JP4470866B2 - Vehicle occupant protection device and control method therefor - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle occupant protection device having an airbag device and an air belt device, and a control method therefor.

When the vehicle crashes at low speed, the front impact airbag and airbag do not inflate, only when the vehicle hits at medium speed, only the airbag expands, and when the vehicle crashes at high speed, the airbag and airbelt both inflate. An occupant restraint device that controls the operation of an air bag and an air belt according to the magnitude of the impact is disclosed (see Patent Document 1).
JP-A-11-170948

  However, in the conventional example described above, in controlling the operation of the airbag and the air belt, the separation distance between the seating position of the occupant wearing the air belt and the airbag device is not particularly considered.

  In view of the above facts, the present invention appropriately controls the airbag device and the air belt device according to the distance between the airbag device and the occupant at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle, and the airbag bag body and the inflating portion in the air belt device The purpose is to further improve the passenger protection performance.

The invention of claim 1 is disposed in front of the passenger seated in the seat請vehicle folding housed airbag cushion and operated during a frontal collision by supplying gas to the airbag the air An airbag device having an airbag inflator for inflating a bag bag body, an occupant restraining webbing having an inflating portion corresponding to the chest of the occupant at the time of inflating, and supplying gas to the inflating portion by operating at a frontal collision And a control device for controlling the operation of the air bag device and the air belt device based on an output signal from a collision sensor. a control method of the apparatus, by detecting the seating position of the occupant to grasp the distance between the airbag device and the occupant by the occupant distance detection means, said When the distance is less than a predetermined threshold, the control device operates the airbag inflator earlier than the airbag inflator to deploy the airbag bag body, and the separation distance is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold. The control device operates the air belt inflator simultaneously with the air bag inflator or earlier than the air bag inflator to inflate the inflatable portion of the air belt device. Yes.

In the vehicle occupant protection device control method according to claim 1 , when the separation distance between the airbag device and the occupant is less than a predetermined threshold when the vehicle collides front, the control device is controlled by the air belt inflator. Also, the airbag inflator is activated at an early stage to deploy the airbag bag body. For this reason, even if the separation distance between the airbag device and the occupant is small, the inflation portion of the airbag device does not excessively interfere with the airbag body being inflated, and the air that is inflated prior to the inflation portion of the airbag. The head of the occupant can be efficiently protected by the bag bag body.

In the vehicle occupant protection device control method according to claim 1, when the separation distance between the airbag device and the occupant is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the control device causes the airbag inflator to simultaneously with the airbag inflator. Alternatively, it is operated earlier than the airbag inflator to inflate the inflatable portion of the air belt device. Therefore, the tension of the occupant restraint webbing is increased by the air belt device to strongly restrain the occupant to the vehicle seat, and the head and chest of the occupant can be efficiently protected by the air belt device and the airbag device. .
Thus, according to the control method of the vehicle occupant protection device of the first aspect, the airbag device and the air belt device are appropriately controlled according to the distance between the airbag device and the occupant at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle. Further, excessive interference between the airbag bag body and the inflatable portion of the air belt device can be prevented, and the passenger protection performance can be further enhanced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the airbag is disposed in front of an occupant seated in a vehicle seat and operates in a frontal collision with a folded and stored airbag bag to supply gas to the airbag bag. An airbag device having an airbag inflator for inflating a bag body, an occupant restraining webbing having an inflating portion corresponding to the chest of the occupant at the time of inflation, and operating at the time of a frontal collision to supply gas to the inflating portion And a control device for controlling the operation of the air bag device and the air belt device on the basis of an output signal from a collision sensor. a control method detects the seating position of the occupant to grasp the distance between the airbag device and the occupant by the occupant distance detection means, the release When the first threshold value and the second threshold value larger than the first threshold value are set as the predetermined threshold value to be compared with the distance, and the separation distance output from the occupant distance grasping means is less than the first threshold value, The controller activates the airbag inflator after actuating the airbag inflator, or activates only the airbag inflator to deactivate the airbag inflator, and the separation distance is the first distance. When the threshold value is less than the second threshold value, the control device operates the airbag inflator after operating the airbag inflator, or simultaneously operates the airbag inflator and the airbag inflator, When it is determined that the separation distance is equal to or greater than the second threshold, the control device It is characterized in that actuating the inflator for the airbag after actuation of the Fureta.

