JP2007093408A - Collision determinating device of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain collision detection information with high accuracy by solving the problem that when arranging a plurality of sensors, detection results differ due to variations in respective sensors. <P>SOLUTION: A collision determining device of a vehicle includes a vehicle-use collision sensor 31 composed of a plurality of elements 32a-32p which are arranged in the longitudinal direction and detect deformations. The collision determining device comprises: first and second signal processing means (two or more processing means) 35, 36 which respectively process signals output from first and second element groups (two or more element groups) 33, 34 composed of some of the plurality of elements 32a-32p; and a state judging means which comprehensively estimates processed results of the first and second signal processing means 35, 36 and judges a collision state of the vehicle 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a collision determination device for a vehicle that detects acceleration and displacement acting on a vehicle body with a sensor and determines collision from information on acceleration and displacement detected by the sensor.

As a vehicle collision determination device, an attempt has been made to operate a passenger restraint device such as an air bag by arranging a plurality of sensors on a vehicle body, grasping a portion where a collision has occurred based on information from these sensors.
In such a vehicle collision determination device, it is sufficient to extend the harness from a plurality of sensors, connect the tips of these harnesses to the control unit, and perform the collision determination by the control unit.

As such a vehicle collision determination device, a device in which a plurality of sensors are arranged on a vehicle body and these sensors are connected to a control unit is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-326822 A (page 6, FIG. 1)

The technical contents of Patent Document 1 will be described next.
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a conventional basic configuration. A vehicle collision determination device 200 is provided at the front portion of the vehicle, and is provided at the front portion of the vehicle, and at the center portion of the vehicle. A central acceleration sensor 202 that detects the acceleration of the vehicle and generates an acceleration detection signal, a low-pass filter 203 that removes a noise component in the signal from the central acceleration sensor 202, and a central side via the low-pass filter 203 A comparison in which an acceleration detection signal from the acceleration sensor 202 is compared with a reference level signal so that a high level comparison signal is output when the reference level is reached and a low level comparison signal is output when the reference level falls below the reference level. The circuit 204 is compared by receiving the comparison signal from the comparison circuit 204 and the output from the front acceleration sensor 201. An AND gate 205 that outputs the output from the front acceleration sensor 201 as a collision determination signal when the comparison signal of the path 204 is at a high level, and an acceleration detection signal from the central acceleration sensor 202 via the low-pass filter 203 are predetermined. A collision determination circuit 206 that determines the presence or absence of a vehicle collision when a threshold value is exceeded and generates a collision determination signal, and a start signal when both the collision determination circuit 206 and the AND gate 205 have a collision determination signal. The generated OR gate 207 and an activation device 209 that activates the airbag 208 by an activation signal from the OR gate 207 are configured. Reference numeral 211 denotes a reference level setting circuit for sending a reference level signal to the comparison circuit 204.

  The vehicle collision determination device 200 activates the activation device 209 by combining the detection signals of the front acceleration sensor 201 provided at the front portion of the vehicle and the central acceleration sensor 202 provided at the center portion of the vehicle. 208 is bulged and deployed, and when a slight collision is applied to the front acceleration sensor 201 provided at the front of the vehicle, unnecessary activation of the activation device 209 is prohibited.

  For example, in the case where a plurality of front acceleration sensors 201 are provided, the collision portion of the vehicle is detected from the information from the plurality of sensors 201, and the inflation and deployment of the airbag 208 is to be controlled, the variation between the sensors 201 is different. Therefore, it may be difficult to obtain highly accurate collision information.

  Therefore, there is a demand for a vehicle collision determination device that can absorb the variation of each sensor and obtain highly accurate collision detection information when a plurality of sensors are arranged.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle collision determination device that solves the problem that detection results differ due to variations among sensors when arranging a plurality of sensors, and can obtain highly accurate collision detection information. To do.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle collision determination apparatus including a vehicle collision sensor including a plurality of elements that are arranged in a longitudinal direction to detect deformation, and includes a plurality of element groups including a part of the plurality of elements. A plurality of signal processing means for processing each of the output signals; and a state determination means for judging the collision state of the vehicle by comprehensively judging the processing results of the plurality of signal processing means. And

  The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the plurality of signal processing means include at least analog signal processing means for performing analog signal processing and digital signal processing means for performing digital signal processing.

