JP2017065557A - Occupant protection device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inhibit rotation of a head of an occupant after the head contacts with an airbag.SOLUTION: An occupant protection device 2 for a vehicle includes: an airbag 51 which is provided at a vehicle body and deployed around an occupant so that at least a head of the occupant in the vehicle body contacts therewith; and a pressing member 61 which is provided at the vehicle body and may be operated toward a deployment area of the airbag 51. The air bag 51 is pressed by the pressing member 61 to be displaced in a head moving direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle occupant protection device.

A vehicle such as an automobile is provided with various vehicle occupant protection devices.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a front airbag deployed on the front side of an occupant seated on a seat and a curtain airbag deployed on the outside of the occupant.
Thus, for example, when the automobile collides with another automobile or the like, the front airbag can be deployed on the front side of the occupant seated on the seat, and the occupant who has fallen forward with respect to the deployed front airbag can be supported. It is possible to protect the passengers.

JP 2014-151676 A

  However, even if the front airbag is deployed in the vehicle as described above, for example, when the occupant falls down obliquely forward, the occupant's head is not attached to the front airbag after the occupant's head hits the front airbag. There is a possibility of moving to fall to the side. At this time, the head may be rotated.

  As described above, the vehicle occupant protection device is required to suppress the rotation of the head of the occupant after hitting the airbag.

  An occupant protection device for a vehicle according to the present invention is provided on a vehicle body, and is deployed on an occupant around the occupant so that at least a head of the occupant riding on the vehicle body hits the vehicle. A pressing member operable toward the region, and the airbag can be displaced in the moving direction of the head by being pressed by the pressing member.

  Preferably, it has a control part which controls operation of the pressing member, and the control part is based on input information used for prediction of a collision form, input information at the time of collision, or input information on in-vehicle situation. And determining whether or not the airbag needs to be pressed or the amount of pressing based on the determination result of the collision mode. When the airbag needs to be pressed, the pressing member presses the airbag. Good.

  Preferably, the control unit determines the degree of coincidence between the deployment direction of the airbag and the impact input direction, the degree of coincidence between the direction in which the occupant falls due to the impact and the deployment direction of the airbag, It is preferable to determine at least one of the value, the presence / absence of an occupant, the size or weight of the occupant, and the distance between the occupant and the interior member of the vehicle body.

  Suitably, the said control part is good to judge the necessity of the press by the said press member.

  Preferably, the control unit may operate the pressing member toward the airbag during or after deployment.

  Preferably, the control unit operates the pressing member so as to displace the airbag while a passenger's head is in contact with the airbag during or after deployment. .

  Preferably, at the time of a collision prediction, the control unit determines whether or not the operation of the pressing member toward the airbag being deployed or being deployed is necessary, and after deploying the airbag, The airbag may be displaced by pressing the bag.

  Preferably, the pressing member has a restricting portion for restricting a displacement direction of the airbag after pressing at a portion in contact with the airbag.

  Preferably, the pressing member is a pressing airbag for pressing the airbag.

  Preferably, the airbag is a front airbag that is deployed in front of a seat provided in the vehicle body, and the pressing member is disposed around the front airbag or in a pillar of the vehicle body in the vehicle body. It is preferable that the airbag is a pressing airbag for pressing the airbag.

  Preferably, the pressing member is the pressing airbag disposed on a pillar of the vehicle body, and supplies gas to the curtain airbag deployed outside the occupant in the vehicle body and the pressing airbag. It is good to have an inflator and the switching member which switches the gas supply destination of the inflator between the curtain airbag and the pressing airbag.

  In the present invention, the airbag can be displaced in the moving direction of the head by being pressed by the pressing member. Therefore, rotation of the head of the passenger after hitting the airbag can be suppressed.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view schematically showing the structure of an automobile to which the vehicle occupant protection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the vehicle occupant protection device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of the rotation driving process of the airbag module by the control unit of FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement of components of the vehicle occupant protection device of the second embodiment. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement of components of the vehicle occupant protection device of the third embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement of the components of the vehicle occupant protection device of the fourth embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view schematically showing the structure of an automobile 1 to which a vehicle occupant protection device 2 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