In the vehicle occupant protection device control method according to claim 2 , when the separation distance between the airbag device and the occupant when the vehicle collides front is less than the first threshold, the control device sets the airbag inflator. After the operation, the air belt inflator is operated, or only the air bag inflator is operated to deactivate the air belt inflator. For this reason, even if the separation distance between the airbag device and the occupant is small, the inflation portion of the airbag device does not excessively interfere with the airbag bag body that is inflated, and is inflated prior to the inflation portion of the airbag, Or the passenger | crew's head can be efficiently protected by the airbag body which expand | swells independently.

  Further, when the separation distance is not less than the first threshold value and less than the second threshold value, the control device operates the airbag inflator after operating the airbag inflator, or operates the airbag inflator and the airbag inflator at the same time. . In this case, since the separation distance between the airbag device and the occupant is secured to some extent, the restraint force of the occupant by the air belt device is improved, and the head and chest of the occupant are protected by the air belt device and the airbag device. Can be done efficiently.

  Further, when the separation distance is equal to or larger than the second threshold, the control device operates the airbag inflator after operating the airbag inflator. In this case, since the separation distance between the airbag device and the occupant is large, the occupant is restrained by the air belt device and the shock to the occupant chest is absorbed, and the occupant's head can be protected by the airbag device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the airbag is disposed in front of an occupant seated on a vehicle seat and operates in a frontal collision with a folded and stored airbag bag to supply gas to the airbag bag. An inflator for an airbag that inflates a bag body, a variable capacity airbag device that can partially inflate the airbag bag body, and an inflatable portion that corresponds to the chest of the occupant when inflated An air belt device having an occupant restraining webbing, an air belt inflator that operates at the time of a frontal collision and supplies gas to the inflatable portion to inflate the inflatable portion, and the airbag device by detecting a seating position of the occupant the airbag and the occupant distance monitor which monitors the distance between the occupant, after the separation distance is that if less than a predetermined threshold, actuates the air belt inflator Is characterized in that it has a control device inflator simultaneously actuated to cause or said air belt for an inflator and the inflator for the air bag operation to, and to inflate the airbag partially, the.

The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 3 , wherein the airbag device is a variable capacity airbag device capable of partially inflating the airbag bag body, and the airbag when the vehicle collides frontward. When the distance between the device and the occupant is less than a predetermined threshold, the control device activates the air bag inflator after actuating the air belt inflator, or activates the air belt inflator and the air bag inflator at the same time. At this time, the control device partially inflates the airbag bag body. For this reason, even if the separation distance between the airbag device and the occupant is small, the inflation portion of the airbag device does not excessively interfere with the airbag bag body being inflated, and the airbag bag body that is partially inflated, The head of the passenger can be protected efficiently.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the airbag is disposed in front of an occupant seated on a vehicle seat and operates in a frontal collision with a folded and stored airbag bag body to supply gas to the airbag bag body. An airbag apparatus having an airbag inflator for inflating a bag body, an occupant restraining webbing having an inflating portion corresponding to the chest of the occupant at the time of inflation, and a gas supply capacity in two stages of a small capacity and a large capacity An air belt device having an air belt inflator that is controllable and operates at the time of a frontal collision to supply gas to the inflatable portion to inflate the inflatable portion; and detecting the seating position of the occupant; the occupant distance monitor which monitors the distance between the passenger, if the distance is less than a predetermined threshold value, from the air belt inflator to the inflatable portion of the air belt device It is characterized by and a control device for the supply of the gases to be fed with a small capacity.

In the vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 4 , the air belt inflator is an inflator capable of controlling the gas supply capacity in two stages of a small capacity and a large capacity, and the airbag apparatus when the vehicle collides frontward. When the separation distance from the occupant is less than a predetermined threshold value, the supply capacity of the gas that the control device supplies to the inflating part of the air belt device from the air belt inflator is set to a small capacity. For this reason, since the amount of expansion of the inflatable portion in the air belt device is reduced, the inflatable portion of the air belt device does not excessively interfere with the inflating airbag bag body even if the separation distance between the airbag device and the occupant is small. And the passenger | crew's head can be efficiently protected by an airbag apparatus.

As described above, according to the control method for a vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 1 of the present invention, the airbag device and the air belt according to the distance between the airbag device and the occupant at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle. The device can be appropriately controlled, and an excellent effect is obtained that it is possible to further enhance the passenger protection performance by preventing excessive interference between the airbag bag body and the inflating portion of the air belt device.

Also without inflation of the airbag device and have a smaller distance between the occupant, the inflatable belt device to the air bag body in the expansion is excessive interference at the time when the vehicle has a frontal collision, moreover prior to the expansion of the air belt The inflatable airbag bag body can efficiently protect the occupant's head, and when the separation distance between the airbag device and the occupant is large, the occupant's head and chest are protected by the airbag device and the airbag device. The excellent effect that it can protect efficiently is acquired.

