JP2923650B2 - Car airbag system - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an airbag device for an automobile.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, there is an airbag device as a safety device against a collision of an automobile. In this airbag device, an airbag unit having an airbag, a gas generator, and the like is provided above a glove box in an instrument panel. In the event of a car collision, the gas generator operates to inflate and deploy the airbag, thereby protecting the head and chest of the occupant who is moving forward in the event of a collision. is there. Further, the conventional airbag device is generally designed for an adult sitting on a seat.

However, there is a case where a child stands in front of the passenger seat next to the driver's seat (hereinafter, referred to as a standing child). In such a case, the car collides and the gas generator operates to activate the airbag. When deployed, the airbag can cause significant shock to the child.

Therefore, in the airbag device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 54-2729, a plurality of gas generators are provided, and a sensor for detecting the above-mentioned standing child state is provided.When the standing child state is detected by this sensor, By reducing the number of activated gas generators, the speed and force with which the airbag inflates is reduced, so that the child does not splash backwards.

However, as described above, when the number of activated gas generators is reduced to reduce the speed and force at which the airbag inflates, the force for protecting the occupant by the airbag is increased. There is a problem that it may be too weak.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an airbag device that can reduce the impact on a child caused by the back deployment at the time of a standing child and can surely restrain and protect the child.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention relates to a seat front member provided in front of a seat of an automobile, which is normally folded and stored in a seat front member. In an airbag device for an automobile having an airbag that is inflated and deployed, a plurality of gas generators for introducing gas into the airbag are arranged, and an occupant stands up close to the seat front member. Detecting means for detecting that the occupant is in the occupant state, and operating a part of the plurality of gas generators at the time of the collision. The remaining gas generators are activated after a predetermined time from the partial operation of the above, and when the detecting means detects that the vehicle is not in the occupant state, the partial gas generators are activated. In which characterized in that a control means for actuating the remainder of the gas generator at the same time.

(Operations and Effects of the Invention) As described above, in the airbag device of the present invention, when the occupant is standing upright in the state close to the seat front member, that is, when the standing child state is detected, first, the plurality of the occupants are detected. Some of the gas generators are activated, and after a predetermined time, the remaining gas generators are activated, so that the airbag is inflated and deployed in two stages, and thus the occupant or child is gradually restrained. can do. Thereby, at the beginning of the inflation and deployment of the airbag, the impact force on the child can be reduced, and after a predetermined time, the child can be restrained by the airbag having a normal cushion pressure, so that the occupant protection performance is improved. .

Hereinafter, an airbag device for a vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view showing an instrument panel of an automobile in which an airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is incorporated, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. is there.

In the drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes an instrument panel as a front seat member of a front seat of an automobile, and an airbag device 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention is incorporated in a predetermined portion of the instrument panel on a passenger seat side. I have.

The body structure of the part in which the airbag device 2 is incorporated is substantially as follows.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, at the upper end of the dash lower panel 3 located at the rear end of the engine room,
A dash upper panel 4 is joined, and a cowl upper panel 5 is joined to an upper end of the dash upper panel 4 at a rear end thereof. Further, although not shown, the cowl front panel is joined between the front end of the cowl upper panel 5 and the front end of the dash upper panel 4 to provide a cowl box 6 having a cowl closed cross section extending in the vehicle width direction. Has formed.

A front window glass 7 is fixed to a predetermined portion of the cowl upper panel 5 with an adhesive 8.

Further, a cooling unit 9 as an air conditioner is disposed in the interior space of the instrument panel 1 at a position behind the dash lower panel 3 and below the dash upper panel 4. On the lower surface of the top deck of the instrument panel 1, a defroster nozzle 10 for blowing hot air from the cooling unit 9 to the front window glass 7 through a differential door to prevent the front window glass 7 from fogging is provided. ing. A glove box 14 having a glove tray 11, a glove lid 12, and a glove pocket 13 is provided at a position behind the cooling unit 9.

Immediately above the glove box 14, a steering support member 15 is disposed. The steering support member 15 extends in the vehicle width direction, and both ends of the steering support member 15 are connected to hinge pillars (not shown) on both sides via brackets (not shown). (Not shown). Although not shown, a reinforcement member extending in the vertical direction is stretched between the central portion of the steering support member 15 and the floor tunnel portion to form a substantially T-shaped steering support structure. I have.

A bracket 16 is fixed to the steering support member 15, and an airbag unit 20 of the airbag device 2 is attached to the bracket 16 by a front mount method. The airbag unit 20 includes a casing, an airbag housed in the casing in a folded state, a gas generator for generating gas to be introduced into the airbag, and the like. When a collision occurs, the collision sensor detects the collision, ignites with an igniter, ignites a chemical substance built in the gas generator, introduces gas generated from the chemical substance into an airbag, and The bag is inflated and deployed, thereby protecting the head and chest of an occupant trying to move forward in the event of a collision. A lid 17 which is an extension of the instrument panel 1 is provided on a front surface of the airbag unit 20, and a weak line 18 extending in the vehicle width direction is formed on the lid 17. When the air-ag is deployed, the lid 17 is in contact with the line of weakness 18
It breaks and opens like a double door to help deploy the airbag.

