection device as set forth in claim 3.
In this occupant protection device according to the third aspect, the airbag cover that covers the airbag according to the second aspect constitutes a part of the vehicle seat. In addition, the airbag cover can be operated between a first set position that covers the airbag that is normally housed and a second set position that allows the airbag to be in a collision ready state. ing.
According to such a configuration, it is reasonable to use part of the vehicle seat as an airbag cover that covers the airbag.

(Fourth invention of the present invention)
A fourth aspect of the present invention is an occupant protection device as set forth in claim 4.
In this occupant protection device according to a fourth aspect, the airbag cover according to the third aspect is configured to be elastically biased to the first set position by an elastic spring. As this elastic spring, various elastic springs capable of applying an elastic biasing force such as a coil shape or a plate shape can be used. In the process of inflating as the collision preparation state, the airbag presses the airbag cover from the first setting position to the second setting position against the elastic biasing force of the elastic spring, while in the normal accommodation state. In the process of contracting, the airbag cover is configured to be pressed into the normal accommodation state by the airbag cover that moves to the first set position in accordance with the elastic biasing force of the elastic spring.
According to such a configuration, since the operation of the airbag cover can be performed using the inflation force of the airbag and the elastic biasing force of the elastic spring, the structure can be simplified.

(Fifth invention of the present invention)
A fifth aspect of the present invention is an occupant protection device as set forth in the fifth aspect.
In the occupant protection device according to claim 5, in the configuration according to claims 1 to 4, the occupant protection means in a collision preparation state is disposed in a region that substantially matches the occupant protection region that protects the vehicle occupant. It is supposed to be configured. The control means controls the driving means so that the occupant protection means operated in the collision preparation state before the vehicle collision is kept in the collision preparation state in the event of a vehicle accident, and the occupant protection is performed via the occupant protection means. It is set as the structure which performs.
According to such a configuration, when a vehicle collision is predicted, the occupant protection means is operated in advance from the normal accommodation state to the collision preparation state, and in preparation for a collision accident that may occur thereafter, When the vehicle accident occurs, the passenger protection means operating in the collision ready state can be used as it is, so that the passenger can be protected more quickly when the vehicle accident occurs.

(Sixth invention of the present invention)
A sixth aspect of the present invention is an occupant protection device as set forth in the sixth aspect.
The occupant protection device according to a sixth aspect is the configuration according to the first to fourth aspects, wherein the occupant protection means in the collision preparation state is arranged in a region different from the occupant protection region that protects the vehicle occupant. It is said. Then, the control means drives the driving means so as to operate the occupant protection means operated in the collision preparation state before the vehicle collision from the collision preparation state to the occupant protection state further arranged in the occupant protection area in the event of a vehicle accident. It is configured to control and protect the occupant through the occupant protection means.
According to such a configuration, when a vehicle collision is predicted, the occupant protection means is operated in advance from the normal accommodation state to the collision preparation state, and in preparation for a collision accident that may occur thereafter, When a vehicle accident occurs, the occupant protection means operating in the collision preparation state can be further operated in the occupant protection state to perform occupant protection. For example, by setting the state where the occupant protection means in the standby state before the vehicle collision is as much as possible to the vehicle occupant as the collision preparation state, the normal occupancy state, through the collision preparation state, to the occupant protection state A series of operations of the occupant protection means can be performed more smoothly. In the present invention, regarding the operation of the occupant protection means, it is sufficient that at least the operation between the normal accommodation state and the collision preparation state is reversible, and the operation between the collision preparation state and the occupant protection state is reversible. It may be present or irreversible.

(Seventh invention of the present invention)
A seventh aspect of the present invention is a vehicle with an occupant protection device as set forth in the seventh aspect.
The vehicle with an occupant protection device according to a seventh aspect is configured as a vehicle including at least the occupant protection device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects.
According to such a configuration, a vehicle equipped with an occupant protection device that contributes to thorough occupant protection in the event of a vehicle accident is provided.

