JP2009161068A - Safety device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a safety device for a vehicle that inhibits a collision body, colliding with a vehicle body, from coming in contact with a front pillar. <P>SOLUTION: The safety device 10 for a vehicle includes a headlamp 24, a headlamp drive mechanism 25 for changing a posture of the headlamp 24 with respect to a vehicle body, and an ECU for controlling the headlamp drive mechanism 25. When it is detected or predicted that a collision body collides with the front part of an automobile 11, the ECU controls the headlamp drive mechanism 25 so as to allow the headlamp 24 to take a collision body guiding posture suitable for diverting a moving direction of the collision body from a direction toward a front pillar by contact with the headlamp 24. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle safety device for suppressing a collision body that collides with a vehicle body from coming into contact with a front pillar.

In order to satisfactorily absorb the impact force generated when the collision body hits the engine hood, a technique is known in which the impact force is received in a posture in which the engine hood is lifted up (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, a technique for setting a large gap for securing a shock absorbing stroke between an engine hood (bonnet) and a headlamp (headlight) is known (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2004-203249 A Japanese Patent No. 3762904

  However, in the conventional techniques as described above, no countermeasures have been taken for the collision body to collide with the front pillar, which is a highly rigid portion in the front part of the vehicle body.

  In view of the above fact, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle safety device that can suppress a collision body that collides with a vehicle body from coming into contact with a front pillar.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle safety device comprising: a headlamp; a headlamp drive mechanism that can change a posture of the headlamp relative to a vehicle body; and the headlamp when a collision of a collision object is detected or predicted. Control means for controlling the head lamp driving mechanism so that the head lamp takes a collision body guide posture suitable for making the moving direction of the collision body different from the direction toward the front pillar by contact with the lamp; It has.

  In the vehicle safety device according to the first aspect, the control means that detects or predicts the collision of the collision object operates the head lamp driving means to change the attitude of the head lamp to the collision object guide attitude. For this reason, when the colliding body is heading toward the headlamp, the colliding body is guided in a direction different from the moving direction toward the front pillar by contact with the headlamp taking the colliding body guiding posture. This avoids contact between the collision body and the front pillar (the probability increases). In particular, since the headlamp is located near the front end of the front part of the vehicle body, the collision body can be guided in a direction different from the direction of movement toward the front pillar from the beginning of the collision, and the contact between the collision body and the front pillar is effective. Can be avoided.

  Thus, in the vehicle safety device according to the first aspect, it is possible to suppress the collision body that collides with the vehicle body from coming into contact with the front pillar.

  The vehicle safety device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the vehicle safety device according to the first aspect, wherein the collision object guide posture is set such that the collision object is guided in the vehicle width direction by the headlamp. Has been.

  The vehicle safety device according to claim 2, wherein a collision body that is close to the front pillar in the front-rear direction with respect to the vehicle body is guided in the vehicle width direction by a headlamp that assumes a collision body guide posture, so that the collision body is front-mounted. Move in a direction different from the direction toward the pillar. Thereby, it can suppress that a collision body contacts a front pillar, suppressing the load which acts on a collision body low.

  A vehicle safety device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the vehicle safety device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the headlamp is driven by the headlamp driving mechanism, and the headlamp is located outside the outer plate of the vehicle body. And a retracted posture in which the headlamp is housed inside the vehicle body outer plate, and the collision body guiding posture is arranged at a vehicle width direction central portion of the headlamp in a vehicle width direction. A ridgeline is formed so as to be directed toward the front pillar along the front-rear direction.

  In the vehicle safety device according to the third aspect, for example, the headlamp normally takes a retracted posture, and takes a projecting posture by the headlamp driving mechanism when irradiating the front. When the collision of the collision body is detected or predicted, the headlamp driving mechanism is operated or held at the current position, and the headlamp posture is shifted or maintained to the collision body guide posture.

  A ridge line toward the front pillar side along the vehicle front-rear direction is formed at the center in the vehicle width direction of the headlamp that takes this collision body guiding posture (a single protruding posture itself or one aspect of a plurality of protruding postures). Therefore, the collision body is guided to the inside in the vehicle width direction when contacting the ridgeline of the headlamp in the vehicle width direction, and is guided to the outside in the vehicle width direction when contacting the vehicle width direction outside of the ridgeline. Thereby, even when heading to the front pillar from either the inside or the outside in the vehicle width direction, it is possible to suppress contact with the front pillar by changing the moving direction.

  A vehicle safety device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the vehicle safety device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the headlamp is driven by the headlamp driving mechanism, and the headlamp is located outside the outer plate of the vehicle body. And a retracted posture for irradiating the front of the vehicle, a retracted posture in which the headlamp is stored inside the outer plate of the vehicle body, and an outer side of the outer plate of the vehicle body in a manner different from the irradiated posture. It is possible to adopt a collision object guide posture that is suitable for projecting and making the movement direction of the collision object different from the direction toward the front pillar.

  In the vehicle safety device according to the fourth aspect, for example, the headlamp normally takes the retracted posture, and takes the irradiation posture by the headlamp driving mechanism when irradiating the front. When the collision of the colliding body is detected or predicted, the headlamp driving mechanism is operated, and the headlamp posture is shifted to the colliding body guiding posture. The headlamp that takes this colliding body guiding posture guides the moving direction of the colliding body in a direction different from the direction toward the front pillar. Here, since the collision object guide posture is a posture protruding on the vehicle body outer plate in a manner different from the irradiation posture, the collision object guide posture is compared with the case where the irradiation posture also serves as the collision object guide posture. High degree of freedom of setting.

