JP2007331423A - Warning mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a warning mechanism for effectively warning an occupant. <P>SOLUTION: In the warning mechanism 10, when a seat belt 16 is not mounted on the occupant during the travel of a vehicle and such a mounting required condition that the seat belt 16 is required to be mounted on the occupant is detected, a winding shaft 14 is rotated via a gear mechanism 18 with reverse rotation of a motor 20 and the seat belt 16 is pulled out of the winding shaft 14. The occupant hears driving sounds of the motor 20 and the gear mechanism 18, thus warning the occupant that the seat belt 16 is promptly mounted on. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a warning mechanism that issues a warning to an occupant.

  As a warning mechanism, there is a mechanism that issues a warning to an occupant with an alarm lamp or a buzzer when a seat belt is not attached to the occupant of the vehicle (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Here, with such a warning mechanism, it is preferable that a warning can be effectively issued to the occupant.
JP 2005-22563 A

  In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to provide a warning mechanism that can effectively issue a warning to an occupant.

  The warning mechanism according to claim 1 includes a seat belt that can be mounted on a vehicle occupant, a winding mechanism that includes a motor that winds and pulls out the seat belt when driven, and the seat belt. Warning means for issuing a warning to the occupant by driving the motor when the occupant is not attached to the occupant.

  A warning mechanism according to a second aspect is the warning mechanism according to the first aspect, wherein the warning means drives the motor in a situation where the vehicle does not collide compared to a situation where a vehicle collision is predicted. It is characterized by.

  A warning mechanism according to a third aspect is the warning mechanism according to the first or second aspect, wherein the warning means is based on at least one of a vehicle speed, a vehicle steering angle, and a vehicle brake operation amount. The motor is driven.

  In the warning mechanism according to the first aspect, the seat belt can be attached to the vehicle occupant. Further, the take-up mechanism includes a motor, and the seat belt is taken up and pulled out by driving the motor.

  Here, when the seat belt is not attached to the occupant, the warning means issues a warning to the occupant by driving the motor. For this reason, a warning can be effectively issued to a passenger.

  In the warning mechanism according to the second aspect, the warning means issues a warning to the occupant by driving the motor in a situation where the vehicle does not collide compared to a situation where a vehicle collision is predicted. For this reason, it can make it easy for a passenger | crew to mount | wear a seatbelt with a warning.

  In the warning mechanism according to the third aspect, the warning means issues a warning to the occupant by driving the motor based on at least one of the vehicle speed, the vehicle steering angle, and the vehicle brake operation amount. For this reason, the situation which needs to issue a warning to a crew member can be detected exactly.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a warning mechanism 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  A warning mechanism 10 according to the present embodiment is provided in a vehicle and includes a motor retractor 12 as a winding mechanism.

  A winding shaft 14 is rotatably provided on the motor retractor 12, and a long belt-like seat belt 16 is wound around the winding shaft 14. A gear mechanism 18 is connected to the winding shaft 14, and a motor 20 is connected to the gear mechanism 18. The motor 20 is connected to an ECU 22 as a warning means (control means). When the motor 20 is driven by the control of the ECU 22, the winding shaft 14 is decelerated by the gear mechanism 18 via the gear mechanism 18. It is rotated while being done. The motor 20 can be rotated forward and backward by the control of the ECU 22, and when the motor 20 is rotated forward, the seat belt 16 is wound around the winding shaft 14, while the motor 20 rotates backward. As a result, the seat belt 16 is pulled out from the winding shaft 14.

  The seat belt 16 is provided with a tongue (not shown). When the tongue is locked to a buckle device (not shown) provided in the vehicle, the occupant (the seat belt 16 is seated on the vehicle seat) ( For example, it is attached to a driver). The buckle device is provided with a buckle switch 24 as mounting detection means, and the buckle switch 24 can detect locking of the tongue to the buckle device. The buckle switch 24 is connected to the ECU 22, and the ECU 22 can detect the wearing of the seat belt 16 to the occupant based on a signal from the buckle switch 24.

  A distance sensor 26 is connected to the ECU 22, and the distance sensor 26 is provided in the vehicle so as to be able to detect a distance (for example, an inter-vehicle distance) from an obstacle of the vehicle.

  A vehicle speed sensor 28 constituting detection means is connected to the ECU 22, and the vehicle speed sensor 28 is provided in the vehicle so that the speed of the vehicle can be detected.

  The ECU 22 is connected to a steering angle sensor 30 that constitutes detection means. The steering angle sensor 30 is connected to a steering wheel (not shown) of the vehicle and can detect a steering angle of the steering wheel (steering angle of the vehicle). Has been.

  A brake sensor 32 constituting detection means is connected to the ECU 22, and the brake sensor 32 is connected to a vehicle brake (not shown) so as to be able to detect a brake operation amount (depression amount). .

  When the ECU 22 detects that the vehicle is running (moving forward) based on a signal from the vehicle speed sensor 28, the ECU 22 outputs from at least one of the distance sensor 26, the vehicle speed sensor 28, the steering angle sensor 30, and the brake sensor 32. Based on the signal, a vehicle collision can be predicted. Specifically, the ECU 22 determines the distance to the obstacle of the vehicle based on the signal from the distance sensor 26, the vehicle speed based on the signal from the vehicle speed sensor 28, and the steering angle of the steering wheel based on the signal from the steering angle sensor 30 ( At least one of a brake operation amount (may be a brake operation acceleration) based on a signal from the brake sensor 32 and a predetermined value or less (vehicle failure). When it is the distance to the object) or above (other than the distance to the obstacle of the vehicle), the vehicle collision is predicted.

