JP2006272988A - Pedestrian protecting device of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a structure capable of easily assembling pedestrian collision detection means extending in a vehicle width direction to a bumper member even when various objects hindering installation of the detection means are provided on a front face of the bumper member, in a pedestrian protecting device of a vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: This pedestrian protecting device of a vehicle comprises pedestrian collision detection means installed at a front end of the vehicle, pedestrian protection means protecting pedestrians colliding with the vehicle, and control means receiving signals from the pedestrian collision detection means and actuating the pedestrian protection means. The pedestrian collision detection means fixes a collision detection sensor 11 extending in the vehicle width direction to a bumper beam 22 extending in the vehicle width direction via a bracket member 31. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle pedestrian protection apparatus and belongs to the field of vehicle safety technology.

  Conventionally, as a pedestrian protection device for a vehicle, a pedestrian collision detection means such as a collision detection sensor for detecting a collision with a pedestrian, and a hood lift-up device that lifts up a rear portion of a hood that opens and closes an engine room. Or a pedestrian protection means such as an airbag device deployed on at least one of the hood and the front window, and the pedestrian protection means is activated when a collision is detected by the pedestrian collision detection means. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a device in which a belt-like collision detection sensor extending in the vehicle width direction is provided at the front end (front bumper) of the vehicle body as the collision detection means. It is disclosed.

JP 2004-268627 A

  By the way, the front bumper is usually composed of a bumper face constituting the surface of the bumper and a bumper reinforcement provided in the bumper face and extending in the vehicle width direction for receiving a collision load. In such a structure, the sensor preferably extends in the vehicle width direction along the front surface of the reinforcement so that a collision with an obstacle ahead can be detected. However, for example, a shock absorber such as a pre-crash body or a tow hook may be provided on the front surface of the rainfense, and in this case, the sensor is placed on the front surface of the reinforcement due to interference with these members. It may be impossible to extend the vehicle along the vehicle width direction or it may be difficult to assemble.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a pedestrian protection device for a vehicle, wherein the pedestrian collision detection means extending in the vehicle width direction is provided even when various objects that obstruct the installation of the detection means are provided on the front surface of the bumper member. It is an object of the present invention to provide a structure that can be easily assembled to the bumper member.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is configured as follows.

  First, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application includes a pedestrian collision detection unit provided at a front end of a vehicle, a pedestrian protection unit that protects a pedestrian that has collided with the vehicle, and the pedestrian collision detection unit. A pedestrian protection device for a vehicle provided with a control means for operating the pedestrian protection means in response to a signal of the pedestrian, wherein the pedestrian collision detection means extends in the vehicle width direction and It is characterized by being fixed to the bumper member extended in through a bracket member.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the pedestrian collision detection means has a strip shape with a thin front and rear thickness, and the bracket member includes the pedestrian collision detection means. It has the vertical wall part which supports a rear surface over substantially full width, and the fixing | fixed part fixed to a bumper member.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bumper member includes a bumper reinforcement connected to left and right vehicle body constituting members, The person collision detection means is fixed in front of the bumper reinforcement.

  Furthermore, the invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bumper member includes a bumper reinforcement connected to left and right vehicle body constituting members, and the bumper reinforcement of the bumper reinforcement. And an impact absorbing member disposed in front of the pedestrian collision detecting means. The impact absorbing member covers a front surface of the pedestrian collision detecting means.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the pedestrian collision detecting means includes an optical fiber extending in a vehicle width direction, and light is applied to the optical fiber. A collision detection sensor that includes a transmission unit that transmits and a reception unit that receives the transmitted light, and detects a collision by detecting a change in characteristics of the received light with respect to the transmitted light. To do.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein an acceleration sensor for detecting acceleration of the vehicle at the time of collision is attached to the bracket member. Features.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the hood according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the pedestrian protection means lifts up a rear portion of the hood for opening and closing the engine room. It is a lift-up means or an airbag means that is deployed on at least one of the hood and the front window.

  Next, the effect of the present invention will be described.

