JP2012176722A - Vehicle collision determination apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle collision determination apparatus which ensures an occupant protection performance equal to the prior technology and furthermore achieves reduction of the cost thereof.SOLUTION: The vehicle collision determination apparatus includes: a first acceleration sensor; a first calculation means for calculating a collision determination calculation value on the basis of acceleration data obtained from the first acceleration sensor; and a collision determination means for making a collision determination by comparing the collision determination calculation value with a collision determination threshold value. The vehicle collision determination apparatus further includes: a second acceleration sensor having such a measurement range and a response frequency range as to detect a high frequency vibration component caused by a collision with a car body deformation; a second calculation means for calculating deformation energy generated by the collision on the basis of the high frequency vibration component; and a threshold value switching means which determines whether the collision with the car body deformation occurs or not on the basis of the deformation energy, and instructs the collision determination means to switch the collision determination threshold value in accordance with a result of the determination.

Description

 The present invention relates to a vehicle collision determination device.

 Generally, an SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) airbag system is known as a system for protecting an occupant in the event of a vehicle collision. This SRS airbag system detects the occurrence of a vehicle collision based on acceleration data acquired from satellite sensors installed in each part of the vehicle and activates an occupant protection device such as an airbag.

  Conventionally, acceleration data obtained from a plurality of front crash sensors (FCS) installed in the front part of the vehicle and unit sensors in an SRS unit (ECU that controls the SRS airbag system) installed in the central part of the vehicle Based on the above, there is known a technique for determining whether or not a collision requiring activation of the occupant protection device has occurred, and performing activation control of the occupant protection device according to the collision determination result (Patent Document 1 below) reference).

  In the technology described in Patent Document 1 below, collision determination is performed by comparing a collision determination calculation value (for example, an occupant movement amount and an occupant speed change amount) calculated based on acceleration data obtained from a unit sensor and a collision determination threshold value. However, at this time, if it is determined that no more than a certain level of impact has occurred on the vehicle based on the acceleration data obtained from the FCS, the collision determination threshold is set to a relatively high value, while a certain level of impact is exceeded. Is determined to have occurred in the vehicle, the collision determination threshold is switched to a relatively low value.

As a result, when it is determined that a certain level of impact has not occurred in the vehicle (when the possibility of a collision is low), the collision determination calculation value does not easily exceed the collision determination threshold, and the occupant protection device is activated. It is possible to prevent the occupant protection device from being accidentally activated due to unnecessary vibration or shock. On the other hand, when it is determined that a certain level of impact has occurred in the vehicle (when there is a high possibility of a collision), the collision determination calculation value easily exceeds the collision determination threshold, and the occupant protection device is activated quickly. be able to.
In other words, conventionally, quick and accurate activation control of the occupant protection device has been realized by switching the level of the collision determination threshold according to the acceleration data obtained from the FCS.

JP 2006-88913 A

  By the way, in recent years, there is an increasing demand for parts cost reduction from the market, and the major theme is how to reduce part cost while maintaining the current collision detection performance (occupant protection performance) for the SRS airbag system. It has become. Therefore, it is possible to delete the FCS. If the FCS is deleted, a harness for connecting the FCS and the SRS unit (ECU) becomes unnecessary, and the structure of the SRS unit is simplified (no connector or communication interface IC is required). Cost reduction effect can be obtained.

  The problem here is what means is used to replace the collision determination (determination of necessity of switching of the collision determination threshold), which has been preliminarily performed using the acceleration data obtained from the FCS. Originally, the FCS was provided at the front of the vehicle because the unit sensor in the SRS unit installed in the center of the vehicle where the deformation of the vehicle body during a frontal collision was small alone would cause a severe collision (occupant protection device) This is because it was difficult to quickly and accurately detect the occurrence of a collision that requires activation of Therefore, in order to delete the FCS for cost reduction, it is an essential requirement to ensure passenger protection performance equivalent to that when the FCS is used.

   The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle collision determination device that can realize cost reduction while ensuring occupant protection performance equivalent to the conventional one.

 In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, as a first solution means for a vehicle collision determination device, a first acceleration sensor for detecting acceleration acting in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the first acceleration sensor are used. Vehicle collision determination apparatus comprising: first calculation means for calculating a collision determination calculation value based on the acceleration data obtained; and a collision determination means for performing a collision determination by comparing the collision determination calculation value with a collision determination threshold value A second acceleration sensor having a measurement range and a response frequency range capable of detecting an acceleration acting in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and detecting at least a high-frequency vibration component caused by a collision accompanied by a vehicle body deformation; A second calculation means for calculating deformation energy caused by a collision based on the high-frequency vibration component included in acceleration data obtained from a two-acceleration sensor; Threshold value switching determination means for determining whether or not a collision accompanied by vehicle body deformation has occurred based on the shape energy, and instructing the collision determination means to switch the collision determination threshold value according to the determination result. And

  In the present invention, as the second solving means relating to the vehicle collision determination device, in the first solving means, the first calculation means calculates at least an occupant movement amount as the calculation value for collision determination, The threshold value switching judging means compares the threshold energy setting means for setting a deformation energy threshold value according to the occupant movement amount and the deformation energy and the deformation energy threshold value to determine whether or not a collision accompanied by vehicle body deformation has occurred. And a first comparison / determination means for determining.

