JP2020059307A - Occupant protection apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To enable proper and reliable actuation of a plurality of air bags to be secured in an occupant protection apparatus that actuates the plurality of air bags by a shared power source.SOLUTION: When a collision is simultaneously detected by a frontal collision sensor 21 and a broadside collision sensor 22, first of all, an inflator 32 for a front air bag is energized, and the front air bag 31 is expanded. Subsequently, after the lapse of a predetermined period of time, an inflator 34 for a lateral air bag is energized to expand a lateral air bag 33.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an occupant protection device for a vehicle such as an automobile.

  A vehicle such as an automobile is provided with various occupant protection devices (for example, an airbag device provided in a driver's seat of a vehicle) for protecting an occupant in an accident such as a collision. Such an occupant protection device is often driven by a common battery, but there is a strong demand for reliable operation even with the limited drive power of the common battery. Therefore, for example, in Patent Document 1, as a technique for ensuring the reliable operation of the occupant protection device, a plurality of starters having different optimal drive timings (for example, an airbag for a driver's seat and a passenger's seat, a seat belt pre-seat). In a device that supplies power to a common auxiliary battery for a tensioner, etc., after supplying starter power to one starter device, the voltage of the auxiliary battery is set to a voltage range in which another starter device can reliably operate. Disclosed is a device that can reliably start each starting device by stopping the supply of starting power to a starting device that is energized when the value drops to a predetermined value.

JP-A-11-69663

  By the way, as an occupant protection device as described above, an occupant protection device using an airbag may be mounted not only on the front seats (driver's seat and passenger seat) but also on the rear seats of the vehicle. The airbag in the occupant protection device for each seat may be provided not only on the front side but also on the side side. As described above, when there are many airbags to be operated in one vehicle, it is particularly necessary to appropriately cope with the power shortage and the voltage drop of the common battery that drives the occupant protection device.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to ensure proper and reliable operation of a plurality of airbags in an occupant protection device that operates a plurality of airbags with a common power source. An object of the present invention is to provide an occupant protection device that can be used.

  In order to achieve the above object, the following solution is adopted in the present invention. That is, as described in claim 1, in an occupant protection device provided in at least one occupant seat of a vehicle, a plurality of airbags that are deployed from different directions with respect to the occupant seat, and a plurality of airbags provided in each of the different directions are provided. A plurality of collision sensors, a plurality of inflators that operate each of the plurality of airbags, and a common power supply unit that supplies electric power to the plurality of inflators, and at least two of the plurality of collision sensors are provided. At the same time, when a collision is detected, there is a time difference in the energization timing for the inflator that operates the airbag corresponding to the collision sensor in which the collision is detected.

  According to the above-described solution method, since the inflators of the plurality of airbags provided in the passenger seats are energized (transmission of operation command signals) with a time lag, the power (voltage) of the common power supply unit (battery). The shortage can be avoided, and the plurality of airbags can be appropriately operated.

  A preferred mode on the premise of the solution method is as described in claims 2 and below in the claims. That is, the plurality of airbags are a front airbag arranged in front of a passenger seat and a side airbag arranged on a side surface of the passenger seat, and the plurality of inflators deploy the front airbag. A front airbag inflator and a side airbag inflator for deploying the passenger side airbag, wherein the plurality of collision sensors include a front collision sensor for detecting a collision from the front of the vehicle, and a side surface of the vehicle. This is a side collision sensor that detects a collision from the vehicle (corresponding to claim 2). In this case, the front airbag is first deployed and then the side airbag is deployed, so that the occupant's behavior when the vehicle collides diagonally forward, specifically, when the vehicle collides, the occupant first swings forward. After that, the airbag protects appropriately against the movement of swinging to the side.

  When the front collision sensor and the side collision sensor detect a collision at the same time, the front airbag inflator is first energized, and the side airbag inflator is energized after a predetermined time has elapsed from the energization of the front airbag inflator. Is energized (corresponding to claim 3). In this case, the front airbag inflator is energized for a predetermined time, that is, when the vehicle collides diagonally forward, the time until the occupant swings to the side after the occupant's upper body is swung forward as occupant behavior. After the passage of time, the side airbag is energized, so that the voltage of the common power supply that has been lowered by energizing the inflator for the front airbag is boosted to a voltage necessary for deploying the side airbag, and then the side airbag. Since the vehicle inflator is energized, it is possible to reliably deploy the side airbag after deploying the airbag that matches the occupant's behavior when the vehicle collides diagonally forward, that is, after deploying the front airbag.