  The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the elements of at least one of the plurality of element groups are arranged so as to be sandwiched between the elements of the other element groups.

  The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the elements of at least one of the plurality of element groups are arranged apart from the elements of the other element groups.

  The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that elements of at least one element group among a plurality of element groups are arranged so as to be in contact with elements of another element group.

  The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that the characteristics of the elements of at least one of the plurality of element groups are different from the characteristics of the elements of the other element groups.

  In the invention according to claim 1, a plurality of signal processing means for processing signals output from a plurality of element groups each consisting of a part of a plurality of elements, and processing results of these plurality of signal processing means are comprehensively obtained. And a state determination unit that determines a vehicle collision state and accurately determines the vehicle collision state by the state determination unit even when one of the processing results of the plurality of signal processing units is not suitable for the situation. be able to. As a result, for example, there is an advantage that an airbag device, a seat belt, and the like can be accurately activated according to the collision situation. In addition, it is possible to avoid the influence of individual variations of the element (sensor alone), and to eliminate the influence of transmission loss and noise of wiring connecting a plurality of elements and a plurality of signal processing means, for example.

  In the invention according to claim 2, since the plurality of signal processing means include at least an analog signal processing means for performing analog signal processing and a digital signal processing means for performing digital signal processing, determination based on an analog signal close to the original signal In addition, the determination by the digital signal by sampling can be combined. As a result, even when the digital signal is greatly affected by sampling due to, for example, a high-speed collision, the signal processing can be quickly performed with the analog signal, and the collision situation can be quickly grasped at the initial stage of the collision. There is an advantage.

  In the invention according to claim 3, since the elements of at least one element group among the plurality of element groups are arranged so as to be sandwiched between the elements of the other element groups, the detection region by the elements of one element group, It is possible to superimpose the detection areas by elements of other element groups. As a result, there is an advantage that it is possible to obtain a configuration that is not easily affected by variations in each element or failure.

  In the invention according to claim 4, since the elements of at least one element group among the plurality of element groups are arranged apart from the elements of the other element groups, the elements of one element group and the other element groups These elements can be alternately arranged. As a result, the elements of one adjacent element group and the elements of the other element group can be regarded as obtaining substantially the same detection result, and the failure of the element itself and signal abnormality can be easily found. There is an advantage.

  In the invention according to claim 5, since the elements of at least one element group among the plurality of element groups are arranged in contact with the elements of the other element groups, the elements of one element group and the other element groups These elements can be arranged alternately without gaps. As a result, the elements in one adjacent element group and the elements in the other element group can be regarded as obtaining substantially the same detection result, and furthermore, the failure of the element itself and the abnormality of the signal can be easily found. There is an advantage that you can.

  In the invention according to claim 6, by changing the characteristics of the elements of at least one of the plurality of element groups from the characteristics of the elements of the other element groups, for example, the magnitude of the load can be increased by shifting the detection sensitivity. Alternatively, there is an advantage that it can be applied to a wide range of collision modes with different load transmission speeds.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings are viewed in the direction of the reference numerals.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle employing the vehicle collision determination apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 10 is a vehicle, 11 is a vehicle body, 12 is a front bumper, 15 steering, 16 front pillars, Reference numeral 17 denotes a windshield, 18 denotes a front door, 19 denotes a rear door, 21 denotes a roof, and 22 denotes a front wheel.

