JP2012101722A - Device for reducing collision damage of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce damage to an occupant when a front obstacle enters an occupant space at a front collision of a vehicle.SOLUTION: The device for reducing collision damage of a vehicle includes: a front obstacle monitoring means 5 to monitor a front obstacle in front of a vehicle 11; an entrance prediction means 47 to predicts whether a projection part 12 of the front obstacle enters a space 6 above a seat based on information from the front obstacle monitoring means 5; a seatback drive means 51 to recline a seatback 3 of the seat rearward to evacuate an occupant 4 on the seat from the space 6 above the seat; and a control means 41 to actuate the seatback drive means 51 when the entrance prediction means predicts that the projection part enters the space above the seat; and is structured to reduce the damage to the occupant 4 of the vehicle when the projection part 12 of the front obstacle enters the space 6 above the seat in the vehicle.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle collision damage alleviating device that reduces the damage to passengers caused by a protrusion at the rear of a front obstacle that enters a vehicle interior during a frontal collision of the vehicle.

As a technology of automobiles, if an obstacle ahead of the host vehicle is detected and it is determined that a collision with the obstacle ahead of the host vehicle is unavoidable, the brakes are automatically activated to reduce damage during the rear-end collision or An automatic brake device has been developed to avoid it.
Further, a technique for protecting an occupant by controlling the movement of a seat at the time of a vehicle collision is known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for preventing neck whiplash by causing a backrest of a seat to fall forward together with a headrest at the time of a collision of an automobile, and restraining an occupant's body and head. Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for preventing the backrest portion of the reclining seat from falling backward when the vehicle collides with the host vehicle.

  In addition, a technique for absorbing an impact at the time of a vehicle collision and reducing the impact on an occupant is known. For example, in Patent Document 3, when a vehicle is collided from the rear, a first shock absorbing operation for moving the lower portion of the seat back side bracket backward, and a second for moving the lower portion of the seat back side bracket backward. A technique for reducing a load applied to an occupant by an impact absorbing operation is disclosed.

JP 2008-7085 A JP 7-156704 A JP 2007-296925 A

  By the way, when a vehicle collides with a preceding vehicle, there is a possibility that a protrusion of a front obstacle enters the vehicle interior and enters a space (occupant space) where an occupant is located in the vehicle interior. For example, when the load mounted on the preceding vehicle protrudes to the rear, the rear end of the load may enter the passenger compartment of the host vehicle during the rear-end collision and enter the passenger space in the passenger compartment. In this case, the rear part of the load corresponds to the protrusion of the front obstacle. In addition, when the host vehicle is a small vehicle with a low vehicle height, such as a sedan type passenger car, and the front vehicle is a large vehicle with a high vehicle height, such as a truck, there is an accident that the host vehicle gets under the rear of the front vehicle. In this case, the rear part of the front vehicle may enter the passenger compartment of the host vehicle and enter the passenger space in the passenger compartment. In this case, the rear part of the front vehicle is a protrusion of the front obstacle.

However, conventionally, there is no attention to such a problem, and in a vehicle equipped with a conventional automatic brake device, when a protrusion of a front obstacle enters and enters the passenger space in the passenger compartment, the collision of the passenger No particular measures are taken to reduce damage.
For example, the technical ideas described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 are not assumed when such a front obstacle enters the passenger space, and it is difficult to solve the above problem.

  The present invention has been devised in view of such a problem, and it is possible to reduce the damage to a passenger when a front obstacle enters the passenger space due to a frontal collision of the vehicle. The object is to provide a collision damage mitigation device.

  In order to achieve the above object, the collision damage alleviating device of the present invention provides a vehicle occupant when a rear protrusion of a front obstacle existing in front of a vehicle enters an upper space of a seat in the vehicle interior of the vehicle. A collision damage reducing device for a vehicle that reduces damage caused by a vehicle, comprising: a front obstacle monitoring means for monitoring the front obstacle; and the protrusion of the front obstacle based on information from the front obstacle monitoring means. An entry prediction means for predicting whether the vehicle enters the space above the seat, a seat back drive means for driving the seat back of the seat to tilt backward to retract the seat occupant from the space above the seat, and the entry prediction And a control means for operating the seat back driving means when the projection is predicted to enter the space above the seat by the means.