  A vehicle safety device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the vehicle safety device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the collision body guide posture is always exposed to the outside of the vehicle body in the headlamp. Thus, the moving direction of the collision body is set to be different from the direction toward the front pillar.

  In the vehicle safety device according to claim 5, by changing the posture (position, angle, etc.) of the irradiation surface that is always exposed to the outside of the vehicle body in the headlamp, the moving direction of the collision object is a direction toward the front pillar. Guided in different directions. Since the irradiation surface of such a headlamp is arranged at the most front part of the vehicle body, the collision body can be guided in a direction different from the moving direction from the very beginning of the collision toward the front pillar. Is more effectively avoided.

  The vehicle safety device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the vehicle safety device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the collision body guide posture is the position of the collision body positioned on the ground. The headlamp is set so as to guide a portion above the center of gravity of the collision body.

  In the vehicle safety device according to the sixth aspect, since the upper part of the center of gravity of the collision object on the ground is guided by the headlamp, the movement direction of the collision object is effectively made different from the movement direction toward the front pillar. . For this reason, the contact between the collision body and the front pillar can be avoided more effectively.

  As described above, the vehicle safety device according to the present invention has an excellent effect that the collision body that collides with the vehicle body can be prevented from coming into contact with the front pillar.

  A vehicle safety device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 (A) shows a schematic configuration of an automobile 11 as a vehicle to which the vehicle safety device 10 is applied, and FIG. 1 (B) shows the front portion of the automobile 11 as a side view. It is shown in the figure. As shown in these drawings, a front bumper 16 is provided at the front end of the automobile 11 so as to extend in the vehicle width direction and wrap around the front side of the wheel house 14 that houses the front wheels 12. A front fender 18 as a vehicle body outer plate is provided above and to the side of the front bumper 16, and the wheel house 14 described above is formed on a side wall portion 18A of the front fender.

  Further, a front pillar upper 20 is continuous at both ends in the vehicle width direction at the rear end portion of the front fender 18. A windshield glass 22 is fixed between the left and right front pillar uppers 20. The front pillar upper 20 constitutes a front pillar as a vehicle body skeleton that forms a front edge of a door opening for passenger getting on and off with a front pillar lower (not shown).

  Further, in the automobile 11, a pair of left and right headlamps 24 are provided on the upper wall portion 18 </ b> B of the front fender 18. Each headlamp 24 is configured to irradiate light in front of the automobile 11 when powered. Note that, for example, an engine hood that covers the engine room is disposed between the left and right upper wall portions 18B where the headlamps 24 are disposed, but the illustration thereof is omitted in FIG.

  In the automobile 11, the left and right headlamps 24 are respectively stored in the front fender 18 (see the headlamp 24 on the left side of the paper in FIG. 1A), an irradiation surface 24 </ b> A composed of a lens and the like. Is configured to be able to take an irradiation posture (see the headlamp 24 on the right side of the paper in FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B) in which is projected above the upper wall portion 18B in the vehicle vertical direction. That is, each headlamp 24 is configured to shift from the retracted position to the irradiation position when irradiating the front of the automobile 11.

  In this embodiment, the headlamp 24 in the retracted posture is configured such that the irradiation surface 24A forms a continuous curved surface with the upper wall portion 18B of the front fender 18. In the vehicle safety device 10, the irradiation surface 24 </ b> A of the headlamp 24 taking the irradiation posture has an acute angle θ (see FIG. 1B) formed with respect to the horizontal plane (surface substantially parallel to the road surface) in each part. In addition, the entire surface is a slope (curved surface) facing the front, upper side, and inner side of the vehicle width direction of the automobile 11.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a headlamp driving mechanism 25 for driving the headlamp 24 is provided inside the front fender 18. In this embodiment, the headlamp drive mechanism 25 can be displaced back and forth between the retracted posture and the irradiation posture, and the headlamp 24 can be displaced from the retracted posture to the irradiated posture in a shorter time than the low speed actuator 26. And a high-speed actuator 28. The low speed actuator 26 and the high speed actuator 28 are controlled by an ECU 30 as a control means (control circuit).

  The ECU 30 includes an illuminance sensor 32 that outputs a signal corresponding to illuminance (brightness) outside the vehicle, an illumination switch 34 that is operated by an occupant of the automobile 11, and a collision sensor that detects a collision of a colliding body with the front surface of the automobile 11. Each of 36 is electrically connected. The ECU 30 is configured to control the operation of the low speed actuator 26 and the high speed actuator 28 based on signals from the illuminance sensor 32, the illumination switch 34, and the collision sensor 36. As the collision sensor 36, for example, an imaging unit such as a millimeter wave radar that outputs a signal corresponding to the distance (time change) between the collision body and the automobile 11 or a CCD that outputs captured image data can be used. .

  Although details will be described later, the ECU 30 is configured to shift or maintain the headlamp 24 in the irradiation posture when the collision of the collision body to the front of the vehicle body is predicted based on the signal from the collision sensor 36. . Here, as shown in FIG. 4, in the headlamp 24, a distance WAD (Wrap Around Distance) along the vehicle edge from the road surface R is set to be a predetermined distance or more. This predetermined distance is determined so as to be larger than the center of gravity height H (the assumed maximum center of gravity height) of the collision object located on the ground. This center-of-gravity height is set not as a static center-of-gravity height of the collision object but as a dynamic center-of-gravity height during movement on the road surface R (about 105 to 110% of the static center-of-gravity height H). It is like that. In this embodiment, the distance WAD is set to about 1200 mm.