  Further, in the present invention, as a third solving means relating to the vehicle collision determination device, in the second solving means, the first calculation means includes an occupant speed in addition to the occupant movement amount as the calculation value for collision determination. A change amount is calculated, and the threshold value switching determination means compares the occupant speed change amount with an occupant speed change amount threshold value to determine whether or not a collision with a large speed change has occurred; And a final switching determination means for determining whether or not to finally instruct switching of the collision determination threshold based on the determination results of the first comparison determination means and the second comparison determination means. .

  Further, in the present invention, as a fourth solving means related to the vehicle collision determination device, in any one of the first to third solving means, the second acceleration sensor may be safing in addition to the high-frequency vibration component. A safing having a measurement range and a response frequency range capable of detecting a low-frequency vibration component necessary for determination, and performing safing determination based on the low-frequency vibration component included in acceleration data obtained from the second acceleration sensor Determining means, and final activation determining means for determining whether to finally activate the occupant protection device based on the safing determination result of the safing determining means and the collision determination result of the collision determining means. Features.

 Conventionally, the collision determination (determination of necessity of switching of the collision determination threshold) that has been preliminarily performed using the acceleration data obtained from the FCS is performed based on the acceleration data obtained from the second acceleration sensor built in the vehicle collision determination device. The present inventors have found that the collision determination using the calculated deformation energy can be substituted, and have filed the present invention. In other words, according to the vehicle collision determination device according to the present invention, the FCS can be deleted while ensuring the same passenger protection performance as when the FCS is used. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the cost while ensuring the same passenger protection performance as before. It can be realized.

It is a composition schematic diagram of the SRS airbag system in this embodiment. It is a principal part block block diagram of SRS unit 1 (vehicle collision determination apparatus). Time variation of safing acceleration data Gs (t) and deformation energy E obtained from the SGS 12 when two collision tests of a severe collision accompanied by a vehicle body deformation and a gentle collision with a slight vehicle body deformation are performed for a certain vehicle type. FIG. It is a figure which shows the time change of the safing acceleration data Gs (t) and deformation energy E which were obtained from SGS12 at the time of the vibration generation | occurrence | production by driving | running | working.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an SRS airbag system in the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the SRS airbag system in the present embodiment includes an SRS unit 1 (vehicle collision determination device) installed at the center of the vehicle 100, and an air installed at the driver seat and the passenger seat of the vehicle 100. It is comprised from the bag 2 (occupant protection device).

  The SRS unit 1 uses acceleration data obtained from a main acceleration sensor 11 (first acceleration sensor: hereinafter referred to as MGS) and a safing acceleration sensor 12 (second acceleration sensor: hereinafter referred to as SGS) provided therein. Based on an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) that performs a collision determination as to whether or not a collision requiring deployment of the airbag 2 has occurred in the vehicle 100, and controls the activation of the airbag 2 according to the collision determination result. is there.

 The airbag 2 is an occupant protection device that expands in response to an ignition signal input from the SRS unit 1 and reduces injury caused by a secondary collision of the occupant forward due to a frontal collision of the vehicle 100. In general, the vehicle 100 is provided with other occupant protection devices such as a seat belt pretensioner in addition to the airbag 2, but the illustration is omitted in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, in the SRS unit 1, the MGS 11 and the SGS 12 may be provided separately, or the MGS 11 and the SGS 12 may be built in one sensor cell.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the main part of the SRS unit 1. As shown in this figure, in addition to the above-described MGS 11 and SGS 12, the SRS unit 1 includes a first low-pass filter 13 (hereinafter referred to as a first LPF), a movement amount calculation unit 14 (first calculation means), a speed change amount. Calculation unit 15 (first calculation unit), main collision determination unit 16 (collision determination unit), second LPF 17, deformation energy calculation unit 18 (second calculation unit), threshold switching determination unit 19 (threshold switching determination unit), third LPF 20 , A safing determination unit 21 (safing determination unit) and a final activation determination unit 22 (final activation determination unit) are provided.

  The MGS 11 is an acceleration sensor arranged in the SRS unit 1 such that when the SRS unit 1 is fixed to the vehicle 100, the sensitivity axis is parallel to the length direction of the vehicle 100 (X-axis direction in FIG. 1). . That is, the MGS 11 detects acceleration acting in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 100 and outputs main acceleration data Gm (t) indicating the detection result to the first LPF 13.

  In addition, as this MGS11, the unit sensor conventionally provided in the SRS unit 1 can be utilized as it is. The MGS 11 has a measurement range and a response frequency range in which, for example, an acceleration component (vibration component) having a frequency of 400 Hz or less and an amplitude of 100 G or less can be detected.

  Similar to the MGS 11, the SGS 12 is an acceleration sensor disposed in the SRS unit 1 so that the sensitivity axis is parallel to the length direction of the vehicle 100 when the SRS unit 1 is fixed to the vehicle 100. That is, this SGS11 detects the acceleration which acts on the length direction of the vehicle 100, and outputs the safing acceleration data Gs (t) which shows the detection result to the 2nd LPF17 and the 3rd LPF20.

  The SGS 11 has a measurement range and a response frequency range that can detect a high-frequency vibration component caused by a collision accompanied by vehicle body deformation and a low-frequency vibration component necessary for safing determination described later. Specifically, the SGS 11 has a measurement range and a response frequency range in which at least an acceleration component (vibration component) having a frequency of 1 kHz or more and an amplitude of 500 G or less can be detected.

