JP2017105248A - Occupant protection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an occupant protection device which can reduce an influence of the prediction accuracy of a collision prediction sensor while protecting an occupant in an earlier stage after a collision when the collision is predicted.SOLUTION: An occupant protect device 10 comprises: an ADAS sensor 22; a TTC calculation part 24 which calculates a collision prediction time TTC before an own vehicle collides with an object on the basis of a prediction signal output by the ADAS sensor 22; sensors 16, 18 and 20 which output collision signals corresponding to a collision of the own vehicle and the object; a timer processing part 28 which sets effective times T0 to T3 of three or more thresholds which are different from one another in levels of the collision signals before and after the lapse of the collision prediction time TTC so as to become short as the threshold levels are low; and a determination part 30 which operates an occupant protection device 32 when the levels of the collision signals output from the sensors 16, 18 and 20 are equal to or larger than any of thresholds LEVEL0 to LEVEL3 in the effective times T0 to T3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an occupant protection device suitable for operating a device for protecting an occupant at the time of collision between a host vehicle and an object.

  Conventionally, an occupant protection device mounted on a vehicle is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The occupant protection device includes a collision detection sensor for detecting a collision between the host vehicle and an object, and deploys an airbag when the collision detection sensor detects the collision. The occupant protection device also includes a collision prediction sensor for predicting a collision between the host vehicle and an object. When the collision is predicted by the collision prediction sensor, a collision is detected by the collision detection sensor. The threshold value for detecting is reduced. Therefore, if the collision prediction is performed by the collision prediction sensor, the airbag can be deployed early.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-117623

  However, if the collision detection sensor continues to set the threshold for detecting a collision to a low value when a collision is predicted by the collision prediction sensor, the following inconvenience occurs. In other words, the collision prediction sensor may not be able to accurately perform collision prediction. For this reason, if the collision prediction sensor reacts even though the possibility of collision between the host vehicle and the object is low, the collision detection sensor detects erroneous collision detection if the threshold value is lowered and maintained at a low value. As a result, there is a problem that the frequency of unnecessary deployment of the airbag increases.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and can reduce the influence of the prediction accuracy of the collision prediction sensor while protecting the occupant early after the collision when a collision is predicted. An object is to provide an occupant protection device.

  The occupant protection device according to claim 1, which has been made to solve the above-described problem, includes a collision prediction sensor (22) that outputs a prediction signal for predicting a collision between the host vehicle (12) and an object, Based on the prediction signal output from the collision prediction sensor, a time calculation unit (24) for calculating a collision prediction time until the host vehicle collides with the object, and a collision signal according to the collision between the host vehicle and the object The effective time before and after the predicted collision time of each of the collision detection sensors (16, 18, 20) that output the signal and the three or more different thresholds relating to the level of the collision signal are shorter as the threshold level is lower. When the level of the collision signal output from the threshold setting unit (28) and the collision detection sensor is equal to or higher than any one of the threshold values within the effective time, Operation control unit for operating the device (32) to be protected (30), and a.

  According to this configuration, there are three or more different thresholds relating to the collision level used to operate the device (32) for protecting the passenger, and the effective time of each threshold is set to be shorter as the threshold level is lower. . For this reason, an extremely low level threshold can be set, so that the period from the occurrence of a collision to the determination of the presence of a collision can be significantly shortened. Further, since the effective time of each threshold becomes shorter as the threshold level is lower, the collision presence / absence determination based on the collision detection sensor (16, 18, 20) is likely to be erroneously performed due to the presence of the lower level threshold. Can be prevented. Therefore, when a collision between the host vehicle (12) and an object is predicted, a device caused by a false reaction of the collision prediction sensor (22) while protecting the passenger of the host vehicle using the device early after the collision. The influence of the prediction accuracy of the collision prediction sensor, such as reducing the frequency of unnecessary operations, can be reduced.

  In addition, the code | symbol in the parenthesis written after each component described in this column and the claim shows the correspondence of these each component and the component described in embodiment mentioned later.