  Further, the ECU 30 is configured to perform movement control of the storage posture and irradiation posture of the headlamp 24 when the headlamp 24 is turned on and off. In this embodiment, the ECU 30 (vehicle safety device 10) controls the turning on and off of the headlamp 24.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described together with the control by the ECU 30 with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In the vehicle safety device 10 having the above configuration, for example, when a main switch (ignition switch or the like) of the automobile 11 is turned on, the ECU 30, the illuminance sensor 32, and the collision sensor 36 are activated, and the low speed actuator 26 and the high speed actuator 28 are activated. Is ready for operation. The ECU 30 performs the control shown in the flowchart shown in FIG.

  That is, in step S10, the ECU 30 determines whether or not the collision of the collision object with the front portion of the automobile 11 is predicted based on the signal from the collision sensor 36. When determining that the collision of the colliding body with the front portion of the automobile 11 is not predicted, the ECU 30 proceeds to step S12 and determines whether or not the external illuminance (brightness) is sufficient based on the signal from the illuminance sensor 32. to decide. If it is determined that the illuminance is sufficient, the ECU 30 proceeds to step S14 and determines whether or not the illumination switch 34 is turned on.

  The ECU 30 determines in step S12 that the illuminance is not sufficient, that is, the surrounding environment is dark, or that the illumination switch 34 is turned on in step S14, that is, that the passenger of the vehicle 11 is willing to turn on. If so, the process proceeds to step S16. In step S <b> 16, the ECU 30 controls (actuates) the low-speed actuator 26 so that the left and right headlamps 24 are displaced from the storage posture to the irradiation posture. Further, the ECU 30 lights the left and right headlamps 24 respectively. Thereby, the front of the automobile 11 is irradiated with the left and right headlamps 24. Thereafter, the ECU 30 returns to step S10.

  On the other hand, the ECU 30 that determines that the lighting switch 34 is not turned on (is in the OFF state) in step S14 proceeds to step S18, and determines whether or not each headlamp 24 is in the irradiation posture. When it is determined that each headlamp 24 does not take the irradiation posture, that is, takes the retracted posture, the ECU 30 returns to step S10. If it is determined in step S18 that each headlamp 24 is in the irradiation posture, the ECU 30 proceeds to step S20 and controls the low-speed actuator 26 so that the headlamp 24 is displaced from the irradiation posture to the retracted posture. (Activate). Further, the ECU 30 turns off each headlamp 24. Thereafter, the ECU 30 returns to step S10.

  If it is determined in step S10 that the collision of the colliding body with the front portion of the automobile 11 is predicted, the ECU 30 proceeds to step S22 and determines whether or not each headlamp 24 is in the irradiation posture. When it is determined that each headlamp 24 is in the irradiation posture, the ECU 30 ends the control. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S22 that each headlamp 24 does not take the irradiation posture, that is, takes the retracted posture, the ECU 30 proceeds to step S24 and activates the high-speed actuator 28. Thereby, each headlamp 24 takes an irradiation posture, that is, a collision object guiding posture.

  When the collision body collides with the front part of the automobile 11 from this state and the collision body is moved in the direction approaching the front pillar upper 20 side, the collision body takes a collision body guide posture (irradiation posture). Since the lamp 24 contacts the irradiation surface 24A facing inward in the vehicle width direction, the collision body is guided inward in the vehicle width direction. That is, the moving direction of the collision body toward the front pillar upper 20 is changed to a moving direction having an inward component in the vehicle width direction (the moving direction is made different).

  Thereby, in the vehicle safety device 10, the collision body is prevented from colliding with the front pillar upper 20 having a relatively high rigidity in the vehicle body of the automobile 11. Further, in the vehicle safety device 10, the irradiation surface 24 </ b> A of the headlamp 24 guides the collision object that is moving in the vehicle longitudinal direction and close to the front pillar upper 20 to the inside in the vehicle width direction. It is possible to suppress the collision body from contacting the front pillar while keeping it low.

  The vehicle safety device 10 is arranged near the front end of the automobile 11 and guides the collision body with a headlamp 24 that can contact the collision body that collides with the automobile 11 from the front at an early stage of the collision. It can suppress more effectively that a body contacts a front pillar.

  In particular, when the ground collision object is brought into contact with the irradiation surface 24A so as to fall down, the irradiation surface 24A contacts the upper portion of the collision object and guides the collision object. A portion close to 20 (upper portion in an upright state) can be effectively moved in a direction away from the front pillar upper 20 (in the present embodiment, in the vehicle width direction). Therefore, the acceleration that acts on the collision object can be kept low.

  This point will be supplemented with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a collision experiment result when the position (WAD) in the vehicle front-rear direction of the irradiation surface 24A (the convex portion on the front fender 18) is varied. From this figure, it can be seen that the peak of acceleration acting on the collision object differs depending on the position of the irradiation surface 24A. Among the three diagrams shown in FIG. 5, the diagram indicated by the alternate long and short dash line and the broken line is arranged at a position where the irradiation surface 24A contacts the upper side of the center of gravity of the collision object (WAD> the height of the center of gravity of the collision object H). FIG. 5 shows an experimental example in which the irradiation surface 24A is disposed at a position where it is in contact with the lower side of the center of gravity of the collision object (WAD <the height of the center of gravity of the collision object H) (see the solid line in FIG. 5). It can be seen that the acceleration acting on the collision body is small compared to. From this figure, with respect to the collision body of a specific size and shape, the irradiation surface 24A is configured to contact the upper portion of the collision body and to guide the collision body so that the collision with the front pillar upper 20 of the collision body. It was confirmed that the contact was well avoided and the acceleration acting on the impacting body was reduced. In the experimental example of FIG. 5, the height of the center of gravity of the collision object is H≈980 mm.