  Further, based on information from the forward obstacle monitoring means, a collision prediction means for predicting whether the vehicle will collide with the forward obstacle, and based on information from the forward obstacle monitoring means, the forward obstacle A projection determining unit that determines whether or not there is a projection that can enter the space above the seat at the rear of an object, and the entry prediction unit predicts that the vehicle collides with the front obstacle by a collision prediction unit. If the projection determining unit determines that the projection that can enter the space above the seat is present at the rear of the front obstacle, the projection of the front obstacle is predicted to enter the space above the seat. It is preferable to do.

Furthermore, a seat belt tightening means for tightening a seat belt attached to the seat and a braking means for braking the vehicle are provided, and the control means causes the collision prediction means to cause the vehicle to collide with the front obstacle. If predicted, it is preferable to operate the seat belt fastening means and the braking means.
The collision prediction means estimates a collision prediction time until the vehicle and the front obstacle collide, and compares the estimated collision prediction time with a threshold value and the collision prediction time is equal to or less than the threshold value. The vehicle is configured to predict that the vehicle will collide with the front obstacle, and the threshold value includes a first threshold value, a second threshold value smaller than the first threshold value, and a third threshold value smaller than the second threshold value. Is set, and the control means activates the seat belt tightening means when the collision prediction means predicts the collision by comparison with the first threshold, and the collision prediction means When the collision is predicted, the braking unit is operated, and the projection predicting unit is predicted to enter the space above the seat by the approach prediction unit, and the predicted collision time is equal to the third threshold value. In case of predicting the collision by compare, it is preferable to operate the seat back drive means.

  The vehicle front window further includes a front window collision detection unit that detects a collision of the front protrusion with the front window, and the control unit is configured to detect the collision by comparing the collision prediction unit with the second threshold value. It is preferable to operate the seat back driving means when a collision is predicted and when the front window collision detecting means detects a collision of the front protrusion on the front window.

According to the collision damage alleviating device of the present invention, the front obstacle existing in front of the vehicle is monitored, and when the projection of the front obstacle is predicted to enter the space above the seat in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, By causing the seat back to tilt backward, the occupant is retracted from the space above the seat, thereby reducing the damage to the occupant during a vehicle collision.
Further, when it is determined that the vehicle collides with a front obstacle, and it is determined that there is a protrusion that can enter the space above the seat at the rear of the front obstacle, the protrusion of the front obstacle is in the space above the seat. By predicting that the vehicle will enter, unnecessary tilting drive of the seat back can be avoided, and the possibility of collision avoidance by the driver's steering operation can be ensured.

Further, the effect of reducing the collision damage can be further enhanced by tightening the seat belt and braking the vehicle by braking.
Also, the collision prediction time is calculated and the collision between the vehicle and the front obstacle is predicted by comparing with the first threshold value, the second threshold value, and the third threshold value, and the collision damage is reduced according to the collision prediction time. By performing the control for this step by step, it is possible to improve the possibility of collision caused by the steering operation of the driver and to further enhance the effect of reducing the collision damage without inadvertently tilting the rear of the seat back. I can do it.

  In addition, when the collision prediction time is compared with the second threshold value and the vehicle is predicted to collide with the front obstacle, and when the collision of the front protrusion to the windshield is detected, By performing the tilt drive, it is possible to reliably tilt the seat back backward and protect the occupant when the protrusion collides with the windshield.

(A), (b) is a schematic diagram explaining the collision damage reduction process by the collision damage reduction apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the collision damage reduction apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A), (b) is a perspective view of a seat for explaining backward tilting operation of a seat back concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart explaining the collision damage reduction process by the collision damage reduction apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A), (b) is a schematic diagram explaining the collision damage reduction process by the collision damage reduction apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, an example in which the present invention is applied to a large vehicle (hereinafter also referred to as a large vehicle) having a high vehicle height such as a truck will be described as a first embodiment, and then the present invention will be described as a sedan, for example. An example applied to a small automobile (hereinafter also referred to as a small vehicle) having a low vehicle height such as a passenger car of a type will be described.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining collision damage mitigation processing by the collision damage mitigation apparatus, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the collision damage mitigation apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a seat for explaining the backward tilting operation of the seat back. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining collision damage reduction processing by the collision damage reduction apparatus.

