JP2008105634A - Side collision sensing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a side collision sensing device capable of quickly sensing a side collision condition. <P>SOLUTION: A long pressure sensor 58 is arranged on an outer side of a front side door 16, and a light receiving part 42 is mounted on a rear end of an inner impact beam 32. A light emission part 48 is arranged on a front pillar 20 side, and a hole 50 for transmitting light beams is formed on a door inner panel 28. Similarly, a pressure sensor 60, a light emission part 54, and a light receiving part 52 are arranged on a rear side door 18 side, and a hole 56 is formed on a door inner panel 36. For example, when a collision element collides with a side face of the front side door 16, a pressure sensor 58 is turned on, and the light receiving part 42 relatively moved due to intrusion to inside in a vehicle width direction of a door outer panel. Alternatively, lights are shielded, a condition is changed from on-state to off-state. Side collision is sensed by an intrusion quantity of the door outer panel, so as to realize quick sensing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a side collision detection device that detects deformation of a vehicle door by a change in a light receiving state along a door crossing direction.

  Patent Document 1 below discloses a technique related to an automobile impact detection sensor for detecting a side collision with a side door. Briefly described, a light emitting part is provided at one end of a pipe-like impact beam disposed in the side door in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a light receiving part is provided at the other end.

According to the above configuration, when the door outer panel of the side door is greatly deformed inward in the vehicle width direction and the impact beam is bent, the light irradiated from the light emitting unit is blocked by the bent impact beam, and thus cannot be received by the light receiving unit. Thus, the control means determines that a side collision has occurred.
JP-A-6-183316

  However, according to the above prior art, since the side collision sensor including the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit is arranged in the impact beam, the side collision state is detected when the door outer panel is deformed inward in the vehicle width direction. It is impossible to approach at all, and it is possible to detect the side collision state only after the impact beam is deformed (bent) to the extent that the light emitted from the light emitting unit is blocked. Accordingly, the detection of the side collision state is delayed, and the prior art has room for improvement in this respect. In addition, if the side collision state can be detected quickly, the degree of freedom in controlling the combination of operating the occupant protection device such as the curtain shield airbag device or the side airbag device will be higher, and more excellent. It also leads to the construction of a passenger protection system.

  In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to provide a side collision detection apparatus that can quickly detect a side collision state.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a side collision detection device that detects deformation of a vehicle door by a change in a light receiving state along a door transverse direction, and is disposed in the vicinity of a seated passenger in the vehicle door. A light-receiving unit, a light-emitting unit disposed on the opposite side of the light-receiving unit across the door passing through the light-receiving unit on the vehicle body side and sandwiching a seated passenger, and a vehicle door or vehicle First light path forming means provided on both the door and the vehicle body side, and receiving the light emitted from the light emitting part to the light receiving part, and the light receiving part is formed by the intrusion of the outer plate of the vehicle door When the relative movement amount of the light receiving unit with respect to the light emitting unit exceeds a predetermined amount and when the optical path from the light emitting unit to the light receiving unit is blocked by the penetration of the outer plate of the vehicle door, the light receiving state changes to the non-light receiving state It is characterized by that.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the side collision detection device according to the first aspect, the vehicle door is disposed outside the light receiving portion in the vehicle width direction and detects a collision between an outer plate of the vehicle door and a collision body. Or it has the outside detection means to predict, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the side collision detection apparatus according to the second aspect, the outer side detection means is provided on the surface side of the outer plate of the vehicle door.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the side collision detection device according to the third aspect, the outer detection means is a long pressure-sensitive sensor arranged along the door transverse direction on the surface of the outer plate of the vehicle door. It is characterized by being.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the side collision detection device according to the third aspect, the outer side detection means passes through the vicinity of the surface of the outer plate of the vehicle door and forms an optical path in the door transverse direction of the vehicle door. It is a two-optical path forming means.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the side collision detection device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the light emitting portion is provided in a pillar portion that is disposed on the side of the vehicle body along the vehicle vertical direction. And the light receiving portion is provided in a long door reinforcing member provided in the vehicle door along the crossing direction of the door, and the first optical path forming means is provided on the vehicle door. It is a hole for penetrating a light beam provided in the inner plate.

  A seventh aspect of the present invention is the side collision detection device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the light emitting portion is covered around the light emitting portion and has an opening in the light irradiation direction. A reinforcing cover formed with is provided.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the light receiving part is disposed in the vicinity of the seated occupant in the vehicle door, and the seated occupant is located in the transverse direction of the door passing through the light receiving part on the vehicle body side. A light-emitting part is disposed on the opposite side of the light-receiving part and the light-receiving part receives light emitted from the light-emitting part on both the vehicle door or the vehicle door and the vehicle body side. Therefore, at the time of non-collision, the light emitted from the light emitting unit reaches the light receiving unit via the first optical path forming means, and the light receiving state at the light receiving unit is maintained.