  When the ECU 22 detects that the vehicle is running (advancing) based on a signal from the vehicle speed sensor 28, the ECU 22 based on a signal from at least one of the vehicle speed sensor 28, the steering angle sensor 30, and the brake sensor 32, It is possible to detect a situation where the seat belt 16 needs to be attached to the occupant. Specifically, the ECU 22 detects the vehicle speed based on the signal from the vehicle speed sensor 28, the steering angle of the steering wheel (may be the acceleration of the steering angle of the steering wheel) based on the signal from the steering angle sensor 30, and the brake sensor 32. When at least one of the brake operation amounts (may be brake operation acceleration) based on this signal is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (a value lower than each specified value) provided in advance, the installation necessary condition is detected. . For example, if the steering angle of the steering wheel is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, a large inertial force acts on the occupant in the lateral direction of the vehicle, and if the amount of brake operation is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the occupant has a large inertia toward the front of the vehicle. Since the force acts, it is necessary to attach the seat belt 16 to the occupant.

  The ECU 22 rotates the motor 20 in the forward direction when predicting the collision of the vehicle in a state where the seat belt 16 is attached to the occupant based on the signal from the buckle switch 24. As a result, the take-up shaft 14 is rotated via the gear mechanism 18 and the seat belt 16 is taken up on the take-up shaft 14, thereby increasing the tension of the seat belt 16 attached to the occupant.

  Further, when the ECU 22 detects the wearing requirement state in a state where the seat belt 16 is not attached to the occupant based on a signal from the buckle switch 24 (a state where the seat belt 16 is not attached to the occupant), The motor 20 is reversely rotated at the maximum speed (output DUTY 100%). As a result, the winding shaft 14 is rotated via the gear mechanism 18, and the seat belt 16 is pulled out from the winding shaft 14.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

  In the warning mechanism 10 having the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 2, it is determined in step 100 whether or not the vehicle is traveling (moving forward) based on a signal from the vehicle speed sensor 28.

  When it is determined in step 100 that the vehicle is not traveling, the process of step 100 is repeated again.

  If it is determined in step 100 that the vehicle is traveling, it is determined in step 102 whether or not the seat belt 16 is detected by the passenger based on the signal from the buckle switch 24.

  When it is detected in step 102 that the seat belt 16 is attached to the occupant, the process of step 100 is repeated again.

  In step 102, when it is not detected that the seat belt 16 is attached to the occupant, in step 104, the seat belt to the occupant is determined based on a signal from at least one of the vehicle speed sensor 28, the steering angle sensor 30, and the brake sensor 32. It is determined whether or not a necessary mounting situation requiring the mounting of 16 is detected.

  If it is determined in step 104 that a situation requiring the installation of the seat belt 16 to the occupant is not detected, the process of step 100 is repeated again.

  When it is detected in step 104 that the seat belt 16 needs to be attached to the occupant, in step 106, the motor 20 is reversely rotated at the maximum speed, whereby the winding shaft is connected via the gear mechanism 18. 14 is rotated, and the seat belt 16 is pulled out from the winding shaft 14.

  Therefore, when the occupant listens to the drive sound of the motor 20 and the gear mechanism 18, a warning that prompts the occupant to attach the seat belt 16 can be issued by the drive sound. Furthermore, when the occupant visually recognizes the seat belt 16 that is pulled out, the warning can be issued to the occupant also by the visual recognition. Thereby, the warning can be effectively issued to the occupant.

  Further, in step 104, when at least one of the vehicle speed, the steering angle of the steering wheel, and the amount of brake operation is equal to or higher than a predetermined value lower than a specific value (a value at which a vehicle collision is predicted). , A necessary wearing situation is detected. For this reason, the warning is issued to the occupant in a traveling state of the vehicle in which the vehicle does not collide compared to a situation in which a vehicle collision is predicted. Thereby, it is possible to facilitate the occupant wearing the seat belt by the warning.

  Further, as described above, the warning is issued to the occupant based on at least one of the vehicle speed, the steering angle of the steering wheel, and the operation amount of the brake. For this reason, it is possible to accurately detect a necessary wearing situation (a situation where it is necessary to issue the warning to the passenger).

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the motor 20 is reversely rotated at the maximum speed in Step 106 when the installation necessity situation in which the installation of the seat belt 16 to the passenger is detected in Step 104 is detected. In step 104, when it is detected that the seat belt 16 needs to be attached to the occupant, the motor 20 may be forward rotated at the maximum speed in step 106. As a result, a warning that prompts the occupant to attach the seat belt 16 can be issued by the driving sound of the motor 20 and the gear mechanism 18 by the seat belt 16 winding drive of the motor 20.

  In the present embodiment, sounding means (for example, a navigation system or a buzzer) as a warning device may be connected to the ECU 22. In this case, in step 106, the ECU 22 transmits a sound generation instruction signal to the sound generation means, and the sound generation means generates a warning sound (for example, a sound of a navigation system or a buzzer sound of a buzzer). A warning that prompts wearing can be issued.

It is a block diagram which shows the warning mechanism which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the warning process of the warning mechanism which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Warning mechanism 12 Motor retractor (winding mechanism)
16 Seat belt 20 Motor 22 ECU (Warning means)

Claims (3)

A seat belt that can be worn by a vehicle occupant;
A winding mechanism provided with a motor that is driven to wind up and pull out the seat belt;
Warning means for issuing a warning to the occupant by driving the motor when the seat belt is not attached to the occupant;
Warning mechanism equipped with.   The warning mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the warning means drives the motor in a situation where the vehicle does not collide compared to a situation where a vehicle collision is predicted.   The warning mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the warning means drives the motor based on at least one of a vehicle speed, a vehicle steering angle, and a vehicle brake operation amount.

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