<Overall configuration>
As shown in FIG. 1, the collision damage reducing apparatus according to the present embodiment is applied to a large vehicle (also referred to as a vehicle or a host vehicle) 1, and is a front obstacle (here, a large vehicle, the following). , Which is also referred to as a forward vehicle) 11 (here, the rear portion of the load 13 mounted on the large vehicle 11) 12 enters the seat upper space 6 in the passenger compartment of the host vehicle 11 (FIG. )), By driving the seat back 3 of the seat 2 to tilt backward, an attempt is made to avoid a collision between the occupant 4 and the protrusion 12 at the rear portion of the load 13 (FIG. 1B).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the collision damage reducing apparatus includes an integrated ECU 41 as a control device, a front obstacle monitoring device (forward obstacle monitoring means) 5 including a stereo camera 42, a millimeter wave radar 44, and the like, and a front window. A windshield strain gauge 46 as a collision detection means, a seat back drive motor 51 as a seat back drive means for driving the seat back 3 of the seat 2 (see FIG. 3) to tilt backward, and a seat belt 7 (not shown). A tightening motor 51 as a seat belt tightening means for tightening (increasing the tightening force) and a brake ECU 53 for controlling the operation of the automatic brake system 8 as a braking means are provided. The ECU is an abbreviation for an electronic control unit. The ECU is an input / output device (not shown), a storage device (ROM, RAM, etc.) used for storing control programs, control maps, and the like. A processing device (CPU) and a timer counter are provided.

  Further, an integrated ECU (also referred to as a control device) 41 includes an entry prediction unit (entrance prediction unit) 47 and a windshield abnormality determination unit (abnormality determination unit) 50 that predict whether the protrusion 12 enters the seat upper space 6. Are provided as functional elements. In this embodiment, the approach prediction unit 47 includes a collision prediction unit (collision prediction unit) 48 and a projection determination unit (projection determination unit) 49. This approach prediction part 47 and the windshield abnormality determination part 50 are provided as software by a computer program.

The integrated ECU 41 is an electronic control unit that controls the entire host vehicle, and the units 42 to 53 operate in cooperation as described above. And when this integrated ECU41 receives information (signal) from each detection system 42-46, based on the said information, it will perform judgment and a calculation, and will control each part 51,52,53 based on the judgment result and a calculation result. A signal is transmitted.
The collision prediction unit 48 determines whether the host vehicle 1 and the preceding vehicle 11 collide based on information received from a millimeter wave radar 44 described later.

The projection determination unit 49 determines whether there is a projection 12 that can enter the seat upper space 6 at the rear of the forward vehicle 11 based on information received from the stereo camera 42 described later.
The approach prediction unit 47 predicts whether the projection 12 of the forward vehicle 11 enters the seat upper space 6 based on the determination results of the collision prediction unit 48 and the projection determination unit 49.
The windshield abnormality determination unit 50 determines whether the protrusion 12 of the front vehicle 11 has collided with the front window of the vehicle 1 based on information received from the windshield strain gauge 46 described later.

The stereo camera 42 and the millimeter wave radar 44 constituting the forward obstacle monitoring device 5 are installed facing the front in the front portion of the vehicle 1. The forward obstacle monitoring device 5 can monitor obstacles ahead of the vehicle 1 including the forward vehicle 11 based on image information obtained by the stereo camera 42 and information obtained by the millimeter wave radar 44. It can be done.
Further, the stereo camera 42 and the millimeter wave radar 44 are connected to the input side of the integrated ECU 41, and the information from these sensors is input to the integrated ECU 41.

Here, the front obstacle monitoring device 5 will be further described. In the forward obstacle monitoring device 5, the millimeter wave radar 44 obtains the presence of the forward vehicle 11 and the relative position information of the host vehicle 1 and the forward vehicle 11, and the stereo camera 42 projects the protrusion 12 at the rear of the forward vehicle 11. Is obtained, a stereo image (three-dimensional image) of the rear part of the forward vehicle 11 is obtained.
The stereo camera 42 includes two cameras and can obtain a stereo image (three-dimensional image) of the rear part of the forward vehicle 11. The stereo camera 42 includes an image analysis unit 43. The image analysis unit 43 analyzes an image obtained using the parallax of the stereo camera, and recognizes the shape of the forward vehicle 11 three-dimensionally. When the protruding portion 12 protruding from the rear portion of the load 13 mounted on the preceding vehicle 11 is detected, the shape of the protruding portion 12 and the height from the ground surface are calculated. Then, these calculation results are transmitted to the integrated ECU 41.