It is a block diagram of a crew member protection device concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a lineblock diagram of vehicles carrying an occupant protection device concerning this embodiment. It is a flowchart of an example of the control routine performed in the passenger | crew protection apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a timing chart of an example of the effective time of each threshold value used in the occupant protection device according to the present embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the effect which accelerates | stimulates the collision presence determination by the passenger | crew protection apparatus which concerns on this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments of an occupant protection device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  An occupant protection device 10 according to the present embodiment is mounted on a vehicle 12, detects a collision between the host vehicle 12 and an object, and activates a device that protects the occupant riding the host vehicle 12 when the collision is detected. It is a device to let you. The objects that the vehicle collides with range from other vehicles and walls, utility poles, standing trees, guard rails, etc., where a large load is applied to the vehicle at the time of collision to cardboard, paper, etc., where a very large load is not applied to the vehicle.

  The occupant protection device 10 includes a determination device 14 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The determination device 14 is a device that predicts a collision between the host vehicle 12 and an object, determines whether or not the collision has occurred, and further determines whether or not to activate an occupant protection device. For example, when the occupant protection device is an airbag device, the determination device 14 is an electronic control unit for an airbag (that is, an airbag ECU). The determination device 14 is mainly composed of a microcomputer, and more specifically, an input / output circuit (that is, I / O), a central processing unit, a processing program, and a table in which a table necessary for calculation is stored in advance. It is composed of only memory, random access memory used as a work area, and a bidirectional bus connecting these elements.

  The occupant protection device 10 also includes a left front sensor 16, a right front sensor 18, a center sensor 20, and an ADAS (ie, Advanced Driving Assistant System) sensor 22. Each of the left front sensor 16, the right front sensor 18, and the center sensor 20 is a sensor for outputting a collision signal for detecting a collision between the host vehicle 12 and an object. The ADAS sensor 22 is a sensor for outputting a prediction signal for predicting a collision between the host vehicle 12 and an object.

  The left front sensor 16 and the right front sensor 18 are disposed, for example, on the front surface of the vehicle body front portion of the host vehicle 12, for example, on the front surface of the front bumper or bumper reinforcement or on the front ends of the left and right front side members. The left front sensor 16 is a sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to an impact applied to the left side of the vehicle body as a collision signal. The left front sensor 16 is, for example, an acceleration sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to acceleration in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, or a pressure sensor / load sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to pressure or load in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. The right front sensor 18 is a sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to an impact applied to the right side of the vehicle body as a collision signal. The right front sensor 18 is, for example, an acceleration sensor that outputs a signal according to acceleration in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, a pressure sensor / load sensor that outputs a signal according to pressure or load in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and the like.

  The center sensor 20 is disposed in the vehicle body center portion of the host vehicle 12 (for example, inside the casing of the determination device 14 described above). The center sensor 20 is a sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to an impact applied to the center of the vehicle body as a collision signal. The center sensor 20 is, for example, an acceleration sensor that outputs a signal according to the acceleration in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, a gyro sensor that outputs a signal according to the angular velocity generated around the center of gravity axis of the vehicle body, and the like.

  The ADAS sensor 22 is disposed on, for example, a front bumper or a front grill at the front of the vehicle body of the host vehicle 12. The ADAS sensor 22 is a sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to the distance from the host vehicle 12 to the target object as a prediction signal before the host vehicle 12 collides with the target object. For example, the ADAS sensor 22 irradiates a predetermined area around the front of the host vehicle 12 with a radio wave such as a millimeter wave or a laser and processes the received wave of the radio wave, thereby depending on the distance from the host vehicle 12 to the object. A radar sensor that outputs a signal, a camera that outputs a signal corresponding to the distance from the host vehicle 12 to the target object by imaging a predetermined area around the front of the host vehicle 12 and processing the captured image is there. The ADAS sensor 22 may be a combination of a radar sensor and a camera.

  The left front sensor 16, the right front sensor 18, the center sensor 20, and the ADAS sensor 22 are electrically connected to the determination device 14. The connection between each sensor 16, 18, 20, 22 and the determination device 14 may be performed via, for example, a wired or wireless communication bus.