  When a colliding body collides with the vehicle door from this state and the outer plate of the vehicle door enters inward in the vehicle width direction, the light receiving unit moves relative to the light emitting unit accordingly, When the amount of movement exceeds a predetermined amount, the light receiving unit changes from the light receiving state to the non-light receiving state. Further, even if the relative movement amount of the light receiving unit with respect to the light emitting unit is less than a predetermined amount, if the light path from the light emitting unit to the light receiving unit is interrupted by the penetration of the outer plate of the vehicle door, the light receiving unit is naturally The light receiving state changes to the non-light receiving state. And when the change of these light reception states is detected, it is detected that the collision body collided with the vehicle door.

  That is, in the present invention, the intrusion of the outer plate of the vehicle door is detected to detect that the colliding body has collided with the vehicle door. Moreover, since the outer plate of the vehicle door is generally formed of a thin plate and is disposed at the outermost part of the vehicle door, the impact beam having high rigidity as in the prior art is bent to such an extent that the optical path is blocked. Compared to a configuration in which a collision of a collision object with the vehicle door can be detected for the first time, a collision of the collision object with the vehicle door can be detected at an extremely early stage.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the vehicle door is provided with the outer detection means for detecting or predicting the collision between the outer plate of the vehicle door and the collision body on the vehicle width direction outer side than the light receiving portion, Two collision detection means are provided at positions separated by a predetermined distance in the door thickness direction. Therefore, it is possible to detect that the colliding body has collided with or will collide with the vehicle door by the detection by the outside detection means, and by measuring the distance between the two collision detection means in advance, If the difference between the time when the collision between the outer plate of the vehicle door and the collision object is detected or predicted by the outside detection means from the time when the light reception state at the light receiving portion changes to the non-light reception state, the approximate entry speed of the collision object is obtained. Can be requested.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the outer detection means is provided on the surface side of the outer plate of the vehicle door, for example, the outer detection means is provided on the outer side in the vehicle width direction than the light receiving portion in the vehicle door. Compared to the case, the detection start time of the collision of the colliding body with the vehicle door can be advanced, and the distance between the light receiving unit and the outside detection means is increased. Accordingly, the required performance (photoelectric conversion performance) with respect to the light receiving unit is alleviated, and a case where it cannot be said that the collision with the assumed collision object can be excluded from the detection target.

  Moreover, since the outer side detection means is provided on the surface side of the outer plate of the vehicle door, a sensing system for predicting a collision can be easily mounted.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the outer detection means is constituted by the long pressure sensor arranged along the crossing direction on the surface of the outer plate of the vehicle door, the outer detection means Compared to the case where a sensing system using optical elements is adopted, there are no restrictions such as matching the optical axis. Therefore, the outside detection means can be easily installed on the surface side of the outer plate of the vehicle door.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the outer detection means is constituted by the second optical path forming means that passes through the vicinity of the surface of the outer plate of the vehicle door and forms the optical path in the transverse direction of the door of the vehicle door. If the outside detection means is installed on the surface of the outer plate of the vehicle door, it is preferable when the design concept of the vehicle door and thus the entire vehicle is impaired.

  According to this invention of Claim 6, the light irradiated from the light emission part provided in the pillar part passes through the hole provided in the inner plate of the door for vehicles, and the light reception provided in the door reinforcement member The light is received by the part. Accordingly, since the optical axis connecting the light emitting part and the light receiving part can be arranged substantially parallel to the cabin, the amount of intrusion of the outer plate of the vehicle door with respect to the cabin can be accurately measured. .

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the reinforcing cover having the opening in the light irradiation direction is provided around the light emitting unit, the light irradiation from the light emitting unit to the light receiving unit is not hindered. It is possible to prevent rainwater, dust and the like from adhering to the light emitting portion. Particularly in cold regions, it is conceivable that ice that has formed on the surface of the light emitting unit or the body surface near the light emitting unit grows and damages the light emitting unit, but according to the present invention, the light emitting unit is covered with the reinforcing cover. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the light emitting portion from being damaged by the ice that has landed.

  As described above, the side collision detection device according to the present invention described in claim 1 has an excellent effect of being able to quickly detect the side collision state.

  Since the side collision detection device according to the present invention according to claim 2 can detect the intrusion speed of the collision object when the collision object collides with the vehicle door, the degree of impact on the occupant from the intrusion speed of the collision object In addition, the operation of the occupant protection device can be finely controlled according to the intrusion speed of the collision object (the degree of impact on the occupant).

  The side collision detection device according to the present invention as set forth in claim 3 can use an inexpensive light receiving unit, can reduce the cost of the entire device, and when a shopping cart or the like comes into contact with the vehicle door Can be excluded from the detection target, and the collision prediction detection system can be easily applied.

  The side collision detection device according to the present invention described in claim 4 has an excellent effect that it is possible to facilitate the installation of the outside detection means on the vehicle door.

  The side collision detection apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention has an excellent effect that the outside detection means can be set without being restricted by the design of the vehicle door.

  Since the side collision detection device according to the present invention described in claim 6 can accurately measure the intrusion amount of the outer plate of the vehicle door with reference to the cabin, the side collision detection accuracy can be further improved. It has an excellent effect.

  The side collision detection apparatus according to the present invention described in claim 7 can protect the light emitting portion from the influence of dust, rainwater, and ice, and as a result, can improve the reliability of side collision detection particularly in cold regions. It has an excellent effect.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a side collision detection apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In these figures, an arrow Fr appropriately shown indicates the vehicle front side, an arrow Up indicates the vehicle upper side, and an arrow In indicates the vehicle width direction inner side.