According to the control method for the vehicle occupant protection device of the second aspect , even if the separation distance between the airbag device and the occupant when the vehicle collides front is small, the airbag device is inflated on the airbag bag body that is inflated. With the airbag bag body that does not excessively interfere with the inflatable portion and inflates prior to the inflatable portion of the airbelt or inflates alone, the occupant's head can be efficiently protected, and the airbag device When the separation distance from the occupant is medium, the restraint force of the occupant can be improved by the air belt device, and the head and chest of the occupant can be efficiently protected by the air belt device and the air bag device. When the distance between the device and the occupant is large, the air belt device restrains the occupant and absorbs the impact on the occupant's chest, and the air bag device protects the occupant's head. Can, excellent effect that can be obtained.

According to the vehicle occupant protection device of the third aspect , since the airbag bag body is partially inflated when the separation distance between the airbag device and the occupant is small when the frontal collision of the vehicle occurs, The air bag device does not cause excessive interference with the airbag bag body, and the airbag bag body that is partially inflated can effectively protect the occupant's head. It is done.

According to the vehicle occupant protection device of the fourth aspect , when the distance between the airbag device and the occupant when the vehicle collides front is reduced, the amount of expansion of the inflatable portion in the air belt device is reduced. There is obtained an excellent effect that the inflating portion of the air belt device does not excessively interfere with the inner air bag body, and the occupant's head can be efficiently protected by the air bag device.

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

[First Embodiment]
In FIG. 1, a vehicle occupant protection device 10 according to the present embodiment is a device for protecting an occupant 14 seated on a vehicle seat 12 that is a driver seat, for example, in the event of a frontal collision of a vehicle (not shown). The air bag device 16, the air belt device 18, the occupant distance grasping means 22, and the control device 24 are provided.

  The airbag device 16 is disposed in front of the occupant 14 seated on the vehicle seat 12, and is folded and accommodated, and is actuated at the time of a frontal collision to the airbag bag body 26. An air bag inflator 28 that inflates the air bag body 26 by supplying gas is provided. The air bag inflator 28 is provided, for example, on the steering wheel 32 and is configured to operate when a frontal collision of the vehicle occurs. In the illustrated example, the airbag device 16 is installed in the driver's seat, but the airbag device in the present invention includes an airbag device for a passenger seat.

  The vehicle seat 12 includes a seat cushion 34 having a seat frame (not shown) on which the occupant 14 sits, a seat back 36 that supports the back of the occupant 14, and a headrest 38 provided on the upper portion of the seat back 36. It is provided on a seat rail 42 provided on the floor panel 40 so as to be slidable in the vehicle front-rear direction.

  An anchor 46 to which an end portion of the lap belt 44 is connected is provided outside the seat cushion 34, and a buckle device 48 is pivoted on the inside side of the seat cushion 34 so as to be swingable in the vehicle front-rear direction. It is worn. For example, an air belt inflator 50 is disposed in the buckle device 48.

  The air belt device 18 includes an occupant restraining webbing 54 having an inflating portion 52 corresponding to the chest 14B of the occupant 14 when inflated, and an inflatable belt that operates during a frontal collision and supplies gas to the inflating portion 52 to inflate the inflating portion 52. For inflator 50.

  The occupant restraining webbing 54 is a belt-like member corresponding to the chest 14B of the occupant 14, and is configured to be wound around, for example, a retractor 56 provided on an upper back panel (not shown) of the vehicle body. Sometimes, the occupant restraining webbing 54 can be pulled out of the retractor 56 in accordance with the physique of the occupant 14. A tongue plate 58 that can be engaged with the buckle device 48 is provided at the front end of the occupant restraining webbing 54. Between the tongue plate 58 and the anchor 46, a lap belt 44 corresponding to the waist 14W of the occupant 14 is provided.

  The lap belt 44 and the occupant restraining webbing 54 may be configured as one webbing so that the tongue plate 58 can be moved in accordance with the physique of the occupant 14. In that case, since the length of the lap belt 44 can be adjusted by adjusting the amount of withdrawal from the retractor 56, an anchor (not shown) is provided instead of the anchor 46, and the end of the lap belt 44 is fixed to the anchor. Good.

  The inflatable portion 52 is provided on the occupant restraining webbing 54 and is a bag corresponding to the chest 14B of the occupant 14 when inflated, and is folded to have the same width as the occupant restraining webbing 54 during normal use. The vehicle is sewn at a position corresponding to the chest 14B of the occupant 14 in the occupant restraining webbing 54 using control sewing, that is, a so-called tear seam (not shown) that breaks when an internal pressure equal to or higher than a predetermined internal pressure is applied. When gas is supplied from the air belt inflator 50 in the buckle device 48 through the tongue plate 58 due to a frontal collision, the tear seam breaks and expands from the folded state to the bag state.