  The determination device 14 includes a TTC calculation unit 24, a collision calculation processing unit 26, a timer processing unit 28, and a determination unit 30. The determination device 14 predicts a collision between the host vehicle 12 and the object based on the output signal of the ADAS sensor 22. The determination device 14 determines whether or not a collision between the host vehicle 12 and the object has occurred based on the output signal of the left front sensor 16, the output signal of the right front sensor 18, and the output signal of the center sensor 20. To do. The determination device 14 may determine whether or not there is a collision as long as it is performed based on the output signals of one or more of the left front sensor 16, the right front sensor 18, and the center sensor 20. There may be only one sensor used for the presence / absence determination.

  Specifically, the determination device 14 detects the distance from the own vehicle 12 to the object based on the output signal of the ADAS sensor 22 in the TTC calculation unit 24 as a collision prediction, and the detected distance and the own vehicle. Based on the relative speed between the vehicle 12 and the object, a time TTC (= Time To Collision; hereinafter referred to as a predicted collision time TTC) until the own vehicle 12 collides with the object is calculated. Note that the TTC calculation unit 24 does not need to be in the determination device 14 and may be outside the determination device 14.

  The determination device 14 uses the collision calculation processing unit 26 based on the output signals of the left front sensor 16, the right front sensor 18, and the center sensor 20 to determine the level of the physical quantity generated in the host vehicle 12 that is necessary for performing the collision presence / absence determination. (Hereinafter referred to as the collision level) is detected. This physical quantity is, for example, acceleration, pressure, load, etc. generated in the host vehicle 12. Note that the magnitude of the load acting on the front of the vehicle body is the sum of the loads based on the outputs of the front sensors 16 and 18 when a plurality of load sensors are mounted on the vehicle as the front sensors 16 and 18. It may be.

  The determination device 14 stores in advance three or more threshold values in the memory as threshold values relating to the collision level used for the collision presence / absence determination. These three or more threshold values are different from each other, ranging from a high level at which it is difficult to determine whether there is a collision to a low level at which it is easy to determine whether there is a collision. Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that there are four threshold values, the highest threshold level is the normal threshold level LEVEL0, and the second highest threshold level is the threshold level LEVEL1, the threshold level LEVEL2, and the threshold level LEVEL3. The normal threshold level LEVEL0 is a threshold level equivalent to the threshold value used in the conventional configuration in which the collision presence / absence determination is performed without using the collision prediction result. Further, the level difference (that is, the interval) between the threshold levels LEVEL0, LEVEL1, LEVEL2, and LEVEL3 may be a predetermined equal interval, or conversely, may be an interval that differs for each threshold value.

  For each of the threshold levels LEVEL0 to LEVEL3 used for the collision presence / absence determination, an effective time effective for use in the collision presence / absence determination is determined. The valid times T of the respective threshold levels are set to be different from each other. Specifically, the normal threshold LEVEL0 is always valid during activation of the occupant protection device 10, and the valid time T0 is infinite only during activation of the occupant protection device 10. On the other hand, the threshold levels LEVEL1, LEVEL2, and LEVEL3 are finite during the activation of the occupant protection device 10, and the estimated collision times TTC calculated by the TTC calculation unit 24 have passed through the valid times T1, T2, and T3 of these threshold values. It is determined before and after the passage of time with reference to the time.

  The valid times T1, T2, and T3 of the threshold levels LEVEL1, LEVEL2, and LEVEL3 are set to be different depending on the magnitude of the threshold level. Specifically, the threshold value is set to be shorter as the threshold level is lower, and the start time is set to be slower and the end time is set to be earlier as the threshold level is lower.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the valid time T1 of the threshold level LEVEL1 is set from the time 3 · ΔT before the time when the collision prediction time TTC elapses to the time 4 · ΔT after the time elapse. Further, the valid time T2 of the threshold LEVEL2 is set from a time 2 · ΔT before the time when the predicted collision time TTC elapses to a time 3 · ΔT after that time. Further, the valid time T3 of the threshold LEVEL3 is set from the time ΔT before the time when the predicted collision time TTC elapses to the time ΔT after the time elapse. The time ΔT is a predetermined time that is set in advance, and may be set to a predetermined integer multiple with respect to the cycle of the calculation performed in the determination device 14, for example.