  The vehicle collision determination device 30 according to the present invention includes a vehicle collision sensor 31 including a plurality of elements 32a to 32p provided on the inner side of the front bumper face 39, and a plurality of processes for receiving information from the plurality of elements 32a to 32p, respectively. First and second signal processing means 35 and 36 as signal processing means, and state determination means for determining the collision state of the vehicle based on the results processed by these first and second signal processing means 35 and 36 38.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the vehicle collision determination apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The first element group 33 as a plurality of element groups (one element group) includes a plurality of elements 32a, 32c, 32e, 32g, 32i, 32k, 32m, 32o, and the second element group 34 as a plurality of element groups (the other element group) includes a plurality of elements 32b, 32d, 32f, 32h, 32j, 32l, It is composed of 32n and 32p.
The elements 32a to 32p are the same piezoelectric film sensor element, and it can be said that the first and second element groups 33 and 34 are obtained by alternately selecting adjacent elements 32a to 32p.

  The first signal processing means 35 takes in the outputs of the plurality of elements 32a, 32c, 32e, 32g, 32i, 32k, 32m, 32o, and these elements 32a, 32c, 32e, 32g, 32i, 32k, 32m, 32o. The position of the front bumper face 39 is determined from the output of the above.

  For example, the first signal processing means 35 receives each of the elements 32a, 32c, 32e, 32g, 32i, 32k, 32m, from the outputs of the plurality of elements 32a, 32c, 32e, 32g, 32i, 32k, 32m, 32o. For 32o, it is determined whether a left collision has occurred, and which of a plurality of left collision thresholds 1, 2,... Has been exceeded is determined, whether a right collision has occurred, and a plurality of right collision thresholds. Determine which of the values 1, 2, ... is exceeded, determine whether a central collision has occurred, determine which of the multiple central collision thresholds 1, 2, ... is exceeded, and calculate the collision speed Judge which of the multiple thresholds 1, 2, ... is exceeded, calculate the weight of the collision object, determine which of the multiple thresholds 1, 2, ... is exceeded, and calculate the collision distribution pattern Multiple minutes Determine corresponds to any pattern sample 1, 2, and calculates the impact energy to determine exceeds any multiple collision energy threshold 1, 2 of. Thus, a plurality of states such as a collision position, a collision magnitude, and a collision form are determined, and values corresponding to the respective states are output as a result.

  The second signal processing means 36 takes in the outputs of the plurality of elements 32b, 32d, 32f, 32h, 32j, 32l, 32n, 32p, and these elements 32b, 32d, 32f, 32h, 32j, 32l, 32n, 32p. The collision state of the front bumper face 39 is determined based on the output of the first signal processing unit 35 and has substantially the same function as the first signal processing means 35.

  The state determination unit 38 takes in the outputs of the first signal processing unit 35 and the second signal processing unit 36 and compares the outputs, thereby processing results of the first and second signal processing units 35 and 36. Is determined comprehensively (by logical product) to determine the collision state of the vehicle. For example, the first signal processing means 35 exceeds the left collision threshold 1 and the left collision threshold 2 (satisfied), and the second signal processing means 36 exceeds only the left collision threshold 2 (satisfied). In this case, the state determination means 38 considers that only the left collision threshold 2 is satisfied.

  The vehicle collision determination device 30 is a vehicle collision determination device including a vehicle collision sensor 31 including a plurality of elements 32a to 32p that are arranged in the longitudinal direction to detect deformation, and a part of the plurality of elements 32a to 32p. First and second signal processing means (multiple signal processing means) 35 and 36 for processing signals output from first and second element groups (multiple element groups) 33 and 34, respectively, and It can be said that the apparatus includes a state determination unit that comprehensively determines the processing results of the first and second signal processing units 35 and 36 to determine the collision state of the vehicle 10 (see FIG. 1).

  For example, when a plurality of sensors are arranged, if it is possible to obtain a uniform detection result by absorbing variations among the sensors, highly accurate collision detection information can be obtained, and the airbag device or the seat belt can be It is preferable because it can be activated according to the situation.

