JP2009018735A - Vehicular collision sensing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular collision detection device capable of suppressing fluctuation of detected pressure attributable to the vibration in a chamber member for detecting the pressure and the vibration in a pressure sensor. <P>SOLUTION: The vehicular collision detection device comprises a chamber member 7 which is arranged above and adjacent to an absorber 6 on the front side of a vehicle of a bumper reinforcement 4 in a vehicle bumper 2 with a chamber space 7a being formed therein, a pressure sensor 8 which is fitted to the chamber member 7 to detect the pressure change in the chamber space 7a, and a pedestrian protective device ECU 9 for detecting the collision of a pedestrian or the like on the vehicle bumper 2 based on the result of detection by the pressure sensor 8. The pressure sensor 8 holds the bumper reinforcement 4 by fixing screws 10, and is screw-fixed to the chamber member 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle collision detection device that detects a collision of a pedestrian or the like with a vehicle bumper, and more particularly, a chamber member is disposed in front of a bumper reinforcement in a vehicle bumper, and pressure change in the chamber space is detected. The present invention relates to a vehicle collision detection device configured to detect a collision of a pedestrian or the like to a vehicle bumper by detecting with a sensor.

  In recent years, for the purpose of protecting pedestrians, in order to protect pedestrians, if an obstacle discriminating device is attached to the vehicle bumper part, it is determined whether or not the collision target is a pedestrian at the time of vehicle collision. Techniques for operating these devices (for example, active hoods and cowl airbags) have been proposed, and their practical application has been studied.

That is, when the obstacle which collided is not a pedestrian, various bad influences will arise if the protective device (for example, active hood) on a hood is operated. For example, if it cannot be distinguished from a pedestrian when it collides with a lightweight fallen object such as a triangular cone or a signboard during construction, an extra repair cost is generated by operating the protective device wastefully. In addition, if it is indistinguishable from a pedestrian when it collides with a fixed object such as a concrete wall or a vehicle, the hood will move backward with the hood lifted up. is there. As described above, since it is required to accurately discriminate whether or not the obstacle is a pedestrian, a chamber member is conventionally disposed in front of the bumper reinforcement in the vehicle bumper. A vehicle collision detection device configured to detect a collision of a pedestrian or the like with a vehicle bumper by detecting a pressure change in the chamber space with a pressure sensor has been proposed (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). Etc.).
International Publication No. 2005/098384 JP 2006-117157 A

  However, in the pressure detection type vehicle collision detection device, the pressure detection value of the pressure sensor may fluctuate due to the vibration of the chamber member or the pressure sensor, not due to the collision in the vehicle bumper. There is a possibility of degrading the detection performance. For example, it is conceivable that pressure fluctuations occur in the chamber space due to the vibration of the chamber member, not due to the collision in the vehicle bumper. It is also conceivable that the pressure detection value varies due to the vibration of the pressure sensor attached to the chamber member.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle collision detection device capable of suppressing fluctuations in a pressure detection value caused by vibration in a pressure detection chamber member and pressure sensor. .

  Hereinafter, each means suitable for solving the above-described problems will be described with additional effects and the like as necessary.

1. An absorber that is arranged in the vehicle bumper on the front side of the bumper reinforcement and that is deformed and absorbs an impact in accordance with a collision, and is located above or below the absorber on the vehicle front side of the bumper reinforcement in the vehicle bumper. A chamber member which is disposed adjacently and has a chamber space formed therein, a pressure sensor which is attached to the chamber member and detects a pressure change in the chamber space, and the vehicle bumper based on a detection result by the pressure sensor In a vehicle collision detection device comprising a collision detection means for detecting a collision of a pedestrian or the like,
The chamber member is positioned or fixed relative to the bumper force;
The vehicle collision detection device, wherein the pressure sensor is fixed to the bumper force or to both the chamber member and the bumper force.

  According to the first aspect, the chamber member is positioned or fixed with respect to the bumper force, so that the chamber member and the bumper force are substantially integrated. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the pressure fluctuation in the chamber space caused by the vibration of the chamber member without causing the collision in the vehicle bumper. In addition, since the pressure sensor is fixed to the bumper force or to both the chamber member and the bumper force, the vibration of the pressure sensor is surely suppressed, and the pressure detection value caused by the vibration of the pressure sensor is reduced. Variations can be suppressed.

  2. The collision detection apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is fixed to the chamber member with the bumper reinforcement sandwiched by a fixing member.