The automobile 1 is a kind of vehicle. An occupant room in which an occupant gets in is formed in the front-rear center of the vehicle body of the automobile 1. A front chamber for arranging a fuel engine or the like is formed in the front portion of the vehicle body. A rear chamber that can be used as a cargo compartment or the like is formed in the rear portion of the vehicle body.
The passenger compartment includes a substantially square floor panel 11, a pair of A pillars 12 erected at the front corner of the floor panel 11, a pair of B pillars 13 erected at the center in the front-rear direction of the floor panel 11, and the floor panel 11. It has a pair of C pillars 14 erected on the rear corner. The upper end of the A pillar 12 and the upper end of the C pillar 14 are connected by a roof rail 15. The upper end of the B pillar 13 is joined to the center of the roof rail 15 in the front-rear direction. A substantially rectangular roof panel 16 is joined between the pair of left and right roof rails 15.
A toe board 17 is disposed between the front edge of the floor panel 11 and the lower portions of the pair of A pillars 12, and a dashboard 18 is disposed above the toe board 17. A windshield 19 is fitted so as to be surrounded by the dashboard 18, the upper portions of the pair of A pillars 12, and the front edge of the roof panel 16. A rear glass 20 is fitted between the upper portions of the pair of C pillars 14.
A front door that is rotatably supported by the A pillar 12 is disposed between the A pillar 12 and the B pillar 13 arranged in the front-rear direction. A rear door that is rotatably supported by the B pillar 13 is disposed between the B pillar 13 and the C pillar 14. A pair of side sills 21 are joined to both edges in the left-right width direction of the floor panel 11.
Thus, the passenger compartment of the automobile 1 is a substantially cubic box-shaped space.
A center tunnel 22 extending in the front-rear direction so as to protrude into the passenger compartment is formed at the center in the left-right width direction of the floor panel 11. A drive shaft for transmitting the driving force of the fuel engine to the rear wheels, for example, is disposed below the center tunnel 22.
A driver seat 23 on which a driver sits and a navigation seat 24 on which a navigator sits are attached to the front portion of the floor panel 11 side by side in the left-right width direction as front seats. The driver seat 23 has a seat portion 41 and a back portion 42. The navigation sheet 24 includes a seat portion 41 and a back portion 42. The center tunnel 22 is located between the seat 41 of the driver seat 23 and the seat 41 of the navigation seat 24. On the center tunnel 22, a shift lever 25, a side brake lever, a console box 26 as an interior member, and the like are attached.
In front of the driver seat 23 and the navigation seat 24, the dashboard 18 extending in the left-right width direction is located. A steering wheel 27 is provided in front of the driver seat 23 so as to protrude rearward from the dashboard 18.
A bench seat 28 on which a plurality of passengers can sit is attached as a rear seat to the rear portion of the floor panel 11. The bench seat 28 has a seat portion 41 and a back portion 42. The bench seat 28 has a lateral width equivalent to that of the floor panel 11. Up to three passengers can normally sit on the bench seat 28.

By the way, in the automobile 1, a vehicle occupant protection device 2 for protecting occupants and the like in the event of a collision is used.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the vehicle occupant protection device 2 according to the first embodiment.
The vehicle occupant protection device 2 includes a front airbag module 50, a pressing member 61, and a control unit 71.

The front airbag module 50 includes a front airbag 51, an inflator 52, and a module base 53.
The front airbag 51 is made by sewing a cloth into a substantially cubic bag.
The inflator 52 is a small tank that stores explosives and high-pressure gas. The inflator 52 is connected to the front airbag 51.
The module base 53 is a metal plate, for example. A front airbag 51 and an inflator 52 are fixed to the module base 53.
The module base 53 is fixed to the steering support beam 29 in the dashboard 18. The module base 53 is fixed rearward at a position on the front side of the navigation sheet 24. Both ends of the steering support beam 29 are fixed to the pair of A pillars 12.
The front airbag module 50 is deployed rearward from the module base 53 when the high-pressure gas is introduced.

The pressing member 61 is, for example, a pressing airbag module 62. The pressing airbag module 62 includes a pressing airbag 63, an inflator 64, and a module base 65.
The module base 65 is fixed to the A pillar 12. The pressing airbag 63 is deployed obliquely inward and rearward from the A pillar 12 by introducing the high-pressure gas of the inflator 64. The deployment area of the pressing airbag 63 overlaps with the deployment area of the front airbag 51. The pressing airbag 63 presses the outer surface of the front airbag 51 from the outside.

The control unit 71 is, for example, a microcomputer device. The microcomputer device has a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an input / output port, and a system bus for connecting them. The ROM stores a program for controlling the operation of the vehicle occupant protection device 2. The CPU reads this program into the RAM and executes it. Accordingly, the microcomputer device functions as the control unit 71 of the vehicle occupant protection device 2.
An inflator 52 and various detection units are connected to the input / output port. The detection unit includes an outside camera 72 that images the outside of the vehicle, for example, from the passenger compartment to the front of the vehicle body, an in-vehicle camera 73 that images the inside of the vehicle, an acceleration sensor 74, a vehicle speed sensor 75, and a steering angle sensor 76. The control unit 71 controls the operation of the vehicle occupant protection device 2 based on the input information from these detection units. The controller 71 controls the driving of the pressing member 61, for example.