  Note that the inflatable portion 52 may be coupled to the end of the occupant restraining webbing 54. That is, a portion of the occupant restraining webbing 54 corresponding to the chest 14B of the occupant 14 may be replaced with the inflatable portion 52. The inflatable part 52 not only corresponds to the chest part 14B of the occupant 14, but also inflates to the side of the head part 14H and the neck part 14N so that it can also correspond to the head part 14H and the neck part 14N. Also good. In this case, the expansion part for the chest and the expansion part for the head and neck may be provided independently, or may be a variable capacity type expansion part (not shown).

  The occupant distance grasping means 22 detects the seating position of the occupant 14 and grasps the separation distance between the airbag device 16 and the occupant 14. For example, the occupant distance grasping means 22 is provided on the seat rail 42 and can detect the front and rear positions of the vehicle seat 12. The seat slide sensor 60 is configured to grasp the separation distance between the airbag device 16 and the occupant 14 from the front and rear positions of the vehicle seat 12 detected by the seat slide sensor 60 and output the distance to the control device 24. ing. The separation distance output from the occupant distance grasping means 22 to the control device 24 is not only the actual separation distance between the airbag device 16 and the occupant 14 but also a seat slide sensor as shown in FIG. 60 may be a backward and backward distance from the foremost position 62 of the vehicle seat 12 in the front-rear slide range. Hereinafter, for the sake of convenience, this backward distance is represented as a separation distance D.

  In FIG. 1, the control device 24 performs an air flow based on a comparison result between an occupant distance grasping means 22, an output signal from the collision sensor 64, and a separation distance D output from the occupant distance grasping means 22 and a predetermined threshold value. The device controls the operation of the bag inflator 28 and the air belt inflator 50, and is connected to the airbag inflator 28 by the wiring 66 from the collision sensor 64 and by the wiring 68 from the seat slide sensor 60 of the occupant distance grasping means 22. Is connected to the air belt inflator 50 by a wiring 72. The collision sensor 64 includes both a sensor that detects the frontal collision after an actual frontal collision and a so-called pre-crash sensor that predicts that the possibility of the frontal collision is increased before the frontal collision. .

  As the predetermined threshold value that the control device 24 compares with the separation distance D, a first threshold value and a second threshold value that is larger than the first threshold value are set. That is, the control device 24 controls the operation of the airbag device 16 and the air belt device 18 using a look-up table (not shown) using the first threshold value and the second threshold value as boundary conditions. The first threshold is, for example, 60 mm, and the second threshold is, for example, 180 mm. That is, a position 60 mm backward from the foremost position 62 in the front-rear slide range of the vehicle seat 12 is the first threshold value, and a position 180 mm backward from the foremost position 62 is the second threshold value.

  When the separation distance D output from the occupant distance grasping means 22 is less than the first threshold, the control device 24 operates the air bag inflator 50 after operating the air bag inflator 28 or only the air bag inflator 28. Is operated to deactivate the air belt inflator 50. Whether or not to operate the air belt inflator 50 is determined by the degree of collision. For example, in the case of a strong collision, the air belt inflator 50 is operated.

  When the separation distance D is not less than the first threshold value and less than the second threshold value, the control device 24 operates the air bag inflator 28 after operating the air belt inflator 50, or the air belt inflator 50 and the air bag inflator. 28 are operated simultaneously.

  When it is determined that the separation distance D is equal to or greater than the second threshold value, the control device 24 operates the airbag inflator 28 after operating the airbag inflator 50.

  Note that the predetermined threshold is not limited to the first threshold and the second threshold, but may be one or three or more. For example, assuming that the predetermined threshold value is one, when the separation distance D is less than the predetermined threshold value, the control device 24 operates the airbag inflator 28 earlier than the airbag inflator 50, thereby forming the airbag bag body. 26, when the separation distance D is determined to be greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, the control device 24 operates the airbag inflator 50 simultaneously with the airbag inflator 28 or earlier than the airbag inflator 28. It is also possible to inflate the inflating part 52 of the air belt device 18.

(Function)
In FIG. 1, an occupant 14 sits on a vehicle seat 12, adjusts the front-rear position of the vehicle seat 12 according to his / her physique, and pulls out the occupant restraining webbing 54 from the retractor 56, along the chest 14B. However, when the tongue plate 58 is fitted into the buckle device 48, the installation of the air belt device 18 in an appropriate seating state is completed.