  First, since the pedestrian collision detection means is fixed to the bumper member extending in the vehicle width direction via the bracket member, the pedestrian collision detection means is attached to the bracket in advance. As a result, the mounting to the bumper member can be completed at once, and as a result, the assembling property is improved. Moreover, even if another bumper component, a tow hook, or the like is attached to the front surface of the bumper member, it can be fixed to the bumper member.

  According to the invention of claim 2, the bracket member has a wall portion that supports the rear surface of the pedestrian collision detection means over almost the entire width, and a fixing portion that is fixed to the bumper member. Therefore, a collision can be reliably detected at any part of the detection means.

  By the way, in order to detect the collision more reliably, it is necessary to reliably receive the impact at the time of the collision. According to the invention described in claim 3, the pedestrian collision detection means is fixed via the bracket member. Since the bumper member is a bumper reinforcement connected to the left and right front side frames constituting the vehicle body, it is possible to reliably receive an impact at the time of a collision. Further, since the pedestrian collision detection means is located in front of the bumper reinforcement, it can reliably detect a collision with a front object without being obstructed by the bumper reinforcement. .

  Furthermore, according to the invention described in claim 4, since the impact absorbing member covers the front surface of the pedestrian collision detecting means, the impact of the collision is reliably transmitted to the detecting means using the impact absorbing member as a medium. It will be. Further, since the impact is absorbed by the impact absorbing member, the pedestrian collision detection means is protected.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 5, when the pedestrian collision detecting means uses an optical fiber extending in the vehicle width direction, the above-described functions and effects are exhibited. .

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, for example, even when an acceleration sensor is provided for the purpose of discriminating a collision target, the acceleration sensor is attached to the bracket member in advance by attaching the acceleration sensor to the bracket member in advance. As a result, the assembling property is improved.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, when a pedestrian collision is detected by the pedestrian collision detection means, the rear portion of the hood is lifted upward, or the airbag is connected to the hood and the front window. And at least one of them.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described.

  The vehicle pedestrian protection apparatus according to the present invention is applied to the vehicle 1 shown in FIG. 1, and as shown in FIG. 2, a collision detection sensor 11 that detects a pedestrian collision with the vehicle 1, and this collision Acceleration sensors 12 and 12 that detect the acceleration of the vehicle at the time, and a controller 10 that operates the pedestrian protection means 13 in response to signals from these sensors 11, 12, and 12.

  The collision detection sensor 11 detects a collision force at the time of a collision, and is disposed inside the front bumper 2 as shown in FIG. 1 and has a belt-like shape extending in the vehicle width direction as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 4, the optical fiber 11a includes an optical transceiver 11b having a transmitter that transmits light from one end of the optical fiber 11a and a receiver that receives the light at the other end. ing. Although not shown, the optical transceiver 11b includes an output unit that outputs a signal corresponding to the amount of light received by the receiving unit to the controller 10.

  The optical fiber 11a is molded and protected by a resin material 11c having a thin front and rear thickness (see FIG. 11). As shown in FIG. 5, a core 11d through which light travels and a skin 11e covering the core 11d are provided. Have. A part of the skin 11e is provided with a slit 11f, and a stepped shaped part 11g is provided at a portion corresponding to the slit 11f in the core 11d, and a part of the light traveling in the core 11d. However, when it reaches the stepped shaped part 11g, it is refracted and leaks out of the core 11d. Further, when the optical fiber 11a is deformed by bending or the like due to a collision or the like, the amount of light leakage from the slit 11f changes. That is, the amount of light received by the receiving unit of the optical transceiver 11b changes.

  The acceleration sensors 12 and 12 are provided for the purpose of discriminating the colliding object. That is, for example, when the collision object is a hard object such as a utility pole, the acceleration detected at the time of collision increases, and when it is a soft object such as a pedestrian, the acceleration at the time of collision tends to decrease. The magnitude of acceleration is used to determine the collision target. Two acceleration sensors 12 are provided for the purpose of expanding the detectable acceleration area, one of which detects a relatively large acceleration area and the other of which compares the acceleration. It is supposed that a small area can be detected.