(Eighth invention of the present invention)
An eighth invention of the present invention is a vehicle with an occupant protection device as described in claim 8.
The vehicle with an occupant protection device according to an eighth aspect is configured as a vehicle including at least a detection unit, a vehicle seat, an occupant protection unit, a drive unit, and a control unit.
The detection means of the present invention is configured as means for detecting information relating to a vehicle collision. As information detected by this detecting means, information for predicting (determining) whether or not the own vehicle collides with a collision target such as another vehicle or an obstacle, that is, a distance between the collision target, Relative speed or the like can be used. Therefore, typically, as a typical example of this detection means, a radio wave (millimeter wave or laser light) having a wavelength of several millimeters is generated toward the collision target, and a reflected wave from the collision target is measured. In addition, a radar having a configuration capable of detecting (measuring) the distance between the collision object and the relative speed, a radar called a “millimeter wave radar” or a “laser radar” is used.
The vehicle seat of the present invention is configured as a seat on which a vehicle occupant can be seated. The vehicle seat includes a seat configured to allow one or a plurality of vehicle occupants to be seated.
The occupant protection means, drive means, and control means of the present invention have substantially the same configuration as the components in the occupant protection device according to claim 1.

  In particular, the control means of the present invention is configured as means for controlling the drive means based on information detected by the detection means. The control means controls the driving means to operate the occupant protection means from the normal accommodation state to the collision ready state before the vehicle collision when the vehicle collision is predicted by the information detected by the detection means. When it is determined that the collision is avoided, the driving unit is controlled so that the occupant protection unit is returned from the collision preparation state to the normal accommodation state.

  As described above, according to the vehicle with the occupant protection device according to the eighth aspect, the occupant protection means set in advance to the collision ready state before the vehicle collision can quickly respond to the occupant protection when the vehicle accident occurs. It becomes possible. In particular, according to the configuration in which the occupant protection means is mounted on the vehicle seat arranged close to or in close contact with the vehicle occupant as in the present invention, it becomes possible to respond more quickly to the occupant protection when a vehicle accident occurs. . Moreover, it is reasonable that the occupant protection means is returned to the normal accommodation state when an actual vehicle collision does not occur.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the occupant protection means can be operated reversibly between the normal accommodation state and the collision preparation state, and when a vehicle collision is predicted, the occupant protection is performed before the vehicle collision. With the configuration in which the means is operated from the normal accommodation state to the collision preparation state to prepare for the occurrence of a vehicle accident, it is possible to realize at a high level a technology that quickly responds to passenger protection when a vehicle accident occurs.

  Hereinafter, an occupant protection device 100 according to an embodiment of the “occupant protection device” of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The present embodiment shows an example in which an airbag is used as an occupant protection means for occupant protection. 1 to 6, the occupant protection device used for the vehicle occupant on the vehicle seat on the right side of the vehicle interior is described as an example, but the configuration of the occupant protection device of the present embodiment is the driving The present invention can be similarly applied to a vehicle occupant on any vehicle seat such as a seat, a passenger seat, and a rear seat.

  A state in which the occupant protection device 100 of the present embodiment is mounted on a vehicle 200 (own vehicle) is schematically shown in FIG. Although details will be described later, in this embodiment, the occupant protection device 100 is mounted on the vehicle seat 10 on which the vehicle occupant C is seated. In addition to the occupant protection device 100, another occupant protection device may be mounted on a vehicle body side member such as a trim or a pillar.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle 200 as a “vehicle with an occupant protection device” in the present invention includes at least a plurality of vehicle seats including a vehicle seat 10, an occupant protection device 100, and a radar sensor 130. . The occupant protection device 100 protects the vehicle occupant C on the vehicle seat 10 of the vehicle 200 in the event of a vehicle accident such as a side collision (for example, a side collision by another vehicle 210) or a rollover of the vehicle 200. It is a device having a function. The occupant protection device 100 is mainly configured by an airbag 101, an air pump 111, an air tank 113, a control valve 115, and a control unit (ECU) 120. In addition, the occupant protection device 100 including the radar sensor 130 mounted on the vehicle 200 may be used.