  In this state, when the vehicle has a frontal collision, the control device 24 determines or predicts the occurrence of the frontal collision based on the output signal from the collision sensor 64. At this time, the control device 24 compares the separation distance D output from the seat slide sensor 60 of the occupant distance grasping means 22 with the first threshold value. Here, when the first threshold is 60 mm, in FIG. 2A, for example, when the occupant 14 is small in size, and the front-rear position of the vehicle seat 12 is rearward from the foremost position 62 in the front-rear slide range, for example, less than 60 mm, The separation distance D is less than the first threshold value.

  When the separation distance D is less than the first threshold value, the control device 24 in FIG. 1 activates the airbag inflator 28 and then activates the airbag inflator 50 after sufficiently inflating the airbag bag body 26. The inflating portion 52 of the air belt device 18 is inflated (FIGS. 2A and 2B). Or although illustration is abbreviate | omitted, the control apparatus 24 operates only the inflator 28 for airbags, the airbag bag body 26 is expanded, and the inflator 50 for airbags is made into non-operation. Whether or not to operate the air belt inflator 50 is determined by the degree of collision. For example, in the case of a strong collision, the air belt inflator 50 is operated.

  Even if the occupant 14 is seated at a position close to the airbag device 16 and the separation distance D is small, the airbag is inflated since the inflation portion 52 of the airbag device 18 is inflated after the airbag bag body 26 is sufficiently inflated. The inflating portion 52 of the air belt device 18 does not excessively interfere with the air bag bag body 26 until the bag body 26 is inflated in a predetermined state, for example, to the maximum, and inflates prior to the inflating portion 52 of the air belt. The airbag bag body 26 can efficiently protect the head of the occupant 14. Here, excessive interference means that the inflatable portion 52 comes into contact with the airbag bag body 26 and the airbag bag body 26 expands to a predetermined state until the airbag bag body 26 expands to a predetermined state. It means preventing things.

  Next, assuming that the second threshold value is 180 mm, in FIG. 3, for example, the occupant 14 has an average physique, and the front and rear position of the vehicle seat 12 is rearward from the foremost position 62 in the front and rear sliding range, for example, 60 mm or more and less than 180 mm. Sometimes, the separation distance D is greater than or equal to the first threshold and less than the second threshold.

  When the separation distance D is not less than the first threshold value and less than the second threshold value, the control device 24 in FIG. 1 simultaneously activates the inflator 50 for airbag and the inflator 28 for airbag, and the inflating portion 52 of the airbag device 18 and the airbag bag body. 26 are simultaneously expanded (FIG. 3). Or although illustration is abbreviate | omitted, after operating the airbag inflator 50 and inflating the expansion part 52, the airbag inflator 28 may be operated and the airbag bag body 26 may be expanded.

  In this case, since the separation distance D is secured to some extent, the restraint force of the occupant 14 by the air belt device 18 is improved, and the head 14H and the chest 14B of the occupant 14 are protected by the air belt device 18 and the airbag device 16. Can be performed efficiently.

  In FIG. 4A, for example, when the occupant 14 has a large physique and the front and rear position of the vehicle seat 12 is, for example, 180 mm or more rearward from the foremost position 62 in the front and rear slide range, the separation distance D is greater than or equal to the second threshold value. is there.

  When the separation distance D is equal to or greater than the second threshold, the control device 24 in FIG. 1 operates the air belt inflator 50 to inflate the inflating portion 52 of the air belt device 18 and then operates the air bag inflator 28 to operate the air inflator 28. The bag bag body 26 is inflated (FIGS. 4A and 4B).

  In this case, since the separation distance D is sufficiently large, the air belt device 18 restrains the occupant 14 and absorbs the shock to the occupant's chest 14B, and the airbag device 16 protects the head 14H of the occupant 14. Can do.

  As described above, in the vehicle occupant protection device 10, the controller 24 outputs the output signal from the collision sensor 64, the separation distance D between the airbag device 16 and the occupant 14 output from the occupant distance grasping means 22, and the first. Since the operation of the airbag inflator 28 and the airbag inflator 50 is controlled based on the comparison result between the threshold value and the second threshold value, the airbag device 16 and the occupant 14 according to the distance between the airbag device 16 at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle. The airbag device 16 and the air belt device 18 can be appropriately controlled, and the passenger protection performance can be further enhanced.