  FIG. 1 is a plan sectional view showing an outline of a side collision detection apparatus 10 according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view of the vehicle 12 on which the side collision detection device 10 is mounted. Further, FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of the detection principle of the side collision detection apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in these drawings, a front side door 16 and a rear side door 18 as vehicle doors are disposed on the vehicle body side portion 14. A front pillar (A pillar) 20 as a pillar portion is erected on the front end side of the front side door 16 substantially along the vertical direction of the vehicle, and a center pillar (A pillar) is formed at the boundary between the front side door 16 and the rear side door 18. (B pillar) 22 is erected, and a quarter pillar (C pillar) 24 is erected on the rear end side of the rear side door 18.

  The front side door 16 is provided with a door main body portion 30 constituted by a door outer panel 26 constituting a door outer plate and a door inner panel 28 constituting a door inner plate. An impact beam 32 as a door reinforcing member is bridged inside the door main body 30 along the front-rear direction of the door (the longitudinal direction of the door main body and also the door crossing direction). The impact beam 32 is a metal pipe-like member, and is disposed close to the inside of the door outer panel 26. The impact beam 32 has both longitudinal ends attached to the door inner panel 28 via brackets. The rear side door 18 is also configured in the same manner as the front side door 16, and includes a door main body portion 38 constituted by a door outer panel 34 and a door inner panel 36, and an impact beam 40 is provided in the interior along the front-rear direction of the door. Is overlaid.

  Here, the side collision detection device 10 is disposed on the vehicle body side portion 14 described above, which will be described in detail below.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a light receiving unit is disposed on the rear end side of the impact beam 32 in the front side door 16 (that is, in the vicinity of the seated passenger P <b> 1 in the front side door 16) via a bracket (not shown). 42 is attached. As shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 4, the light receiving unit 42 includes a housing 44 formed in a U shape in plan view, and the entire bottom surface 44 </ b> A of the housing 44 is a light receiving surface.

  Corresponding to the light receiving portion 42, a light emitting portion 48 is disposed at the rear end corner of the lower portion of the pillar outer panel 46 of the front pillar 20. The light emitting unit 48 is arranged on the opposite side of the light receiving unit 42 on the door front-rear direction (door crossing direction) passing through the light receiving unit 42 and with the passenger P1 sitting on the front seat. As an example of the control, the light emitting unit 48 is turned on when the engine is started, and irradiates the detection light Q1 such as a laser beam toward the light receiving surface (bottom surface 44A) of the light receiving unit 42.

  Further, the front end portion 28A of the door inner panel 28 of the front side door 16 extends substantially along the vehicle width direction, and a position that interferes with the optical path R1 connecting the light emitting portion 48 and the light receiving portion 42 in the front end portion 28A. A hole 50 for penetrating light rays is formed as a first optical path forming means. Accordingly, the detection light Q1 emitted from the light emitting unit 48 passes through the hole 50 and is received by the light receiving unit 42.

  On the other hand, the rear side door 18 side is basically configured similarly to the front side door 16 side. The description will focus on the different points. The light receiving portion 52 disposed in the rear side door 18 is illustrated near the longitudinal middle portion of the impact beam 32 (that is, in the vicinity of the seated occupant P2 in the rear side door 18). Not attached via brackets. Correspondingly, the light emitting portion 54 is disposed at the front end corner portion on the lower side of the quarter pillar 24. The light emitting unit 54 is arranged on the opposite side of the light receiving unit 52 on the door front-rear direction (door crossing direction) passing through the light receiving unit 52 and with the occupant P2 sitting on the rear seat. Accordingly, the light emitting section 48 on the front side door 16 side irradiates the detection light Q1 toward the vehicle rear side, whereas the light emitting section 54 on the rear side door 18 side irradiates the detection light Q2 toward the vehicle front side. Yes. For this reason, the optical path R2 on the rear side door 18 side is set to about half the length of the optical path R1 on the front side door 16 side. The rear end portion 28A of the door inner panel 36 of the rear side door 18 is also formed with a hole portion 56 for penetrating light.

  Further, a pressure sensor (pressure sensor) 58 as an outside detection means is attached to the surface side of the door outer panel 26 of the front side door 16 by an attaching means such as an adhesive or double-sided tape (not shown). The pressure sensor 58 is formed in a band shape, and is disposed in the vicinity of the middle portion in the height direction of the door main body 30 along the front-rear direction of the door. A pressure sensor 60 having the same configuration is also attached at the same position on the surface side of the door outer panel 34 of the rear side door 18.

  Next, the operation and effect of this embodiment will be described.

  First, the overall operation of the side collision detection device 10 will be described. Since the method of detecting the side collision is the same between the front side door 16 side and the rear side door 18 side, in the following description, only the detection of the side collision to the front side door 16 will be described. A description of the detection of the collision to the 18th side is omitted.