Next, the operation of the vehicle occupant protection device 2 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of the rotation driving process of the airbag module 50 by the control unit 71 of FIG. The control unit 71 periodically performs the process of FIG.

The controller 71 predicts and determines the collision mode based on the input information indicating the inside / outside situation of the vehicle body input to the input / output port before the collision (step ST1).
Here, the input information indicating the inside / outside situation of the vehicle body includes, for example, input information used for predicting a collision mode such as a captured image outside the vehicle, input information at the time of collision, and input information on the inside situation such as a captured image inside the vehicle.
In addition, examples of the collision mode include full lap collision, offset collision, oblique collision, and side collision. A full lap collision is, for example, a frontal collision with an oncoming vehicle across the entire vehicle width. The offset collision is, for example, a frontal collision with a deviation from the oncoming vehicle. The oblique collision is a frontal collision with an oncoming vehicle in a further shifted state. The side collision is a collision of another automobile 1 with the side surface of the vehicle body. And the behavior of the vehicle body and the behavior of the occupant at the time of the collision change due to the difference in the collision mode.
For this reason, in the prediction determination of the collision mode before the collision, the control unit 71 first determines and predicts the collision mode based on the input information indicating the inside / outside situation of the vehicle body.
For example, the control unit 71 predicts the relative position and relative speed of the preceding vehicle, the oncoming vehicle, and the structure from the captured image outside the vehicle, and further, the degree of coincidence between the initial deployment direction of the airbag 51 and the impact input direction, the impact Predict the magnitude of the value.
Further, the control unit 71 predicts the occupant's boarding position, the occupant's physique or weight from the captured image in the vehicle, and further, the degree of coincidence between the direction in which the occupant falls due to the impact and the initial deployment direction of the airbag 51, the occupant and the vehicle body The distance from the interior member is predicted.
Thus, the control unit 71 predicts and determines the collision mode.
Note that the control unit 71 may perform prediction determination of these collision modes not only during the normal time before the collision but also during the collision.

Next, the control unit 71 determines whether or not the front airbag module 50 needs to be pressed or the pressing timing based on the predicted collision mode (step ST2). Here, the pressing timing may be a discrete value or a continuous value.
For example, when the predicted collision mode is a full lap collision, the control unit 71 determines that pressing of the front airbag module 50 is unnecessary.
When the predicted collision mode is an oblique collision, the control unit 71 determines that the front airbag module 50 needs to be pressed.
When the pressing of the front airbag module 50 is necessary, the control unit 71 determines the timing for pressing the front airbag 51, that is, the timing for starting the deployment of the pressing airbag module 62. The control unit 71 calculates a delay time until the fallen occupant reaches the front airbag 51 according to the occupant's physique, vehicle speed, and the like. The delay time may be based on the timing at which the ignition signal is output to the inflator 52 of the front airbag module 50, for example.

As described above, whether or not the front airbag module 50 needs to be pressed is determined before the collision, and the control unit 71 determines the occurrence of the collision by a collision determination process different from that in FIG.
In the collision determination process, the control unit 71 determines the occurrence of a collision based on various detection information input to the input / output port.
When a collision occurs, the control unit 71 outputs an ignition signal to the inflator 52. The control unit 71 adjusts the timing at which the ignition signal is output to the inflator 52 so that the occupant enters the front airbag 51 at the timing when the airbag 51 is deployed to the maximum size, or immediately before or after that.
When an ignition signal is input to the inflator 52, the front airbag module 50 ignites explosives and blows out high-pressure gas to the airbag 51. As a result, the front airbag 51 is deployed. The front airbag 51 starts to be deployed when the inflow of the high-pressure gas starts, and then reaches the maximum size. When the internal pressure further increases, the front airbag 51 starts to discharge and deflate. When the occupant hits the deployed front airbag 51, the occupant can be protected as compared with the case where the occupant hits an interior part or the like.
When it is determined that the front airbag 51 needs to be pressed at the time of prediction, the control unit 71 ignites the inflator 64 of the pressing airbag module 62 after a delay time from the start of the deployment of the front airbag 51. Output a signal. The pressing airbag 63 operates toward the front airbag 51 during or after deployment.
Thereby, for example, when an occupant seated on the navigation seat 24 hits the front airbag 51 while falling inward, the front airbag 51 can be displaced inward in accordance with the movement of the occupant. The front airbag 51 can be displaced along the moving direction of the occupant's head.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the pressing airbag 63 is deployed at the timing when the occupant who falls inward contacts the front airbag 51, and the front airbag 51 during or after deployment is matched with the movement of the occupant. Can be displaced inward. Therefore, the head of the occupant who falls inward becomes difficult to move sideways so as to deviate from the front airbag 51 after hitting the front airbag 51.
On the other hand, the head of an occupant who falls inward will rotate when it moves sideways so as to deviate from the front airbag 51 while being in contact with the front airbag 51 after hitting the front airbag 51. become. When this rotation is large and fast, the brain tends to rotate with a delay from the rotation of the head. In the present embodiment, occurrence of such a situation can be effectively suppressed.