  Thus, in the vehicle safety device 10 according to the first embodiment, since the collision body is prevented from coming into contact with the front pillar upper 20, the load (acceleration) acting on the collision body can be reduced. it can.

  In the above-described first embodiment, the example in which the high-speed actuator 28 of each headlamp 24 is operated in step S24 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the headlamp on the collision side of the collision body Only the high-speed actuator 28 corresponding to 24 may be driven.

  In the first embodiment described above, the headlamp driving mechanism 25 has both the low speed actuator 26 and the high speed actuator 28. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the headlamp 24 is irradiated with the headlamp 24. In the configuration in which the high-speed actuator 28 that is stored in the posture and can be reversibly driven between the students is provided, the low-speed actuator 26 may not be provided. In this configuration, for example, the headlamp 24 can be returned to the retracted posture after the headlamp 24 is displaced to the irradiation posture by predicting the collision of the colliding body. It is also possible to shift the headlamp 24 to the irradiation posture (at an earlier timing than in the first embodiment) and perform control to prepare for the collision of the collision object.

(Other embodiments)
Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that parts and portions that are basically the same as those in the first embodiment or the previous configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment or the previous configuration, and the description thereof is omitted. May be omitted.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 6A shows a schematic configuration of the automobile 11 to which the vehicle safety device 40 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is applied, in FIG. The front part of the automobile 11 is shown in a side view. As shown in these drawings, the vehicle safety device 40 is different from the vehicle safety device 10 according to the first embodiment in that it includes a pair of left and right headlamps 42 instead of the pair of left and right headlamps 24. .

  Each headlamp 42 is configured to irradiate light in front of the automobile 11 when powered. These headlamps 42 are configured to be able to take a storage posture and an irradiation posture by a headlamp driving mechanism 25 (not shown). In this embodiment, the headlamp 42 in the retracted posture is configured such that the irradiation surface 42A forms a continuous curved surface with the upper wall portion 18B of the front fender 18 (on the left side of FIG. 6A). Headlamp 42).

  In the vehicle safety device 40, the irradiation surface 42A of the headlamp 42 taking the irradiation posture as shown in FIG. 6B is an angle θ (not shown) formed with respect to the horizontal plane (surface substantially parallel to the road surface) in each part. ) Is an acute angle, and as a whole, it is a slope (curved surface) facing the front and upward of the automobile 11 (see the headlamp 42 on the right side of FIG. 6A). Specifically, the irradiation surface 42A of the headlamp 42 taking the irradiation posture is an inwardly inclined surface 42B in which the inner portion in the vehicle width direction faces the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and the outer portion in the vehicle width direction has the irradiation posture. When taking, it is set as the outward slope 42C which faces the vehicle width direction outer side.

  Therefore, in the headlamp 42, the ridge line RL that forms the boundary between the inwardly inclined surface 42B and the outwardly inclined surface 42C extends substantially along the vehicle longitudinal direction from the front end of the automobile 11 toward the front pillar upper 20 (the lower end thereof). It is supposed to be configured. As described above, in the vehicle safety device 40, the collision object is guided outward in the vehicle width direction by the inwardly inclined surface 42B of the headlamp 42, and the collision object is guided inward in the vehicle width direction by the outwardly inclined surface 42C of the headlamp 42. It is said that. Other configurations of the vehicle safety device 40 are the same as the corresponding configurations of the vehicle safety device 10, including a portion (not shown) and control by the ECU 30.

  Therefore, also by the vehicle safety device 40 according to the second embodiment, the same effect can be obtained basically by the same operation as the vehicle safety device 10 according to the first embodiment. Further, in the vehicle safety device 40, when the collision body contacts the inwardly inclined surface 42B, the contact body is guided inward in the vehicle width direction (engine hood side), and the collision body contacts the outwardly inclined surface 42C. In this case, the contact body is guided outward in the vehicle width direction. For this reason, even when a collision object collides with the vicinity of the vehicle width direction outer end part in the front part of the automobile 11, the contact of the collision object with the front pillar upper 20 can be effectively suppressed.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 7 (A) shows a schematic configuration of the automobile 11 to which the vehicle safety device 50 according to the third embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. The front part of the automobile 11 is shown in a side view. As shown in these drawings, the vehicle safety device 50 is different from the vehicle safety device 10 according to the first embodiment in that it includes a pair of left and right headlamps 52 instead of the pair of left and right headlamps 24. .

  Each headlamp 52 is configured to irradiate light in front of the automobile 11 when powered. These headlamps 52 are configured to be able to take a storage posture and an irradiation posture by a headlamp driving mechanism 25 (not shown). In this embodiment, the irradiation surface 52A of the headlamp 52 taking the storage posture is stored in the front fender 18. In this retracted posture, the cover portion 52B of the headlamp 52 is configured to form a continuous curved surface with the upper wall portion 18B of the front fender 18 (see the headlamp 52 on the left side of FIG. 7A).

