JP2019123333A - Vehicle occupant restraint device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a vehicle occupant restraint device which can effectively restrain an occupant seated in a seat even when a vehicle undergoes a head-on collision while the seat is in a backward slide position and a seat back is tilted backward into a reclining posture.SOLUTION: A vehicle occupant restraint device 10 has a control device 14 which is configured so as to perform at least one countermeasure operation among the following when a seat back 34 cannot be erected to a standard position T by the time a head-on collision of a vehicle 12 occurs after the head-on collision is predicted by collision prediction means 16: a first countermeasure operation of sliding a seat 30 by an electric sliding mechanism 36 to a position where the upper body of an occupant P who is seated in the seat 30 can be restrained by an airbag 26; a second countermeasure operation of sliding the seat 30 by the electric sliding mechanism 36 to a position where the knee of the occupant P who is seated in the seat 30 is close to or is in contact with an instrument panel 18; and a third countermeasure operation of tilting down a steering wheel 20 by an electric tilt mechanism 22.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle occupant restraint system.

  At the time of prediction of the rear surface collision of the vehicle, the inclination angle of the seatback is detected, and when the inclination angle is out of the predetermined range, the occupant is appropriately protected by displacing the seatback within the predetermined range. A vehicle occupant protection device has been conventionally proposed to prevent a burden on the vehicle (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-334437

  By the way, in the vehicle under automatic driving, diversification of seat layout is assumed. For example, it is assumed that the vehicle travels in a comfortable posture (relaxed posture) in which the seat is slid rearward and the seat back is inclined backward.

  However, when the seat is slid backward and the vehicle collides in a frontal posture in a comfortable posture in which the seatback is inclined backward, the submarine phenomenon tends to occur in the occupant seated in the seat, and the upper body and knees of the occupant ( Waist) may not be effectively restrained.

  Also in the above-mentioned background art, it is expected that the seat back can not be raised (returned) within a predetermined range (standard position) before the rear collision due to the rear collision prediction of the vehicle and the seat is seated on the seat There is a possibility that the effects of the seat belt and the air bag for the occupant can not be sufficiently obtained.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, even if the seat is slid backward and the seat back is inclined rearward, even if the vehicle collides in the front in a comfortable posture, the vehicle occupant can be effectively restrained. The purpose is to obtain a device.

  In order to achieve the above object, an occupant restraint system for a vehicle according to a first aspect of the present invention is an electric tilt mechanism for moving a steering wheel provided with an airbag apparatus having an airbag in the vertical direction of the vehicle A motorized slide mechanism for sliding the seat in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a motorized angle adjustment mechanism for adjusting the seatback angle of the seat, the motorized tilt mechanism, the motorized slide mechanism, the motorized angle adjustment mechanism, and the airbag apparatus Control device having a collision prediction means for predicting a frontal collision of the vehicle, and controlling the collision prediction when the seat back is inclined rearward from the standard position. Before the frontal collision of the vehicle is predicted by the means before the frontal collision, the seatback is marked by the electric angle adjusting mechanism. When it is determined that the seat can not be raised to the position, a first corresponding operation of sliding the seat by the electric slide mechanism to a position where the upper body of the occupant seated on the seat can be restrained by the airbag is seated on the seat At least one of a second corresponding operation of sliding the seat by the electric slide mechanism to a position where the knee of the occupant approaches or contacts the instrument panel, and a third corresponding operation of tilting the steering wheel by the electric tilt mechanism. It is configured to take one corresponding action.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the seatback inclined rearward to the comfortable posture is caused to the standard position by the electric angle adjustment mechanism from the prediction of the frontal collision of the vehicle by the collision prediction means to the frontal collision. If it is determined by the control device that it can not do, the control device takes at least one of the first corresponding operation, the second corresponding operation, and the third corresponding operation.

  That is, the control device performs a first corresponding operation of sliding the seat by the electric slide mechanism to a position where the upper body of the occupant seated on the seat can be restrained by the airbag of the airbag device, and the knee of the occupant seated on the seat Take at least one of the second corresponding operation of sliding the seat by the electric slide mechanism to the position approaching or contacting the instrument panel and the third corresponding operation of tilting the steering wheel by the electric tilt mechanism. .

  Therefore, at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle, the upper body of the occupant seated in the seat is effectively restrained by the steering wheel and the airbag so that the upper body of the occupant does not move forward. It is effectively constrained by the instrument panel (including knee airbags) to prevent movement.

  As described above, according to the present invention, even if the vehicle collides in the front in a comfortable posture in which the seat is slid rearward and the seat back is inclined backward, the occupant seated on the seat is effectively restrained. can do.