  The airbag 101 is an airbag having a function of protecting the vehicle occupant C by being interposed in an occupant protection area of the vehicle occupant C in the event of a vehicle accident such as a side collision or rollover of the vehicle 200. Although details will be described later, in the present embodiment, the airbag 101 can be inflated and deflated, and is configured to expand and inflate as an occupant protection state in the occupant protection region before the vehicle 200 collides with the vehicle. Yes. As this occupant protection region, a region between the vehicle occupant C and the vehicle side wall, a region in front of the vehicle occupant C, or the like is employed. The airbag 101 is configured to be accommodated in the vehicle seat 10 in a state of being folded into a predetermined shape in advance before being deployed and inflated. The airbag 101 corresponds to “occupant protection means” and “airbag” in the present invention.

The control unit 120 includes a CPU (arithmetic processing unit), an input / output device, a storage device, a peripheral device, and the like, although not particularly shown. In the present embodiment, the control unit 120 is electrically connected to the driving means (actuator) 106, the air pump 111, the control valve 115, and the radar sensor 130, and detection signals and It is configured to exchange control signals. Specifically, detection information (detection signal) detected by the radar sensor 130 is input to the control unit 120 as an input signal. Based on the input signal from the radar sensor 130, the control unit 120 outputs a drive signal for the drive means 106, a start signal and a stop signal for the air pump 111, an opening adjustment signal for the control valve 115, and the like. It has become. This control unit 120 corresponds to “control means” in the present invention.
The control unit 120 may be configured to control only the occupant protection device 100. In addition to the control of the occupant protection device 100, the control unit 120 may control other vehicle components. The configuration may also be such that the entire vehicle is controlled.

  The radar sensor 130 is attached to a side wall portion of the vehicle 200 and is used to predict a collision of a side vehicle (a vehicle 210 in FIG. 1) or a side obstacle that is an object to be collided with the vehicle 200. Specifically, by generating radio waves (millimeter wave or laser light) with a wavelength of several millimeters toward the collision object, and measuring the reflected wave from the collision object, the distance to the collision object A radar having a configuration capable of detecting (measuring) detection information (detection signal) such as a relative velocity, a so-called “millimeter wave radar” or “laser radar” can be used. The radar sensor 130 corresponds to the “detection means” in the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, although not particularly illustrated, the vehicle 200 is provided with a detection sensor that determines whether the vehicle 200 has caused a vehicle accident such as a collision or a fall. Detection information (detection signal) detected by the detection sensor is input to the control unit 120 as an input signal. As this detection sensor, a sensor having a function capable of detecting (measuring) detection information (detection signal) such as acceleration in the three-axis (X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis) directions acting on the host vehicle, a so-called “acceleration sensor” Can be used.

  Here, a detailed configuration of the occupant protection device 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vehicle seat 10 in a state where the occupant protection device 100 of the present embodiment is accommodated in the vehicle seat, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the vehicle seat 10 in FIG. It is a figure which shows a structure. 2 and 3 show a state in which the vehicle occupant protection device 100 is assembled and the control by the control unit 120 is not executed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the occupant protection device 100 according to the present embodiment is accommodated over the parts corresponding to the seat back side part and the seat cushion side part among the parts of the vehicle seat 10. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, an airbag 101, a return spring 103, and a latch member 105 are disposed on the vehicle rear side of the seat back side member 12. An air pump 111, an air tank 113, and a control valve 115 are disposed below the seat cushion side member 14.