  In the vehicle safety device 50, as shown in FIG. 7B, the irradiation surface 52A of the headlamp 52 taking an irradiation posture is an angle θ (not shown) formed with respect to a horizontal plane (surface substantially parallel to the road surface) in each part. ) Is an acute angle, and as a whole, it is a slope (curved surface) that faces the front, the upper side, and the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 11 (see the headlamp 52 on the right side of FIG. 7A). Other configurations of the vehicle safety device 50 are the same as the corresponding configurations of the vehicle safety device 10, including a portion (not shown) and control by the ECU 30.

  Therefore, also by the vehicle safety device 50 according to the third embodiment, basically the same effect can be obtained by the same operation as the vehicle safety device 10 according to the first embodiment.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 8 (A) shows a schematic configuration of the automobile 11 to which the vehicle safety device 60 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. The front part of the automobile 11 is shown in a side view. As shown in these drawings, the vehicle safety device 60 is different from the vehicle safety device 10 according to the first embodiment in that it includes a pair of left and right headlamps 62 instead of the pair of left and right headlamps 24. .

  Each headlamp 62 is configured to irradiate light in front of the automobile 11 when supplied with power. These headlamps 62 are configured to be able to take a storage posture and an irradiation posture by a headlamp driving mechanism 25 (not shown). In this embodiment, the irradiation surface 62 </ b> A of the headlamp 62 taking the storage posture is stored in the front fender 18. In this retracted position, the cover portion 62B of the headlamp 62 is configured to form a continuous curved surface with the upper wall portion 18B of the front fender 18 (see the headlamp 62 on the left side of FIG. 8A).

  In the vehicle safety device 60, the irradiation surface 62A of the headlamp 62 taking the irradiation posture as shown in FIG. 8B is an angle θ (not shown) formed with respect to the horizontal plane (surface substantially parallel to the road surface) in each part. ) Is an acute angle, and as a whole, it is a slope (curved surface) that faces the front, top, and outside in the vehicle width direction of the automobile 11 (see the headlamp 62 on the right side of FIG. 8A). Other configurations of the vehicle safety device 60 are the same as the corresponding configurations of the vehicle safety device 10, including a portion (not shown) and control by the ECU 30.

  Therefore, the vehicle safety device 60 according to the fourth embodiment also basically includes the first embodiment, except that the guiding direction of the collision object by the irradiation surface 62A of the headlamp 62 is outside in the vehicle width direction. The same effect can be obtained by the same operation as the vehicular safety device 10 according to the above.

(Fifth embodiment)
FIG. 9A shows a schematic configuration of the automobile 11 to which the vehicle safety device 70 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention is applied, in FIG. 9B. The front part of the automobile 11 is shown in a side view. As shown in these drawings, the vehicle safety device 70 is different from the vehicle safety device 10 according to the first embodiment in that it includes a pair of left and right headlamps 72 instead of the pair of left and right headlamps 24. .

  Each headlamp 72 is configured to irradiate light in front of the automobile 11 when powered. These headlamps 72 are configured to be able to take a storage posture and an irradiation posture by a headlamp driving mechanism 25 (not shown). In this embodiment, the irradiation surface 72 </ b> A of the headlamp 72 taking the storage posture is stored in the front fender 18. In this retracted position, the cover portion 72B of the headlamp 72 is configured to form a continuous curved surface with the upper wall portion 18B of the front fender 18 (see the headlamp 72 on the left side of FIG. 9A).

  In the vehicular safety device 70, the irradiation surface 72A of the headlamp 72 taking the irradiation posture as shown in FIG. 9B is an angle θ (not shown) formed with respect to the horizontal plane (surface substantially parallel to the road surface) in each part. ) Is an acute angle, and as a whole, it is a slope (curved surface) that faces the front, upper side, and inner side in the vehicle width direction of the automobile 11 (see the headlamp 72 on the right side of FIG. 9A). On the other hand, the cover portion 72B of the headlamp 72 has an acute angle θ (not shown) formed with respect to a horizontal plane (a surface substantially parallel to the road surface) at each portion, and as a whole, the front, upper, and It is a slope (curved surface) that faces the outside in the width direction.

  Further, in the vehicle safety device 70, the ridge line RL that forms the boundary between the irradiation surface 72 </ b> A and the cover portion 72 </ b> B in the headlamp 72 that takes the irradiation posture is the vehicle from the front end of the automobile 11 toward the front pillar upper 20 (the lower end). It is set as the structure extended substantially along the front-back direction. Thereby, in the vehicle safety device 70, the collision body is guided to the inside in the vehicle width direction by the irradiation surface 72A of the headlamp 72, and the collision body is guided to the outside in the vehicle width direction by the cover portion 72B of the headlamp 72. ing. Other configurations of the vehicle safety device 70 are the same as the corresponding configurations of the vehicle safety device 10 including a portion (not shown) and control by the ECU 30.

  Therefore, also by the vehicle safety device 70 according to the fifth embodiment, basically the same effect can be obtained by the same operation as the vehicle safety device 10 according to the first embodiment. Further, in the vehicle safety device 70, when the collision body contacts the irradiation surface 72 </ b> A of the headlamp 72, the contact body is guided inward in the vehicle width direction (engine hood side). When contacting the cover portion 72B, the contact body is guided outward in the vehicle width direction. For this reason, even when a collision object collides with the vicinity of the vehicle width direction outer end part in the front part of the automobile 11, the contact of the collision object with the front pillar upper 20 can be effectively suppressed.

(Sixth embodiment)
FIG. 10 (A) shows a schematic configuration of the automobile 11 to which the vehicle safety device 80 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. The front part of the automobile 11 is shown in a side view. As shown in these drawings, the vehicle safety device 80 is different from the vehicle safety device 10 according to the first embodiment in that it includes a pair of left and right headlamps 82 instead of the pair of left and right headlamps 24. .