FIG. 2A is a schematic view showing a state before the vehicle occupant restraint system according to the present embodiment is activated, as viewed from the vehicle width direction. (B) It is a schematic diagram which shows the state after the vehicle occupant restraint device concerning this embodiment operates from a vehicle width direction. It is a flowchart which shows until a vehicle occupant restraint device concerning this embodiment operates. It is a timing chart which shows the timing which the crew member restraint device for vehicles concerning this embodiment operates.

  Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. Note that, for convenience of explanation, an arrow UP appropriately shown in each drawing is taken as a vehicle upward direction, and an arrow FR is made as a vehicle forward direction. Therefore, in the following description, when vertical and horizontal directions are described without particular mentioning, the vertical direction of the vehicle vertical direction and the front and rear direction of the vehicle are indicated.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the vehicle occupant restraint system 10 according to the present embodiment includes an electric tilt mechanism 22 for moving the steering wheel 20 in the vertical direction. That is, the steering wheel 20 is automatically moved in the vertical direction by the switch operation of the electric tilt mechanism 22, and the position thereof can be adjusted.

  An air bag device 24 having an air bag 26 (see FIG. 1B) is provided on the inside in the radial direction of the steering wheel 20. When the front collision of the vehicle 12 is predicted by the collision prediction means 16 described later, the air bag 26 is immediately injected with gas from an inflator (not shown), and is inflated and deployed as shown in FIG. 1 (B). It is supposed to be.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1A, the vehicle occupant restraint system 10 according to the present embodiment includes an electric slide mechanism 36 for sliding the seat cushion 32 of the seat (power seat) 30 in the front-rear direction, and the seat 30. And an electric angle adjustment mechanism 38 for adjusting the angle of the seat back 34 of

  That is, the seat cushion 32 automatically slides in the front-rear direction by the switch operation of the electric slide mechanism 36, and the position thereof can be adjusted. The seat back 34 is automatically tilted backward (or automatically raised) by the switch operation of the electric angle adjustment mechanism 38, and the position (angle) can be adjusted. Furthermore, the seat back 34 is configured to automatically return (rise) to the standard position T by the switch operation of the electric angle adjustment mechanism 38.

  The vehicle occupant restraint system 10 according to the present embodiment includes the control unit 14 that controls the electric tilt mechanism 22, the electric slide mechanism 36, and the electric angle adjustment mechanism 38. The control device 14 also controls the air bag device 24. That is, the control device 14 has a collision prediction means 16 for predicting a frontal collision of the vehicle 12, and when the collision prediction means 16 predicts a frontal collision of the vehicle 12, the inflator is operated.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1A, when the vehicle 12 is in an automatic operation, the occupant P may take a comfortable posture. Specifically, the seat cushion 32 (the seat 30) is slid rearward, and the seat back 34 has a reclining angle (inclination angle) θ of 25 degrees or more than the standard position T in a side view as viewed from the vehicle width direction. There is a case where it takes a posture inclined backward until it becomes.

  Therefore, the control device 14 can not raise the seatback 34 tilted backward to the standard position T by the electric angle adjustment mechanism 38 until the front collision of the vehicle 12 is predicted by the collision prediction means 16 before the front collision. When it is determined that, according to the reclining angle .theta. (.Theta..gtoreq.25 degrees) of the seat back 34, the vehicle speed and the like, at least one of the following three corresponding operations is adopted.

  That is, the control device 14 performs a first corresponding operation of sliding the seat cushion 32 (seat 30) forward by the electric slide mechanism 36 to a position where the upper body of the occupant P seated on the seat 30 can be restrained by the airbag 26. A second corresponding operation of sliding the seat cushion 32 (the seat 30) forward by the electric slide mechanism 36 to a position where the knee of the occupant P seated on the seat 30 approaches or contacts the instrument panel 18; Is adapted to take at least one corresponding action of the third corresponding action in which the electric tilt mechanism 22 tilts down (moves downward).

  Next, the operation of the vehicle occupant restraint system 10 according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

  During automatic operation in which the seat cushion 32 (the seat 30) is slid rearward, when a front collision of the vehicle 12 is predicted by the collision prediction means 16, as shown in FIG. In S1, it is determined whether or not the seat back 34 is in a comfortable posture in which the seatback 34 is tilted backward until the reclining angle θ becomes 25 degrees or more than the standard position T.

  When the control device 14 determines that the seatback 34 is in the comfortable posture in which the reclining angle θ is more than 25 degrees with respect to the standard position T, the seatback 34 is selected in step S2. The corresponding operation to raise to the standard position T is started.

