JP2006290348A - Occupant crash protection device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an occupant crash protection device capable of stably supporting the head of an occupant with a head rest without giving uncomfortable feeling to the occupant when a rear collision occurs in a vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: This occupant crash protection device for a vehicle provided with a pretensioner 8 for driving a seat belt 5 in a direction for holding the occupant is provided with a head rest driving means 6 for driving the head rest 3 to raise to an upper support position or to raise obliquely forward, a detecting means 7 for detecting that a rear collision occurs in the vehicle or the condition wherein a rear collision is unavoidable, and a control means 9 for controlling to operate the pretensioner 8 in response to a detecting signal of the detecting means 7 and for controlling to operate the head rest driving means 6 when operating the pretensioner 8. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle occupant protection device including a pretensioner that drives a seat belt in a direction to hold an occupant.

Conventionally, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, a seat belt that can be attached to a passenger seated on a seat, and the seat belt is wound from an initial position by input of an operation signal to generate a first tension, and a vehicle collision A first pretensioner mechanism that restrains the occupant within a range where an avoidance operation is possible, and a second tension is generated by winding up the seat belt in the first tension state upon input of an operation signal, thereby causing a vehicle collision. A second pretensioner mechanism for restraining the vehicle occupant, first command means for predicting a collision of the vehicle and outputting an operation command signal to the first pretensioner mechanism, and determining a vehicle collision. There is known a vehicle seat belt apparatus provided with second command means for outputting an operation command signal to the second pretensioner mechanism.
JP-A-6-286581

  When the pretensioner is configured to be operated step by step when a collision can be avoided and when a collision occurs as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a seat belt is provided with a tension suitable for each state. The passenger can be effectively protected by acting on the vehicle. However, even if the pretensioner is activated and the occupant is forcibly moved rearward in the event of a rear-end collision when the vehicle is collided from behind, the head of the occupant is effectively supported by the headrest. If this is not possible, there is an inevitable problem that the passenger's head becomes unstable. In particular, in the rear seats of vehicles, the height of the headrest is set lower than that of the front seats in order to ensure the driver's rear view. As a result, there was a problem that passengers were likely to feel uncomfortable.

  In view of such circumstances, the present invention provides a vehicle occupant protection device that can stably support the occupant's head with a headrest without causing the occupant to feel uncomfortable at the time of rear-end collision of the vehicle. is there.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle occupant protection device including a pretensioner that drives the seat belt in a direction of holding the occupant, the headrest is driven to be raised toward the upper support position or the diagonally forward side. Headrest drive means, detection means for detecting that a rear collision of the vehicle has occurred or that the rear collision is unavoidable, and controlling the pretensioner to operate according to a detection signal of the detection means In addition, control means for controlling the headrest driving means to operate when the pretensioner is operated is provided.

  According to this configuration, when the pretensioner is activated when the detection unit detects that a rear collision has occurred or the rear collision is unavoidable, the headrest driving unit Is activated and the headrest is driven to move upward toward the upper support position or diagonally forward, so that the seat belt is driven by the pretensioner while the headrest of the occupant is stably supported by the headrest. The passenger will be held.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle occupant protection device according to the first aspect, the first drive means for raising the headrest and the headrest is moved forward after the headrest is raised by the first drive means Second driving means to be provided.

  According to this configuration, when the pre-tensioner is operated when the detection unit detects that a rear collision of the vehicle has occurred or is in an unavoidable state, the first driving unit is used. The seat belt is driven by the pretensioner in a state where the headrest is driven by the second drive means and the headrest is moved forward by the second driving means to effectively support the occupant's head. The passenger will be held.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle occupant protection device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the vehicle occupant protection device includes a headrest detection unit that detects whether or not the headrest driven by the headrest drive unit has moved upward. The headrest moves upward despite the fact that an operation command signal is output from the control means to the headrest driving means when it is confirmed that the rear collision of the vehicle has occurred or is in an unavoidable state. When it is confirmed according to the detection signal of the headrest detection means that the operation is not performed, the operation of the pretensioner is prohibited or suppressed.

  According to this configuration, after the operation means signal is output from the control means to the headrest driving means at the time when the detection means confirms that the rear collision of the vehicle has occurred or the rear collision is unavoidable, When it is confirmed according to the detection signal of the headrest detection means that the headrest has not moved upward for some reason, the operation of the pretensioner is prohibited or suppressed, so the headrest has moved upward. In spite of the absence, the occupant is prevented from being urged toward the seat back with a strong force by the seat belt.