  The millimeter wave radar 44 emits millimeter waves and can receive radio waves (reflected waves) reflected by the emitted millimeter waves. The millimeter wave radar 44 includes a radar ECU 45. When the reflected wave is detected by the millimeter wave radar 44, the radar ECU 45 determines that the vehicle 11 is in front of the own vehicle, and the own vehicle 1 and the preceding vehicle 11 are based on the reflected wave information from the preceding vehicle 11. And the relative speed of the preceding vehicle 11 with respect to the host vehicle 1 are calculated. Then, these calculation results are transmitted to the integrated ECU 41.

The windshield strain gauge 46 is attached to the windshield in front of the host vehicle 1 and detects a deformation of the windshield as a strain amount from a change in resistance value of a resistor provided in the strain gauge. Then, the windshield distortion information (distortion amount) detected by the windshield strain gauge 46 is transmitted to the integrated ECU 41.
The seat 2 is provided in the host vehicle 1, and the occupant 4 is seated during driving. As shown in FIG. 3, the seat 2 is driven to tilt to the back of the host vehicle 1 from the normal use state shown in FIG. 3A to the seat 2 as shown in FIG. 3B. A seat back drive motor 51 is provided. The integrated ECU 41 can tilt the seat back 3 backward by operating the seat back drive motor 51. The seatback drive motor 51 is an electric motor here, but a fluid pressure motor such as an air pressure motor or a hydraulic motor may be applied.

  The seat belt 7 is attached to the seat 2 of the host vehicle 1 and fastens the occupant 4 to restrain the seat 2. The seat belt 7 is provided with a seat belt tightening motor 52 that winds up the seat belt 7 in an emergency and enhances the tightening of the occupant 4. By operating the seat belt tightening motor 52 by the integrated ECU 41, the tightening by the seat belt 7 can be enhanced and the occupant 4 can be reliably restrained. The seat belt tightening motor 52 is an electric motor here, but may be any one that at least winds up the seat belt 7, and may be an electric, air pressure, or hydraulic actuator, for example.

  The brake ECU 53 controls the operation of the automatic brake system 8. The automatic brake system 8 has an actuator (not shown) that drives a braking device (not shown) provided on each wheel of the host vehicle 1, and automatically brakes the host vehicle 1 by operating this actuator. It is. The brake ECU 53 receives the control signal from the integrated ECU 41, operates the brake even if the driver does not depress the brake pedal, and forcibly brakes the host vehicle 1. The actuator is only required to drive at least the braking device, and for example, an electric, air pressure, or hydraulic actuator is used.

<Matters related to collision damage reduction processing>
Next, the configuration of the main part related to the collision damage reduction processing according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.
Based on the information received from the stereo camera 42, the projection determination unit 49 determines the shape of the projection 12 at the rear of the front obstacle, the height from the ground surface, the attachment position of the stereo camera 42 attached to the host vehicle 1, and The mounting angle is compared with the space of the upper space 6 of the seat in the vehicle interior and the height from the ground surface, and from the relative positional relationship between the rear projection 12 of the front vehicle 11 and the upper space 6 of the seat in the vehicle interior, When the vehicle 1 travels in the current driving state, it is predicted whether or not the protrusion 12 at the rear of the front obstacle enters the seat upper space 6 of the host vehicle 1.

Here, in the present embodiment, the host vehicle 1 is a large vehicle, the front vehicle 11 is a large vehicle, and the load 13 mounted on the front vehicle 11 protrudes to the rear, and the load 13 during the rear-end collision. This is a case where the rear part enters the passenger compartment of the host vehicle 1 and enters the passenger space 6 in the passenger compartment. For this reason, the rear part of the load 13 of the forward vehicle 11 corresponds to the protrusion 12.
Further, the collision prediction unit 48 calculates a collision prediction time (TTC: Time to Collision) from the relative speed and the relative distance between the host vehicle 1 and the preceding vehicle 11 based on the information received from the millimeter wave radar 44. It is determined whether the vehicle 1 and the front obstacle collide.

Further, the integrated ECU 41 controls the host vehicle 1 based on the collision prediction time TTC calculated by the collision prediction unit 48.
Here, the collision prediction time TTC is a value obtained by dividing the relative distance Dr between the host vehicle 1 and the preceding vehicle 11 at a certain time by the relative speed Vr (TTC = Dr / Vr). A collision prediction time TTC can be used as an index for predicting a collision between the host vehicle 1 and the preceding vehicle 11. Whether or not to control the host vehicle 1 by comparing the predicted collision time TTC with the first threshold value T _s1 , the second threshold value T _s2 , and the third threshold value T _s3 as a threshold value for determining the possibility of collision. Determine whether.