  The occupant protection device is provided in a plurality of seats in the vehicle, and the power supply unit is a power supply unit common to the occupant protection devices provided in the plurality of seats (corresponding to claim 4). In this case, it is possible to properly and surely operate the plurality of airbags installed in the plurality of seats including the rear seat while avoiding the power shortage of the common power supply unit.

  The side airbag is at least one of a side airbag set on a side portion of a passenger seat and a curtain airbag set on a door rule portion (corresponding to claim 5). In this case, as the occupant protection behavior when the vehicle collides diagonally forward, first, for the movement of the upper body of the occupant being swung forward, the front airbag is deployed by the front airbag inflator. It is possible to prevent the head and chest of the vehicle from colliding with the interior of the front of the occupant (for example, the steering wheel for the occupant in the driver's seat, the instrument panel for the occupant in the front passenger's seat, the rear portion in the front seat for the occupant in the rear seat). Furthermore, after that, in response to the movement of the occupant's state to the side, the side airbag set on the side of the occupant seat and the curtain airbag set on the door roof part are deployed, so that the shoulders and ribs of the occupant are It is possible to more reliably prevent the lower back and the waist from colliding with the pillar trim on the side of the occupant and the door, and the head of the occupant from colliding with the door and the door roof.

  According to the present invention, even if each seat is provided with a plurality of airbags, it is possible to appropriately avoid a power shortage and a voltage drop of a common power supply unit.

The figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the airbag in a vehicle. The figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the collision sensor in a vehicle. The block block diagram which shows an example of the control system of this invention. 6 is a graph showing changes in battery voltage according to the present invention. The flowchart which shows the control procedure of an example of control of this invention.

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

  FIG. 1 shows an arrangement example of airbags in a vehicle 1 equipped with an occupant protection device of the present invention. As shown in the figure, a driver's seat 2 and a passenger's seat 3 on the front side and a rear seat 4 on the rear side are provided in the vehicle interior of the vehicle 1. A dashboard 5 is provided in front of the driver's seat 2 and the passenger seat 3, and a steering wheel 6 is arranged in front of the driver's seat 2. A center console 7 is arranged between the driver seat 2 and the passenger seat 3.

  The vehicle 1 includes, as an airbag device for passenger protection, a driver front airbag module 11, a passenger front airbag module 12, a rear front airbag module 13, and a curtain airbag module 14A. , 14B.

  The driver's seat front airbag module 11 is provided in the center of the steering wheel 6 arranged in front of the driver's seat 1. The front passenger seat airbag module 12 is provided on the dashboard 5 so as to be located in front of the front passenger seat 2. Further, the rear airbag module 13 is provided on the seat back surface of the driver's seat 2 and the passenger seat 3.

  The curtain airbag modules 14A and 14B are provided on both left and right sides of the vehicle 1 and are arranged along the roof line above the side window (not shown). The curtain airbag module 14A functions as a side airbag device for the driver's seat 1 and (right side) rear seat 3, and the curtain airbag module 14B functions as a side airbag device for the passenger seat 2 and (left side) rear seat. To do.

  Each module is equipped with an airbag and an inflator for deploying the airbag. The airbag and the inflator of the driver's seat front airbag module 11, the passenger's seat front airbag module 12, and the rear seat front airbag module 13 are respectively a front airbag 31 and a front airbag inflator 32 (see FIG. 3). Are configured. The airbags and inflators of the curtain airbag modules 14A and 14B constitute a side airbag 34 and a side airbag inflator 35 (see FIG. 3), respectively.