  Therefore, first and second signal processing means (plurality) for respectively processing signals output from the first and second element groups (plurality element groups) 33 and 34 including a part of the plural elements 32a to 32p. Signal processing means) 35, 36 and state determination means for judging the collision state of the vehicle 10 (see FIG. 1) by comprehensively judging the processing results of the first and second signal processing means 35, 36. And provided.

That is, the first and second signal processing means (plurality) for respectively processing the signals output from the first and second element groups (plurality element groups) 33 and 34 including a part of the plural elements 32a to 32p. Signal processing means) 35, 36 and state determination means for judging the collision state of the vehicle 10 (see FIG. 1) by comprehensively judging the processing results of the first and second signal processing means 35, 36. Thus, even when one of the processing results of the first and second signal processing means (a plurality of signal processing means) 35 and 36 is not suitable for the situation, the state determination means 38 accurately determines the collision state of the vehicle 10. Can be determined. As a result, for example, an airbag device (not shown), a seat belt, and the like can be accurately activated according to the collision situation.
Further, it is possible to avoid the influence of individual variations of the elements (sensor single units) 32a to 32p. For example, the plurality of elements 32a to 32p and the plurality of (first and second) signal processing means 35 and 36 are provided. It is possible to eliminate the influence of transmission loss and noise on the wiring to be connected.

  In other words, a plurality of elements (sensors) 32a to 32p are grouped into a plurality of element groups (first and second element groups) 33 and 34, and the first and second element groups 33 and 34 are separated from each other ( Robustness (or reliability) can be improved by processing through the first and second signal processing means.

  In addition, the vehicle collision determination device 30 includes elements 32c, 32e, 32g, and 32c of at least one element group (first element group) 33 among a plurality of element groups (first and second element groups) 33 and 34. It can be said that 32i, 32k, 32m, and 32o are arranged so as to be sandwiched between elements 32b, 32d, 32f, 32h, 32j, 32l, 32n, and 32p of another element group (second element group) 34.

  The elements 32c, 32e, 32g, 32i, 32k, 32m, 32o of at least one element group (first element group) 33 among the plurality of element groups (first and second element groups) 33, 34, and others Are arranged so as to be sandwiched between the elements 32b, 32d, 32f, 32h, 32j, 32l, 32n, and 32p of the element group (second element group) 34, thereby providing one element group (first element group). Detection regions by the elements 32a, 32c, 32e, 32g, 32i, 32k, 32m, 32o and elements 32b, 32d, 32f, 32h, 32j, 32l, 32n of the other element group (second element group) 34, The detection area by 32p can be overlaid. As a result, a configuration in which the elements 32a to 32p are hardly affected by variations or failures of the elements 32a to 32p can be obtained. That is, robustness can be improved.

  The vehicle collision determination device 30 includes elements 32a, 32c, 32e, 32g of at least one element group (first element group) 33 among a plurality of element groups (first and second element groups) 33, 34. 32i, 32k, 32m, 32o are arranged apart from the elements 32b, 32d, 32f, 32h, 32j, 32l, 32n, 32p of the other element group (second element group) 34 I can say that.

  The elements 32a, 32c, 32e, 32g, 32i, 32k, 32m, 32o of at least one element group (first element group) 33 among the plurality of element groups (first and second element groups) 33, 34 are The other element group (second element group) 34 is arranged so as to be separated from the elements 32b, 32d, 32f, 32h, 32j, 32l, 32n, 32p of one element group (first element group (first element group)). Element group) 33 elements 32a, 32c, 32e, 32g, 32i, 32k, 32m, 32o and other element groups and other element groups (second element group) 34 elements 32b, 32d, 32f, 32h, 32j. , 32l, 32n, and 32p can be listed alternately. As a result, the element 32a of the adjacent one element group (first element group) 33 and the element 32b of the other element group (second element group) 34 can be regarded as obtaining substantially equal detection results. The failure of the elements 32a to 32p itself and the abnormality of the signal can be easily found.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a vehicle collision determination device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle collision determination device 40 is for a vehicle including a plurality of elements 42 a to 42 p provided inside the front bumper face 49. Collision sensor 41, analog signal processing means 45 and digital signal processing means 46 serving as a plurality of signal processing means for processing each of the information received from the plurality of elements 42a to 42p, and results processed by these signal processing means 45, 46 And a state determination means 48 for determining the collision state of the vehicle based on the above.