[Second Embodiment]
5 and 6, in the vehicle occupant protection device 20 according to the present embodiment, the airbag device 16 includes a variable capacity airbag device capable of partially inflating the airbag bag body 26. It has become. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, when the airbag bag body 26 is completely inflated, a portion constituting the lower portion 26 </ b> B of the airbag bag body 26 is sewn by a tear seam 76, for example, inside the airbag bag body 26. By controlling the gas supply capacity from the airbag inflator 28 when the airbag bag body 26 is inflated, only the upper part 26A is inflated, or the upper part 26A and the lower part 26B are inflated. Both can be inflated. Therefore, the airbag inflator 28 is preferably a dual-stage inflator capable of controlling the gas supply capacity in two stages of a small capacity and a large capacity, or a plurality of airbag inflators are preferably used. . Note that the sewing portion 74 in FIG. 5 is not a tear seam, and is firmly sewn so as not to break even when a large volume of gas is supplied from the airbag inflator 28.

  Further, in the vehicle occupant protection device 20, when the separation distance D is less than a predetermined threshold, the control device 24 operates the airbag inflator 28 after operating the airbag inflator 50 to inflate the airbag device 18. The air bag body 26 is inflated after the portion 52 is inflated, or the air bag inflator 50 and the air bag inflator 28 are simultaneously operated to inflate the inflatable portion 52 and the air bag bag 26 at the same time. ing. At this time, the upper portion 26A of the airbag bag body 26 is inflated so as not to excessively interfere with the air belt device 18.

  When the separation distance D is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the gas supply capacity from the airbag inflator 28 to the airbag bag body 26 is increased so that not only the upper part 26A but also the lower part 26B can be simultaneously used. Inflate. If the gas supply capacity is increased and the internal pressure of the upper part 26A is increased to a certain level or more, the tear seam 76 breaks and gas flows into the lower part 26B, so that the lower part 26B can also be expanded. .

  In the present embodiment, the airbag bag body 26 is a variable capacity type, but the upper part and the lower part are independent airbag bags, and an inflator corresponding to each is provided, and the upper part and the lower part are provided. May be inflated separately.

  Since other parts are the same as those in the first embodiment, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and description thereof is omitted.

(Function)
In FIG. 6, when the separation distance D is less than a predetermined threshold (for example, 60 mm) when the vehicle collides front, the control device 24 in FIG. 1 simultaneously activates, for example, the air belt inflator 50 and the air bag inflator 28. Thus, the inflating part 52 and the airbag bag body 26 are inflated simultaneously. At this time, by reducing the gas supply capacity from the airbag inflator 28 to the airbag bag body 26, only the upper portion 26A of the airbag bag body 26 is inflated. In addition, the air bag device 26 in which only the upper portion 26A is partially inflated without causing the interference with the inflating portion 52 of the air belt device 18 can efficiently protect the head 14H of the occupant 14 (FIG. 6 (A)).

  It is not a particular problem that the air belt device 18 interferes after the upper portion 26A is sufficiently expanded. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6B, further gas is supplied following the development of the upper portion 26A. Alternatively, the inner pressure of the upper portion 26A may be increased to a certain level or more, and the tear seam 76 may be broken and expanded to the lower portion 26B. By doing in this way, crew member 14 can be protected more effectively.

  Although illustration is omitted, when the separation distance D is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value, the gas supply capacity from the airbag inflator 28 to the airbag bag body 26 is set to a large capacity so that not only the upper part 26A but also the lower part Inflate to 26B simultaneously. By doing so, it is possible to restrain the occupant 14 by the air belt device 18 and absorb the shock to the occupant's chest 14B, and to protect the head 14H of the occupant 14 by the airbag device 16.

  As shown in FIG. 7, it is desirable that the range of the upper portion 26 </ b> A is set so as to avoid the inflating portion 52 of the air belt device 18 that is normally routed in an oblique direction.

[Third Embodiment]
8, in the vehicle occupant protection device 30 according to the present embodiment, the air belt inflator 50 is a dual-stage inflator capable of controlling the gas supply capacity in two stages of a small capacity and a large capacity. 52 is configured as a variable capacitance type. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, a part 52 </ b> B of the bag body constituting the inflating part 52 is sewn by a tear seam 76 and is folded inside, for example, for inflating the inflating part 52. By controlling the gas supply capacity from the inflator 50, the expansion part 52 is expanded with a small capacity without breaking the tear seam 76, or the tear seam 76 is broken to expand the expansion part 52 as a whole. Can be done.

  Further, in the vehicle occupant protection device 30, when the separation distance D is less than a predetermined threshold, the control device 24 reduces the supply capacity of the gas supplied from the air belt inflator 50 to the inflating portion 52 of the air belt device 18, The inflating part 52 is inflated with a small capacity. When the separation distance D is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the gas supply capacity is large, and the expansion part 52 is expanded with a large capacity.