  After the collision prediction time TTC is calculated by the TTC calculation unit 24, the determination device 14 sets the above-described effective times T0, T1, T2, and T3 by the timer processing unit 28, and those effective times T0, T1. , T2, and T3, timer processing for controlling the validity and invalidity of each threshold level LEVEL0, LEVEL1, LEVEL2, and LEVEL3 is executed.

  The determination device 14 sets the above-described effective times T0, T1, T2, and T3 in the timer processing unit 28, and then the collision level detected in the collision calculation processing unit 26 in the determination unit 30 corresponds to the above-described effective time. It is determined whether or not any of the threshold values LEVEL0 to LEVEL3 within the threshold value. The determination unit 30 includes a first determination unit 30-1, a second determination unit 30-2, a third determination unit 30-3, and a fourth determination unit 30-4 that are provided for each of the threshold levels LEVEL0 to LEVEL3. Have.

  Each determination unit 30-1 to 30-4 determines whether or not the collision level is equal to or higher than the threshold levels LEVEL0 to LEVEL3 within the valid times T0 to T3 of the threshold levels LEVEL0 to LEVEL3. Then, when any of the determination units 30-1 to 30-4 determines that the collision level is equal to or higher than the effective threshold level LEVEL0 to LEVEL3, the determination unit 30 has a collision with an object on the host vehicle 12. It determines with having arisen, and the device which protects the passenger | crew of the own vehicle 12 is operated.

  The occupant protection device 10 also includes an occupant protection device 32 that is a device for protecting the occupant. The occupant protection device 32 is a device that protects the occupant by absorbing an impact applied to the occupant when the host vehicle 12 collides with an object. The occupant protection device 32 is, for example, an airbag device or a seat belt device provided corresponding to a passenger seat such as a driver seat or a passenger seat. An occupant protection device 32 is electrically connected to the determination device 14 described above. If the determination device 14 determines that a collision with an object has occurred in the host vehicle 12, the determination device 14 issues an operation command to the occupant protection device 32. The occupant protection device 32 is activated when an activation command is received from the determination device 14.

  Hereinafter, operation | movement of the passenger | crew protection apparatus 10 of this embodiment is demonstrated.

  In the occupant protection device 10, the determination device 14 repeatedly executes the following calculation for each predetermined period. That is, the TTC calculation unit 24 predicts a collision between the host vehicle 12 and the object based on the output signal of the ADAS sensor 22. Specifically, in step 100 shown in FIG. 3, the distance from the host vehicle 12 to the target is detected, and when the host vehicle 12 and the target collide, the collision prediction time TTC until the collision is calculated. In step 110, the collision calculation processing unit 26 detects a collision level necessary for determining whether or not there is a collision based on output signals from the left front sensor 16, the right front sensor 18, and the center sensor 20.

  When the target does not exist in the detection target area of the ADAS sensor 22, the TTC calculation unit 24 does not detect the distance to the target and does not calculate the predicted collision time TTC. That is, the collision prediction time TTC calculated by the TTC calculation unit 24 is infinite. In this case, after the collision level is detected in step 110, the determination unit 30 determines whether or not there is a collision in step 120 using only the normal threshold LEVEL0 having an infinite effective time T0 as the threshold.

  Specifically, the determination unit 30, that is, the first determination unit 30-1 determines whether or not the collision level detected by the collision calculation processing unit 26 is equal to or higher than the normal threshold LEVEL0. When the collision level is less than the normal threshold LEVEL0, it is determined that no collision has occurred, and the current routine is terminated. When the collision level is equal to or higher than the normal threshold level LEVEL0, it is determined that a collision has occurred, and the occupant protection device 32 is activated in step 130.