  The first element group 43 as a plurality of element groups (one element group) is composed of a plurality of elements 42a, 42c, 42e, 42g, 42i, 42k, 42m, 42o, and a plurality of element groups (the other element group). The second element group 44 as a group is composed of a plurality of elements 42b, 42d, 42f, 42h, 42j, 42l, 42n, and 42p. The elements 42a to 42p are the same piezoelectric film sensor element.

  The analog signal processing means 45 takes in the outputs of the plurality of elements 42a, 42c, 42e, 42g, 42i, 42k, 42m, 42o, and outputs the elements 42a, 42c, 42e, 42g, 42i, 42k, 42m, 42o. From which position of the front bumper face 49 is determined. The analog signal processing means 45 has substantially the same function as the first signal processing means 35 shown in FIG.

  The digital signal processing means 46 includes an AD conversion circuit 47 that converts an analog signal into a digital signal. The digital signal processing means 46 takes in the outputs of the plurality of elements 42b, 42d, 42f, 42h, 42j, 42l, 42n, and 42p, and outputs these outputs as AD. The conversion circuit 47 converts an analog signal into a digital signal, and determines at which position of the front bumper face 49 a collision has occurred from the outputs of the elements 42b, 42d, 42f, 42h, 42j, 42l, 42n, and 42p. is there. The digital signal processing means 46 has substantially the same function as the second signal processing means 36 shown in FIG.

  The state determination unit 48 combines the determination based on the analog signal close to the original signal performed by the analog signal processing unit 45 and the determination based on the digital signal based on sampling performed by the digital signal processing unit 46, and makes a comprehensive determination. It determines the collision state of the vehicle.

  In other words, the vehicle collision determination device 40 includes analog signal processing means 45 that performs at least analog signal processing and digital signal processing means 46 that performs digital signal processing in a plurality of signal processing means, so that an analog signal close to the original signal is obtained. It is possible to combine the determination by the digital signal by the sampling and the determination by the sampling. As a result, even when the digital signal is greatly affected by sampling due to, for example, a high-speed collision, the signal processing can be quickly performed with the analog signal, and the collision situation can be quickly grasped at the initial stage of the collision. .

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a vehicle collision determination device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle collision determination device 50 is for a vehicle including a plurality of elements 52 a to 52 p provided inside the front bumper face 59. The collision sensor 51, first and second signal processing means 55 and 56 as signal processing means for processing each of the information received from the plurality of elements 52a to 52p, and the signal processing means 55 and 56 are used. A state determination unit 58 that determines a vehicle collision state based on the result.
The first and second signal processing means 55 and 56 have substantially the same functions as the first and second signal processing means 35 and 36 shown in FIG.

Furthermore, the vehicle collision determination device 50 includes elements 52a and 52b, elements 52c and 52d, elements 52e and 52f, elements 52g and 52h, elements 52i and 52j, elements 52k and 52l, and elements 52m with respect to the left-right direction of the front bumper face 59. 52n and the elements 52o and 52p are arranged at the same position (in pairs), and the first element group 53 as a plurality of element groups (one element group) is replaced with a plurality of elements 52a, 52c, 52e and 52g. , 52i, 52k, 52m, 52o, and a second element group 54 as a plurality of element groups (the other element group) is replaced with a plurality of elements 52b, 52d, 52f, 52h, 52j, 52l, 52n, 52p. The output of the first element group 53 is taken into the first signal processing means 55, and the output of the second element group 54 is taken into the second signal processing means 56 The outputs of these signal processing means 55 and 56 it can be said that as incorporated into state determining means 58.
The elements 52a to 52p are the same piezoelectric film sensor element.