However, if the airbag unit 20 simply keeps such a structure, as shown in FIG.
The above-described problem occurs in a state in which the vehicle stands up and away from the seat S, that is, in a standing child state in the passenger seat.

Therefore, the airbag unit 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention
Is provided with two gas generators, and in a standing child state, firstly, only one gas generator is operated, and then, after a predetermined time, the other gas generator is operated. Since the airbag is inflated and deployed in two stages, the child can be gradually restrained by the airbag, so that the impact on the child can be reduced and the occupant protection performance can be improved. I can do it.

For this reason, the airbag unit 20 in this embodiment is
Is configured as follows.

As shown in FIG. 3, the airbag unit 20 includes a rectangular parallelepiped casing 21 which is long in the vehicle body width direction.
22, 23 are attached. An airbag (not shown) is accommodated in the casing 21 in front of the gas generators 22 and 23 in a folded state, and the airbag is operated by the gas operated when an automobile crashes. Generator
Gas from 22, 23 is introduced to expand and deploy. The front surface of the casing 21 has an open structure so that the airbag can be inflated and deployed. However, in a normal state, the casing 21 is covered with a rupturable cover 24.

As shown in FIG. 3, the gas generators 22 and 23 respectively have substantially cylindrical cases 25 and 26, and inside these cases, gas (not shown) And an electric igniter for igniting the chemical. The gas generators 22 and 23 are connected to a control circuit 27 composed of a microcomputer or the like for controlling the ignition of the igniter. The control circuit 27 is connected to a collision sensor 28 for detecting an automobile collision, a proximity sensor 29 for detecting the standing child state, and a seat switch 30.

The collision sensor 28 may be of any structure, but is constituted by a plurality of sensors arranged at different parts of the vehicle to prevent malfunction, and for warning a failure such as disconnection. It is desirable that an alarm be provided.

As the proximity sensor 29, a signal wave sensor or an infrared sensor can be used. The signal wave sensor uses a radar (microwave), ultrasonic wave, or laser as a signal wave. For example, a radar antenna as a transceiver installed at a predetermined portion on the front surface of the instrument panel 1, and the radar antenna Is connected, and detects the presence of an occupant near the front of the instrument panel 1 based on the time difference between the transmitted signal and the received signal. On the other hand, the infrared sensor determines whether or not a heating element equivalent to a human body exists near the front surface of the instrument panel 1.

Further, the seat switch 30 uses a sensor for determining whether or not a predetermined load or more is applied downward on the cushion of the seat S. Specifically, detection by a contact by a spring member having a predetermined spring constant,
Alternatively, detection is performed by performing load measurement using a signal from a strain gauge type pressure-electric signal converter.

The control circuit 27 receives signals from the proximity sensor 29 and the sheet switch 30, and turns on the proximity sensor 29.
When the seat switch 30 is off, a standing child state is determined, and in this standing child state, when the collision sensor 28 detects a vehicle collision,
First, the gas generator 22 is operated, and then the gas generator 22
After a predetermined time (for example, 40 milliseconds) elapses after the operation of, the other gas generator 23 is operated. The above-mentioned predetermined time is measured by a timer 31 built in the control circuit 27. The control circuit 27 determines that the normal state is not the standing child state when the proximity sensor 29 is on and the seat switch 30 is other than off,
Activate both gas generators 22, 23 simultaneously.

As described above, in the vehicle airbag device of the present invention, a plurality of gas generators are provided, and these gas generators are sequentially operated in the standing child state. Although the airbag is gradually inflated and deployed, the child in the standing child state is not subjected to abrupt force and can be restrained in an appropriate state. Is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an instrument panel of an automobile in which an airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention is incorporated, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining a main part of the airbag device. 20 Airbag unit 21 Casing 22, 23 Gas generator 27 Control circuit 29 Proximity sensor 30 Seat switch 31 Timer

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An airbag which is normally folded and stored in a seat front member provided in front of a seat of an automobile, and which is inflated and deployed on a seat side by introducing gas from a gas generator at the time of collision. An airbag device for an automobile, comprising: a plurality of gas generators for introducing gas into the airbag, and detecting means for detecting that an occupant is standing upright in a state close to the seat front member, At the time of the collision, a part of the plurality of gas generators is operated, and when the detecting means detects that the vehicle is in the occupant state, a predetermined time has elapsed from the operation of the part of the plurality of gas generators. The remaining gas generators are activated later, and when the detection means detects that the vehicle is not in the occupant state, the remaining gas generators are activated at the same time as the operation of some of the gas generators. An automotive evacueg device comprising a control means for moving the vehicle. 2. An air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means includes a transceiver mounted on the instrument panel, and detects the presence of an occupant in the vicinity of the instrument panel based on a time difference between a transmitted signal and a received signal. Bag device. 3. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detection means includes an infrared sensor for detecting whether or not a heating element is present near the instrument panel. 4. A sensor according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means includes: a proximity sensor for detecting that an occupant is present near the instrument panel; and a seat switch for detecting that a predetermined or more load is applied on the seat cushion. 2. The airbag device for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein when the proximity sensor is on and the seat switch is off, it is determined that the occupant is standing up close to the seat front member.