  The first LPF 13 is a low-pass filter whose cutoff frequency is set to, for example, 400 Hz, and an acceleration component G1 (t) having a frequency of 400 Hz or less included in the main acceleration data Gm (t) input from the MGS 11 is a movement amount calculation unit 14. And pass to the speed change amount calculation unit 15. The acceleration component G1 (t) having a frequency of 400 Hz or less is significant data (data with high determination accuracy) as acceleration data used for collision determination performed by the main collision determination unit 16 described later. Hereinafter, the acceleration component G1 (t) having a frequency of 400 Hz or less is referred to as collision determination acceleration data.

 The movement amount calculation unit 14 calculates the occupant movement amount ΔS (collision determination calculation value) by performing quadratic integration of the collision determination acceleration data G1 (t) input from the first LPF 13, and calculates the calculation result. The data is output to the main collision determination unit 16 and the threshold switching determination unit 19. The method for calculating the occupant movement amount ΔS is known as described in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-88913) and the like, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The speed change amount calculation unit 15 calculates the occupant speed change amount ΔV (collision determination calculation value) by performing a primary interval integration of the collision determination acceleration data G1 (t) input from the first LPF 13, and the calculation result Is output to the main collision determination unit 16 and the threshold value switching determination unit 19. The calculation method of the occupant speed change amount ΔV is known as described in Patent Document 1 and the like, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

 The main collision determination unit 16 has a collision determination threshold (TH_Hi or TH_Lo set two-dimensionally on a two-dimensional map (ΔS-ΔV map) having the occupant movement amount ΔS as the horizontal axis and the occupant speed change amount ΔV as the vertical axis. ) And the occupant movement amount ΔS and the occupant speed change amount ΔV calculated by the movement amount calculation unit 14 and the speed change amount calculation unit 15, whether a collision requiring deployment of the airbag 2 has occurred. A collision determination is made as to whether or not, and the collision determination result R1 is output to the final activation determination unit 22.

 Specifically, the main collision determination unit 16 determines that the occupant movement amount ΔS and the occupant speed change amount ΔV calculated by the movement amount calculation unit 14 and the speed change amount calculation unit 15 are the collision determination threshold (TH_Hi or TH_Lo). Is exceeded, the collision determination result R1 is set to “1”, and the occupant movement amount ΔS and the occupant speed change amount ΔV are set to the collision determination threshold value. If not exceeded, it is determined that the airbag 2 need not be deployed, and the collision determination result R1 is set to “0”.

 Here, the main collision determination unit 16 selects either the threshold value TH_Hi or TH_Lo as the collision determination threshold value according to the threshold value switching instruction R4 from the threshold value switching determination unit 19. As shown in FIG. 2, the threshold value TH_Hi is set to a relatively high value so that the occupant movement amount ΔS and the occupant speed change amount ΔV do not easily exceed the collision determination threshold value. On the other hand, the threshold value TH_Lo is set to a relatively low value so that the occupant movement amount ΔS and the occupant speed change amount ΔV can easily exceed the collision determination threshold value. In addition, since it is well-known as described in patent document 1 how these two-dimensional threshold values TH_Hi and TH_Lo are set on the ΔS-ΔV map, detailed description thereof is omitted. .

  The second LPF 17 is a low-pass filter whose cutoff frequency is set to 5 kHz, for example, and uses the acceleration component G2 (t) having a frequency of 5 kHz or less included in the safing acceleration data Gs (t) input from the SGS11 as a deformation energy calculation unit Pass to 18. This relatively high-frequency acceleration component G2 (t) having a frequency of 5 kHz or less has a feature that it is possible to accurately capture the progress of vehicle body deformation due to a collision, and is preliminarily performed by the threshold value switching determination unit 19 described later. This is significant data as acceleration data used for collision determination (determination of necessity of switching of collision determination threshold). Hereinafter, the acceleration component G2 (t) having a frequency of 5 kHz or less is referred to as threshold switching determination acceleration data.

  The deformation energy calculation unit 18 calculates the deformation energy E generated by the collision based on the threshold switching determination acceleration data G <b> 2 (t) input from the second LPF 17, and outputs the calculation result to the threshold switching determination unit 19. Specifically, the deformation energy calculation unit 18 calculates the deformation energy E based on the following equation (1). In the following formula (1), a = G2 (t).

  As described above, the deformation energy E can be obtained by linear integration of the square of the threshold switching judgment acceleration data G2 (t), but is based on the following equation (2) in consideration of the processing load of the CPU. Thus, it is desirable to approximately calculate the deformation energy E. In the following formula (2), | a | is the absolute value of G2 (t). That is, the deformation energy E can be obtained approximately by performing the first-order interval integration of the absolute value of G2 (t).

 The threshold value switching determination unit 19 is based on the deformation energy E input from the deformation energy calculation unit 18 and the occupant movement amount ΔS and the occupant speed change amount ΔV input from the movement amount calculation unit 14 and the speed change amount calculation unit 15. Thus, it is determined whether or not a collision accompanied by vehicle body deformation has occurred, and the main collision determination unit 16 is instructed to switch the collision determination threshold according to the determination result. Specifically, the threshold value switching determination unit 19 includes a threshold setting unit 19a (threshold setting unit), a first comparison determination unit 19b (first comparison determination unit), and a second comparison determination unit 19c (second comparison determination). Means) and a final switching determination unit 19d (final switching determination means).

 The threshold setting unit 19a sets the deformation energy threshold Eth according to the occupant movement amount ΔS input from the movement amount calculation unit 14, and outputs the setting result to the first comparison determination unit 19b. Specifically, the threshold value setting unit 19a refers to a ΔS-Eth table (see FIG. 2) indicating a correspondence relationship between a preset occupant movement amount ΔS and the deformation energy threshold Eth, and the movement amount calculation unit 14 The deformation energy threshold Eth corresponding to the occupant movement amount ΔS calculated in step S1 is acquired from the ΔS-Eth table.