  In the present embodiment, the inflating portion 52 of the air belt device 18 is a variable capacity type, but a plurality of independent inflating portions and inflators respectively corresponding to the inflating portions are provided, and the independent inflating portions are inflated separately. You may make it make it.

  Since other parts are the same as those in the first embodiment, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and description thereof is omitted.

(Function)
In FIG. 8, when the separation distance D is less than a predetermined threshold when the vehicle collides front, the control device 24 operates the airbag inflator 28 to inflate the airbag bag body 26 and also inflate the airbag. 50 is activated. At this time, since the control device 24 controls the supply capacity of the gas supplied from the inflating device for air belt 50 to the inflating portion 52 of the air belt device 18 to a small capacity, as shown in FIG. The tear seam 76 that is sewn is not broken, the amount of expansion of the expansion portion 52 is reduced, and the expansion portion 52 expands with a small capacity. For this reason, since the airbag device 18 does not excessively interfere with the airbag bag body 26 until the airbag bag body 26 is expanded to a predetermined state, the head 14H of the occupant 14 can be efficiently protected. Yes (FIG. 8A).

  Note that it is not a problem that the air belt device 18 interferes after the airbag bag body 26 is sufficiently inflated. Therefore, after the airbag bag body 26 is inflated, as shown in FIG. Further, gas may be further supplied from 50 to the inflating part 52, and the inner pressure of the inflating part 52 may be increased to a certain level or more to break the tear seam 76 so that the part 52B is completely inflated. By doing in this way, crew member 14 can be protected more effectively.

  Although illustration is omitted, when the separation distance D is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, the supply capacity of the gas from the air belt inflator 50 to the inflating part 52 is set to a large capacity, and the inflating part 52 is inflated with a large capacity from the beginning. . By doing so, it is possible to restrain the occupant 14 by the air belt device 18 and absorb the shock to the occupant's chest 14B, and to protect the head 14H of the occupant 14 by the airbag device 16.

  In each of the above embodiments, the occupant distance grasping means 22 has been described as the seat slide sensor 60. However, the occupant distance grasping means 22 is not limited to this, and an image that can detect or estimate the position of the head 14H of the occupant 14 is used. A sensor, a camera, an ultrasonic sensor, or the like may be used, and a reclining angle sensor capable of detecting the inclination angle of the seat back 36 may be used in combination with the seat slide sensor 60 (not shown).

1 to 4 relate to a first embodiment, and FIG. 1 is a side view showing a vehicle occupant protection device and a passenger seated on a vehicle seat. (A) When the separation distance is less than the first threshold, the vehicle collides with the front, the airbag device is activated earlier than the airbag device, and the occupant's head is protected by the inflated airbag bag body. FIG. (B) It is a side view showing a state in which the air belt device is subsequently operated and the occupant's chest is protected by the inflating portion of the air belt device. When the separation distance is greater than or equal to the first threshold value and less than the second threshold value, the vehicle collides with the front, and the airbag device and the air belt device operate simultaneously to restrain the passenger and absorb the shock to the chest of the passenger. FIG. 4 is a side view showing a state where the head of the occupant is protected by the airbag device. (A) When the separation distance is equal to or greater than the second threshold, the vehicle collides with the front, the air belt device operates before the air bag device, and the air belt device restrains the passenger and absorbs the shock to the chest of the passenger. It is a side view which shows the state currently broken. (B) It is a side view which shows the state by which an airbag apparatus operate | moves continuously and the passenger | crew's head is protected by this airbag apparatus. FIGS. 5 to 7 relate to the second embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which the upper part of the airbag bag body is inflated by operating the variable capacity airbag device provided on the steering wheel. It is. (A) When the separation distance is less than a predetermined threshold, the vehicle collides with the front, the airbag bag body of the airbag device is inflated with a small capacity, the airbag device is activated, and the upper side of the inflated airbag bag body FIG. 6 is a side view showing a state in which the occupant's head is protected by the site, and the occupant is restrained and the shock to the occupant's chest is absorbed by the air belt device. (B) It is a side view showing a state where the airbag bag body is further inflated and the head of the occupant is more effectively protected by the airbag bag body. FIG. 6 is a front view showing a state where the upper portion of the airbag bag body is inflated to avoid the inflating portion of the air belt device when viewed from the passenger side. FIGS. 8 and 9 relate to the third embodiment. As for FIG. 8, when (A) the separation distance is less than a predetermined threshold, the vehicle collides with the front, and the inflating part of the inflatable device expands with a small capacity. FIG. 5 is a side view showing a state in which the airbag device is activated and the head of the occupant is protected by the airbag bag body. (B) Subsequently, the inflatable portion of the inflatable belt device is inflated with a large capacity, and is a side view showing a state in which the inflatable belt restraints the occupant and absorbs the shock to the occupant's chest. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow 9-9 in FIG. 8 showing a state where the inflating portion of the air belt device is inflated with a small capacity.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vehicle occupant protection device 12 Vehicle seat 14 Crew 14B Chest 16 Air bag device 18 Air belt device 20 Vehicle occupant protection device 22 Crew distance grasping means 24 Control device 26 Air bag body 26A Upper part 28 Air bag inflator 30 Vehicle Occupant protection device 50 air belt inflator 52 inflatable portion 54 occupant restraining webbing 60 seat slide sensor (occupant distance grasping means)
64 Collision sensor D Separation distance