  At the time of non-collision, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the detection light Q1 emitted from the light emitting portion 48 on the front pillar 20 side is received by the light receiving portion 42 through the hole 50 of the front side door 16. (ON state). Similarly, the detection light Q2 emitted from the light emitting portion 54 on the quarter pillar 24 side is in a state (ON state) received by the light receiving portion 52 through the hole portion 56 of the rear side door 18. That is, the light receiving part 42 on the front side door 16 side and the light receiving part 52 on the rear side door 18 side maintain the light receiving state.

  From this state, for example, when a collision body 62 (see FIG. 3 and FIG. 4) such as an opponent vehicle collides with the front side door 16, the pressure sensor 58 attached to the surface of the front side door 16 is turned on. When the door outer panel 26 of the front side door 16 enters inward in the vehicle width direction, the light receiving unit 42 is moved relative to the light emitting unit 48 by being pushed by the entering door outer panel 26. When the relative movement amount exceeds a predetermined amount L (see FIG. 4A), the light receiving unit 42 changes from the light receiving state to the non-light receiving state. (Even when the relative movement amount of the light receiving unit 42 with respect to the light emitting unit 48 is less than the predetermined amount L, the optical path R1 from the light emitting unit 48 to the light receiving unit 42 is blocked by the intrusion of the door outer panel 26 of the front side door 16). In this case, of course, the light receiving unit 42 changes from the light receiving state to the non-light receiving state, and when the change in the light receiving state is detected, it is detected that the colliding body 62 has collided with the front side door 16. Is done.

  That is, in the present embodiment, the intrusion of the door outer panel 26 of the front side door 16 is detected and the collision body 62 is detected to have collided with the front side door 16. In addition, since the door outer panel 26 of the front side door 16 is generally formed of a thin plate and is disposed at the outermost part of the front side door 16, the impact beam having high rigidity as in the prior art is blocked to the optical path. Compared to a configuration in which the collision of the colliding body with the front side door can be detected only after being bent, the collision of the colliding body 62 with the front side door 16 can be detected at an extremely early stage.

  In summary, according to the side collision detection device 10 according to the present embodiment, the side collision state is detected based on the intrusion amounts of the door outer panel 26 of the front side door 16 and the door outer panel 34 of the rear side door 18 at the time of a side collision. As a result, the side collision state can be detected more quickly than in the prior art that does not change from the ON state to the OFF state unless the impact beam is bent and the optical path is blocked.

  Further, referring to the effect of the side collision detection apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment from the viewpoint of comparison with the prior art, in the case of the prior art, when the deformation of the impact beam 32 is a small deformation (for example, a collision object) If the impact beam does not bend in the vicinity of the middle part in the longitudinal direction when 62 is a counterpart vehicle, the impact beam is deformed so that it moves in parallel in the vehicle width direction, The impact beam does not bend near the middle in the longitudinal direction, as in the case of a pole or standing tree and collides with the vicinity of one end in the longitudinal direction of the impact beam. If the impact beam is deformed so that the entire impact beam rotates around the center), the side collision state cannot be detected. Since it is determined whether or not the side collision has occurred by paying attention to the intrusion amount of the outer panel 26, even when such a deformation of the impact beam is a small deformation that does not block the optical path, it is detected as a side collision state. There is an advantage that can be.

  In the present embodiment, since the pressure sensor 58 that detects the collision between the door outer panel 26 of the front side door 16 and the collision body 62 is provided outside the light receiving portion 42 in the vehicle width direction, the pressure sensor 58 is predetermined in the door thickness direction. Thus, two collision detection means are provided at positions separated by a distance of. Therefore, it is possible to detect that the collision body 62 has collided with the front side door 16 by the detection by the pressure sensor 58, and further, as shown in FIG. 4, the distance (L) between the pressure sensor 58 and the light receiving unit 42 is set in advance. By measuring, the pressure sensor 58 detects the collision between the door outer panel 26 of the front side door 16 and the collision body 62 from the time (t2) when the optical path R1 composed of the light emitting unit 48 and the light receiving unit 42 is blocked. The approximate intrusion speed of the collision body 62 can be obtained by subtracting the time (t1) and obtaining the difference (Δt) between the two. As a result, according to the present embodiment, the degree of impact on the occupant P1 can be estimated from the intrusion speed of the collision body 62, and further, the occupant is determined according to the intrusion speed of the collision body 62 (degree of impact on the occupant P1). The operation of the protection device can be finely controlled. This control method will be described later.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the detection light Q1 emitted from the light emitting portion 48 provided on the front pillar 20 passes through the hole portion 50 formed in the door inner panel 28 of the front side door 16 to the impact beam 32. Light is received by the attached light receiving unit 42. Accordingly, since the optical axis R1 connecting the light emitting part 48 and the light receiving part 42 can be arranged substantially parallel to the cabin 64, the intrusion amount of the door outer panel 26 of the front side door 16 with respect to the cabin 64 can be reduced. It can measure with high accuracy. As a result, according to the present embodiment, the side collision detection accuracy can be further improved.