  The seat back side member 12 is configured to cover the vehicle front side of the airbag 101, and includes a concave accommodating portion 12a, a rotating shaft 12b, and an engaging portion 12c. The accommodating portion 12a has a function as an accommodating space for accommodating the “initial state” airbag 101 that is folded in a predetermined shape in advance. The rotation shaft 12b is fixed to the vehicle seat 10 side, and a rotation fulcrum that allows the seat back side member 12 to rotate in the directions indicated by arrows 20 and 22 in FIG. It becomes. The engaging portion 12c is configured as a portion that can be engaged with the distal end portion 105a of the latch member 105, and is a portion that is engaged with the other end of the return spring 103 that has one end fixed to the vehicle seat 10 side. The latch member 105 can be rotated in the directions indicated by the arrows 20 and 22 in FIG. 3 around the rotation shaft 105b by a driving means (actuator) 106 such as an electric motor.

  The seat back side member 12 having such a configuration rotates between a first set position shown in FIG. 3 and a second set position shown in FIG. The actuator is operable and elastically biased to the first set position by the return spring 103 as the “elastic spring” in the present invention. As the return spring 103, various elastic springs capable of applying an elastic biasing force such as a coil shape or a plate shape can be used. Further, the seat back side member 12 has the engaging portion 12c engaged (hooked) with the leading end portion 105a of the latch member 105 driven by the driving means 106 at the first set position, The rotation operation in the direction of arrow 20 is prevented.

  The air pump 111 is a pump having a function of compressing air (high pressure) and supplying the compressed air to the air tank 113. The air tank 113 is a tank having a function of temporarily storing the compressed air supplied from the air pump 111.

The control valve 115 is installed in an air supply path between the airbag 101 and the air tank 113, and supplies compressed air into the airbag 101 through the air supply unit 115a and exhausts air from the airbag 101. The valve has a function of discharging air to the outside of the airbag 101 through the portion 115b. The air supply path, the air pump 111, the air tank 113, the control valve 115 and the like constitute the “gas supply means”, “gas discharge means”, and “drive means” in the present invention.
Note that the control valve 115 can also be configured by separate valves, a filling valve and an exhaust valve.

  Next, the operation of the occupant protection device 100 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6 in addition to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a cross-sectional structure when the occupant protection device 100 of the present embodiment is in the “initial control” state. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the vehicle seat 10 when the occupant protection device 100 of the present embodiment is in the “control during collision prediction”, and FIG. 6 is a view of B of the vehicle seat 10 in FIG. It is a figure which shows the cross-section in the -B line | wire.

  In FIG. 1, a radar sensor 130 detects information on a collision object (vehicle, injury, etc.) on the side of the vehicle 200, in this embodiment, information on a vehicle collision of the vehicle 210 at all times or at regular time intervals. Information is input to the control unit 120. Based on this information, the control unit 120 predicts a vehicle collision by determining the possibility of the vehicle 210 (another vehicle) colliding with the vehicle 200 (the host vehicle). Then, according to the collision prediction information, the control unit 120 executes each control of “initial control”, “collision prediction control”, “collision occurrence control”, and “collision avoidance control” described later.

(Initial control)
The control unit 120 activates the air pump 111 when the operation of the vehicle 200 is started. As a result, the pressure in the air tank 113 is set in advance to the first pressure. The control unit 120 performs initial control when the radar sensor 130 does not detect a collision target on the side of the vehicle 200, that is, when a side collision is not predicted. The control unit 120 adjusts the pressure in the airbag 101 to a second pressure lower than the first pressure in the air tank 113 by this initial control. Specifically, in a state where a signal for closing the air discharge unit 115b is output to the control valve 115, a signal for temporarily opening the air supply unit 115a is output, and the pressure in the airbag 101 is set to the second pressure. After the adjustment, a signal for closing the air supply unit 115a is output. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 4, the airbag 101 is inflated in the accommodating portion 12 a of the seat back side member 12, and the internal pressure thereof is held at the second pressure.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 120 maintains the state where the front end portion 105 a of the latch member 105 is engaged with the engaging portion 12 c of the seat back side member 12 (the state where it is hooked). A control signal is output to the driving means 106. In this initial control state shown in FIG. 4, the seat back side member 12 is elastically urged to the first set position by the return spring 103 and is prevented from rotating in the direction of the arrow 20 by the latch member 105. Will be.