The relationship between the first threshold value T _s1 , the second threshold value T _s2 , and the third threshold value T _s3 is expressed by the following equation (1).
T _s1 > T _s2 > T _s3 (1)
That is, the value of the first threshold value T _s1 is the largest, the second threshold value T _s2 is the next largest, and the third threshold value T _s3 is the smallest value.

The first threshold value T _s1 is a time serving as an index for determining that the possibility of the host vehicle 1 colliding with the preceding vehicle 11 is high. When the predicted collision time TTC is equal to or shorter than the first threshold value T _s1 (TTC ≦ T _s1 ), the integrated ECU 41 operates the seat belt tightening motor 52 to increase the tightening of the seat belt 7. In order to prepare for braking of the host vehicle 1 described later and to perform an operation of tilting and driving a seat back 3 tilted rearward, and to prepare for an impact at the time of a collision with the front vehicle 11, the passenger 4 is seated. This is to ensure restraint.

The second threshold value T _s2 is a time serving as an index for determining that the host vehicle 1 collides with the preceding vehicle 11. When the collision prediction time TTC is equal to or less than the second threshold value T _s2 (TTC ≦ T _s2 ), the integrated ECU 41 performs automatic braking of the host vehicle 1 by operating the automatic brake system 8 via the brake ECU 53. This is because the traveling speed of the host vehicle 1 is decreased by braking the host vehicle 1 and the relative speed between the host vehicle 1 and the preceding vehicle 11 is decreased, so that the time until the collision is increased and the relative speed at the time of the collision is decreased. This is to reduce damage at the time of collision with the forward vehicle 11.

The third threshold value T _s3 is a time that serves as an index for determining that the _host vehicle 1 collides with the preceding vehicle 11 and that it is further determined that the collision damage reduction request is high. When the predicted collision time TTC is equal to or shorter than the third threshold value T _s3 (TTC ≦ T _s3 ), the integrated ECU 41 operates to tilt the seat back 3 backward by operating the seat back drive motor 51. This is because the upper body of the occupant 4 is retracted from the seat upper space 6 by driving the seat back 3 to tilt backward, and the contact of the occupant 4 with the protrusion 12 is avoided.

  Further, the windshield abnormality determination unit 50 determines that the protrusion 12 of the front vehicle 11 is positioned on the front window of the vehicle 1 when the magnitude of the strain exceeds a certain value based on the information received from the windshield strain gauge 46. It is determined that there is a collision.

<Collision damage reduction procedure>
Next, the procedure of the collision damage reduction process according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.
The present collision damage alleviating apparatus performs control according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 when the forward vehicle 11 is present in front of the host vehicle 1.
Here, as an example, the description will be made assuming that the first threshold T _s1 = 1.4 seconds, the second threshold T _s2 = 0.6 seconds, and the third threshold T _s3 = 0.4 seconds.
First, the stereo camera 42 and the millimeter wave radar 44 mounted on the host vehicle 1 are operated to detect the forward vehicle 11 (step S11).

At this time, if the preceding vehicle is not detected (No route in step S11), the integrated ECU 41 does not perform tightening of the seat belt 7 (step S21) and does not execute automatic braking by the brake ECU 53 (step S21). S22), the rearward tilting drive of the seat back 3 is not performed.
Thereafter, the collision prediction unit 48 calculates the collision prediction time TTC from the relative speed and relative distance between the host vehicle 1 and the preceding vehicle 11 calculated by the millimeter wave radar 44 (step S12).

Then, the collision prediction unit 48 determines whether or not the collision prediction time TTC is equal to or less than the first threshold T _s1 . At this time, if the predicted collision time TTC exceeds the first threshold value T _s1 (No route in Step S13), the integrated ECU 41 does not perform tightening of the seat belt 7 (Step S21), and the brake ECU 53 performs automatic braking. Is not executed (step S22), and the backward tilting drive of the seat back 3 is not performed.

On the other hand, when the collision prediction time TTC is equal to or less than the first threshold value T _s1 (Yes route in step S13), the integrated ECU 41 operates the seat belt tightening motor 52 to enhance the tightening of the seat belt 7. (Step S14).
Furthermore, the collision prediction unit 48 determines whether or not the collision prediction time TTC is equal to or less than the second threshold _Ts2 . At this time, when the collision prediction time TTC exceeds the second threshold value T _s2 (No route in step S15), the integrated ECU 41 does not execute automatic braking by the brake ECU 53 (step S22) and moves backward to the seat back 6. The tilting drive is not performed.