  In the present embodiment, since the pressure sensor 58 as the outer detection means is provided on the surface side of the door outer panel 26 of the front side door 16, for example, the outer detection means is provided on the inner surface of the door outer panel 26 of the front side door 16. As compared with the case where the front side door 16 is provided, the detection start time of the collision of the colliding body 62 with the front side door 16 can be advanced, and the distance between the light receiving unit 42 and the outer side detection means (pressure sensor 58) becomes longer. Therefore, there is an advantage that the required performance (photoelectric conversion performance) for the light receiving unit 42 is relaxed accordingly. As a result, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to use an inexpensive light receiving unit 42 and reduce the cost of the entire apparatus. In addition, since the distance between the light receiving unit 42 and the outside detection means (the pressure sensor 58) can be increased, a case where it cannot be said that the collision with the assumed collision body 62 can be excluded from the detection target. Therefore, the reliability with respect to the side collision detection apparatus 10 can be improved. Incidentally, the above-mentioned distance L is set to a predetermined dimension according to the vehicle type.

  Further, by providing the outer side detection means on the surface side of the door outer panel 26 of the front side door 16, there is an advantage that a sensing system for predicting a collision can be easily mounted.

  In addition, since the outer detection means is constituted by the long pressure sensor 58 arranged along the front-rear direction of the door on the surface of the door outer panel 26 of the front side door 16, sensing using an optical element for the outer detection means. Compared to the case where a system is adopted, there are no restrictions such as matching the optical axis. Therefore, the outside detection means can be easily installed on the surface side of the door outer panel 26 of the front side door 16 accordingly.

  The operations and effects described above are similarly applied to the rear side door 18 side.

≪About judgment logic≫
Next, with reference to FIG. 5 to FIG. 12, the determination logic when the side collision detection apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is used will be described with specific examples.

<First determination chart 100>
In the first determination chart 100 shown in FIG. 5A, a large frame is determined based on the ON / OFF signal of the outside detection sensor. In this table, “Fr outside” means an outside detection sensor on the front side door 16 side, and specifically indicates the pressure sensor 58. Further, “outside Rr” means an outside detection sensor on the rear side door 18 side, and specifically indicates the pressure sensor 60.

  For example, when the outside of Fr is ON and the outside of Rr is ON, it means that both the pressure sensor 58 of the front side door 16 and the pressure sensor 60 of the rear side door 18 are turned on. The “barrier logic” 102 that is regarded as the opponent vehicle is selected. On the other hand, when the outside of Fr is ON, if the outside of Rr is OFF, it means that only the pressure sensor 58 of the front side door 16 has been turned ON. Therefore, the collision body is regarded as a pole or a standing tree. "104" is selected.

  Further, when the outside of Fr is OFF, if the outside of Rr is ON, it means that only the pressure sensor 60 of the rear side door 18 is turned on, so “Rr pole logic” 106 is selected. On the other hand, when the outside of Fr is OFF, if the outside of Rr is also OFF, it means that both the pressure sensor 58 of the front side door 16 and the pressure sensor 60 of the rear side door 18 are maintained in the OFF state. “OFF logic” 108 is selected.

<Second determination chart 110>
FIG. 5B shows a second determination chart 110 for determining which occupant protection device to be activated individually and specifically based on the ON / OFF signal of the light receiving unit 42 constituting the inside detection sensor. . From the left, “barrier” means “barrier logic” 102 described above, “Fr pole” means “Fr pole logic” 104, and “Rr pole” means “Rr pole logic” 106. , “OFF” means “OFF logic” 108. Further, how to read the table of each logic is the same as that of the first determination logic 100 in the outline of FIG. In the table, “CSA” means a curtain shield airbag device that deploys the head protection airbag in a curtain shape below the roof side rail section across the front and rear seats, and “SAB” is the side with the seat. An air bag device is meant.

(Barrier Logic 102)
When “barrier logic” 102 is selected (determined) in FIG. 5A, as shown in FIG. 5B, the light receiving unit 42 that is the Fr internal sensor and the light receiving unit 52 that is the Rr internal sensor. Are in the OFF state (in the case of reference numeral 110), the opponent vehicle 66 (barrier) which is a colliding body collides across both the front side door 16 and the rear side door 18, and the intrusion amount of the door outer panels 26 and 34 also increases. Since this is a case where the predetermined amount is exceeded (as shown in FIG. 6), the curtain shield airbag device is activated and at the same time the side airbag device on the front side door 16 side and the rear side door 18 side Both side airbag devices are activated simultaneously.

  Further, when the light receiving unit 42 that is the Fr internal sensor is in the ON state and the light receiving unit 52 that is the Rr internal sensor is in the OFF state (in the case of reference numeral 112), the counterpart vehicle 66 (barrier) that is the collision body is the rear side door 18. Since the curtain shield airbag device is activated, the side airbag device on the rear side door 18 side is activated simultaneously. On the other hand, when the light receiving unit 52 that is the Rr internal sensor is in the ON state and the light receiving unit 42 that is the Fr internal sensor is in the OFF state (in the case of reference numeral 114), the opponent vehicle 66 (barrier) that is the collision body is the front side. Since this is a case where the vehicle collides with the door 16 (as shown in FIG. 7), the side airbag device on the front side door 16 side is activated simultaneously with the operation of the curtain shield airbag device. .