 As shown in the ΔS-Eth table in FIG. 2, the smaller the occupant movement amount ΔS, the higher the deformation energy threshold Eth is set. This is because the smaller the occupant movement amount ΔS is, the lower the possibility that a collision accompanied by the deformation of the vehicle body (a collision that requires the airbag 2 to be deployed) has occurred. Makes it difficult to exceed the deformation energy threshold Eth, and it will be determined in the first comparison / determination unit 19b, which will be described later, that a collision involving deformation of the vehicle body has occurred due to vibrations or impacts that do not require the airbag 2 to be deployed. (In other words, it is possible to prevent a collision determination threshold value switching instruction from being erroneously issued).

 On the other hand, as shown in the ΔS-Eth table in FIG. 2, the deformation energy threshold Eth is set to a lower value as the occupant movement amount ΔS is larger. This is because, as the occupant movement amount ΔS is larger, the possibility that a collision with vehicle body deformation has occurred is higher. Therefore, by setting the deformation energy threshold Eth low, the deformation energy E easily exceeds the deformation energy threshold Eth. This is because a first comparison and determination unit 19b described later quickly determines that a collision accompanied by vehicle body deformation has occurred (in other words, a collision determination threshold value switching instruction is issued quickly).

 The first comparison / determination unit 19b compares the deformation energy E input from the deformation energy calculation unit 18 with the deformation energy threshold Eth set by the threshold setting unit 19a to determine whether or not a collision with vehicle body deformation has occurred. The collision determination result R2 is output to the final switching determination unit 19d. Specifically, the first comparison / determination unit 19b determines that a collision involving vehicle body deformation has occurred when the deformation energy E calculated by the deformation energy calculation unit 18 exceeds the deformation energy threshold Eth. When the collision determination result R2 is set to “1” and the deformation energy E does not exceed the deformation energy threshold Eth, it is determined that no collision accompanied by vehicle body deformation has occurred, and the collision determination result R2 is set to “0”. Set to "".

 Actually, when the vehicle body structure changes depending on the vehicle type, the temporal change tendency of the deformation energy E changes. Therefore, it is necessary to perform a collision test for each vehicle type to obtain the optimal deformation energy threshold Eth for the vehicle type. . FIG. 3 shows that the applicant has a severe collision with a vehicle body deformation (collision mode requiring airbag deployment: ODB64 kph) and a gentle collision with a slight vehicle body deformation (collision mode not requiring airbag deployment: FR8 mph). The time change of the safing acceleration data Gs (t) and deformation energy E obtained from the SGS 12 when the two collision tests are performed.

  FIGS. 3A and 3B show temporal changes in safing acceleration data Gs (t) and deformation energy E obtained from the SGS 12 when a collision test of a severe collision accompanied by vehicle body deformation is performed. 3 (c) and 3 (d) show the time of safing acceleration data Gs (t) and deformation energy E obtained from the SGS 12 when a collision test of a mild collision with slight deformation of the vehicle body is performed. It shows a change.

 As shown in these figures, a clear difference in the temporal change tendency of the deformation energy E occurs in a short time from the time of the collision between a severe collision accompanied by a vehicle body deformation and a gentle collision with a slight vehicle body deformation. I understand that. That is, in principle, the deformation energy E is deformed by setting the deformation energy threshold Eth to a value that can reliably distinguish between a severe collision involving vehicle body deformation and a gentle collision with slight vehicle body deformation according to the vehicle type. When the energy threshold value Eth is exceeded, it can be accurately and quickly determined that a severe collision accompanied by vehicle body deformation has occurred. In the present embodiment, as described above, the deformation energy threshold Eth is dynamically set according to the occupant movement amount ΔS, thereby realizing more accurate and quick collision determination (determination of necessity of switching the collision determination threshold). is doing.

 FIGS. 4A and 4B show temporal changes in safing acceleration data Gs (t) and deformation energy E obtained from the SGS 12 when vibration is generated by traveling (P / H 80 kph). As shown in these figures, it can be seen that the deformation energy E fluctuates relatively greatly when vibration is generated by traveling even if the collision is not accompanied by vehicle body deformation. That is, only the first comparison / determination unit 19b may erroneously determine that the deformation energy E exceeds the deformation energy threshold Eth and a collision accompanied by the deformation of the vehicle body occurs even when a large vibration is generated by traveling. .

 Therefore, it is necessary to determine whether the deformation energy E exceeds the deformation energy threshold Eth because of a collision with deformation of the vehicle body or due to vibration caused by running. In the present embodiment, by providing a second comparison / determination unit 19c described later, the cause of the deformation energy E exceeding the deformation energy threshold Eth is realized.

 The second comparison / determination unit 19c compares the occupant speed change amount ΔV calculated by the speed change amount calculation unit 15 with a preset occupant speed change amount threshold value ΔVth, thereby causing a collision with a large speed change. And the collision determination result R3 is output to the final switching determination unit 19d. Specifically, the second comparison determination unit 19c causes a collision with a large speed change when the occupant speed change amount ΔV calculated by the speed change amount calculation unit 15 exceeds the occupant speed change amount threshold value ΔVth. When the collision determination result R3 is set to “1” and the occupant speed change amount ΔV does not exceed the occupant speed change amount threshold value ΔVth, a collision with a large speed change does not occur (running) The collision determination result R3 is set to “0”.