  According to the present invention, in the vehicle occupant protection device including the pretensioner that drives the seat belt in the direction of holding the occupant as described above, the headrest is driven to be raised toward the upper support position or the diagonally forward side. Headrest drive means, detection means for detecting that a rear collision of the vehicle has occurred or that the rear collision is unavoidable, and controlling the pretensioner to operate according to a detection signal of the detection means In addition, when the pretensioner is operated, the control means for controlling the headrest driving means to operate is provided, so that it is detected by the detecting means that the rear collision of the vehicle is unavoidable. In such a case, the seat base is supported by the pretensioner while the head of the passenger is stably supported by the headrest. By driving the door there is an advantage that it is possible to hold the occupant.

  1 and 2 show an embodiment of a vehicle occupant protection device according to the present invention. This vehicle occupant protection device is driven to move a seat 4 having a seat cushion 1, a seat back 2 and a headrest 3, a seat belt 5 for holding the occupant's body on the seat 4, and the headrest 3 upward. Headrest driving means 6, rear collision prediction means 7 for outputting a vehicle rear collision prediction signal, a pretensioner 8 for driving the seat belt 5 in a direction to hold an occupant by winding the seat belt 5, and the rear Control means 9 for controlling the headrest driving means 6 and the pretensioner 8 to operate in response to the rear collision prediction signal output from the collision prediction means 7 is provided.

  The headrest driving means 6 is composed of a hydraulic cylinder, a solenoid, an electric motor, or the like, and the headrest 3 has a height equivalent to or higher than the lower support position, that is, the center of gravity of the occupant's head. 3 is configured to raise the upper end. The headrest driving means 6 may be configured to raise the headrest 3 diagonally forward, or after the headrest 3 is lifted by the first driving means, the headrest 3 is further moved forward by the second driving means. You may comprise so that it may move.

  In addition, the rear impact prediction means 7 detects the relative distance and relative speed of the other vehicle located behind the vehicle according to detection signals from an ultrasonic sensor, an infrared sensor, a radar, etc. It is detected whether or not the occurrence of a rear collision that collides with the rear portion of the vehicle is unavoidable, and when it is detected that the occurrence of a rear collision is unavoidable, the control means 9 predicts the rear collision. It is configured to output a signal.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the pretensioner 8 includes a take-up reel 11 for winding the seat belt 5 with a predetermined spring force, a pinion gear 12 connected to a drive shaft of the take-up reel 11, and A rack gear 13 that rotationally drives the pinion gear 12 and a gas generator 14 that drives the rack gear 13 are provided, and the gas generator 14 is selected in accordance with a control signal output from the control means 9 at the time of vehicle rear-end collision prediction. Is configured to operate. As a result, a gas pressure is generated to move the rack gear 13 from the lower standby position to the upper drive position, the pinion gear 12 is driven to rotate, and the seat belt 5 is taken up by the take-up reel 11. A predetermined tension is applied to the belt 5. In place of the rack gear 13 and the gas generator 14 and the like, the take-up reel 11 is rotationally driven by an electric motor and the seat belt 5 is taken up so that a predetermined tension is applied to the seat belt 5. Also good.

  When the rear impact prediction signal is output from the rear impact prediction device 7, the control device 9 outputs an operation command signal to the headrest drive device 6 to move the headrest 3 upward as shown by the phantom line in FIG. After the movement, the operation command signal is output to the pretensioner 8 when a predetermined time set by a timer or the like has elapsed from the output time of the operation command signal.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle occupant protection device is provided with headrest detection means 10 for detecting whether or not the headrest 3 driven by the headrest drive means 6 has moved upward. When the operation command signal is output from the control means 9 to the headrest driving means 6, it is confirmed according to the detection signal from the headrest detection means 10 that the headrest 3 is not moved upward. The control means 9 executes control for prohibiting the operation of the pretensioner 8.

  Further, whether or not a rear collision of the vehicle has actually occurred within a predetermined time set from the time when the operation command signal is output to the pretensioner 8 is detected in the detection signal of the rear collision occurrence detection means (not shown). Accordingly, when it is confirmed that the rear collision of the vehicle has not occurred, the headrest 3 is returned to the original position by the headrest driving means 6 after the operating state of the pretensioner 8 is released. Control is executed by the control means 9.

  The control operation executed by the control means 9 of the vehicle occupant protection device will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. When the control operation starts, it is first determined whether or not a rear collision prediction signal is output from the rear collision prediction means 7 (step S1). When it is determined YES, a control signal for moving the headrest 3 upward is transmitted. It outputs to the headrest drive means 6 (step S2).