  FIG. 2 shows an arrangement example of the collision sensor in the vehicle 1. As shown in the figure, a frontal collision sensor 21 is arranged in the front portion 1A of the vehicle 1. Both side surface collision sensors 22 are arranged on both side surfaces 1B of the vehicle (only one side surface is shown in the figure). Accordingly, a frontal collision sensor 21 detects a frontal collision of the vehicle 1, and a sideward collision sensor 22 detects a sideward collision of the vehicle.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the control system of the occupant protection system of the present invention. The control system includes a controller U configured by using, for example, a microcomputer. The controller U is provided with a program for controlling the operation of each airbag module (inflator), and according to the detection signals from the front collision sensor 21 and the side collision sensor 22, the front airbag inflator 32 and the side surface are inflated. A command signal is sent to the airbag inflator 34.

  The front air bag inflator 32 and the side air bag inflator 34 receive power from the common battery B and operate to deploy the front air bag 31 and the side air bag 33, respectively. Further, the battery B is provided with a booster circuit 35.

  In the control by the controller U, basically, when a frontal collision sensor 21 detects a frontal collision, a command signal is activated to the front airbag inflator 32, and the side collision sensor 22 causes a side collision. Is detected, the side airbag inflator 34 is activated. However, when the front collision sensor 21 and the side collision sensor 22 simultaneously detect a collision, the front airbag inflator 32 and the side airbag are detected. Instead of operating the bag inflator 34 at the same time, there is a time difference in the operation timing (the energization timing of the command signal). This eliminates the need for a high voltage as in the case where the front airbag inflator 32 and the side airbag inflator 34 operate at the same time, and the shortage of the voltage of the common battery B is appropriately avoided. Even when a plurality of airbag devices are provided in a plurality of seats, each airbag device can be properly operated.

  In the case of such simultaneous detection of a frontal collision and a side collision, the controller U first transmits (energizes) a command signal to the front airbag inflator 32, and then, after a predetermined time has elapsed, transmits a command signal to the side airbag inflator 34. Send (energize). As a result, the deployment timings of the front airbag 31 and the side airbag 33 are appropriately matched to the movement of the occupant at the time of the collision (that is, the movement of being swung to the front side first and then to the side). Appropriate occupant protection with an airbag can be performed.

FIG. 4 shows the time change of the voltage of the battery B in the control in the case of simultaneous detection of a frontal collision and a side collision. In the graph, T ₀ is a collision detection timing, T ₁ is a command timing to the front airbag inflator 32 (energization timing), and T ₂ is a command timing to the side airbag inflator 34 (energization timing). . Further, V ₁ is a voltage required for operating the front airbag inflator 32, V ₂ is a voltage required for operating the side airbag inflator 34, and V ₃ is a front airbag inflator 32 and a side airbag inflator 34. Is the voltage required for simultaneous operation.

At the time point T ₀ , when the frontal collision sensor 21 and the side surface collision sensor 22 simultaneously detect a collision (or at a very close timing), the front airbag inflator 32 receives a command signal at a time point T ₁ . It operates and the voltage of the battery B drops. In this case, since the front airbag inflator 32 operates independently, the voltage of the battery B becomes the voltage V required for simultaneous operation of the front airbag inflator 32 and the side airbag inflator 34 due to the influence of an accident or the like. Even if it is lower than ₃ , the front airbag inflator 32 operates properly.

After the command signal is transmitted to the front airbag inflator 32, a predetermined time t, that is, when the vehicle collides diagonally forward, after the upper body of the occupant is swung forward as occupant behavior, the occupant is swung to the side. When the time elapses, the side air bag inflator 34 receives the command signal and operates. In this case, since the voltage of the battery B is boosted by the booster circuit 35 to the voltage V ₂ or more necessary for the operation of the side airbag inflator 34 during the predetermined time t, the side airbag inflator 34 is appropriately used. Works.

  Next, the control of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the control, first, in step S1, it is determined whether or not a collision is detected by the frontal collision sensor 21, and if no collision is detected, the process proceeds to step S2.

  In step S2, it is determined whether or not a collision is detected by the side surface collision sensor 22, and if not detected, the processing of one round is ended as it is. On the other hand, if the detection has been made, the process proceeds to step S8, the side airbag inflator 34 is energized, the side airbag 33 is deployed, and the process for one round is completed.

  When it is determined in step S1 that the frontal collision sensor 21 has detected a collision, the process proceeds to step S3, in which it is determined whether the side collision sensor 22 has detected a collision, and when a collision has not been detected. In step S3, the front airbag inflator 32 is energized, the front airbag 31 is deployed, and the process for one round is completed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2 that the side collision sensor 22 has detected a collision, it means that the front collision sensor 21 and the side collision sensor 22 are simultaneously detected. The inflator 32 is energized to deploy the front airbag 31.