  On the other hand, when both the light receiving unit 42 that is the Fr internal sensor and the light receiving unit 52 that is the Rr internal sensor are in the ON state (reference numeral 116), the pressure sensor 58 on the front side door 16 side and the pressure sensor on the rear side door 18 side. Since only 60 is in the ON state, it is considered that the collision with the assumed collision object is not possible, such as when the front side door 16 and the rear side door 18 are both closed tightly. The protection device becomes OFF logic that does not operate anything.

(Fr pole logic 104)
When “Fr pole logic” 104 is selected (determined) in FIG. 5 (A), as shown in FIG. 5 (B), when only the light receiving unit 42 which is the Fr internal sensor is in the OFF state (reference numeral 118) in the case where the pole 68, which is a collision body, collides with the front side door 16 side and the intrusion amount of the door outer panel 26 exceeds a predetermined amount (as shown by a solid line in FIG. 8). Therefore, the side airbag device on the side of the front side door 16 is operated simultaneously with the operation of the curtain shield airbag device.

  On the other hand, when both the light receiving unit 42 which is the Fr internal sensor and the light receiving unit 52 which is the Rr internal sensor are in the ON state (in the case of reference numeral 120), the situation is that the collision object as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. Since it is considered that a certain pole 68 collides with the center pillar 22, only the curtain shield airbag device is operated.

(Fr pole logic 106)
When “Rr pole logic” 106 is selected (determined) in FIG. 5 (A), as shown in FIG. 5 (B), when only the light receiving unit 52 that is the Rr internal sensor is in the OFF state (reference numeral 122), the pole 68, which is a collision body, collides with the rear side door 18 side, and the intrusion amount of the door outer panel 34 exceeds a predetermined amount (the situation is shown by a broken line in FIG. 8). Therefore, the side airbag device on the front side door 16 side is activated simultaneously with the activation of the curtain shield airbag device.

  On the other hand, when both the light receiving unit 42 that is the Fr internal sensor and the light receiving unit 52 that is the Rr internal sensor are in the ON state (in the case of reference numeral 124), the situation is a collision body as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 8. Since it is considered that the pole 68 collides with the front side of the rear side door 18, only the curtain shield airbag device is operated.

(OFF logic 108)
In FIG. 5A, when “OFF pole logic” 108 is selected (determined), the pressure sensor 58 that is the Fr external sensor and the pressure sensor 60 that is the Rr external sensor are both not turned ON. is there. However, even in this case, the collision body does not always collide with the vehicle body side portion 14. For this reason, as a safety function, a lateral G sensor (not shown) provided at the lower part of the center pillar and a yawing sensor (not shown) provided near the center of the vehicle floor are used to ensure a high level of passenger protection. To do.

  If both the lateral G sensor and the yawing sensor are currently turned on (in the case of reference numeral 126), the pressure sensor 58 on the front side door 16 side is not turned on, and the light receiving unit 42 also maintains the light receiving state. The pressure sensor 60 on the side of the rear side door 18 is not turned on, and the light receiving part 54 is also in the light receiving state, but this means a case where a collision object collides with another part of the vehicle body side part 14 or the like. The curtain shield airbag device is activated, and the side airbag device on the front side door 16 side and the side airbag device on the rear side door 18 side are simultaneously activated.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, when the opponent vehicle 66 that is a colliding body collides with the front side of the front side door 16, or as shown in FIG. 10, it is a colliding body on the rear side of the rear side door 18. When the opponent vehicle 66 collides, the lateral G sensor below the center pillar does not turn on, but the vehicle yaws, so at least the yawing sensor is turned on. In such a case, the same control as described above is performed (in the case of code 128).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 11, when the opponent vehicle 66 collides with the front side of the front side door 16 and the rear side of the rear side door 18 at the same time, or as shown in FIG. 12, the front side door 16 When the large opponent vehicle 70 collides with both the rear side door 18 and the rear side door 18 substantially vertically, the vehicle is in a state of substantially parallel movement. Therefore, the vehicle does not yaw, so that the yawing sensor is turned on. Although there is no, at least the lateral G sensor below the center pillar is turned on. In such a case, the same control as described above is performed (in the case of symbol 130).

  If neither the lateral G sensor nor the yawing sensor is turned on, it is not necessary to operate the occupant protection device, so nothing is operated (in the case of reference numeral 132).

  Thus, the operation of the occupant protection device suitable for the situation can be performed only by controlling based on the ON / OFF signals of the pressure sensor 58 and the light receiving unit 42 on the front side door 16 side and the pressure sensor 60 and the light receiving unit 52 on the rear side door 18 side. However, if the side collision detection device 10 according to the present embodiment is used, the collision speed (impact level) of the collision body 62 can be detected as described above. Furthermore, it becomes possible to perform fine control by dividing by the collision speed. For example, it is possible to change the output of the inflator that supplies gas to the airbag device depending on whether or not the collision speed of the collision body 62 is 50 km / h or higher. In that sense, it can be said that the side collision detection device 10 according to the present embodiment enables various occupant protection devices to be operated with an optimal combination and timing.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the side collision detection apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, about the same component as 1st Embodiment mentioned above, the same number is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 13A and 13C, in the side collision detection device 140 according to the second embodiment, a pair of second optical path forming means is formed at the outer corners of the door mirror 142 of the front side door 16. A first light emitting unit 144 and a second light receiving unit 146 are provided. Correspondingly, a pair of first light-receiving portions 148 and second light-emitting portions 150 serving as second optical path forming means are provided on the rear end surface of the rocker 152 (the range that does not cover the rear side door 18). . The first light emitting unit 144 and the first light receiving unit 148 are paired, and the second light emitting unit 150 and the second light receiving unit 146 are paired to form bidirectional optical paths R3 and R4. . Further, as shown in FIG. 13B, the first light emitting unit 144, the first light receiving unit 148, the second light emitting unit 150, and the second light receiving unit 146 are deep slits 154 so as not to malfunction due to light from the outside. Are formed respectively.