On the other hand, when the predicted collision time TTC is within the second threshold value T _s2 (Yes route in step S15), the integrated ECU 41 operates the automatic brake system via the brake ECU 53 to brake the host vehicle 1 (step S16). ).
Next, based on the stereo image information photographed by the stereo camera 42, the protrusion determination unit 49 determines whether the protrusion 12 has the protrusion 12 at the position of entering the seat upper space 6 of the host vehicle 1 at the rear of the forward vehicle 11. judge. That is, when the host vehicle 1 travels in the current driving state, it is determined whether or not the protrusion 12 at the rear portion of the front vehicle 11 enters the seat upper space 6 of the host vehicle 1. At this time, when it is determined that the rear portion of the front vehicle 11 does not have the protrusion 12 that can enter the seat upper space 6 of the host vehicle 1 (No route in step S17), the seatback 3 is tilted backward. Do not do.

Then, the collision prediction unit 48 determines whether the collision prediction time TTC is equal to or less than the third threshold value _Ts3 . At this time, when the collision prediction time TTC exceeds the third threshold value T _s3 (No route of Step S18), the windshield abnormality determination unit 50 determines whether the windshield Anomaly detection is performed. At this time, when the abnormality of the windshield is not detected (No route in step S20), the tilting drive to the rear of the seat back 3 is not performed.

On the other hand, when the collision prediction time TTC is within the third threshold value T _s3 (Yes route of Step S18), or when a windshield abnormality is detected by the windshield abnormality determining unit 50 (Yes route of Step S20). The integrated ECU 41 operates the seat back drive motor 51 to drive the seat back 3 to tilt backward (step S19).

Therefore, for example, it is assumed that the forward vehicle 11 is detected (Yes route in step S11), and the collision prediction time TTC is calculated as a very short time (for example, 0.3 seconds) (step S12).
In this case, it is determined that the predicted collision time TTC is equal to or shorter than the first threshold value T _s1 (= 1.4 seconds) (Yes route of step S13), and tightening of the seat belt 7 is performed (step S14).

Next, it is determined that the collision prediction time TTC is equal to or shorter than the second threshold value T _s2 (= 0.6 seconds) (Yes route in step S15), and the host vehicle 1 is automatically braked (step S16).
Furthermore, when it is determined that the preceding vehicle 11 has the protrusion 12 that can enter the seat upper space 6 of the host vehicle 1 (Yes route in step S17), the predicted collision time TTC is equal to the third threshold value T _s3 ( = 0.4 second) or less (Yes route of step S18), and the backward tilting drive of the seat back 3 is performed (step S19).

On the other hand, it is assumed that the forward vehicle 11 is detected and the collision prediction time TTC is calculated as 0.5 seconds, for example (step S12).
In this case, it is determined that the collision prediction time TTC is equal to or less than the first threshold value T _s1 (= 1.4 seconds) and the second threshold value T _s2 (= 0.6 seconds). Automatic braking of the vehicle 1 is performed (steps S14 and S17).
Furthermore, when it is determined that the preceding vehicle 11 has the protrusion 12 that can enter the seat upper space 6 of the host vehicle 1 (Yes route in step S17), the predicted collision time TTC is equal to the third threshold value T _s3 ( = 0.4 seconds) (No route in step S18).

At this time, when no abnormality is detected in the windshield (No route in step S20), the backward tilting drive of the seat back 3 is not performed.
On the other hand, when an abnormality is detected in the windshield (Yes route in step S20), the seatback 3 is tilted backward (step S19).

<Action and effect>
Since the collision damage reducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above, the following operations and effects are achieved.

  In the collision damage reducing device, when the host vehicle 1 is a large vehicle, the seat back 3 is tilted and driven backward when the host vehicle 1 and the front vehicle 11 collide, thereby causing the passenger 4 to move the upper space 6 of the seat 2. The contact between the occupant 4 and the rear protrusion 12 of the load 13 mounted on the front vehicle 11 entering the occupant space in the passenger compartment is avoided, and the effect of protecting the occupant 4 is enhanced. I can do it.