[Second Embodiment]
The vehicle occupant protection device 2 of the second embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the configuration of the pressing member 61 is different. In the following description, components corresponding to those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement of components of the vehicle occupant protection device 2 of the second embodiment.
The pressing member 61 includes a pressing rod 66 and a solenoid 67. The pressing member 61 is fixed to the A pillar 12.
The pressing rod 66 is provided so as to be movable from the A pillar 12 toward the deployment region of the front airbag 51.
The solenoid 67 moves the pressing rod 66 by a control signal from the control unit 71.
As a result, the pressing rod 66 protrudes from the A pillar 12, and the tip of the pressing rod 66 enters the deployment region of the front airbag 51.

In the collision determination process, the control unit 71 determines the occurrence of a collision based on various detection information input to the input / output port, and further deploys the front airbag 51. When it is determined that the front airbag 51 needs to be pressed at the time of prediction, the control unit 71 sends a drive signal to the solenoid 67 of the pressing member 61 after a delay time from the start of the deployment of the front airbag 51. Output. As a result, the pressing rod 66 is actuated to displace the front airbag 51 during or after deployment.
Thereby, for example, when an occupant seated on the navigation seat 24 hits the front airbag 51 while falling inward, the front airbag 51 can be displaced inward in accordance with the movement of the occupant. The front airbag 51 can be displaced along the moving direction of the occupant's head.

[Third Embodiment]
The vehicle occupant protection device 2 of the third embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the configuration of the pressing member 61 is different. In the following description, components corresponding to those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement of components of the vehicle occupant protection device 2 of the third embodiment.
The pressing member 61 is, for example, a pressing airbag module 62. The pressing airbag module 62 includes a pressing airbag 63, an inflator 64, and a switching valve 68. The inflator 64 is connected to the pressing airbag 63 and the curtain airbag 69 via the switching valve 68. The curtain airbag 69 is an airbag that is deployed outside the occupant in the case of a side collision. By sharing the inflator 64 in this way, the curtain airbag 69 can be accommodated together with the pressing airbag module 62 in the A pillar 12 where only a narrow space can be secured.

When the controller 71 determines that the front airbag module 50 needs to be pressed at the time of prediction, the controller 71 selects the pressing airbag 63 by the switching valve 68. As a result, the gas supply destination of the inflator 52 is switched to the pressed airbag 63.
In other cases, the control unit 71 selects the curtain airbag 69 by the switching valve 68. The gas supply destination of the inflator 52 is switched to the curtain airbag 69.

  Thereby, when the front airbag module 50 needs to be pressed at the time of a collision, the control unit 71 deploys the pressing airbag 63 at a timing when the occupant who falls inward contacts the front airbag 51, The deployed front airbag 51 can be displaced inward in accordance with the movement of the occupant. Therefore, the head of the occupant who falls inward becomes difficult to move sideways so as to deviate from the front airbag 51 after hitting the front airbag 51.

[Fourth Embodiment]
The vehicle occupant protection device 2 of the fourth embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the configuration of the pressing member 61 is different. In the following description, components corresponding to those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement of components of the vehicle occupant protection device 2 of the fourth embodiment.
The pressing member 61 is a pressing airbag module 62 that is disposed adjacent to the periphery of the front airbag module 50 in the four directions of up, down, left, and right. The pressing airbag module 62 includes a plurality of pressing airbags 63, an inflator 64, and a switching valve 68. It should be noted that a switching valve 68 may be provided, and the gas supply destination of one inflator 64 may be switched between the plurality of pressed airbag modules 62. The deployment area of the four pressing airbags 63 overlaps the deployment area of the front airbag 51 vertically and horizontally.

Next, the operation of the vehicle occupant protection device 2 will be described.
The overall flow of the rotation driving process of the airbag module 50 by the control unit 71 of the present embodiment is the same as that in FIG.