(Action / Effect)
According to the above configuration, the two detection lights Q3 and Q4 pass substantially diagonally in the vicinity of the surfaces of the door outer panel 26 of the front side door 16 and the door outer panel 34 of the rear side door 18 in a non-contact state. The optical paths R3 and R4 are formed. In this state, when the collision body 62 collides with the front side door 16 or the rear side door 18 or both, the detection lights Q3 and Q4 are blocked in this order, and the first light receiving part 148 and the second light receiving part 146 are turned on in this order. The state changes from OFF to OFF. The subsequent operation is the same as that of the first embodiment described above.

  Therefore, the side collision detection device 140 is configured such that, for example, the pressure sensors 58 and 60 used in the first embodiment are attached to the surfaces of the front side door 16 and the rear side door 18, so It can be said to be suitable when the design concept is damaged. In other words, the outside detection means can be set without being restricted by the design of the front side door 16 and the rear side door 18.

  In the above configuration, the first light emitting unit 144 and the second light receiving unit 146 are provided on the door mirror 142 side, and the first light receiving unit 148 and the second light emitting unit 150 are provided behind the rocker 152. Not limited to this, as long as it can be provided in a non-contact manner on the door outer plate in a direction crossing the front side door 16 and the rear side door 18 (which may be replaced with the cabin 64) in a side view, it may be installed anywhere.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, 3rd Embodiment of the side collision detection apparatus which concerns on this invention is described using FIGS. 14-16. In addition, about the same component as 1st Embodiment mentioned above, the same number is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 14 to 16, the side collision detection device 160 according to the third embodiment is characterized in that a reinforcing cover 162 is provided on the light emitting portions 48 and 54. The reinforcing cover 162 has a substantially box shape capable of covering the light emitting portion 48, and has a substantially U-shape when viewed in plan view. That is, the opening 164 is formed in the reinforcing cover 162 only in the irradiation direction of the detection lights Q1 and Q2.

(Action / Effect)
According to the above configuration, since the reinforcing cover 162 having the opening 164 is provided around the light emitting units 48 and 54 in the light irradiation direction, the light irradiation from the light emitting units 48 and 54 to the light receiving units 42 and 52 is performed. It is possible to prevent rainwater, dust, and the like from adhering to the light emitting portions 48 and 54 without being hindered. Particularly in cold regions, it is conceivable that ice that has formed on the surface of the light emitting units 48 and 54 and the body surface in the vicinity of the light emitting units 48 and 54 grows and damages the light emitting units 48 and 54. Accordingly, since the light emitting portions 48 and 54 are covered with the reinforcing cover 162, it is possible to prevent the light emitting portions 48 and 54 from being damaged by the ice that has formed ice. As a result, it is possible to improve the reliability of side collision detection particularly in cold regions.

  In addition, by covering the light emitting units 48 and 54 with the reinforcing cover 162, the time for detecting a collision with a collision object can be shortened. That is, FIG. 14 is an example in which the opponent vehicle 66 that is a colliding body collides with the front side door 16 side, but when the intrusion amount of the door outer panel 26 of the front side door 16 is less than L, the door inner panel 28 The reinforcing cover 162 is pressed and deformed by the front end portion 28A inward in the vehicle width direction, and the opening 164 is closed. This forcibly changes the light receiving unit 42 from the ON state to the OFF state. Therefore, the time for detecting the collision with the collision body 66 can be shortened. In that sense, the reinforcing cover 162 of the present embodiment is an element that can be grasped as a blocking (light-blocking) means for forcibly blocking (blocking) the optical paths Q1 and Q2.

  Incidentally, FIG. 15 shows an example in which an opponent vehicle 66 as a collision body collides with the rear side door 18 side, and FIG. 16 shows an example in which a pole 68 as a collision body collides with the front pillar 20 side or the quarter pillar 24 side. In any case, the same actions and effects as those shown in FIG. 14 can be obtained.

[Supplementary explanation of the embodiment]
In the above embodiment, the light receiving portions 48 and 52 are attached to the impact beams 32 and 40 via brackets (not shown). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the door outer panels 26 and 34 are provided with brackets on the vehicle interior side surfaces. Or may be attached directly. In this case, the sensitivity of the side collision detection devices 10, 140, and 160 becomes more sensitive.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the light emission part 42 was attached to the outer surface of the front pillar 20, not only this but the light emission part 42 is provided in the inside of the front pillar 20 when pillar rigidity can be ensured. Also good. In this case, the hole 50 may be set in both the front pillar 20 and the front end portion 28 </ b> A of the door inner panel 28 of the front side door 16.