  Further, it is determined whether or not the protrusion 12 at the rear part of the load 13 mounted on the preceding vehicle enters the seat upper space 6 of the host vehicle 1. It is unnecessary because the seat back 3 is tilted and driven only when the protrusion 12 of the load 13 mounted on the vehicle in front of the occupant 4 can be avoided during the rear-end collision. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the tilting drive of the seat back 3 and to ensure the possibility of collision due to the steering operation of the driver.

  Further, before the seatback 3 is tilted backward, the seatbelt 7 is tightened to prepare for subsequent braking of the host vehicle 1 and driving the seatback 3 to tilt backward. I can do it. In addition, by performing automatic braking of the host vehicle 1 by braking before performing the tilting drive to the rear of the seat back 3, the speed of the host vehicle 1 is reduced, so that the relative relationship between the host vehicle 1 and the front vehicle 11 is increased. It is possible to reduce the speed, increase the time until the collision, and secure the time until the seat back 3 tilts backward.

Moreover, the relative distance between the host vehicle 1 and the preceding vehicle 11 is calculated by calculating the predicted collision time TTC and sequentially comparing the predicted collision time TTC with the first threshold value T _s1 , the second threshold value T _s2 , and the third threshold value T _s3. In addition, by performing stepwise control to reduce collision damage according to the relative speed, the possibility of collision due to the steering operation of the driver is improved without inadvertently driving the seat back 3 to tilt backward. In addition, the effect of reducing collision damage can be further enhanced.

Furthermore, when the collision prediction time TTC is equal to or shorter than the second threshold value _Ts2 and the host vehicle 1 is predicted to collide with the preceding vehicle 11, and the windshield distortion gauge 46 detects an abnormality in the windshield, By driving the back 3 to tilt backward, the seat back 3 is surely tilted backward and the occupant 4 is protected when the projection 12 of the load 13 mounted on the front vehicle collides with the windshield. It becomes possible.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
This embodiment is configured in the same manner as the above-described first embodiment except for a part of the configuration, and the description of the same components as those in the first embodiment will be omitted, and will be described using the same reference numerals.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining collision damage reduction processing by the collision damage reduction apparatus according to this embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 5, the collision damage reducing apparatus according to the present embodiment is applied to an ordinary passenger car 21, and a protrusion 32 at the rear part of the large vehicle 31 in front is a seat in the passenger compartment of the host vehicle 21. When entering the upper space 26 (FIG. 5A), the collision between the occupant 4 and the protrusion 32 at the rear of the large vehicle 31 is avoided by driving the seat back 3 of the seat 2 to tilt backward. It is. (Fig. 5 (b))
In the present embodiment, since the front vehicle 31 of the host vehicle is mainly assumed as the front obstacle, the front obstacle is hereinafter referred to as the front vehicle 31. Further, the host vehicle 21 is a normal passenger car, the front vehicle 31 is a large vehicle, the host vehicle 21 sinks under the rear portion of the front vehicle 31 at the time of rear-end collision, and the rear portion 32 of the front vehicle 31 is a vehicle interior of the host vehicle 21. This is a case where the vehicle enters the passenger space 26 in the passenger compartment. For this reason, the rear part 32 of the front vehicle 31 becomes a projection part.

  Since the collision damage alleviating apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above, the collision damage reducing apparatus is configured such that when the host vehicle 1 is a normal passenger car, When the seat back 3 is driven to tilt backward, the occupant 4 is retracted from the upper space 26 of the seat 2, and the protrusion 32 on the rear portion of the front vehicle 31 entering the occupant space in the passenger compartment with the occupant 4. Can be avoided, and the effect of protecting the passenger 4 can be enhanced.

[Others]
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, the collision damage reducing apparatus described in the above embodiment can be applied to all automobiles, and may be applied to light vehicles, large vehicles such as buses and towing vehicles, and other special vehicles.
In the above embodiment, the front obstacle is monitored by the stereo camera 42 and the millimeter wave radar 44. However, the front obstacle may be monitored by using either the stereo camera 42 or the millimeter wave radar 44. Further, a front obstacle may be monitored using a laser radar.

In the above embodiment, the shape of the front obstacle is recognized by the stereo camera 42, but the shape of the front obstacle may be recognized by the millimeter wave radar 44.
Further, in the above embodiment, the relative distance between the own vehicle 1, 21 and the preceding vehicle 11, 31 is calculated by the millimeter wave radar 44, but the own vehicle 1, 11 and the preceding vehicle 11, 31 is calculated by the stereo camera 42. The relative distance may be calculated. Further, the relative distance and the relative speed may be calculated using a laser radar.