 That is, even if the first comparison determination unit 19b determines that the deformation energy E has exceeded the deformation energy threshold Eth, if the second comparison determination unit 19c determines that a collision with a large speed change has not occurred, the deformation energy It can be estimated that E exceeds the deformation energy threshold Eth due to vibration caused by running.

 The final switching determination unit 19d finally switches the collision determination threshold for the main collision determination unit 16 based on the collision determination result R2 of the first comparison determination unit 19b and the collision determination result R3 of the second comparison determination unit 19c. Decide whether to instruct. Specifically, the final switching determination unit 19d is an AND operation unit, and when both of the collision determination results R2 and R3 are “1”, that is, the deformation energy E is the deformation energy threshold value in the first comparison determination unit 19b. It is determined that the vehicle has exceeded Eth (a collision involving vehicle body deformation has occurred), and the occupant speed change amount ΔV exceeds the occupant speed change amount threshold value ΔVth in the second comparison determination unit 19c (a collision with a large speed change has occurred). ), The threshold value switching instruction R4 is set to “1” and output to the main collision determination unit 16 in order to switch the collision determination threshold value from TH_Hi to TH_Lo.

 In addition, when at least one of the collision determination results R2 and R3 is “0”, the final switching determination unit 19d sets the threshold switching instruction R4 to “0” in order to hold the collision determination threshold at TH_Hi, and sets the main collision Output to the determination unit 16. That is, when the main collision determination unit 16 receives the threshold switching instruction R4 set to “1” from the final switching determination unit 19d of the threshold switching determination unit 19, the main collision determination unit 16 switches the collision determination threshold from TH_Hi to TH_Lo and performs the collision determination. On the other hand, when the threshold switching instruction R4 set to “0” is received from the final switching determination unit 19d, the collision determination is performed in a state where the collision determination threshold is held at TH_Hi.

  The third LPF 20 is a low-pass filter whose cutoff frequency is set to, for example, 100 Hz, and a safing determination unit for an acceleration component G3 (t) having a frequency of 100 Hz or less included in safing acceleration data Gs (t) input from the SGS11 Pass to 21. This relatively low-frequency acceleration component G3 (t) having a frequency of 100 Hz or less is obtained by removing the vibration of the SRS unit 1 due to traveling, and is used for safing determination performed by the safing determination unit 21 described later. This data is significant as acceleration data. Hereinafter, the acceleration component G3 (t) having a frequency of 100 Hz or less is referred to as safing determination acceleration data.

 The safing determination unit 21 performs safing determination based on the safing determination acceleration data G3 (t) input from the third LPF 20, and outputs the safing determination result R5 to the final activation determination unit 22. Specifically, the safing determination unit 21 calculates the safing determination calculation value ΔVsf by integrating the safing determination acceleration data G3 (t) in a first-order interval, and the safing determination calculation value ΔVsf. And a preset safing determination threshold value ΔVsf_TH.

 Then, when the safing determination computation value ΔVsf exceeds the safing determination threshold value ΔVsf_TH, the safing determination unit 21 determines that a collision that requires deployment of the airbag 2 has occurred, and the safing determination result R5 Is set to “1”, if the safing determination computation value ΔVsf does not exceed the safing determination threshold value ΔVsf_TH, the safing determination result R5 is set to “0”. Note that the safing determination threshold value ΔVsf_TH is set to a low value swung in the safe direction so that the safing determination result R5 is set to “1” even when the vehicle body deformation is slight.

  The final activation determination unit 22 determines whether or not to finally deploy the airbag 2 based on the collision determination result R1 of the main collision determination unit 16 and the safing determination result R5 of the safing determination unit 21. Specifically, the final activation determination unit 22 is an AND operation unit, and when both the collision determination result R1 and the safing determination result R5 are “1”, that is, the main collision determination unit 16 and the safing determination unit. If it is determined at 21 that a collision requiring deployment of the airbag 2 has occurred, the airbag activation instruction R6 is set to “1” in order to deploy the airbag 2, while the collision determination result R1 and safing If at least one of the determination results R5 is “0”, the airbag activation instruction R6 is set to “0”.

 Among the constituent elements described above, constituent elements indicated by reference numerals 13 to 22 are realized by an arithmetic processing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) built in the SRS unit 1 executing a collision determination program. It is a software functional unit. Below, the collision determination process which CPU performs according to the program for collision determination is demonstrated.

While the power of the SRS unit 1 is turned on, that is, while the vehicle 100 is running, the CPU repeatedly executes the collision determination process including the following steps S1 to S15 at a constant cycle (for example, 1 ms cycle).
<Step S1>
First, when the collision determination process is started, the CPU increments the control variable n, and then the main acceleration data Gm (t) input as analog data or digital data from the MGS 11 and analog data from the SGS 12. In the case of sampling and analog data, the safing acceleration data Gs (t) is subjected to A / D conversion so that digital data Gm (n) indicating the current value of the main acceleration data Gm (t) and safing acceleration data Gs Digital data Gs (n) indicating the current value of (t) is acquired. Hereinafter, Gm (n) is referred to as the current value of the main acceleration data Gm (t), and Gs (n) is referred to as the current value of the safing acceleration data Gs (t).