  Each headlamp 82 is configured to irradiate light in front of the automobile 11 when supplied with power. These headlamps 82 are configured to be able to take a storage posture and an irradiation posture by a headlamp driving mechanism 25 (not shown). In this embodiment, the irradiation surface 82 </ b> A of the headlamp 82 taking the storage posture is stored in the front fender 18. In this retracted position, the cover portion 82B of the headlamp 82 is configured to form a continuous curved surface with the upper wall portion 18B of the front fender 18 (see the headlamp 82 on the left side of FIG. 10A).

  In the vehicle safety device 80, the irradiation surface 82A of the headlamp 82 taking an irradiation posture as shown in FIG. 10B is an angle θ (not shown) formed with respect to the horizontal plane (surface substantially parallel to the road surface) in each part. ) Is an acute angle, and as a whole, it is a slope (curved surface) that faces the front, upper side, and outer side in the vehicle width direction of the automobile 11 (see the headlamp 82 on the right side of FIG. 10A). On the other hand, the cover portion 82B of the headlamp 82 has an acute angle θ (not shown) formed with respect to a horizontal plane (a surface substantially parallel to the road surface) in each portion, and as a whole, the front, upper, and It is a slope (curved surface) facing inward in the width direction.

  Further, in the vehicle safety device 80, the ridge line RL forming the boundary between the irradiation surface 82A and the cover portion 82B in the headlamp 82 taking the irradiation posture is directed from the front end of the automobile 11 toward the front pillar upper 20 (the lower end thereof). It is set as the structure extended substantially along the front-back direction. Thereby, in the vehicle safety device 80, the collision body is guided outward in the vehicle width direction by the irradiation surface 82A of the headlamp 82, and the collision body is guided in the vehicle width direction by the cover portion 82B of the headlamp 82. ing. Other configurations of the vehicle safety device 80 are the same as the corresponding configurations of the vehicle safety device 10, including a portion (not shown) and control by the ECU 30.

  Therefore, also by the vehicle safety device 80 according to the sixth embodiment, the same effect can be obtained basically by the same operation as the vehicle safety device 10 according to the first embodiment. Further, in the vehicle safety device 80, when the colliding body comes into contact with the cover portion 82B of the headlamp 82, the contact body is guided inward in the vehicle width direction (engine hood side). When contacting the irradiation surface 82A, the contact body is guided outward in the vehicle width direction. For this reason, even when a collision object collides with the vicinity of the vehicle width direction outer end part in the front part of the automobile 11, the contact of the collision object with the front pillar upper 20 can be effectively suppressed.

(Seventh embodiment)
FIG. 11A shows a schematic configuration of an automobile 11 to which a vehicle safety device 90 according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. The front part of the automobile 11 is shown in a side view. As shown in these drawings, the vehicle safety device 40 is different from the vehicle safety device 10 according to the first embodiment in that it includes a pair of left and right headlamps 42 instead of the pair of left and right headlamps 24. .

  Each headlamp 92 is configured to irradiate light in front of the automobile 11 when supplied with power. These headlamps 2 are configured such that they can be retracted and irradiated by a low-speed actuator 26 (headlamp drive mechanism 25). The irradiation posture is a posture in which the irradiation surface 92A is directed substantially forward. Further, in the retracted position, the cover portion 92B of the headlamp 92 is configured to form a continuous curved surface with the upper wall portion 18B of the front fender 18 (see the headlamp 92 on the left side of FIG. 11A). .

  Then, as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, each headlamp 92 is configured to be able to take a collision object guide posture different from the irradiation posture. In this colliding body guide posture, the colliding body guide portion 94 provided in each headlamp 92 projects on the upper wall portion 18B between the irradiation surface 92A and the upper wall portion 18B of the front fender 18. It is like that. The collision body guide portion 94 has an acute angle θ (see FIG. 12B) formed with respect to a horizontal plane (a surface substantially parallel to the road surface) in each portion.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 12A, the vehicle width direction inner portion of the collision body guide portion 94 of the headlamp 92 taking the irradiation posture is an inward slope facing the front, the upper side, and the vehicle width direction inner side of the automobile 11. (Curved surface) 94A. On the other hand, the vehicle width direction outer side portion of the collision body guide portion 94 of the headlamp 92 taking the irradiation posture is an outward slope (curved surface) 94B facing the front, the upper side, and the vehicle width direction outer side of the automobile 11.

  Each of the headlamps 92 described above is shifted from the retracted posture and the irradiation posture to the colliding body preparation posture when the high-speed actuator 28 is operated. The high speed actuator 28 is operated without passing through step S22 when the collision of the colliding body is predicted in step S10 in the flowchart of FIG. In other words, a step corresponding to step S22 is not set in the ECU (not shown) constituting the vehicle safety device 90. The other configuration of the vehicle safety device 90 is the same as the corresponding configuration of the vehicle safety device 10 including a portion not shown and other controls by the ECU 30.

  Therefore, also by the vehicle safety device 90 according to the seventh embodiment, basically the same effect can be obtained by the same operation as the vehicle safety device 10 according to the first embodiment. Further, in the vehicle safety device 90, when the collision body contacts the inwardly inclined surface 94A, the contact body is guided inward in the vehicle width direction (engine hood side), and the collision body contacts the outwardly inclined surface 94B. In this case, the contact body is guided outward in the vehicle width direction. For this reason, even when a collision object collides with the vicinity of the vehicle width direction outer end part in the front part of the automobile 11, the contact of the collision object with the front pillar upper 20 can be effectively suppressed. Furthermore, in the vehicle safety device 90, the collision body is normally guided by the collision body guide portion 94 stored in the front fender 18 (both the storage posture and the irradiation posture of each headlamp 92). The degree of freedom in setting the shape of the collision object guide portion 94 is high (there are few restrictions). For this reason, it is easy to obtain a shape that effectively guides the collision object.