  That is, in the vehicle collision determination device 50, the elements 52a and 52b, the elements 52c and 52d, the elements 52e and 52f, the elements 52g and 52h, the elements 52i and 52j, the elements 52k and 52l, and the element 52m with respect to the left-right direction of the front bumper face 59. , 52n and the elements 52o, 52p are arranged at the same position (in pairs), further, it is possible to easily find a failure of the element itself or a signal abnormality.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a vehicle collision determination apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which 60 is a vehicle determination apparatus, 61 is a vehicle collision sensor, 62a to 62p are elements, and 63 is a plurality. The first element group as an element group (one element group), 64 is a second element group as a plurality of element groups (the other element group), 65 is a first signal processing means, and 66 is a second element group. , Signal processing means 68, state determination means 68, and front bumper face 69.
The first and second signal processing means 65 and 66 have substantially the same functions as the first and second signal processing means 35 and 36 shown in FIG.

  Note that the first signal processing unit 65, the second signal processing unit 66, the state determination unit 68, and the front bumper interface 69 are respectively the first signal processing unit 35, the second signal processing unit 36, and the like shown in FIG. It is a member having substantially the same function as the state determination means 38 and the front bumper face 39.

A first element group 63 as a plurality of element groups (one element group) is composed of a plurality of elements 62a, 62c, 62e, 62g, 62i, 62k, 62m, 62o, and a plurality of element groups (the other element) The second element group 64 as a group) is composed of a plurality of elements 62b, 62d, 62f, 62h, 62j, 62l, 62n, and 62p.
The plurality of elements 62a to 62p are the same piezoelectric film sensor element, and 62a to 62p are arranged in contact with each other.

  The vehicle determination device 60 includes elements 62a, 62c, 62e, 62g, 62i of at least one element group (first element group) 63 among a plurality of element groups (first and second element groups) 63, 64. 62k, 62m, 62o are arranged so as to be in contact with the elements 62b, 62d, 62f, 62h, 62j, 62l, 62n, 62p of the other element group (second element group) 64.

  The elements 62a, 62c, 62e, 62g, 62i, 62k, 62m, 62o of at least one element group (first element group) 63 among the plurality of element groups (first and second element groups) 63, 64 The other element group (second element group) 64 is arranged so as to be in contact with the elements 62b, 62d, 62f, 62h, 62j, 62l, 62n, and 62p of one element group (first element group). Group) 63 elements 62a, 62c, 62e, 62g, 62i, 62k, 62m, 62o and other element groups (second element group) 64 elements 62b, 62d, 62f, 62h, 62j, 62l, 62n, 62p. Can be arranged alternately without gaps. As a result, the element 62a of one adjacent element group (first element group) 63 and the element 62b (elements 62c and 62d, elements 62e and 62f, elements 62g, and 62b of the other element group (second element group) 64, 62h, elements 62i and 62j, elements 62k and 62l, elements 62m and 62n, and elements 62o and 62p) can be regarded as obtaining substantially the same detection result, and further, failure of the element itself or signal abnormality can be considered. Can be easily discovered.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a vehicle collision determination device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, in which 70 is a vehicle collision determination device, 71 is a vehicle collision sensor, 72a to 72p are elements, and 73 is a device. A first element group as a plurality of element groups (one element group), 74 a second element group as a plurality of element groups (the other element group), 75 a first signal processing means, and 76 a first element 2, signal processing means 78, state determination means 78, and front bumper face 79.
The first and second signal processing means 75 and 76 have substantially the same functions as the first and second signal processing means 35 and 36 shown in FIG.

  The first signal processing means 75, the second signal processing means 76, the state determination means 78, and the front bumper face 79 are respectively the first signal processing means 35, the second signal processing means 36, and the like shown in FIG. It is a member having substantially the same function as the state determination means 38 and the front bumper face 39.