  According to the means 2, since the pressure sensor is fixed to the chamber member by sandwiching the bumper force with the fixing member, the chamber member is fixed to the bumper force and the pressure sensor is fixed to the chamber member and the bumper force. Can be realized simultaneously with a simple configuration.

3. The chamber member has an extending portion that extends along one of the upper, lower, left, and right sides of the bumper force.
The vehicle collision detection device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is fixed to the extended portion by a fixing member.

  According to the means 3, the chamber member has an extending portion extending along one of the upper, lower, left and right side surfaces of the bumper reinforcement, and the pressure sensor is fixed to the extending portion by the fixing member. Therefore, the pressure sensor can be reliably fixed to the chamber member with a simple configuration.

4). In the bumper reinforcement, a bracket is attached to the side surface where the extended portion of the chamber member is extended,
4. The vehicle collision detection device according to claim 3, wherein the pressure sensor is fixed to the extended portion by a fixing member through the bracket.

  According to the means 4, the bumper reinforcement has the bracket attached to the side surface where the extending portion of the chamber member is extended, and the pressure sensor is fixed to the extending portion by the fixing member via the bracket. Therefore, the fixing of the chamber member to the bumper force and the fixing of the pressure sensor to the chamber member and the bumper force can be realized simultaneously with a simple configuration.

5). The absorber has a notch that can accommodate the pressure sensor on a surface adjacent to the chamber member;
The means 1 is characterized in that the pressure sensor is fixed to the bumper force or to both the chamber member and the bumper force with a fixing member in a state of being accommodated in the notch. The vehicle collision detection device as described.

  According to the means 5, the pressure sensor is housed in the notch provided on the surface of the absorber adjacent to the chamber member, so that vibration is suppressed, and in addition, the pressure sensor is housed in the notch. The vibration is further suppressed by being fixed to the bumper force by the fixing member or to both the chamber member and the bumper force.

6). The chamber member has a positioning protrusion that protrudes with respect to the bumper force,
The vehicle collision detection device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is fixed to the positioning protrusion.

  According to the means 6, since the chamber member has the positioning protrusion that protrudes with respect to the bumper reinforcement, and the pressure sensor is fixed with respect to the positioning protrusion, the chamber member is fixed to the bumper reinforcement. Fixing of the pressure sensor to the chamber member and the bumper force can be realized simultaneously with a simple configuration.

  7). The vehicle collision detection device according to any one of means 2 to 6, wherein the fixing member is a screw member.

  According to the means 7, since the fixing member is a screw member, the pressure sensor can be firmly fixed to the chamber member and / or the bumper reinforcement with a simple and inexpensive configuration.

  8). 8. The vehicle collision detection device according to any one of means 1 to 7, wherein the chamber member is disposed above the absorber.

  According to the means 8, since the chamber member is disposed above the absorber, it is possible to absorb the impact of the collision on the vehicle bumper lower side, and the pedestrian's leg protection effect is particularly high. Further, by disposing the chamber member on the upper side of the absorber, for example, the determination accuracy of whether the collision object is a fixed object on the road or a pedestrian (human body) is improved.

  Embodiments of the vehicle collision detection device according to the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the interior of a vehicle bumper 2 equipped with a vehicle collision detection apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view thereof.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle collision detection device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a chamber member 7 disposed in the vehicle bumper 2, a pressure sensor 8, and a pedestrian protection device electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as a “pedestrian protection device electronic control unit”). The electronic control unit is composed mainly of 9).

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle bumper 2 is mainly composed of a bumper cover 3, a bumper reinforcement 4, a side member 5, an absorber 6, and a chamber member 7.

  The bumper cover 3 is a resin (for example, polypropylene) cover member that extends in the vehicle width direction at the front end of the vehicle and is attached to the vehicle body so as to cover the bumper reinforcement 4, the absorber 6, and the chamber member 7.

  The bumper reinforcement 4 is a metal beam-like member that is disposed in the bumper cover 3 and extends in the vehicle width direction.

  The side members 5 are a pair of metal members that are located in the vicinity of both the left and right side surfaces of the vehicle and extend in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the bumper reinforcement 4 described above is attached to the front end thereof. A configuration may be adopted in which a crash box is provided at the tip of the side member 5 and the bumper force 4 is attached via the crash box.