  Next, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time of about 0.2 to 0.3 seconds set by a timer or the like has elapsed (step S3), and whether or not the headrest 3 has risen when determined YES. Is determined according to the detection signal of the headrest detection means 10 (step S4). In step S4, it is determined as NO and the headrest detecting means 10 indicates that the headrest has not moved upward for some reason despite the output of the control signal for operating the headrest driving means 6 from the control means 9. If it is confirmed according to the detection signal, the process returns without operating the pretensioner 8.

  If it is determined YES in step S4 and it is confirmed that the headrest 3 is raised, a control signal for operating the pretensioner 8 is output and the seat belt 5 is wound (step). S5) It is confirmed whether or not a rear collision of the vehicle has actually occurred (step S6). If YES is determined, the process returns and the control operation is terminated.

  When it is determined as NO in step S6 and it is confirmed that the rear collision of the vehicle has not yet occurred, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time of about 2 seconds set by a timer or the like has elapsed ( Step S7) If NO is determined, the process returns to Step S6 and the determination is repeated. If it is determined as YES in step S7 and it is confirmed that the rear collision of the vehicle has not occurred even after the predetermined time has elapsed, the operating state of the pretensioner 8 is released and the seat belt is released. 5 is released (step S8).

  Next, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time of about 1 second set by a timer or the like has elapsed (step S9), and when it is determined YES, a control signal for lowering the headrest 3 and returning it to the original position. Is output to the headrest driving means 6 (step S10), and the control operation is terminated.

  In the vehicle occupant protection device including the pretensioner 8 that drives the seat belt 5 in the direction of holding the occupant as described above, the headrest driving means that drives the headrest 3 to move upward toward the upper support position or obliquely forward. 6 and detection means comprising the rear collision prediction means 7 for detecting that the rear collision of the vehicle is in an unavoidable state, and the pretensioner 8 is controlled to operate according to the detection signal of the detection means. In addition, since the control means 9 for operating the headrest driving means 6 is provided when the pretensioner 8 is operated, when the detection means detects that the rear collision of the vehicle is unavoidable. The headrest 3 is driven upward by the headrest driving means 6 and the head of the passenger is While supporting and constant, the occupant by operating the pretensioner 8 may be held by the seat belt 5.

  In particular, in the above-described embodiment, when the rear collision prediction signal is output from the rear collision prediction means 7, the headrest driving means 6 moves the headrest 3 upward, and then a predetermined time set by a timer or the like has elapsed. When the pretensioner 8 is actuated and the seat belt 5 is wound up, the headrest driving means 6 is actuated before the pretensioner 8 is actuated, so that the headrest 3 is in the lower position. The occurrence of a situation in which the pretensioner 8 is activated and the seat belt 5 is wound can be reliably prevented. Therefore, the head of the occupant urged toward the seat back 2 by the seat belt 5 can be reliably supported by the headrest 3, and the occupant can be protected without causing a sense of incongruity.

  As described above, when the rear collision prediction signal is output from the rear collision prediction means 7, the headrest driving means 6 moves the headrest 3 upward, and then a predetermined time set by a timer or the like has elapsed. In this case, instead of the above-described embodiment in which the pretensioner 8 is operated to wind up the seat belt 5, the set time of the timer is set according to the relative speed of the other vehicle approaching the rear portion of the own vehicle. For example, when the other vehicle is rapidly approaching the rear part of the own vehicle, the set time may be shortened compared to the normal time.

  Further, a rear collision probability detecting means for detecting a probability of occurrence of the rear collision of the vehicle is provided, and the headrest is detected when the rear collision probability detected by the rear collision probability detecting means exceeds a preset first reference value. The driving means 6 is activated, and the pretensioner 8 is activated when the rear collision probability detected by the rear collision probability detecting means exceeds a second reference value set to a probability higher than the first reference value. You may comprise as follows.

  When configured as described above, the interval between the time point when the headrest 3 moves upward and the time point when the pretensioner 8 is activated can be appropriately adjusted according to the relative speed of the other vehicle approaching the rear of the host vehicle. it can. That is, when another vehicle is rapidly approaching the rear part of the own vehicle, the occupant can be protected quickly by operating the pretensioner 8 immediately after the headrest 3 is moved upward. When the other vehicle is slowly approaching the rear part of the vehicle, the seat belt is operated by operating the pretensioner 8 when a predetermined time corresponding to the approach speed of the other vehicle has elapsed after the headrest 3 is moved upward. There is an advantage that the head of the passenger urged toward the seat back 2 by 5 can be reliably supported by the headrest 3.