(Collision prediction control)
On the other hand, when the vehicle 210 close to the side of the vehicle 200 is detected by the radar sensor 130 and the control unit 120 determines that the possibility that the vehicle 210 will collide with the vehicle 200 is high, the control unit 120 performs the control at the time of collision prediction. Do. The control unit 120 outputs a signal for opening the air supply unit 115a and closing the air discharge unit 115b to the control valve 115 before the side collision of the vehicle by the collision prediction time control. As a result, the compressed air of the first pressure compressed in the air tank 113 starts to be filled (supplied) into the airbag 101 via the air supply unit 115a.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 120 releases the state where the front end portion 105 a of the latch member 105 is engaged with the engaging portion 12 c of the seat back side member 12 (the state where it is hooked). A control signal is output to the driving means 106. In the state of this collision prediction control shown in FIG. 6, the seat back side member 12 is allowed to rotate in the direction of the arrow 22 against the elastic biasing force of the return spring 103. At this time, the airbag 101 is in a state of preparing for an actual vehicle collision at the time of the collision from the normal accommodation state shown in FIG. 4 (normal initial state in which the airbag 101 is accommodated) shown in FIG. (Preliminary state)). Further, the pressing force of the airbag 101 overcomes the elastic biasing force of the return spring 103. As a result, the seat back side member 12 rotates in the arrow 20 direction from the first set position shown in FIG. 4 to the second set position shown in FIG. It expands and expands as a collision preparation state. The airbag 101 inflated as a collision preparation state in the collision preparation area is provided for occupant protection at the time of a side collision of the vehicle 210 with respect to the vehicle 200 that may occur thereafter. The collision preparation area shown in FIG. 6 is configured as an area extending between the vehicle side wall and the side of the vehicle occupant C (head, neck, shoulder, chest, abdomen, knee, lower limb, etc.). Is done. In the present embodiment, the airbag 101 is configured so that the collision preparation state is closer to the vehicle occupant C than the normal accommodation state. In the collision occurrence control described later, a vehicle accident occurs. It is possible to promptly protect passengers.

The normal accommodation state of the airbag 101 shown in FIG. 4 corresponds to the “normal accommodation state” in the present invention, and the collision preparation state of the airbag 101 shown in FIG. 6 corresponds to the “collision preparation state” and “ This corresponds to the “occupant protection state”. The state of the airbag 101 shown in FIG. 3 can be set to the normal accommodation state.
Further, the first set position of the seat back side member 12 corresponds to the “first set position” in the present invention, and the second set position of the seat back side member 12 corresponds to the “second set position” in the present invention. Corresponds to “setting position”.

(Control when collision occurs)
Thereafter, when the vehicle 210 actually collides with the vehicle 200, that is, when the occurrence of a vehicle collision is detected by the detection sensor having the above-described configuration, the collision preparation state is entered in the collision preparation area before the vehicle collision occurs in the collision prediction control. As for the airbag 101 deployed and inflated, the internal pressure of the airbag 101 is maintained, or the pressure is adjusted by the control valve 115. The airbag 101 reduces the impact force acting on the side (head, neck, shoulder, chest, abdomen, knee, lower limb, etc.) of the vehicle occupant (vehicle occupant C in FIG. 1) as it is. Crew protection is achieved. That is, in the present embodiment, the collision preparation area is an area that substantially matches the occupant protection area that protects the vehicle occupant C (corresponding to the “occupant protection area” in the present invention), and the collision preparation state of the airbag 101 is The passenger is protected as it is.