  The absorber 6 is a foamed resin member that extends in the vehicle width direction and is attached to the lower side of the front surface 4 a of the bumper reinforcement 4 within the bumper cover 3, and exhibits an impact absorbing function in the vehicle bumper 2. The length of the absorber 6 in the vehicle front-rear direction varies depending on the vehicle type, but is, for example, about 40 to 100 mm. In addition, as the absorber 6, you may use what bent the iron plate and made it the substantially cylindrical body.

  The chamber member 7 is a substantially box-shaped synthetic resin member that extends in the vehicle width direction and is attached to the upper side of the bumper reinforcement front surface 4a within the bumper cover 3, and is substantially surrounded by a wall surface having a thickness of several millimeters. A sealed chamber space 7a is formed. The chamber member 7 has two effects of impact absorption and pressure transmission in the vehicle bumper 2. At the center of the rear end surface 7b of the chamber member 7, a blowout port 7c into which the pressure introduction tube 8b is inserted is provided, and a fixing screw 10 for fixing the pressure sensor 8 is screwed up and down across the blowout port 7c. Screw holes 7h to be formed are respectively formed.

  The pressure sensor 8 is a sensor device that can detect a gas pressure, and includes a rectangular block-shaped sensor main body 8a and a pipe-shaped pressure introduction pipe 8b that introduces the gas pressure into the sensor main body 8a. The pressure sensor 8 introduces the gas pressure in the chamber space 7a to the sensor main body 8a via the pressure introduction pipe 8b, and detects a pressure change. The sensor main body 8a outputs an analog voltage signal proportional to the pressure, and transmits a signal to the pedestrian protection apparatus ECU9 via the signal line 9a. The sensor body 8a is provided with two screw insertion holes 8h through which the feet of the fixing screw 10 are inserted.

  The pressure sensor 8 is configured such that the two fixing screws 10 are inserted into the screw insertion holes 8h of the sensor body 8a and the vane in a state where the pressure introduction tube 8b is inserted from the back side of the bumper reinforcement into the outlet 7c of the chamber member 7. Each of the through holes 4h of the palinforce 4 is inserted into the through hole 4h, and further screwed into the screw hole 7h of the chamber member 7 to be tightened, so that the bumper force 4 is sandwiched and fixed to the chamber member 7 with screws. In addition, the periphery of the pressure introducing pipe 8b inserted into the blowout port 7c of the chamber member 7 is sealed by an O-ring (not shown) so that the airtightness of the chamber space 7a is ensured.

  The pedestrian protection device ECU9 is an electronic control device for performing deployment control of a pedestrian protection airbag (not shown), and is configured such that a signal output from the pressure sensor 8 is input via a signal line 9a. ing. The pedestrian protection device ECU 9 executes processing for determining whether or not a pedestrian (that is, a human body) has collided with the vehicle bumper 2 based on the pressure detection result in the pressure sensor 8. In addition to the pressure detection result in the pressure sensor 8, a vehicle speed detection result from a vehicle speed sensor (not shown) is input to the pedestrian protection device ECU 9, and a pedestrian collision is determined based on the pressure detection result and the vehicle speed detection result. It is preferable to configure as described above.

  Next, the operation of each part when a collision with the vehicle bumper 2 occurs in the above-described vehicle collision detection apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state in which a pedestrian collision has occurred in the vehicle bumper 2.

  The state of the vehicle bumper 2 before the occurrence of the collision is as shown in FIGS. When a pedestrian collision occurs in the vehicle bumper 2, as shown in FIG. 3, the absorber 6 is pressed against the bumper reinforcement front surface 4a and is compressed and deformed. Similarly to the bumper absorber 6, the chamber member 7 is also pressed against the bumper reinforcement front surface 4a to be compressed and deformed, thereby causing a pressure change in the chamber space 7a.

  The pressure sensor 8 attached to the chamber member 7 detects a pressure change in the chamber space 7a, outputs an analog voltage signal proportional to the pressure, and transmits a signal to the pedestrian protection device ECU 9 via the signal line 9a. To do. The pedestrian protection device ECU 9 executes a process of determining whether or not a pedestrian (that is, a human body) has collided with the vehicle bumper 2 based on the pressure detection result input via the signal line 9a. When a collision is detected, a pedestrian protection device (not shown) can be activated.