  On the other hand, when the target is present in the detection target area of the ADAS sensor 22, the TTC calculation unit 24 detects the distance to the target and calculates the predicted collision time TTC. When the collision prediction time TTC is calculated by the TTC calculation unit 24, the timer processing unit 28 sets the valid times T1, T2, T3 of the threshold values LEVEL1, LEVEL2, LEVEL3 in steps 140, 150, 160, In accordance with the valid times T1, T2, and T3, the validity and invalidity of the threshold values LEVEL1, LEVEL2, and LEVEL3 are controlled. In this case, after the collision level is detected in step 110, the determination unit 30, that is, the first determination unit 30-1 to the fourth determination unit 30-4 is effective as a threshold value in steps 120, 170, 180, and 190. The collision presence / absence determination is performed using all the threshold levels LEVEL0 to LEVEL3 within the time.

  Specifically, the determination unit 30 detects that the collision level detected by the collision calculation processing unit 26 is greater than or equal to thresholds LEVEL0 to LEVEL3 that are currently valid according to the valid times T0, T1, T2, and T3 set by the timer processing unit 28. It is determined whether or not there is. When the collision level is smaller than all the threshold levels LEVEL0 to LEVEL3 within the valid time, the determination unit 30 determines that no collision has occurred and ends the current routine. When the collision level is any threshold value LEVEL0 to LEVEL3 within the effective time, it is determined that a collision has occurred, and the occupant protection device 32 is activated in step 130.

  According to the processing of the occupant protection device 10, when a collision with an object is not predicted using the ADAS sensor 22, the collision presence / absence determination based on the sensors 16, 18, and 20 is performed using only the normal threshold LEVEL 0. it can. Further, when a collision with the object is predicted using the ADAS sensor 22, the sensor 16 is used by using all (specifically, four) threshold levels LEVEL0 to LEVEL3 that are within the effective time including the normal threshold level LEVEL0. , 18, and 20 can be determined.

  The four threshold levels LEVEL0 to LEVEL3 used for the collision presence / absence determination are set so as to gradually decrease from the normal threshold level LEVEL0 having the highest level to the threshold level LEVEL3 having the lowest level. For this reason, when the collision prediction with the object using the ADAS sensor 22 is performed, the threshold value for the collision presence / absence determination can be lowered. Therefore, as shown in FIG. After the predicted collision time TTC elapses, the period until the determination device 14 determines that a collision has occurred can be shortened (ie, the collision determination time can be changed from time Time 1 to time Time 2 in FIG. 5). it can). Therefore, when the ADAS sensor 22 predicts a collision, the occupant protection device 32 can be activated early, and the time from the occurrence of the collision to the activation of the occupant protection device 32 can be shortened.

  In addition, the valid times T0 to T3 of the four threshold values LEVEL0 to LEVEL3 are set to be shorter as the threshold level is lower. For this reason, it is possible to set a threshold value that is extremely lower than the normal threshold level LEVEL0, so that the period from the occurrence of the collision to the determination that there is a collision can be significantly shortened. Further, since the valid times T0 to T3 of the threshold levels LEVEL0 to LEVEL3 become shorter as the threshold level is lower, the collision presence / absence determination based on the sensors 16, 18, and 20 is likely to be erroneously performed due to the presence of the lower level threshold value. Can be prevented.

  Further, the effective times T0 to T3 of the four threshold levels LEVEL0 to LEVEL3 described above are delayed as the threshold level is lowered, and the initial period of switching from invalid to valid before the elapsed time of the collision prediction time TTC is delayed. It is set so that the end of switching from valid to invalid after the elapse of TTC is advanced. For this reason, even if the ADAS sensor 22 reacts even though the possibility of collision between the host vehicle 12 and the object is low, even if a relatively low threshold value is set, the relatively low threshold value is used. The period during which the collision presence / absence determination is performed is limited to be short.

  Therefore, according to the occupant protection device 10, even when the accuracy of the collision prediction time TTC is poor due to the low recognition accuracy of the ADAS sensor 22, that is, when the performance of the ADAS sensor 22 is low, a low level threshold exists. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent erroneous determination of the presence or absence of a collision, thereby preventing the occupant protection device 32 from being erroneously operated during traveling on a rough road surface, for example.

  As described above, according to the occupant protection device 10 of the present embodiment, when a collision between the host vehicle 12 and an object is predicted, the occupant protection device 32 is used to protect the occupant of the host vehicle 12 early after the collision. The influence of the prediction accuracy of the ADAS sensor 22 such as reducing the frequency of unnecessary operation of the occupant protection device 32 due to an erroneous reaction of the ADAS sensor 22 can be reduced.