  In the following step S6, the boosting of the battery B is started. In step S7, it is determined whether the predetermined time t has elapsed. This determination is repeated until the predetermined time t elapses, and when the predetermined time t elapses, the process proceeds to step S8, the side airbag inflator 34 is energized, the side airbag 33 is deployed, and the one cycle processing is completed. .

  The side airbag may be at least one of a side airbag set on the side surface portion of the occupant seat and a curtain airbag set on the door rule portion. As a result, as the occupant protection behavior when the vehicle collides diagonally forward, first, with respect to the movement of the upper body of the occupant forward, the front airbag is deployed by the front airbag inflator. It is possible to prevent the head and chest of the vehicle from colliding with the interior of the front of the occupant (for example, the steering wheel for the occupant in the driver's seat, the instrument panel for the occupant in the front passenger's seat, the rear portion in the front seat for the occupant in the rear seat). Furthermore, after that, in response to the movement of the occupant's state to the side, the side airbag set on the side of the occupant seat and the curtain airbag set on the door roof part are deployed, so that the shoulders and ribs of the occupant are It is possible to more reliably prevent the waist and the waist from colliding with the pillar trim on the side of the occupant and the door, and the head of the occupant from colliding with the door and the door roof.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and appropriate modifications can be made within the scope of the claims. For example, in the above embodiment, as the front airbag device (the front airbag 31 and the side airbag inflator 32), the driver front airbag module 11, the front passenger airbag module 12, and the rear front airbag are provided. The module 13 is provided, and the curtain airbag modules 14A and 14B are provided as the side airbag devices (the side airbag 33 and the side airbag inflator 34), but the technical scope of the present invention is such a form. However, the type and number of the front airbag device and the side airbag device are not particularly limited. For example, the side airbag module provided on the side of each seat may be used instead of the curtain airbag modules 14A and 14B, or may be provided together with the curtain airbag modules 14A and 14B. Good.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for an occupant protection device using an airbag in a vehicle such as an automobile.

1 vehicle 2 driver's seat 3 passenger's seat 4 rear seat 5 dashboard 6 steering wheel 7 center console 11 driver's front front airbag module 12 passenger's front front airbag module 13 rear front airbag module 14A, 14B curtain airbag Module 21 Front collision sensor 22 Side collision sensor U controller B Battery 31 Front airbag 32 Front airbag inflator 33 Side airbag 34 Side airbag inflator 35 Boost circuit

Claims (5)

An occupant protection device provided on at least one occupant seat in a vehicle,
With respect to the passenger seat, a plurality of airbags deployed from different directions,
A plurality of collision sensors provided for each of the different directions,
A plurality of inflators for operating each of the plurality of airbags,
A common power supply unit for supplying power to the plurality of inflators,
An occupant protection device in which, when a collision is simultaneously detected by at least two of the plurality of collision sensors, there is a time lag in the energization timing for the inflator which operates the airbag corresponding to the collision sensor in which the collision is detected. The occupant protection device according to claim 1,
The plurality of airbags are a front airbag arranged in front of a passenger seat and a side airbag arranged on a side surface of the passenger seat,
The plurality of inflators are a front airbag inflator that deploys the front airbag, and a side airbag inflator that deploys the passenger side airbag.
The occupant protection device, wherein the plurality of collision sensors are a front collision sensor that detects a collision from the front of the vehicle and a side collision sensor that detects a collision from a side surface of the vehicle. The occupant protection device according to claim 2,
When the front collision sensor and the side collision sensor detect a collision at the same time, the front airbag inflator is first energized, and the side airbag inflator is energized after a predetermined time has elapsed from the energization of the front airbag inflator. An occupant protection device designed to energize passengers. The occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The occupant protection device is provided in a plurality of seats in the vehicle,
The occupant protection device, wherein the power supply unit is a power supply unit common to the occupant protection devices provided in the plurality of seats. The occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The occupant protection device, wherein the side airbag is at least one of a side airbag set on a side portion of a passenger seat and a curtain airbag set on a door rule portion.

Images