(Eighth embodiment)
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the front portion of the automobile 11 to which the vehicle safety device 100 according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention is applied. As shown in this figure, the vehicle safety device 100 is normally (when a collision of a colliding body with the front of the automobile 11 is not predicted) instead of the headlamp 24 that can be switched between the retracted position and the irradiation position. The vehicle safety device 10 according to the first embodiment is different from the vehicle safety device 10 in that the headlamp 102 is held in the irradiation posture.

  As illustrated in FIG. 13, each headlamp 102 can be changed in position in the vehicle longitudinal direction, in the vehicle vertical direction, and in the vehicle width direction by a headlamp driving mechanism 104. Specifically, the headlamp driving mechanism 104 includes a linear actuator 108 that can reciprocate the lamp housing 106 of the headlamp 102 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (see arrow A), a holder 110 that supports the linear actuator 108, and the holder 110. Motor actuator 112 that can reciprocately rotate around an axis along the vehicle width direction (see arrow B), a holder 114 that supports the motor actuator 112, and a holder 114 that reciprocates around an axis along the vehicle vertical direction. A motor actuator 116 that can be operated (see arrow C) is configured as a main component.

  Although not shown, the vehicle safety device 100 maintains the posture of the headlamp 102 (position in the vehicle longitudinal direction, angle in the vehicle vertical direction, angle in the vehicle width direction) adjusted by the headlamp drive mechanism 104. A locking mechanism is provided. The lock mechanism includes, for example, a plurality of lock pins that can be engaged and disengaged (retracted / retracted) with respect to the lamp housing 106 of the headlamp 102. Is disengaged (fixed) from the lamp housing 106, and is engaged with the lamp housing 106 after adjustment of the posture. Thereby, the headlamp 102 is configured to be able to maintain the adjusted posture in contact with the collision body in the adjusted posture.

  Further, the vehicle safety device 100 includes an ECU 118 as a control means for controlling the operation of the linear actuator 108 and the motor actuators 112 and 116 of the headlamp drive mechanism 104. The ECU 118 is electrically connected to each of the linear actuator 108, the motor actuators 112 and 116, the illuminance sensor 32, the illumination switch 34, and the collision sensor 36. In addition, the ECU 118 receives information on vehicle behavior from various sensors (not shown) (vehicle speed sensor, tire lock sensor, yaw rate sensor, etc.).

  Then, the ECU 118 changes the collision behavior in which the colliding body in which the irradiation surface 102A of the headlamp 102 collides with the front portion of the automobile 11 is directed to the front pillar upper 20 based on the information from the various sensors described above. The operations of the linear actuator 108 and the motor actuators 112 and 116 are controlled so as to take an appropriate posture.

  The operation of the eighth embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In the vehicle safety device 100 having the above configuration, for example, when the main switch (ignition switch or the like) of the automobile 11 is turned on, the ECU 118, the illuminance sensor 32, the collision sensor 36, and the various sensors described above are activated and linearly operated. The actuator 108 and the motor actuators 112 and 116 are made operable. In step S30, the ECU 118 determines whether or not the collision of the colliding body with the front portion of the automobile 11 is predicted based on the signal from the collision sensor 36. When it is determined that the collision of the colliding body with the front portion of the automobile 11 is not predicted, the control regarding turning on and off of the headlamp 102 (headlamp 102) is omitted as in the case of the ECU 30 in the first embodiment. The control without the change in posture is performed, and the process returns to step S30.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S30 that the collision of the collision object with the front portion of the automobile 11 is predicted, the ECU 118 proceeds to step S32 and detects (estimates) the collision behavior of the collision object based on the signal from the collision sensor 36. ) Examples of the collision behavior include a collision speed with the collision object, a collision position in the vehicle width direction, and a dimensional shape (physique, center of gravity position, etc.) of the collision object. Next, the ECU 118 proceeds to step S34, and detects (estimates) the behavior of the automobile 11 in the event of a collision based on signals from the various sensors described above.

  Further, the ECU 118 proceeds to step S36, and obtains the posture of the headlamp 102 to be taken after the adjustment according to the collision behavior and the cooperation of the automobile 11 by calculation. In this step, an optimal posture may be selected from a map or the like stored in advance in the ECU 118, for example.

  Then, the ECU 118 proceeds to step S38, and the linear actuator 108 of the head lamp driving mechanism 104, the motor, and the like so that the irradiation surface 102A of the head lamp 102 takes the attitude obtained in step S36, that is, the collision object guidance attitude corresponding to the collision mode. Actuators 112 and 116 are actuated. The ECU 118 adjusts the posture of one or both of the headlamps 102 as necessary (the collision object guiding posture may be different between the irradiation surfaces 102A of the left and right headlamps 102). When the irradiation surface 102A of the headlamp 102 matches the colliding body guiding posture determined in step S36, the ECU 118 proceeds to step S40 and operates the lock mechanism to lock the headlamp 102 in the colliding body guiding posture.