  The control unit 71 predicts and determines the collision mode based on input information indicating the inside / outside situation of the vehicle body input to the input / output port before the collision. Further, the necessity of pressing the front airbag module 50, the pressing direction, and the pressing timing are determined based on the predicted collision mode. The control unit 71 switches the gas supply destination of the inflator 52 to the pressing airbag module 62 on the opposite side to the pressing direction by the switching valve 68 as necessary.

Further, the control unit 71 determines the occurrence of a collision.
When it is determined that a collision occurs, the control unit 71 outputs an ignition signal to the inflator 52 of the front airbag module 50. As a result, the front airbag 51 is deployed.
Further, when it is determined that the front airbag 51 needs to be pressed at the time of prediction, the control unit 71 presses the airbag module on the opposite side to the pressing direction after a delay time from the start of the deployment of the front airbag 51. An ignition signal is output to 62 inflator 52. The pressing airbag 63 opposite to the pressing direction operates toward the front airbag 51 during or after deployment.
Thereby, for example, when an occupant seated on the navigation seat 24 hits the front airbag 51 while falling down, the front airbag 51 can be displaced in the pressing direction in accordance with the movement of the occupant. The front airbag 51 can be displaced along the moving direction of the occupant's head.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Motor vehicle (vehicle), 2 ... Vehicle occupant protection device, 11 ... Floor panel, 12 ... A pillar, 13 ... B pillar, 14 ... C pillar, 15 ... Roof rail, 16 ... Roof panel, 17 ... Toe board, 18 ... Dashboard, 19 ... windshield, 20 ... rear glass, 21 ... side sill, 22 ... center tunnel, 23 ... driver seat, 24 ... navigation seat, 25 ... shift lever, 26 ... console box, 27 ... steering wheel, 28 ... bench seat , 29 ... steering support beam, 41 ... seat, 42 ... back, 50 ... airbag module, 51 ... airbag, 52 ... inflator, 53 ... module base, 61 ... pressing member, 62 ... pressing airbag module, 63 ... Pressing air bag, 64 ... Inflator, 65 ... Mod Control base, 66 ... pressure rod, 67 ... solenoid, 68 ... switching valve, 69 ... curtain airbag, 71 ... control unit, 72 ... camera outside the vehicle, 73 ... camera inside the vehicle, 74 ... acceleration sensor, 75 ... vehicle speed sensor, 76 ... steering Angle sensor

Claims (11)

An airbag that is provided on the vehicle body and that is deployed around the occupant so that at least the head of the occupant riding on the vehicle body hits;
A pressing member provided on the vehicle body and operable toward a deployment region of the airbag;
Have
The airbag can be displaced in the moving direction of the head by being pressed by the pressing member.
Vehicle occupant protection device. A control unit for controlling the operation of the pressing member;
The controller is
Based on the input information used for predicting the collision mode, the input information at the time of the collision, or the input information of the in-vehicle situation, the collision mode is determined,
Based on the determination result of the collision mode, determine whether or not the airbag needs to be pressed or the amount of pressing,
When pressing of the airbag is required, the airbag is pressed by the pressing member.
The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 1. In the determination of the collision mode, the control unit determines the degree of coincidence between the deployment direction of the airbag and the impact input direction, the degree of coincidence between the direction in which the occupant falls due to the impact and the deployment direction of the airbag, and the magnitude of the impact value. Determining at least one of the presence / absence of an occupant, the size or weight of the occupant, and the distance between the occupant and the interior member of the vehicle body,
The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 2. The controller determines whether or not the pressing member needs to be pressed;
The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 2. The control unit operates the pressing member toward the airbag during deployment or after deployment.
The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 4. The control unit operates the pressing member so as to displace the airbag in a state where the head of an occupant is in contact with the airbag during deployment or after deployment.
The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 5. The controller is
At the time of collision prediction, it is determined whether or not it is necessary to operate the pressing member toward the airbag before deployment or during deployment,
After deploying the airbag, the airbag is displaced by pressing the airbag with the pressing member.
The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 5. The pressing member has a restricting portion for restricting a displacement direction of the airbag after pressing at a portion that comes into contact with the airbag.
The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 7. The pressing member is a pressing airbag for pressing the airbag.
The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 1. The airbag is a front airbag that is deployed in front of a seat provided in the vehicle body,
The pressing member is a pressing airbag that is disposed around the front airbag or in the pillar of the vehicle body in the vehicle body and presses the airbag.
The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 1. The pressing member is the pressing airbag disposed on the pillar of the vehicle body,
A curtain airbag deployed outside the occupant in the vehicle body and an inflator for supplying gas to the pressing airbag;
A switching member that switches a supply destination of the gas of the inflator between the curtain airbag and the pressing airbag;
Having
The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 10.

Images