  The CPU stores the current value Gm (n) of the main acceleration data Gm (t) and the current value Gs (n) of the safing acceleration data Gs (t) acquired as described above in a volatile memory such as a RAM in a time series. Remember me. That is, the main acceleration data Gm (t) = {Gm (1),..., Gm (n−2), Gm (n−1) acquired every time the collision determination process is executed from the past to the present in the RAM. ), Gm (n)} and safing acceleration data Gs (t) = {Gs (1),..., Gs (n−2), Gs (n−1), Gs (n)} are stored. become. If the storage capacity of the RAM is exceeded, the old data may be deleted in order, and new data may be stored in the free storage area.

<Step S2>
Subsequently, the CPU reads the main acceleration data Gm (t) necessary for the digital low-pass filter processing from the RAM, and substitutes it into the arithmetic expression for the digital low-pass filter processing in which the cut-off frequency is set to 400 Hz. The current value of the following acceleration component G1 (t), that is, the current value G1 (n) of the collision determination acceleration data G1 (t) is calculated. Here, for example, if the current value, the previous value, and the previous value of the main acceleration data Gm (t) are required for the digital low-pass filter process, the RAM stores Gm (n), Gm (n−1), Gm ( It is sufficient to read n-2).

 The CPU stores the current value G1 (n) of the collision determination acceleration data G1 (t) calculated as described above in the RAM in time series. That is, in the RAM, the collision determination acceleration data G1 (t) = {G1 (1),..., G1 (n−2), G1 (n) calculated every time the collision determination process is executed from the past to the present. -1), G1 (n)} is stored. The function of the first LPF 13 described above is realized by the processing in step S2.

<Step S3>
Subsequently, the CPU reads the safing acceleration data Gs (t) necessary for the digital low-pass filter processing from the RAM, and substitutes it into the arithmetic expression for the digital low-pass filter processing in which the cutoff frequencies are set to 5 kHz and 100 Hz, respectively. The current value of the acceleration component G2 (t) having a frequency of 5 kHz or less, that is, the current value G2 (n) of the threshold switching judgment acceleration data G2 (t) and the current value of the acceleration component G3 (t) having a frequency of 100 Hz or less, That is, the current value G3 (n) of the safing determination acceleration data G3 (t) is calculated. Here, for example, when the current value, the previous value, and the previous value of the safing acceleration data Gs (t) are necessary for the digital low-pass filter process, the RAM stores Gs (n), Gs (n−1), Gs. (N-2) may be read out.

 The CPU stores the current value G2 (n) of the threshold switching determination acceleration data G2 (t) calculated as described above and the current value G3 (n) of the safing determination acceleration data G3 (t) in the RAM. Memorize in series. That is, in the RAM, the threshold switching determination acceleration data G2 (t) = {G2 (1),..., G2 (n−2), G2 ( n-1), G2 (n)} and acceleration data for safing determination G3 (t) = {G3 (1),..., G3 (n-2), G3 (n-1), G3 (n)} Will be memorized. The functions of the second LPF 17 and the third LPF 20 described above are realized by the processing in step S3.

<Step S4>
Subsequently, the CPU reads the collision determination acceleration data G1 (t) necessary for calculating the occupant speed change amount ΔV from the RAM, and substitutes it into the following calculation formula (3) for primary interval integration to thereby change the occupant speed change amount. The current value ΔV (n) of ΔV is calculated. In the following equation (3), N is an integration interval.
ΔV (n) = G1 (n) + G1 (n−1) +... + G1 (n−N + 1) (3)

 The CPU stores the current value ΔV (n) of the passenger speed change amount ΔV calculated as described above in the RAM in a time series. That is, the occupant speed change amount ΔV = {ΔV (1),..., ΔV (n−2), ΔV (n−1), calculated every time the collision determination process is executed from the past to the present in the RAM. ΔV (n)} is stored. The function of the speed change amount calculation unit 15 described above is realized by the processing in step S4.

<Step S5>
Subsequently, the CPU reads the collision determination acceleration data G1 (t) necessary for calculation of the occupant movement amount ΔS from the RAM and performs secondary section integration, thereby obtaining the current value ΔS (n) of the occupant movement amount ΔS. calculate. Here, the quadratic interval integration of the collision determination acceleration data G1 (t) is synonymous with the primary interval integration of the occupant speed change amount ΔV. Therefore, in order to reduce the processing load of the CPU, the following equation (4) is used. It is desirable to calculate the current value ΔS (n) of the occupant movement amount ΔS by using it. In the following equation (4), N is an integration interval.
ΔS (n) = ΔV (n) + ΔV (n−1) +... + ΔV (n−N + 1) (3)

 The CPU stores the current value ΔS (n) of the passenger movement amount ΔS calculated as described above in the RAM in time series. That is, the occupant movement amount ΔS = {ΔS (1),..., ΔS (n−2), ΔS (n−1), ΔS calculated every time the collision determination process is executed from the past to the present is stored in the RAM. (N)} is stored. The function of the movement amount calculation unit 14 described above is realized by the processing in step S5.

<Step S6>
Subsequently, the CPU reads the threshold switching judgment acceleration data G2 (t) necessary for calculating the deformation energy E from the RAM, and substitutes it into the following calculation formula (5) for the integration of the primary section, so that the current value of the deformation energy E is calculated. The value E (n) is calculated. In the following equation (5), N is an integration interval. The following formula (5) is equivalent to the above formula (2).
E (n) = | G2 (n) | + | G2 (n−1) | +... + | G2 (n−N + 1) |
... (5)

 The CPU stores the current value E (n) of the deformation energy E calculated as described above in the RAM in time series. That is, the deformation energy E = {E (1),..., E (n−2), E (n−1), E () calculated every time the collision determination process is executed from the past to the present is stored in the RAM. n)} will be stored. The function of the deformation energy calculation unit 18 described above is realized by the processing in step S6.