  From this state, the collision body contacts the irradiation surface 102A of the left or right headlamp 102 at the front of the automobile 11, whereby the collision mode toward the front pillar upper 20 of the collision body is changed, and the front of the collision body is changed. Contact to the pillar upper 20 is suppressed. As an example of control of the headlamp driving mechanism 104 by the ECU 118, for example, when a colliding body collides with the center side in the vehicle width direction at the front portion of the automobile 11, the irradiation surfaces 102A of the left and right headlamps 102 are respectively Rotate upward in the direction of arrow B, protrude forward in the direction of arrow A, and rotate inward in the direction of arrow C so that the upper side in the direction, the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and the front side in the vehicle longitudinal direction Let As a result, the colliding body is guided to the center in the vehicle width direction, and contact with the front pillar upper 20 is suppressed. Further, for example, when the collision body collides with the end portion side in the vehicle width direction at the front portion of the automobile 11, the irradiation surface 102A of the headlamp 102 on the collision side is set to the upper side in the vehicle vertical direction, the vehicle width direction outer side, and It is turned upward in the direction of arrow B so as to face the front side in the vehicle longitudinal direction, protrudes in the direction of arrow A, and turns outward in the direction of arrow C. Accordingly, the collision body is guided outward in the vehicle width direction so as to come into contact with the road surface R from the lower part first, and contact with the front pillar upper 20 is suppressed. Needless to say, the control of the headlamp driving mechanism 104 by the ECU 118 is not limited to the above control example.

  As described above, in the vehicle safety device 100 according to the eighth embodiment, since the collision body is prevented from coming into contact with the front pillar upper 20, the load (acceleration) acting on the collision body can be reduced. it can.

It is a figure which shows the motor vehicle to which the vehicle safety device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention was applied, Comprising: (A) is a front view, (B) is a side view of a front part. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic overall configuration of a vehicle safety device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the control flow of ECU which comprises the vehicle safety device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows arrangement | positioning of the headlamp which comprises the vehicle safety device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a diagram which shows the acceleration of the collision body at the time of changing arrangement | positioning of the headlamp which comprises the vehicle safety device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the motor vehicle to which the vehicle safety device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention was applied, Comprising: (A) is a front view, (B) is a side view of a front part. It is a figure which shows the motor vehicle to which the vehicle safety device which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention was applied, Comprising: (A) is a front view, (B) is a side view of a front part. It is a figure which shows the motor vehicle with which the vehicle safety device which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention was applied, Comprising: (A) is a front view, (B) is a side view of a front part. It is a figure which shows the motor vehicle with which the vehicle safety device which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention was applied, Comprising: (A) is a front view, (B) is a side view of a front part. It is a figure which shows the motor vehicle to which the vehicle safety device which concerns on the 6th Embodiment of this invention was applied, Comprising: (A) is a front view, (B) is a side view of a front part. It is a figure which shows the motor vehicle to which the vehicle safety device which concerns on the 7th Embodiment of this invention was applied, Comprising: (A) is a front view, (B) is a side view of a front part. It is a figure which shows the motor vehicle to which the vehicle safety device which concerns on the 7th Embodiment of this invention is applied, Comprising: (A) is a front view in a collision body guidance attitude | position, (B) is the front in a collision body guidance attitude | position. It is a side view of a part. It is a schematic diagram which shows the schematic whole structure of the vehicle safety device which concerns on the 8th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the control flow of ECU which comprises the vehicle safety device which concerns on the 8th Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the front part of the motor vehicle to which the vehicle safety device which concerns on the 8th Embodiment of this invention was applied.

Explanation of symbols

10 Vehicle safety device 18 Front fender (body plate)
20 Front pillar upper (front pillar)
24 head lamp 25 head lamp drive mechanism 30 ECU (control means)
40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 Vehicle safety device 42, 52, 62, 72, 82, 92, 102 Headlamp 104 Headlamp drive mechanism RL Ridge line

Claims (6)

A headlamp,
A headlamp driving mechanism capable of changing a posture of the headlamp with respect to a vehicle body;
When a collision of a collision object is detected or predicted, the head lamp takes a collision object guide posture suitable for making the moving direction of the collision object different from the direction toward the front pillar by contact with the head lamp. Control means for controlling the headlamp driving mechanism;
A vehicle safety device comprising:   2. The vehicle safety device according to claim 1, wherein the collision object guide posture is set such that the collision object is guided in a vehicle width direction by the headlamp. 3. The headlamp has a configuration in which the headlamp driving mechanism can take a projecting posture in which the headlamp projects outside the vehicle body outer plate and a storage posture in which the headlamp is stored inside the vehicle body outer plate. And
The said collision object guide attitude | position is made into the attitude | position in which a ridgeline is formed in the vehicle width direction center part of the said headlamp so that it may go to the said front pillar side along a vehicle front-back direction. Vehicle safety device.   The headlamp is stored in such a manner that the headlamp projects to the outside of the vehicle body outer plate and irradiates the front of the vehicle by the headlamp driving mechanism, and the headlamp is stored inside the vehicle body outer plate. A posture and a collision body guidance posture suitable for making the moving direction of the collision body different from the direction toward the front pillar in a manner different from the irradiation posture. The vehicle safety device according to claim 1 or claim 2 obtained.   The collision object guide posture is set so that the moving direction of the collision object is different from the direction toward the front pillar depending on the irradiation surface of the headlamp that is always exposed to the outside of the vehicle body. The vehicle safety device according to 2.   The collision object guide posture is set so that the headlamp guides a portion of the collision object located on the ground above the center of gravity of the collision object. The vehicle safety device described.

Images