It is a plane sectional view showing the whole side collision detection device composition concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a side view of the vehicle carrying the side collision detection apparatus shown by FIG. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the detection principle of the side collision detection apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a determination chart which shows an example of control of a crew member protection device using a side collision detection device concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the assembly state corresponding to FIG. 1 which shows the whole structure of the side collision detection apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view corresponding to FIG. 1 illustrating an example in which a counterpart vehicle has collided with the side of the rear side door. It is a plane sectional view corresponding to Drawing 1 showing the example which the other party vehicle collided with the side of the front side door. It is a plane sectional view corresponding to Drawing 1 showing the example which the other party vehicle collided with the front side of the front side door. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view corresponding to FIG. 1 illustrating an example in which a counterpart vehicle has collided sideways in front of a rear side door. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view corresponding to FIG. 1 illustrating an example in which two counterpart vehicles have simultaneously collided with the front side of the front side door and the rear side of the rear side door at the same time. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view corresponding to FIG. 1 illustrating an example in which a large counterpart vehicle has a side collision across the entire area of both the front side door and the rear side door. It is a figure which shows the side collision detection apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, (A) is a side view of the vehicle which shows the outline | summary of an outer side detection means, (B) is a 1st light emission part, a 2nd light-receiving part, 1st It is a top view which shows the two-system optical path which consists of a light-receiving part and a 2nd light emission part, (C) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a front side door. It is a figure which shows the side collision detection apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment, and is a plane sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1 which shows the example which the other party vehicle collided to the front side door side. It is a figure which shows the side collision detection apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment, and is a plane sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1 which shows the example which the other party vehicle collided to the rear side door side. It is a figure which shows the side collision detection apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment, and is a plane sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1 which shows the example which the pole collided with the front pillar side or the quarter pillar side.

Explanation of symbols

10 Side collision detection device 12 Vehicle 16 Front side door (vehicle door)
18 Rear side door (vehicle door)
20 Front pillar (vehicle side)
24 Quarter pillar (vehicle body side)
26 Door outer panel (outer plate)
28 Door inner panel (inner plate)
32 Impact beam (reinforcement member)
34 Door outer panel (outer plate)
36 Door inner panel (inner plate)
40 Impact beam (reinforcing member)
42 light receiving part 48 light emitting part 50 hole part (first optical path forming means)
52 Light-receiving part 54 Light-emitting part 56 Hole (optical path forming means)
58 Pressure sensor (outside detection means)
60 Pressure sensor (outside detection means)
62 Colliding body 66 Opponent vehicle (collision body)
68 Pole (impact)
70 opponent vehicle (impact)
140 Side collision detection device 142 Door mirror 144 First light emitting section (second optical path forming means)
146 2nd light-receiving part (2nd optical path formation means)
148 1st light-receiving part (2nd optical path formation means)
150 2nd light emission part (2nd optical path formation means)
160 Side collision detection device 162 Reinforcement cover 164 Opening P1 Crew P2 Crew L Distance (predetermined amount)
Q1 detection light Q2 detection light R1 optical path R2 optical path

Claims (7)

A side collision detection device that detects a deformation of a vehicle door by a change in a light receiving state along a door crossing direction,
A light receiving unit disposed in the vicinity of a seated passenger in the vehicle door;
A light emitting part that is disposed on the opposite side of the light receiving part on the side of the door passing through the light receiving part on the vehicle body side and sandwiching a seated passenger, and emitting light toward the light receiving part;
A first optical path forming unit provided on both the vehicle door or the vehicle door and the vehicle body side, and causing the light receiving unit to receive light emitted from the light emitting unit;
Comprising
The light receiving unit blocks the light path from the light emitting unit to the light receiving unit when the relative movement of the light receiving unit with respect to the light emitting unit exceeds a predetermined amount due to the penetration of the outer plate of the vehicle door and when the outer plate of the vehicle door enters. Change from the light receiving state to the non-light receiving state when
The side collision detection apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. The vehicle door is provided outside the light receiving portion in the vehicle width direction and includes an outer detection means for detecting or predicting a collision between the outer plate of the vehicle door and a collision body.
The side collision detection device according to claim 1. The outer side detection means is provided on the surface side of the outer plate of the vehicle door,
The side collision detection device according to claim 2. The outer side detection means is a long pressure-sensitive sensor arranged along the door transverse direction on the surface of the outer plate of the vehicle door.
The side collision detection apparatus according to claim 3. The outer side detection means is a second optical path forming means for forming an optical path in the direction crossing the door of the vehicle door and passing near the surface of the outer plate of the vehicle door.
The side collision detection apparatus according to claim 3. The light emitting part is provided on a pillar part disposed substantially along the vehicle vertical direction on the side of the vehicle body, and the light receiving part is a long door provided in the vehicle door along the door crossing direction. It is provided on the reinforcing member,
Furthermore, the first optical path forming means is a light beam penetrating hole provided in the inner plate of the vehicle door.
The side collision detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: Around the light emitting part, there is provided a reinforcing cover that covers the light emitting part and has an opening formed in the light irradiation direction.
The side collision detection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the side collision detection apparatus is characterized.

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