<Step S7>
Subsequently, the CPU reads the safing determination acceleration data G3 (t) necessary for calculating the safing determination calculation value ΔVsf from the RAM, and substitutes it into the following calculation formula (6) for primary interval integration. The current value ΔVsf (n) of the calculation value ΔVsf for wing determination is calculated. In the following equation (6), N is an integration interval.
ΔVsf (n) = G3 (n) + G3 (n−1) +... + G3 (n−N + 1) (6)

 The CPU stores the current value ΔVsf (n) of the safing determination calculation value ΔVsf calculated as described above in the RAM in time series. That is, the RAM calculates the safing determination calculation value ΔVsf = {ΔVsf (1),..., ΔVsf (n−2), ΔVsf (n−1) calculated every time the collision determination process is executed from the past to the present. ), ΔVsf (n)} is stored. The function of the safing determination unit 21 described above (particularly the function for calculating the safing determination calculation value) is realized by the processing in step S7.

<Step S8>
Subsequently, the CPU reads the current value ΔS (n) of the occupant movement amount ΔS from the RAM, and corresponds to the current value ΔS (n) of the occupant movement amount ΔS with reference to the ΔS-Eth table shown in FIG. The deformation energy threshold Eth to be set is set. The function of the threshold setting unit 19a described above is realized by the processing in step S8.

<Step S9>
Subsequently, the CPU reads the current value E (n) of the deformation energy E from the RAM, and determines whether or not the current value E (n) of the deformation energy E has exceeded the deformation energy threshold Eth set in step S8. To do. The CPU sets the collision determination result R2 to “1” when E (n)> Eth (when it is determined that a collision with vehicle body deformation has occurred), while the collision occurs when E (n) ≦ Eth. The determination result R2 is set to “0”. The function of the first comparison determination unit 19b described above is realized by the processing in step S9.

<Step S10>
Subsequently, the CPU reads the current value ΔV (n) of the occupant speed change amount ΔV from the RAM, and determines whether or not the current value ΔV (n) of the occupant speed change amount ΔV exceeds the occupant speed change amount threshold value ΔVth. To do. The CPU sets the collision determination result R3 to “1” when ΔV (n)> ΔVth (when it is determined that a collision with a large speed change has occurred), while collision occurs when ΔV (n) ≦ ΔVth. The determination result R3 is set to “0”. The function of the second comparison determination unit 19c described above is realized by the processing in step S10.

<Step S11>
Subsequently, the CPU determines whether or not both of the collision determination results R2 and R3 are set to “1”, and in the case of “Yes”, it is determined that a collision with vehicle body deformation has occurred instead of vibration due to traveling. ), The threshold value switching instruction R4 is set to “1”, while the threshold value switching instruction R4 is set to “0” when it is “No” (when it is determined that vibration due to traveling has occurred). The function of the final switching determination unit 19d described above is realized by the processing in step S11. That is, the function of the threshold value switching determination unit 19 is realized by the processes in steps S8 to S11.

<Step S12>
Subsequently, the CPU determines whether or not the threshold value switching instruction R4 is set to “1”. If “Yes”, the CPU sets a relatively low threshold value TH_Lo as the collision determination threshold value, while “No”. In this case, a relatively high threshold TH_Hi is set as the collision determination threshold.

<Step S13>
Subsequently, the CPU determines that the current value ΔV (n) of the occupant speed change amount ΔV and the current value ΔS (n) of the occupant movement amount ΔS read from the RAM are the collision determination threshold values (TH_Hi or TH_Lo) set in step S12. ), And in the case of “Yes” (when it is determined that a collision requiring deployment of the airbag 2 has occurred), the collision determination result R1 is set to “1”, while “No” ", The collision determination result R1 is set to" 0 ". The functions of the main collision determination unit 16 described above are realized by the processes in steps S12 and S13.

 Depending on the situation of the collision, for example, during the current collision determination process, it may be assumed that the collision determination result R1 is not set to “1” even if the threshold value switching instruction R4 is set to “1”. In this case, if the next value E (n + 1) of the deformation energy does not exceed the deformation energy threshold Eth in the next collision determination process and the threshold value switching instruction R4 is reset to “0”, the collision is relatively low. Where the collision determination must be performed with the determination threshold TH_Lo, the collision determination is performed with a relatively high collision determination threshold TH_Hi, which may make it difficult to deploy the airbag 2 quickly. Therefore, when the threshold value switching instruction R4 is once set to “1”, it is desirable that the CPU (threshold value switching determination unit 19) has a function of holding the state for a certain period.

<Step S14>
Subsequently, the CPU reads the current value ΔVsf (n) of the safing determination calculation value ΔVsf from the RAM, and whether the current value ΔVsf (n) of the safing determination calculation value ΔVsf exceeds the safing determination threshold value ΔVsf_TH. In the case of “Yes”, the safing judgment result R5 is set to “1”, while in the case of “No”, the safing judgment result R5 is set to “0”. The function (especially comparison determination function) of the safing determination part 21 mentioned above is implement | achieved by the process of such step S14.

<Step S15>
Finally, the CPU determines whether or not both the collision determination result R1 and the safing determination result R5 are set to “1”, and if “Yes” (determining that the airbag 2 needs to be deployed). In the case), the airbag activation instruction R6 is set to “1”, while in the case of “No”, the airbag activation instruction R6 is set to “0”. The function of the final activation determining unit 22 described above is realized by the processing in step S15.