  As is clear from the above-described details, according to the vehicle collision detection device 1 of the present embodiment, the vehicle bumper 2 is disposed on the vehicle front side of the bumper reinforcement 4 and is deformed in accordance with the collision to cause an impact. An absorber 6 to be absorbed, a chamber member 7 that is disposed adjacent to and above the absorber 6 on the vehicle front side of the bumper reinforcement 4 in the vehicle bumper 2, and in which a chamber space 7 a is formed, and is attached to the chamber member 7. A pressure sensor 8 for detecting a pressure change in the chamber space 7a, and a pedestrian protection device ECU 9 as a collision detection means for detecting a collision of a pedestrian or the like to the vehicle bumper 2 based on a detection result by the pressure sensor 8. The chamber member 7 is fixed with respect to the bumper force 4, and the pressure sensor 8 is fixed with respect to the chamber member 7 and the bumper force 4. In particular, the pressure sensor 8 is screwed and fixed to the chamber member 7 with the bumper reinforcement 4 sandwiched by a fixing screw 10 as a fixing member, and the pressure sensor 8 is not only the chamber member 7 but also the bumper ring. It is also characterized by being directly fixed to the force 4.

  Therefore, since the chamber member 7 and the bumper reinforcement 4 are substantially integrated, the occurrence of vibration in the chamber member 7 is surely suppressed, and the chamber member 7 is not caused by the occurrence of a collision in the vehicle bumper 2. Pressure fluctuations in the chamber space 7a caused by vibration can be suppressed. Further, since the pressure sensor 8 is directly fixed to the chamber member 7 and the bumper force 4, the vibration of the pressure sensor 8 is surely suppressed, and the fluctuation of the pressure detection value caused by the vibration of the pressure sensor 8 is suppressed. can do.

  In addition, since the fixing screw 10 is used as a fixing member for fixing the pressure sensor 8 to the chamber member 7 and the bumper force 4, it can be firmly fixed with a simple and inexpensive configuration.

  In this embodiment, since the chamber member 7 is disposed above the absorber 6, it is possible to absorb the impact of the collision on the lower side of the vehicle bumper 2, and the pedestrian's leg protection effect is particularly high. Further, by disposing the chamber member 7 on the upper side of the absorber 6, for example, the determination accuracy of whether the collision object is a fixed object on the road or a pedestrian (human body) is improved.

  Next, the vehicle collision detection device 21 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. 4A is a plan view showing a fixed state of the pressure sensor 8 in the vehicle collision detection device 21 of the second embodiment, FIG. 4B is a side view, and FIG. 4C is a rear view. . In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the member same as 1st embodiment, and detailed description about them is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the chamber member 7 has an extending portion 7 d extending along the upper surface of the bumper force 4, and the bumper force 4 is formed by extending the chamber member 7. The bracket 11 is attached to the upper surface where the portion 7d is extended by welding or the like, and the pressure sensor 6 is screwed and fixed to the extended portion 7d with the fixing screw 10 via the bracket 11. . The bracket 11 is formed in a bridge shape by bending an iron plate or the like.

  According to this embodiment, the fixing of the chamber member 7 to the bumper force 4 and the fixing of the pressure sensor 8 to the chamber member 7 and the bumper force 4 can be realized simultaneously with a simple configuration.

  Next, a vehicle collision detection device 31 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5A is a plan view showing the interior of the vehicle bumper 2 in the vehicle collision detection device 31 of the third embodiment, and FIG. 5B is a side view.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the absorber 6 has a notch 6 d capable of accommodating the pressure sensor 8 on the upper surface adjacent to the chamber member 7, and the sensor body 8 a is notched in the pressure sensor 8. It is characterized in that it is fixed to the bumper force 4 by a fixing screw 10 while being accommodated in the portion 6d. A positioning projection 7p is formed on the rear end surface of the chamber member 7 so that the chamber projection 7 is fitted into the positioning hole 4u provided in the bumper reinforcement 4 so that the chamber member 7 Is positioned against.

  According to the present embodiment, the pressure sensor 8 is fixed to the bumper force 4 so as to vibrate together with the vibration being suppressed by being housed in the notch 6 d of the absorber 6. By virtue of being firmly fixed to the bumper force 4 by 10, vibrations can be further suppressed.

  Next, a vehicle collision detection device 41 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating the interior of the vehicle bumper 2 in the vehicle collision detection device 41 according to the fourth embodiment.

  In this embodiment, a positioning projection 7p is formed to protrude from the rear end surface of the chamber member 7, and the positioning projection 7p is fitted into a positioning hole 4u provided in the bumper reinforcement 4 so that the chamber member 7 is bumper reinforcement. 4, and the pressure sensor 8 is fixed to the positioning projection 7 p with a fixing screw 10.