  The vehicle collision determination device 70 includes elements 72a and 72b, elements 72c and 72d, elements 72e and 72f, elements 72g and 72h, elements 72i and 72j, elements 72k and 72l, and elements 72m and 72n in the left-right direction of the front bumper face 79. The elements 72o and 72p are arranged at the same position, and the first element group 73 as a plurality of element groups (one element group) is replaced with a plurality of elements 72a, 72c, 72e, 72g, 72i, 72k, The second element group 74 as a plurality of element groups (the other element group) is composed of a plurality of elements 72b, 72d, 72f, 72h, 72j, 72l, 72n, and 72p.

  That is, the elements 72a and 72b, the elements 72c and 72d, the elements 72e and 72f, the elements 72g and 72h, the elements 72i and 72j, the elements 72k and 72l, the elements 72m and 72n, and the elements 72o and 72p are stacked at the same position. Thus, it can be considered that the overlapped elements 72a and 72b generally show the same output value, and when the different output values are indicated, it is easy to predict a failure of the element itself or a signal abnormality. Therefore, it is possible to easily find a failure of the element itself or a signal abnormality.

  Further, the vehicle collision determination device 70 is characterized by the plurality of elements 72a, 72c, 72e, 72g, 72i, 72k, 72m, 72o and the plurality of elements 72b, 72d, 72f, 72h, 72j, 72l, 72n, 72p. Different (different) elements were used. The plurality of elements 72a, 72c, 72e, 72g, 72i, 72k, 72m, 72o are the same element, and the plurality of elements 72b, 72d, 72f, 72h, 72j, 72l, 72n, 72p are the same element. is there.

  The vehicle collision determination device 70 includes elements 72a, 72c, 72e, 72g of at least one element group (first element group) 73 among a plurality of element groups (first and second element groups) 73, 74. It can be said that the characteristics of 72i, 72k, 72m, and 72o are different from the characteristics of the elements 72b, 72d, 72f, 72h, 72j, 72l, 72n, and 72p of the other element group (second element group) 74.

  Of the plurality of element groups (first and second element groups) 73 and 74, the elements 72a, 72c, 72e, 72g, 72i, 72k, 72m and 72o of at least one element group (first element group) 73 By making the characteristics different from the characteristics of the elements 72b, 72d, 72f, 72h, 72j, 72l, 72n, and 72p of the other element group (second element group) 74, for example, by shifting the detection sensitivity, It can be applied to a wide range of collision modes with different sizes or different load transmission speeds.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a vehicle collision determination device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle collision determination device 80 includes a plurality of elements 82a to 82h and elements 92a to 92a provided inside the front bumper face 89. A vehicle collision sensor 81 comprising 92d, a logic circuit 85 as a plurality of signal processing means for receiving information from a plurality of elements 82a to 82h, and a plurality of signals for receiving information from a plurality of elements 92a to 92d. This is a device comprising a safing logic circuit 86 as a processing means, and a state determining means 88 for judging a collision state of the vehicle based on the results processed by the logic circuit 85 and the safing logic circuit 86.

The logic circuit 85 has substantially the same function as the first signal processing means 35 shown in FIG.
The safing logic circuit 86 is a circuit that plays a role of complementing the reliability of the result processed by the logic circuit 85. For example, the safing logic circuit 86 determines whether a left collision has occurred from the outputs of the plurality of elements 92a, 92b, 92c, 92d, determines whether a right collision has occurred, or has caused a central collision. Determine if you did. That is, only a part of the determinations performed by the logic circuit 85 is performed, and the result is output.

  The state determination means 88 calculates a logical product of a part of the output of the logic circuit 85 and the output of the safening logic circuit 86 by the same processing, and from the logical product and the output of the logic circuit 85, the state determination means 88 calculates the vehicle. This is to judge the collision state. That is, only a major collision state is judged using a plurality of signal processing means (logic circuit 85, safening logic circuit 86), and a single signal processing means (logic circuit 85) is used for the remaining collision states. It can be said that it is judged.

By adopting such a configuration, the processing performed by the safing logic circuit 86 and the state determination unit 88 can be simplified without impairing the main determination function, so that the determination speed can be increased.
Further, since the main body portion of the safening logic circuit 86 can be reduced in size or simplified, the cost of the vehicle collision determination device 80 can be reduced.