  Regarding the control at the time of collision occurrence, the airbag 101 that is deployed and inflated as a collision preparation state in the collision preparation region before the occurrence of the vehicle collision in the control at the time of collision prediction is further different from the collision preparation region. It can also be configured to be deployed and inflated as an occupant protection state (corresponding to the “occupant protection state” in the present invention) in the occupant protection region ”, and to protect the vehicle occupant C in that region. In this case, the collision preparation area is configured as an area different from the occupant protection area that protects the vehicle occupant C. The region is configured as a region extending between the vehicle side wall and the side or front of the vehicle occupant C (head, neck, shoulder, chest, abdomen, knee, lower limb, etc.). The Thereby, the impact force which acts on the side part or front part of vehicle occupant C is relieved, and occupant protection is achieved. That is, in this embodiment, the collision preparation area is different from the occupant protection area that protects the vehicle occupant C, and the collision preparation state of the airbag 101 is configured to be different from the occupant protection state.

  In this configuration, by setting the collision preparation state so that the airbag 101 that is in a standby state before the vehicle collision does not interfere with the vehicle occupant as much as possible, from the normal housing state to the passenger protection state through the collision preparation state. Thus, a series of operations of the airbag 101 can be performed more smoothly. In this configuration, the airbag 101 only needs to be reversible at least between the normal accommodation state and the collision preparation state, and is a reversible configuration capable of returning from the passenger protection state to the collision preparation state. Alternatively, it may be an irreversible configuration that does not return from the passenger protection state to the collision preparation state after the vehicle accident occurs.

(Collision avoidance control)
On the other hand, once it has been determined that there is a high possibility that the vehicle 210 will collide with the vehicle 200, but in reality, when the side collision is avoided and the radar object 130 no longer detects the collision object on the side of the vehicle 200, This time, the control unit 120 controls the airbag 101 to contract in the normal accommodation state (the state shown in FIG. 3 or the state shown in FIG. 4).
In other words, the control unit 120 adjusts the pressure in the airbag 101 to be reduced by this collision avoidance control. Specifically, a signal for opening the air discharge part 115 b is output to the control valve 115. Thereby, the pressing force of the airbag 101 is changed from the second set position shown in FIG. 6 to the first set position shown in FIG. 4 by the seat back side member 12 according to the elastic biasing force of the return spring 103. And the airbag 101 contracts in the normal accommodation state. Thus, in the present embodiment, the airbag 101 can be reversibly operated between the normal accommodation state shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 and the collision preparation state shown in FIG.
After that, the control unit 120 activates the air pump 111 to set the pressure in the air tank 113 to the first pressure in advance as in the initial control, and sets the air in the airbag 101. Is adjusted to a second pressure lower than the first pressure in the air tank 113 to prepare for the next collision prediction time control.

As described above, according to the occupant protection device 100 of the present embodiment, it is possible to realize a configuration using the airbag 101 to perform quick occupant protection in the event of a vehicle accident. That is, in the present embodiment, when a vehicle collision is predicted, the airbag 101 is inflated in advance from the normal accommodation state to the collision preparation state to prepare for an accident that may occur thereafter. It becomes possible. Accordingly, it is possible to quickly perform passenger protection in the event of a vehicle accident using the airbag 101 that has been inflated in advance so as to be in a collision preparation state before a vehicle collision. In particular, according to the configuration in which the occupant protection means 100 is mounted on a vehicle seat that is disposed close to or in close contact with the vehicle occupant as in the present embodiment, it is possible to respond more quickly to occupant protection when a vehicle accident occurs. It becomes possible. Further, in the present embodiment, if a vehicle collision does not actually occur, it is possible to restore the airbag 101 from the collision preparation state to the normal accommodation state and prepare for the next collision prediction. Is.
As described above, by using the occupant protection device 100 of the present embodiment, the airbag 101 that has been deployed and inflated in advance so as to be in a collision preparation state before a vehicle collision can quickly respond to occupant protection when a vehicle accident occurs. It becomes possible.
Further, according to the present embodiment, it is reasonable to use the seat back side member 12 that is a part of the vehicle seat as an airbag cover that covers the airbag 101.
Further, according to the present embodiment, the operation of the seat back side member 12 as the airbag cover is performed using the inflating force of the airbag 101 and the elastic biasing force of the return spring 103, so that the structure is simplified. It becomes possible.
Further, according to the present embodiment, a vehicle 200 on which the occupant protection device 100 that contributes to occupant protection in the event of a vehicle accident is mounted is provided.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various applications and modifications are conceivable. For example, each of the following embodiments to which the above embodiment is applied can be implemented.