  According to this embodiment, the positioning of the chamber member 7 with respect to the bumper force 4 and the fixing of the pressure sensor 8 with respect to the chamber member 7 can be simultaneously realized with a simple configuration.

  Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, in the second embodiment, the extending portion 7d is configured to extend along the upper surface of the bumper force 4, but may be configured to extend along the left and right side surfaces of the bumper force 4. Good. Further, in the case where the chamber member 7 and the bumper reinforcement 4 are positioned by the engagement of the protrusions, the bracket 11 is omitted and the pressure sensor 8 is fixed only to the chamber member 7 by the fixing screw 10. It is good.

  In the third embodiment, the pressure sensor 8 is fixed to the bumper force 4 with the fixing screw 10. However, the pressure sensor 8 may be fixed to the chamber member 7.

  In the fourth embodiment, the bumper force 4 is provided with the positioning hole 4u, and the positioning protrusion 7p of the chamber member 7 is fitted into the positioning hole 4u so that the chamber member 7 is fixed to the bumper force 4. However, it may be configured to be engaged with the upper end of the bumper force 4 as in the first modification shown in FIG.

  Further, in addition to the configuration of the fourth embodiment, a positioning projection 7q is provided on the lower end surface of the chamber member 7 as in the second modification shown in FIG. The positioning may also be performed.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used when it is necessary to suppress fluctuations in a pressure detection value caused by vibration in a pressure detection type vehicle collision detection device.

It is a top view seeing through the inside of the vehicle bumper carrying the collision detection device for vehicles of a first embodiment of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a vehicle bumper mounted with a vehicle collision detection device according to a first embodiment. It is a side view which shows a mode that the pedestrian collision generate | occur | produced in the vehicle bumper in 1st embodiment. (A) is a top view which shows the fixed state of the pressure sensor in 2nd embodiment, (b) is a side view, (c) is a rear view. (A) is a top view which sees through and shows the inside of the vehicle bumper in 3rd embodiment, (b) is a side view. It is a side view which sees through and shows the inside of the vehicle bumper carrying the vehicle collision detection apparatus of 4th embodiment. It is a side view seeing through the inside of the vehicle bumper in the 1st modification of a 4th embodiment. It is a side view seeing through the inside of the vehicle bumper in the 2nd modification of a fourth embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle collision detection apparatus 2 Vehicle bumper 4 Bumper reinforcement 4a Front surface 6 Absorber 7 Chamber member 7a Chamber space 7d Extension part 7p Positioning projection part 7q Positioning projection part 8 Pressure sensor 9 Pedestrian protection apparatus ECU (collision detection means)
10 Fixing screw (fixing member, screw member)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Bracket 21 Vehicle collision detection apparatus 31 Vehicle collision detection apparatus 41 Vehicle collision detection apparatus

Claims (8)

An absorber that is disposed in the vehicle bumper on the front side of the bumper reinforcement and that absorbs an impact by being deformed due to a collision, and is disposed in the vehicle bumper on the vehicle front side of the bumper reinforcement and has a chamber space inside. A formed chamber member, a pressure sensor attached to the chamber member for detecting a pressure change in the chamber space, and a collision of a pedestrian or the like to the vehicle bumper is detected based on a detection result by the pressure sensor. In a vehicle collision detection device comprising a collision detection means,
The chamber member is positioned or fixed relative to the bumper force;
The vehicle collision detection device, wherein the pressure sensor is fixed to the bumper force or to both the chamber member and the bumper force.   The vehicle collision detection device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is fixed to the chamber member with the bumper reinforcement being sandwiched by a fixing member. The chamber member has an extending portion that extends along one of the upper, lower, left, and right sides of the bumper force.
The vehicle collision detection device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is fixed to the extended portion by a fixing member. In the bumper reinforcement, a bracket is attached to the side surface where the extended portion of the chamber member is extended,
The vehicle collision detection device according to claim 3, wherein the pressure sensor is fixed to the extended portion by a fixing member via the bracket. The absorber has a notch that can accommodate the pressure sensor on a surface adjacent to the chamber member;
2. The pressure sensor is fixed to the bumper force or to both the chamber member and the bumper force with a fixing member in a state of being accommodated in the notch. The vehicle collision detection device according to claim 1. The chamber member has a positioning protrusion that protrudes with respect to the bumper force,
The vehicle collision detection device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is fixed to the positioning protrusion.   The vehicle collision detection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the fixing member is a screw member.   The vehicle collision detection device according to claim 1, wherein the chamber member is disposed above the absorber.

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