  Next, at step S3, the control device 14 can make the corresponding action to bring the seat back 34 up to the standard position T in time before the frontal collision of the vehicle 12 (as shown in FIG. Determine if there is more than a second).

  Then, when the control device 14 determines that the response action is not in time for the frontal collision of the vehicle 12, at step S4, for example, 0.5 seconds before the frontal collision (see FIG. 3) At least one corresponding operation of one corresponding operation, a second corresponding operation, and a third corresponding operation is adopted.

  That is, when the first corresponding action is taken, the seat 30 is slid forward by the electric slide mechanism 36 to a position where the upper body of the occupant P seated on the seat 30 can be restrained by the air bag 26 (FIG. )reference). Therefore, at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle 12, the upper body of the occupant P seated on the seat 30 is effectively restrained by the airbag 26 so as not to move forward.

  In addition, when the second corresponding action is taken, the seat 30 is slid forward by the electric slide mechanism 36 to a position where the knee of the occupant P seated on the seat 30 approaches or contacts the instrument panel 18 (FIG. 1) (B)). Therefore, at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle 12, the knees (hips) of the occupant P seated on the seat 30 are effectively restrained by the instrument panel 18 (including the knee airbag not shown) so as not to move forward ( The occurrence of the submarine phenomenon is suppressed or prevented).

  Furthermore, when the third corresponding operation is adopted, the steering wheel 20 is tilted down by the electric tilt mechanism 22 (see FIG. 1 (B)). Therefore, at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle 12, the upper body of the occupant P seated on the seat 30 is effectively restrained by the steering wheel 20 (including the airbag 26) so as not to move forward.

  As described above, according to the vehicle occupant restraint system 10 according to the present embodiment, the vehicle 12 collides frontally in the easy posture in which the seat cushion 32 (the seat 30) is slid rearward and the seat back 34 is inclined rearward. However, the occupant P seated on the seat 30 can be effectively restrained.

  As described above, which action is taken from the first action, the second action, and the third action depends on the reclining angle θ (θ ≧ 25 degrees) of the seat back 34 and the vehicle speed. Determined as appropriate. Further, FIG. 1B shows a state in which all the corresponding operations of the first corresponding operation, the second corresponding operation, and the third corresponding operation are taken.

  Also, if the seat back 34 is not tilted backward until the reclining angle θ becomes 25 degrees or more than the standard position T, or the corresponding action to raise the seat back 34 to the standard position T is by the frontal collision of the vehicle 12 If it is in time, the upper body of the occupant P seated on the seat 30 is restrained by the seat belt (not shown) or the air bag 26.

  As mentioned above, although the vehicle occupant restraint device 10 according to the present embodiment has been described based on the drawings, the vehicle occupant restraint device 10 according to the present embodiment is not limited to the one shown in the drawings. Design changes can be made as appropriate without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the first response operation and the second response operation are also applicable to the front passenger seat.

  Further, the control device 14 does not perform the collision damage reduction brake after the front collision of the vehicle 12 is predicted by, for example, the collision prediction unit 16, not after the front collision of the vehicle 12 is predicted by the collision prediction unit 16. By the time AEB) is applied, at least one of the first corresponding operation, the second corresponding operation, and the third corresponding operation may be adopted.

10 Vehicle occupant restraint device 12 Vehicle 14 Control device 16 Collision prediction means 18 Instrument panel 20 Steering wheel 22 Electric tilt mechanism 24 Airbag device 26 Airbag device 30 Seat 36 Electric slide mechanism 38 Electric angle adjustment mechanism P Passenger

Claims (1)

An electric tilt mechanism for moving a steering wheel provided with an airbag apparatus having an airbag in the vertical direction of the vehicle;
An electric slide mechanism for sliding the seat in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle;
An electric angle adjustment mechanism for adjusting the angle of the seat back of the seat;
A control device that controls the electric tilt mechanism, the electric slide mechanism, the electric angle adjustment mechanism, and the air bag device, and has collision prediction means for predicting a frontal collision of a vehicle;
Equipped with
The controller is
When the seatback is in a comfortable posture inclined backward from the standard position, the electric angle adjustment mechanism adjusts the seatback to the standard position before the front collision of the vehicle is predicted by the collision prediction means. If you decide that you can not wake up,
A first corresponding operation of sliding the seat by the electric slide mechanism to a position where the upper body of the occupant seated on the seat can be restrained by the airbag, and a knee of the occupant seated on the seat approach or contact the instrument panel Configured to take at least one corresponding operation of a second corresponding operation of sliding the seat by the electric slide mechanism to a predetermined position and a third corresponding operation of tilting the steering wheel by the electric tilt mechanism. Vehicle occupant restraint system.