  In the above embodiment, the occupant protection device 100 that protects the occupant using the airbag 101 has been described. However, the configuration of the occupant protection device that protects the occupant using a means other than the airbag 101, for example, a protection pad, is described in this embodiment. The invention can also be applied. As the protective pad in this case, a pad member formed using a foam material can be used. Further, as a driving means for driving the protective pad, a link mechanism or an inflating body (for example, an airbag) having a known configuration can be used.

  In the above embodiment, the operation of the seat back side member 12 as the airbag cover is described using the inflation force of the airbag 101 and the elastic biasing force of the return spring 103. The operation of the seat back side member 12 can also be performed using an elastic urging means having another configuration or a dedicated actuator (driving means).

  Moreover, although the said embodiment described about the case where the passenger | crew protection apparatus 100 was accommodated over the site | part equivalent to a seat back side part and a seat cushion side part among each site | part of the vehicle seat 10, this invention is described. It is sufficient if the occupant protection means such as an air bag can be reversibly operated between the normal accommodation state and the collision preparation state, and the occupant protection device can be mounted on various parts of the vehicle seat. .

  In the above embodiment, the airbag 101 in the state shown in FIG. 4 (the state in which the internal pressure is held at the second pressure) in the initial control is deployed and inflated to the state shown in FIG. 6 in the control at the time of collision prediction. In the present invention, the airbag 101 in the state shown in FIG. 3 may be configured to be deployed and inflated to the state shown in FIG. 6 as it is, as shown in FIG.

In addition, in the event of a vehicle accident, an occupant protection device that protects the occupant by preventing a so-called “submarine phenomenon” in which the vehicle occupant on the vehicle seat tries to move by passing the seat belt forward or obliquely below the vehicle seat. In addition, the present invention can be applied. For example, an inflatable body such as an air bag is built in the front portion of the seat cushion of the vehicle seat, and when a vehicle collision is predicted, the inflatable body is inflated to raise the front portion of the seat cushion in advance above the seat. A configuration that lifts the thigh of the occupant and thereby prevents a submarine phenomenon in a collision accident can be used. Also, a protection pad (protection board) is provided in the front part of the seat cushion of the vehicle seat, and when a vehicle collision is predicted, the passenger's thigh is lifted by moving the protection pad (protection board) in front of the seat in advance. Thus, a configuration for preventing a submarine phenomenon in a collision accident can be used. In such a configuration, it is only necessary that the inflatable body and the protection pad (protection board) can operate reversibly between the normal accommodation state and the collision preparation state.
Thus, the present invention is not limited to the technique for protecting the occupant with respect to the side collision as in the above-described embodiment, but is a technique that can be applied to the technique for protecting the occupant with respect to the front collision.

  In the above embodiment, the configuration of the occupant protection device mounted on the automobile has been described. However, the present invention describes the configuration of the occupant protection device mounted on various vehicles such as trains, ships, and the like other than the automobile. It is applicable to.

It is a figure showing typically signs that crew protection device 100 of this embodiment is carried in vehicles 200 (own vehicles). 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle seat 10 in a state where an occupant protection device 100 according to the present embodiment is accommodated in a vehicle seat. It is a figure which shows the cross-sectional structure in the AA line of the vehicle seat 10 in FIG. It is a figure which shows the cross-section when the passenger | crew protection device 100 of this Embodiment is in the state of "initial control." 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle seat 10 when an occupant protection device 100 according to the present embodiment is in a “collision prediction control” state. It is a figure which shows the cross-section in the BB line of the vehicle seat 10 in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Vehicle seat 12 ... Seat back side member 12a ... Accommodating part 12b ... Rotating shaft 12c ... Engagement part 14 ... Seat cushion side member 100 ... Passenger protection device 101 ... Air bag 103 ... Return spring 105 ... Latch member 105a ... tip part 105b ... rotating shaft 106 ... driving means 111 ... air pump 113 ... air tank 115 ... control valve 115a ... air supply part 115b ... air discharge part 120 ... control unit 130 ... radar sensor 200, 210 ... vehicle