  By repeating the collision determination process consisting of steps S1 to S15 described above at a constant cycle, the threshold switching determination unit 19 determines whether or not the collision determination threshold value needs to be switched, and the main collision determination unit 16 performs a collision every fixed cycle. When the determination, the safing determination by the safing determination unit 21, and the final determination of whether or not the airbag 2 needs to be deployed by the final activation determining unit 22 are performed, and it is finally determined that the airbag 2 needs to be deployed (air When the bag activation instruction R6 is set to “1”), the airbag 2 is deployed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the collision determination (determination of necessity of switching of the collision determination threshold) that has been preliminarily performed using the acceleration data obtained from the FCS is incorporated in the SRS unit 1. Alternatively, the collision determination using the deformation energy E calculated from the safing acceleration data Gs (t) obtained from the SGS 12 can be substituted. That is, according to the SRS unit 1 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to achieve cost reduction while ensuring passenger protection performance equivalent to the conventional one.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, The following modifications are mentioned.
(1) In the above-described embodiment, the deformation energy threshold Eth is dynamically set according to the occupant movement amount ΔS, thereby realizing more accurate and quick collision determination (determination of whether or not to change the collision determination threshold). However, as long as the required occupant protection performance can be satisfied, the threshold setting unit 19a may be deleted and the deformation energy threshold Eth may be set as a fixed value.

(2) In the above embodiment, by providing the second comparison / determination unit 19c, the cause of the deformation energy E exceeding the deformation energy threshold Eth can be determined (whether it is caused by a collision with deformation of the vehicle body or caused by vibration due to running). However, as long as the required passenger protection performance can be satisfied, the second comparison determination unit 19c may be deleted. In this case, the final switching determination unit 19d is also unnecessary, and the collision determination result R2 of the first comparison determination unit 19b can be used as it is as the threshold switching instruction R4.

(3) In the above embodiment, MGS11 having a measurement range and a response frequency range capable of detecting an acceleration component (vibration component) having a frequency of 400 Hz or less and an amplitude of 100 G or less, and at least a frequency of 1 kHz or more and an amplitude of 500 G or less. The SGS12 having the measurement range and the response frequency range capable of detecting the acceleration component of the SGS12 is exemplified. However, the MGS11 and the SGS12 having the optimum measurement range and the response frequency range are selected according to the structure of the vehicle 100 and the required passenger protection performance. It only has to be selected. Further, the cut-off frequencies of the first LPF 13, the second LPF 17, and the third LPF 20 may be set as appropriate.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... SRS unit (vehicle collision determination apparatus), 2 ... Air bag, 100 ... Vehicle, 11 ... MGS (1st acceleration sensor), 12 ... SGS (2nd acceleration sensor), 13 ... 1st LPF, 14 ... Movement amount calculation Unit (first calculation unit), 15 ... speed change amount calculation unit (first calculation unit), 16 ... main collision determination unit (collision determination unit), 17 ... second LPF, 18 ... deformation energy calculation unit (second calculation unit) ), 19... Threshold switching determination unit (threshold switching determination unit), 20... Third LPF, 21... Safing determination unit (safing determination unit), 22 .. final activation determining unit (final activation determining unit), 19 a. Part (threshold setting means), 19b... First comparison judgment part (first comparison judgment means), 19c... Second comparison judgment part (second comparison judgment means), 19d.

Claims (4)

A first acceleration sensor for detecting acceleration acting in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; first calculation means for calculating a calculation value for collision determination based on acceleration data obtained from the first acceleration sensor; and the calculation for collision determination A vehicle collision determination device including a collision determination unit that performs a collision determination by comparing a value with a collision determination threshold,
A second acceleration sensor having a measurement range and a response frequency range capable of detecting an acceleration acting in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and at least detecting a high-frequency vibration component generated by a collision accompanied by a vehicle body deformation;
Second calculating means for calculating deformation energy generated by a collision based on the high-frequency vibration component included in acceleration data obtained from the second acceleration sensor;
A threshold value switching determination unit that determines whether or not a collision accompanied by vehicle body deformation has occurred based on the deformation energy, and that instructs the collision determination unit to switch the collision determination threshold value according to the determination result;
A vehicle collision determination device comprising: The first calculation means calculates at least an occupant movement amount as the collision determination calculation value,
The threshold value switching determination means includes
Threshold setting means for setting a deformation energy threshold according to the occupant movement amount;
A first comparison / determination means for comparing the deformation energy with the deformation energy threshold to determine whether or not a collision with the deformation of the vehicle body has occurred;
The vehicle collision determination device according to claim 1, comprising: The first calculation means calculates an occupant speed change amount as the collision determination calculation value in addition to the occupant movement amount,
The threshold value switching determination means includes
A second comparison determination means for determining whether or not a collision with a large speed change has occurred by comparing the occupant speed change amount and an occupant speed change amount threshold;
Final switching determination means for determining whether or not to finally instruct switching of the collision determination threshold based on the determination results of the first comparison determination means and the second comparison determination means;
The vehicle collision determination device according to claim 2, further comprising: The second acceleration sensor has a measurement range and a response frequency range capable of detecting a low-frequency vibration component necessary for safing determination in addition to the high-frequency vibration component,
Safing determination means for performing safing determination based on the low-frequency vibration component included in acceleration data obtained from the second acceleration sensor;
Final activation determining means for determining whether to finally activate the occupant protection device based on the safing determination result of the safing determination means and the collision determination result of the collision determination means;
The vehicle collision determination device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:

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