The elements 82a to 82h constitute a first element group 83 as a plurality of element groups (one element group), and the plurality of elements 92a to 92d constitute a second element as a plurality of element groups (the other element group). Group 84 is configured.
The elements 82a to 82h are the same piezoelectric film sensor elements, and the elements 92a to 92d are safing elements whose characteristics are different from those of the elements 82a to 82h.

  The element 92a is disposed in contact with the element 82b, the element 92b is disposed in contact with the element 82d, the element 92c is disposed in contact with the element 82e, and the element 92d is disposed in contact with the element 82g. It is.

  The vehicle collision determination device according to the present invention is used in the front bumper 12 as shown in FIG. 1, but is not limited thereto, and may be provided in other bodies such as a rear bumper.

  The vehicle collision determination device according to the present invention has described the vehicle collision determination device 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 of the first to sixth embodiments as shown in FIGS. It does not prevent these vehicle collision determination devices 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 from being appropriately combined.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the vehicle collision determination apparatus 70 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of elements 72a, 72c, 72e, 72g, 72i, 72k, 72m, 72o and a plurality of elements 72b, 72d, 72f, 72h, 72j, 72l, 72n, and 72p have different (different) characteristics, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the size (area) or thickness of the same kind of element (sensor) may be different. But you can change the characteristics.

  The vehicle collision determination device according to the present invention has described the vehicle collision determination device 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 of the first to sixth embodiments as shown in FIGS. These signal processing means 35, 45, 55, 65, 75, 85 and signal processing means 36, 46, 56, 66, 76, 86 may be configured separately, and a common processing device It may be configured as a single unit.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 7, the vehicle collision determination device according to the present invention includes two vehicle collision determination devices 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 according to the first to sixth embodiments. The device group and the two signal processing means are used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the device group may include three or more element groups and three or more signal processing means.

  The vehicle collision determination device according to the present invention is suitable for use in passenger cars such as sedans and wagons.

1 is a perspective view of a vehicle that employs a vehicle collision determination device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle collision determination device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the collision determination apparatus of the vehicle of 2nd Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram of the collision determination apparatus of the vehicle of 3rd Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram of the collision determination apparatus of the vehicle of 4th Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram of the collision determination apparatus of the vehicle of 5th Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram of the collision determination apparatus of the vehicle of 6th Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a figure explaining the conventional basic composition.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Vehicle, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 ... Vehicle collision determination apparatus, 32a-32p, 62a-62p, 72a-72p ... Element, 33, 63, 73 ... One element group (1st Element group), 34, 64, 74 ... the other element group (second element group), 35, 36 ... a plurality of signal processing means (first and second signal processing means), 38 ... situation judgment means, 45 ... a plurality of signal processing means (analog signal processing means), 46 ... a plurality of signal processing means (digital signal processing means).

Claims (6)

In a vehicle collision determination apparatus provided with a vehicle collision sensor composed of a plurality of elements arranged in the longitudinal direction to detect deformation,
The collision determination device comprehensively determines a plurality of signal processing means that respectively process signals output from a plurality of element groups including a part of the plurality of elements, and processing results of the plurality of signal processing means. And a state determination means for determining the state of collision of the vehicle.   2. The vehicle collision determination unit according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of signal processing units include at least an analog signal processing unit that performs analog signal processing and a digital signal processing unit that performs digital signal processing.   The vehicle collision determination means according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an element of at least one of the plurality of element groups is arranged so as to be sandwiched between elements of another element group.   4. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the elements of at least one element group among the plurality of element groups are arranged apart from the elements of the other element groups. 5. Collision determination means.   5. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein elements of at least one element group among the plurality of element groups are arranged so as to be in contact with elements of another element group. Collision judgment means.   6. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a characteristic of an element of at least one of the plurality of element groups is different from a characteristic of an element of another element group. Collision determination means.

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