  Various forms of pedestrian protection means 13 can be applied. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, an airbag accommodated in a case k1 below the rear end of the hood hood 3 that opens and closes the engine room. a1 is inflated with the gas generated from the inflator i1, and the airbag device A1 is deployed along the outer surface of the bonnet hood 3 and the front surface of the front window 4. As shown in FIG. 7, the gas is generated from the inflator i2. And then injected into the air cylinder c2, thereby lifting the rear part of the bonnet hood 3 through the hinge mechanism h2, and the airbag a3 accommodated in the case k3 as shown in FIG. Is inflated below the hood 3 by the gas generated from the inflator i3, and the airbag a3 The rear of the bonnet hood 3 may be a hood lift-up device A3 or the like for lifting. The hood lift-up device A3 also functions as an airbag device that is deployed along the front surface of the front window 4.

  And when the collision of the object with the vehicle 1 generate | occur | produces, the controller 10 determines whether collision force is more than predetermined value by the change of the light-receiving amount detected by this collision detection sensor 11, for example. When the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensors 12 and 12 is within a predetermined range, it is determined whether or not the collision target is a pedestrian. Operate.

  Next, the structure of the front bumper 2 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the front bumper 2 includes a bumper face 21 that forms the outer surface of the bumper 2, and a bumper beam 22 that has an arcuate shape in plan view and extends in the vehicle width direction. The bumper beam 22 has a hat shape in cross section (see FIG. 11), and is fixed to the left and right front side frames 5 and 5 (vehicle body constituent members) via the first shock absorbers 23 and 23 at both left and right ends. Yes. Specifically, the upper and lower flanges of the rear end portion of the bumper beam 22 and the front flange of the first shock absorber 23 are fixed, and the rear flange of the first shock absorber 23 and the front end portions of the front side frames 5 and 5 are fixed. The flange is fastened with bolts. Further, second shock absorbers 24 and 24 (pre-crash bodies) are provided at both left and right ends of the bumper beam 22. Here, the first shock absorbers 23 and 23 and the second shock absorbers 24 and 24 are all provided for the purpose of absorbing the shock at the time of collision with a front object. The absorbers 23 and 23 can absorb a relatively large impact, and the second impact absorbers 24 and 24 can absorb a relatively small impact due to, for example, a slight contact.

  As shown in FIG. 9, a hole 22 h for attaching a tow hook is provided on the central right side of the bumper beam 22.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, the collision detection sensor 11 is fixed to the bumper beam 22 via a bracket member 31, and the specific structure thereof will be described below.

  In other words, the bracket member 31 includes an L-shaped member 32 having an L-shaped cross section extending in the vehicle width direction along the front edge portion of the upper surface of the bumper beam 22, and a vehicle along the front surface of the vertical wall portion 32 a of the L-shaped member 32. A vertical wall member 33 that extends in the width direction and is fixed to the front surface of the vertical wall portion 32a is formed as a member having a T-shaped cross section. Further, the flange portion 32 b of the L-shaped member 32 is fastened to the upper wall 22 a of the bumper beam 22 by a plurality of sets of bolts 34 and nuts 35. Here, the vertical wall portion 32a of the L-shaped member 32 has an arcuate shape that is curved with substantially the same curvature as the front wall 22b of the bumper beam 22 in plan view, and a lower portion of the L-shaped member 32 in front of the bumper beam 22 in the vehicle longitudinal direction. It is provided so as to overlap the upper part of the front surface of the wall 22b.

  The collision detection sensor 11 includes a mold body 11c fixed to the front surface of the vertical wall member 33 of the bracket member 31, and the optical receiver 11b screwed to the right end of the bracket member 31. It is attached to the member 31.

  The acceleration sensors 12 and 12 are fixed to an attachment member 36 fixed to the central rear surface of the vertical wall portion 32a of the L-shaped member 32 of the bracket member 31.