  In addition, the occupant protection device 10 can perform the collision presence / absence determination in the determination unit 30 using the thresholds LEVEL0 to LEVEL3 in parallel, and simultaneously perform the collision presence / absence determination. For this reason, according to the configuration of the occupant protection device 10, it is difficult to determine whether there is a collision using any one of the threshold levels LEVEL0 to LEVEL3 due to, for example, a failure of any one of the determination units 30-1 to 30-4. Unlike the configuration in which the determination of the presence or absence of collision in the determination unit 30 is always performed selectively with only one threshold level LEVEL0 to LEVEL3 enabled, it is determined that a collision has occurred despite the occurrence of a collision. It is possible to prevent the situation that is not performed from continuing for a long time, and to prevent spending a lot of time until it is determined that the collision has occurred.

  As is apparent from the above description, the occupant protection device 10 uses the ADAS sensor 22 that outputs a prediction signal for predicting a collision between the host vehicle 12 and the object, and the prediction signal output from the ADAS sensor 22. Based on a TTC calculation unit 24 that calculates a predicted collision time TTC until the host vehicle collides with an object, and sensors 16, 18, and 20 that output a collision signal corresponding to the collision between the host vehicle and the object, Timer processing unit 28 that sets effective times T0 to T3 before and after the collision prediction time TTC elapses for each of three or more different threshold levels LEVEL0 to LEVEL3 relating to the level of the collision signal so as to decrease as the threshold level decreases. And the level of the collision signal output from the sensors 16, 18, and 20 is any threshold level LEVEL0 to LEV within the valid time T0 to T3. If it is L3 or more, and a determination unit 30 for actuating the passenger protection device 32 to protect an occupant of the vehicle, a.

  According to this configuration, there are three or more different threshold levels LEVEL0 to LEVEL3 relating to the collision level used to operate the occupant protection device 32, and the effective times T0 to T3 of the threshold levels LEVEL0 to LEVEL3 are shorter as the threshold level is lower. Is set as follows. For this reason, an extremely low level threshold can be set, so that the period from the occurrence of a collision to the determination of the presence of a collision can be significantly shortened. Further, since the valid times T0 to T3 of the respective threshold levels LEVEL0 to LEVEL3 become shorter as the threshold level is lower, the collision presence / absence determination based on the sensors 16, 18, and 20 is erroneously performed due to the presence of the lower level threshold. It can prevent becoming easy to break. Therefore, when a collision between the host vehicle 12 and an object is predicted, the passenger protection device 32 is used to protect the passenger of the host vehicle using the passenger protection device 32 at an early stage after the collision, and the passenger protection device caused by an erroneous reaction of the ADAS sensor 22 The influence of the prediction accuracy of the ADAS sensor 22, such as reducing the frequency of the unnecessary operation 32, can be reduced.

  Further, the occupant protection device 10 sets the valid times T0 to T3 of the threshold levels LEVEL0 to LEVEL3 so that the lower the threshold level, the later the start and the earlier the end. Accordingly, even when the performance of the ADAS sensor 22 is low, it is possible to prevent the collision presence / absence determination based on the sensors 16, 18, and 20 from being erroneously performed due to the presence of the low level threshold value.

  Further, in the occupant protection device 10, the determination unit 30 determines whether or not the level of the collision signal is equal to or higher than the threshold levels LEVEL0 to LEVEL3 within the valid times T0 to T3 provided corresponding to the threshold values. It has the determination part 30-1, the 2nd determination part 30-2, the 3rd determination part 30-3, and the 4th determination part 30-4. Therefore, the determination unit 30 using the thresholds LEVEL0 to LEVEL3 can perform the collision presence / absence determination in parallel and simultaneously determine the presence / absence of each collision, so any one of the determination units 30-1 to 30-30. Even in the case where a failure of -4 occurs, it is avoided that a situation where it is not determined that a collision has occurred despite the occurrence of a collision continues for a long time, and until it is determined that the collision has occurred. Can be prevented from spending a lot of time.