  Further, a rear collision detection means for detecting that the probability of the rear collision of the vehicle has exceeded a preset reference value and outputting a rear collision prediction signal, and that the rear collision of the vehicle has actually occurred And a rear collision occurrence detection means for detecting a rear collision occurrence signal. When the rear collision prediction signal is output from the rear collision prediction detection means, the headrest driving means 6 is operated and the rear collision detection means is operated. You may comprise so that the said pretensioner 8 may be actuated at the time of the back collision generation | occurrence | production signal being output from the generation | occurrence | production detection means.

  When configured as described above, the interval between the time point when the headrest 3 is moved upward and the time point when the pretensioner 8 is activated is appropriately adjusted in accordance with the relative speed of the other vehicle approaching the rear part of the host vehicle. In addition, when the rear collision of the vehicle does not actually occur, the pretensioner 8 can be held in the non-operating state, so that it is possible to prevent an unnecessary load from acting on the occupant.

  In the above embodiment, the headrest detection means 10 for detecting whether or not the headrest 3 driven by the headrest drive means 6 has moved upward is provided, and an operation command signal is output from the control means 9 to the headrest drive means 6. In spite of the fact that it is confirmed that the headrest 3 has not moved upward according to the detection signal of the headrest detection means 10, the operation of the pretensioner 8 is prohibited. When the headrest 3 is not moved upward due to the cause, the pretensioner 8 is activated, and the occupant is urged toward the seat back 2 by the seat belt 5 and the occupant feels uncomfortable. It can be surely prevented.

  In addition, when the operation command signal is output from the control means 9 to the headrest driving means 6, it is confirmed according to the detection signal from the headrest detection means 10 that the headrest 3 is not moved upward. Instead of the above-described embodiment configured to prohibit the operation of the pretensioner 8, the operation of the pretensioner 8 is set by setting the retracting force of the seat belt 5 by the pretensioner 8 to a smaller value than in the normal state. You may comprise so that it may suppress.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, after it is confirmed that the rear collision of the vehicle has not occurred after the operation of the headrest driving means 6 and the pretensioner 8, after the operation state of the pretensioner 8 is released, 3 is configured so as to return the headrest 3 to the original position, so that the operating state of the pretensioner 8 is released before the headrest 3 is returned to the original position. In this state, it is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of a situation in which the headrest 3 is lowered and the occupant feels uncomfortable, and the occupant's clothes can be prevented from being sandwiched between the headrest 3 and the seat back 2. .

  Although it is possible to arrange the vehicle occupant protection device having the headrest driving means 6 or the like in all the seats arranged in the passenger compartment, the seats located on the rear side of the driver seat in particular, that is, It is desirable to have a structure in which the headrest driving means 6 and the like are disposed in the rear seat or the central seat. That is, the headrest 3 of the rear seat or the central seat needs to be set low in order to ensure the driver's rear view at normal times. When the detection means including the rear collision prediction means 7 or the like detects that the vehicle is in an unavoidable state, the headrest driving means 6 is configured to drive the headrest 3 upward, so that the normal operation is performed. It is desirable to ensure that the headrest 3 can stably support the head of an occupant seated in the seat during a rear-end collision while ensuring the rear view of the person.

It is explanatory drawing which shows embodiment of the vehicle occupant protection apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the specific structure of the said passenger | crew protection device for vehicles. It is sectional drawing which shows the specific structure of a pretensioner. It is a flowchart which shows the control action of the said passenger | crew protection device for vehicles.

Explanation of symbols

3 Headrest 5 Seat belt 6 Headrest driving means 7 Rear impact prediction means (detection means)
8 Pretensioner 9 Control means 10 Headrest detection means

Claims (3)

  In a vehicle occupant protection device including a pretensioner that drives a seat belt in a direction to hold an occupant, headrest driving means for driving the headrest to be raised toward an upper support position or obliquely forward, and a rear of the vehicle Detection means for detecting that a collision has occurred or that a rear collision is inevitable, and controlling the pretensioner to operate in accordance with a detection signal of the detection means, and operating the pretensioner And a control means for controlling the headrest driving means to operate.   2. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising: first driving means for raising the headrest; and second driving means for moving the headrest forward after raising the headrest by the first driving means. Crew protection device.   The headrest detection means for detecting whether or not the headrest driven by the headrest drive means has moved upward is provided, and it has been confirmed that the rear collision of the vehicle has occurred or the rear collision is inevitable by the detection means. When the operation command signal is output from the control means to the headrest driving means at the time, it is confirmed according to the detection signal of the headrest detection means that the headrest has not moved upward. The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the vehicle is prohibited or suppressed.

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