  In the space between the bumper face 21 and the bumper beam 22, an impact absorbing material 25 made of a synthetic resin foam is disposed over almost the entire width of the collision detection sensor 11. In a covered state, the sensor 11 and the front wall 22b of the bumper beam 22 are fixed.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the bracket member 31, the mounting member 36, the collision detection sensor 11, and the acceleration sensors 12 and 12 are assembled in advance and assembled with the nut 35 before being assembled to the vehicle body. Is fixed to the lower surface of the upper wall 22a of the bumper beam 22 (see FIG. 11), and in the assembled state to the vehicle body, the upper wall 22a of the bumper beam 22 is viewed from above as indicated by an arrow. By mounting and screwing the bolt 34 from above, the bumper beam 22 is assembled. In addition, the shock absorber 25 is fixed to the bumper beam 22 and the front surface of the collision detection sensor 11 from the front as indicated by an arrow after the assembly body including the collision detection sensor 11, the bracket member 31 and the like is attached in this manner. It has become so.

  Next, the operation of the vehicle pedestrian protection apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

  That is, first, the operation of the pedestrian protection device will be described. When a collision of a pedestrian or the like with the vehicle 1 occurs, for example, a bump is generated in the bumper face 21 of the bumper 2. When reaching the optical fiber 11a of the collision detection sensor 11 through the material 25, the optical fiber 11a is deformed such as bending, and the amount of light received by the optical transceiver 11b changes. At this time, a change in the acceleration of the vehicle is detected by the acceleration sensors 12 and 12. When the controller 10 determines that there is a possibility that the pedestrian has collided based on the change in the amount of received light and the change in the acceleration, the pedestrian protection means 13 is activated.

  Next, the operation and effect of the attachment structure such as the collision detection sensor 11 will be described. Since the collision detection sensor 11 is fixed to the bumper beam 22 extending in the vehicle width direction via the bracket member 31, as in the present embodiment. Since the collision detection sensor 11 is assembled to the bracket member 31 in advance, it can be attached to the bumper beam 22 only once. As a result, the assemblability is improved. Further, even if the front surface of the bumper beam 22 is provided with, for example, the second shock absorbers 24, 24, the tow hook mounting hole 22h, etc., the bumper beam 22 is fixed to the bumper beam 22 using the upper surface which is the empty surface. Can do.

  The bracket member 31 includes a vertical wall portion (vertical wall member 33 and a vertical wall portion 32a of the L-shaped member 32) that supports the rear surface of the collision detection sensor 11 over almost the entire width, and a flange portion 32b that is fixed to the bumper beam 22. Therefore, even if it collides with any part of the collision detection sensor 11, this collision can be reliably detected.

  The bumper member to which the collision detection sensor 11 is fixed via the bracket member 31 is the bumper beam 22 connected to the left and right front side frames 5 and 5 constituting the vehicle body. be able to. Further, since the collision detection sensor 11 is positioned in front of the bumper beam 22, it can reliably detect a collision with a front object without being obstructed by the bumper beam 22.

  Further, since the shock absorbing material 25 covers the front surface of the collision detection sensor 11, the shock of the collision is reliably transmitted to the collision detection sensor 11 using the shock absorbing material 25 as a medium. Further, since the shock is absorbed by the shock absorber 25, the collision detection sensor 11 is protected.

  Even when the acceleration sensors 12 and 12 are provided for the purpose of discriminating the collision target, by attaching the acceleration sensors 12 and 12 to the bracket member 31 as in the present embodiment, In the assembly line, it becomes possible to attach the bumper beam 22 together with the collision detection sensor 11 at a time, and the assembly performance is improved.

  Finally, correspondence between the constituent elements described in the claims and the constituent elements of the embodiment will be described. That is, the pedestrian collision detection means in claim 1 corresponds to the collision detection sensor 11, the pedestrian protection means corresponds to the pedestrian protection means 13, the control means corresponds to the controller 10, and the bumper member Corresponds to the bumper beam 22, and the bracket member corresponds to the bracket member 31. Further, the vertical wall portion of claim 2 corresponds to the vertical wall member 33 and the vertical wall portion 32 a of the L-shaped member 32, and the fixing portion corresponds to the flange portion 32 b of the L-shaped member 32. The left and right vehicle body constituting members of claim 3 correspond to the left and right front side frames 5, 5, and the bumper reinforcement corresponds to the bumper beam 22. The shock absorbing member according to claim 4 corresponds to the shock absorbing material 25. A collision detection sensor according to a fifth aspect corresponds to the collision detection sensor 11. The acceleration sensor according to claim 6 corresponds to the acceleration sensors 12 and 12. The hood of claim 7 corresponds to the hood hood 3, the hood lift-up means corresponds to the hood lift-up devices A2 and A3, and the airbag means corresponds to the airbag device A1 and the hood lift-up device A3.