In the above embodiment, the shape of the front obstacle is recognized by the image analysis unit 43 of the stereo camera 42. However, the stereo image information of the front obstacle obtained by the stereo camera 42 is transmitted to the integrated ECU 41. The shape of the front obstacle may be recognized by the integrated ECU 41.
Further, in the above embodiment, the radar ECU 45 calculates the relative distance between the own vehicle 1, 21 and the preceding vehicle 11, 31, and the relative speed of the preceding vehicle 11, 31 with respect to the own vehicle 1, 21, The radio wave information obtained by the millimeter wave radar 44 may be transmitted to the integrated ECU 41 and the integrated ECU 41 may calculate the relative distance and the relative speed.

  In the above embodiment, as an example, the first collision prediction time is 1.4 seconds, the second collision prediction time is 0.6 seconds, and the third collision prediction time is 0.4 seconds. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, the predicted collision time may be changed according to the braking avoidance limit or steering avoidance limit for each vehicle, or the type of vehicle.

1, 21 Own vehicle 2 Seat 3 Seat back 4 Crew 5 Front obstacle monitoring device (front obstacle monitoring means)
6, 26 Seat upper space 7 Seat belt 8 Automatic brake system (braking means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11,31 Vehicle ahead 12,32 Protruding part 13 Load 41 Integrated ECU (control apparatus)
42 Stereo Camera 43 Image Analysis Unit 44 Millimeter Wave Radar 45 Radar ECU
46 Windshield strain gauge (window collision detection means)
47 Approach prediction unit (approach prediction means)
48 Collision prediction unit (collision prediction means)
49 Projection determination unit (projection determination means)
50 Windshield abnormality determination unit (front glass abnormality determination means)
51 Seat back drive motor (seat back drive means)
52 Seat belt fastening motor (seat belt fastening means)
53 Brake ECU

Claims (5)

A collision damage reducing device for a vehicle that reduces damage to a vehicle occupant when a protrusion on a rear part of a front obstacle existing in front of the vehicle enters an upper space of a seat in the vehicle interior of the vehicle,
Forward obstacle monitoring means for monitoring the forward obstacle;
Based on information from the front obstacle monitoring means, an entry prediction means for predicting whether the projection of the front obstacle enters the seat upper space,
A seat back drive means for driving the seat back of the seat to tilt backward to retract the seat occupant from the space above the seat;
The collision damage alleviating device for a vehicle, comprising: a control unit that activates the seat back driving unit when the projection predicting unit predicts that the protrusion enters the space above the seat. Collision prediction means for predicting whether the vehicle will collide with the forward obstacle based on information from the forward obstacle monitoring means;
Based on information from the front obstacle monitoring means, a protrusion determining means for determining whether there is a protrusion that can enter the space above the seat at the rear of the front obstacle,
The approach predicting means is configured such that the collision predicting means predicts that the vehicle collides with the front obstacle, and the protrusion determining means includes the protrusion that can enter the space above the seat at the rear of the front obstacle. The collision damage reducing device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein, when determined, the projection of the front obstacle is predicted to enter the space above the seat. Seat belt tightening means for tightening a seat belt attached to the seat;
Braking means for braking the vehicle,
3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the control unit activates the seat belt tightening unit and the braking unit when the collision prediction unit predicts that the vehicle collides with the front obstacle. Collision damage reduction device. The collision prediction means estimates a collision prediction time until the vehicle and the front obstacle collide, compares the estimated collision prediction time with a threshold value, and the collision prediction time is equal to or less than the threshold value. Configured to predict that the vehicle will collide with the forward obstacle,
As the threshold, a first threshold, a second threshold smaller than the first threshold, and a third threshold smaller than the second threshold are set,
The control means includes
When the collision prediction means predicts the collision by comparison with the first threshold, the seat belt tightening means is operated,
When the collision prediction means predicts the collision by comparison with the second threshold, the braking means is activated,
When the projection predicting unit is predicted to enter the space above the seat by the approach predicting unit and the collision is predicted by comparison with the third threshold, the seat back driving unit is operated. 4. The collision damage reducing device for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein A front window collision detection means for detecting a collision of the front protrusion with the front window on the front window of the vehicle;
The control means, when the collision prediction means predicts the collision by comparison with the second threshold, and when the front window collision detection means detects a collision of the front protrusion on the front window, 5. The collision damage reducing device for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the seat back driving means is operated.

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