Claims (8)

An occupant protection device mounted on a vehicle,
An occupant protection means that is mounted on the vehicle seat and protects the vehicle occupant on the vehicle seat in the event of a vehicle accident;
Driving means for enabling the occupant protection means to reversibly operate between a normal accommodation state and a collision preparation state;
Control means for controlling the drive means,
When a vehicle collision is predicted, the control unit controls the driving unit to operate the occupant protection unit from the normal accommodation state to the collision preparation state before the vehicle collision, thereby avoiding the vehicle collision. In this case, the occupant protection device is configured to control the driving unit so that the occupant protection unit is returned from the collision preparation state to the normal accommodation state. The occupant protection device according to claim 1,
The occupant protection means is configured using an inflatable and deflated airbag.
The drive means is configured using gas supply means that can supply an inflating gas into the airbag and gas discharge means that can discharge the gas in the airbag to the outside of the airbag,
The control means controls the gas supply means and the gas discharge means so that the airbag is inflated as the collision preparation state when a vehicle collision is predicted, and when the vehicle collision is avoided, An occupant protection device characterized in that the gas supply means and the gas discharge means are controlled so that the airbag contracts in the normal accommodation state. The occupant protection device according to claim 2,
An airbag cover that covers the airbag constitutes a part of the vehicle seat, and a first set position that covers the airbag in the normal accommodation state, and the collision preparation state of the airbag The occupant protection device is operable between a second set position that allows expansion of the occupant. The occupant protection device according to claim 3,
The airbag cover is configured to be elastically biased toward the first set position by an elastic spring,
While the airbag is inflated as the collision preparation state, the airbag cover is pressed from the first set position to the second set position against the elastic biasing force of the elastic spring, In the process of contracting as the normal accommodation state, the airbag cover that is moved to the first set position according to the elastic biasing force of the elastic spring is pressed to be in the normal accommodation state. An occupant protection device. The occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The occupant protection means in the collision preparation state is configured to be disposed in an area that substantially matches an occupant protection area that protects a vehicle occupant,
The control means controls the driving means so as to hold the occupant protection means operated in the collision preparation state before the vehicle collision in the collision preparation state in the event of a vehicle accident, and through the occupant protection means An occupant protection device characterized in that the occupant protection is configured. The occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The occupant protection means in the collision preparation state is configured to be arranged in an area different from an occupant protection area for protecting a vehicle occupant,
The control means operates the occupant protection means that has been operated in the collision preparation state before a vehicle collision so as to operate from the collision preparation state to an occupant protection state further disposed in the occupant protection region in the event of a vehicle accident. An occupant protection device having a configuration in which driving means is controlled and occupant protection is performed via the occupant protection means.   A vehicle with an occupant protection device comprising the occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. Detecting means for detecting information relating to a vehicle collision;
A vehicle seat on which a vehicle occupant can be seated;
An occupant protection means attached to the vehicle seat for protecting a vehicle occupant on the vehicle seat in the event of a vehicle accident;
Driving means for enabling the occupant protection means to reversibly operate between a normal accommodation state and a collision preparation state;
Control means for controlling the drive means based on information detected by the detection means, and a vehicle with an occupant protection device comprising:
In the case where a vehicle collision is predicted based on the information detected by the detection means, the control means is configured to operate the occupant protection means from the normal accommodation state to the collision preparation state before the vehicle collision. And when it is determined that a vehicle collision has been avoided, the driving means is controlled to return the occupant protection means from the collision preparation state to the normal accommodation state. , Vehicle with occupant protection device.

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