  The present invention can be widely applied to a pedestrian protection device for a vehicle in which a pedestrian collision detection means extending in the vehicle width direction is provided at the front end of the vehicle.

1 is a front perspective view of a vehicle to which a pedestrian protection device for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is a control block diagram of the pedestrian protection apparatus of this vehicle. It is a perspective view of a bumper constituent member. It is a block diagram of a collision detection sensor. It is explanatory drawing of the optical fiber of a collision detection sensor. It is explanatory drawing of the 1st example of a pedestrian protection means. It is explanatory drawing of the 2nd example of a pedestrian protection means. It is explanatory drawing of the 3rd example of a pedestrian protection means. It is a front view of the bumper part of this vehicle. It is an AA arrow line view of FIG. It is a BB arrow line view of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Vehicle 2 Bumper 3 Bonnet Hood (Hood)
4 Front window 5 Front side frame (body component)
10 Controller (control means)
11 Collision detection sensor (pedestrian collision detection means)
11a optical fiber 11b optical transceiver (light transmitter, receiver)
12 Acceleration sensor 13 Pedestrian protection means 22 Bumper beam (bumper member, bumper reinforcement)
25 Shock absorber (Shock absorber)
31 Bracket member 32 L-shaped member 32a Vertical wall portion of L-shaped member (vertical wall portion of bracket member)
32b Flange part of L-shaped member (fixing part of bracket member)
33 Vertical wall member (Vertical wall part of bracket member)
A1 Airbag device (airbag means)
A2 Food lift-up device (food lift-up means)
A3 Food lift-up device (airbag means, food lift-up means)

Claims (7)

A pedestrian collision detection means provided at the front end of the vehicle, a pedestrian protection means for protecting a pedestrian that has collided with the vehicle, and a signal from the pedestrian collision detection means to actuate the pedestrian protection means A pedestrian protection device for a vehicle provided with a control means,
The pedestrian collision detecting means extends in the vehicle width direction and is fixed to a bumper member extending in the vehicle width direction via a bracket member. The vehicle pedestrian protection device according to claim 1,
The pedestrian collision detection means is formed in a strip shape with a thin front and rear thickness,
2. The vehicle pedestrian protection device according to claim 1, wherein the bracket member has a vertical wall portion that supports the rear surface of the pedestrian collision detection means over substantially the entire width, and a fixing portion fixed to the bumper member. The vehicle pedestrian protection device according to claim 1 or 2,
The bumper member has a bumper reinforcement connected to left and right vehicle body components,
A pedestrian protection device for a vehicle, wherein the pedestrian collision detection means is fixed in front of the bumper reinforcement. The vehicle pedestrian protection device according to claim 1 or 2,
The bumper member includes a bumper reinforcement connected to left and right vehicle body constituent members, and an impact absorbing member disposed in front of the bumper reinforcement.
The pedestrian protection device for a vehicle, wherein the impact absorbing member covers a front surface of the pedestrian collision detecting means. A pedestrian protection device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The pedestrian collision detection means includes an optical fiber extending in the vehicle width direction, a transmitter that transmits light to the optical fiber, and a receiver that receives the transmitted light, and receives the transmitted light. A pedestrian protection device for a vehicle, wherein the pedestrian protection device is a collision detection sensor that detects a collision by detecting a change in the characteristic of light. A pedestrian protection device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A pedestrian protection device for a vehicle, wherein an acceleration sensor for detecting an acceleration of the vehicle at the time of a collision is attached to the bracket member. A pedestrian protection device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The pedestrian protection means is a hood lift-up means that lifts up a rear portion of the hood that opens and closes the engine room, or an airbag means that is deployed on at least one of the hood and the front window. Vehicle pedestrian protection device.

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