  The occupant protection device 10 is a radar in which the ADAS sensor 22 outputs a signal according to the distance from the own vehicle to the object obtained by processing the received wave of the radio wave irradiated around the own vehicle 12 as a prediction signal. Yes, or a camera that outputs, as a prediction signal, a signal corresponding to the distance from the host vehicle to the object obtained by processing a captured image of an area within a predetermined distance from the host vehicle. Therefore, it is possible to predict a collision between the own vehicle 12 and the target object before the collision between the own vehicle 12 and the target object.

  By the way, in the above embodiment, the ADAS sensor 22 is included in the “collision prediction sensor” described in the claims, the TTC calculation unit 24 is included in the “time calculation unit” described in the claims, and the left front sensor 16. The right front sensor 18 and the center sensor 20 are described in the “collision detection sensor” described in the claims, the timer processing unit 28 is described in the “threshold setting unit” described in the claims, and the occupant protection device 32 is patented. In the “device” described in the claims, the determination unit 30 includes the first determination unit 30-1, the second determination unit 30-2, and the third determination unit 30 in the “operation control unit” described in the claims. -3 and the fourth determination unit 30-4 correspond to the “determination unit” recited in the claims.

Further, in the above embodiment, the effective times T0 to T3 of the four threshold levels LEVEL0 to LEVEL3 used for the collision presence / absence determination are shortened as the threshold level is lower, and the start is delayed and the end is accelerated. Was set as follows. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the valid times T0 to T3 may be set such that the lower the threshold level, the earlier the start or the earlier the end. . That is, it may be set so as to satisfy either the start of the effective times T0 to T3 being delayed or the end thereof being earlier as the threshold level is lower.
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the left front sensor 16 and the right front sensor 18 output, for example, an acceleration sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to acceleration in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, or a signal that corresponds to pressure or load in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. The center sensor 20 outputs, for example, an acceleration sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to acceleration in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, or a signal that corresponds to an angular velocity generated around the center of gravity axis of the vehicle body. It is assumed that it is a gyro sensor that outputs However, these sensors 16, 18, and 20 may be acceleration sensors that output a signal corresponding to the acceleration generated in the vehicle body as a collision signal. Also in this modification, the same effect as the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

  10 occupant protection devices, 12 vehicles, 14 determination devices, 16 left front sensors, 18 right front sensors, 20 center sensors, 22 ADAS sensors, 24 TTC calculation units, 26 collision calculation processing units, 28 timer processing units, 30 determination units, 32 Crew protection device.

Claims (5)

A collision prediction sensor (22) for outputting a prediction signal for predicting a collision between the host vehicle (12) and an object;
Based on the prediction signal output from the collision prediction sensor, a time calculation unit (24) for calculating a predicted collision time until the host vehicle collides with an object;
A collision detection sensor (16, 18, 20) that outputs a collision signal in response to a collision between the host vehicle and an object;
A threshold value setting unit (28) for setting effective times before and after the predicted collision time of each of three or more different threshold values related to the level of the collision signal to be shorter as the threshold level is lower;
When the level of the collision signal output from the collision detection sensor is equal to or higher than any one of the threshold values within the effective time, the operation control unit (30) that activates the device (32) that protects the passenger of the host vehicle. )When,
An occupant protection device (10).   2. The occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein the threshold value setting unit sets the effective time of each of the threshold values such that the lower the threshold level, the earlier the start or the earlier the end.   The operation control unit is provided corresponding to each threshold value, and determines whether or not the level of the collision signal is equal to or higher than the threshold value within the effective time (30-1, 30-2, The occupant protection device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: 30-3, 30-4).   The collision prediction sensor is a radar that outputs, as the prediction signal, a signal corresponding to a distance from the host vehicle to an object obtained by processing a reception wave of radio waves irradiated around the host vehicle, or from the host vehicle. The occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the occupant protection device is a camera that outputs a signal corresponding to the distance obtained by processing a captured image of an area within a predetermined distance as the prediction signal.   The occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the collision detection sensor is an acceleration sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to an acceleration generated in a vehicle body as the collision signal.

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