Claims (4)

An airbag that is disposed in front of an occupant seated on a vehicle seat and operates in a frontal collision with an airbag bag body that is folded and stored to supply gas to the airbag bag body to inflate the airbag bag body An airbag device having an inflator for use;
An air belt device having an occupant restraining webbing having an inflating portion corresponding to the chest of the occupant at the time of inflating, and an inflating device for inflating the inflating portion by operating a front collision to supply gas to the inflating portion;
A control device for controlling the operation of the air bag device and the air belt device based on an output signal from a collision sensor, and a control method for a vehicle occupant protection device comprising:
Detecting a seating position of the occupant by an occupant distance grasping means to grasp a separation distance between the airbag device and the occupant;
If the distance is less than the predetermined threshold value, the control device actuates the inflator for the airbag early to deploy the air bag body than the air belt inflator,
When it is determined that the separation distance is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold, the control device operates the airbag inflator simultaneously with the airbag inflator or earlier than the airbag inflator, to A control method for an occupant protection device for a vehicle, wherein the inflating part is inflated. An airbag that is disposed in front of an occupant seated on a vehicle seat and operates in a frontal collision with an airbag bag body that is folded and stored to supply gas to the airbag bag body to inflate the airbag bag body An airbag device having an inflator for use;
An air belt device having an occupant restraining webbing having an inflating portion corresponding to the chest of the occupant at the time of inflating, and an inflating device for inflating the inflating portion by operating a front collision to supply gas to the inflating portion;
A control device for controlling the operation of the air bag device and the air belt device based on an output signal from a collision sensor, and a control method for a vehicle occupant protection device comprising:
Detecting a seating position of the occupant by an occupant distance grasping means to grasp a separation distance between the airbag device and the occupant;
As a threshold value to be compared with the distance, previously set second threshold value larger than the first threshold value and the first threshold value,
When the separation distance output from the occupant distance grasping means is less than the first threshold, the control device operates the air belt inflator after operating the air bag inflator, or the air bag inflator. The air belt inflator is deactivated by operating only
When the separation distance is greater than or equal to the first threshold value and less than the second threshold value, the control device activates the airbag inflator after activating the airbag inflator, or the airbag inflator and the airbag Activate the inflator at the same time,
When it is determined that the separation distance is equal to or greater than the second threshold value, the control device operates the airbag inflator after operating the air belt inflator. An airbag that is disposed in front of an occupant seated on a vehicle seat and operates in a frontal collision with an airbag bag body that is folded and stored to supply gas to the airbag bag body to inflate the airbag bag body A variable capacity airbag device capable of partially inflating the airbag bag body,
An air belt device having an occupant restraining webbing having an inflating portion corresponding to the chest of the occupant at the time of inflating, and an air belt inflator that operates at the time of a frontal collision to supply gas to the inflating portion to inflate the inflating portion;
Occupant distance grasping means for detecting a seating position of the occupant and grasping a separation distance between the airbag device and the occupant;
When the separation distance is less than a predetermined threshold value, the air bag inflator is operated after the air belt inflator is operated, or the air belt inflator and the air bag inflator are operated simultaneously, and the airbag bag body A control device for partially inflating ,
Vehicle occupant protection apparatus characterized by having a. An airbag that is disposed in front of an occupant seated on a vehicle seat and operates in a frontal collision with an airbag bag body that is folded and stored to supply gas to the airbag bag body to inflate the airbag bag body An airbag device having an inflator for use;
The occupant restraining webbing that has an inflating part corresponding to the chest of the occupant at the time of inflation, and the gas supply capacity can be controlled in two stages of a small capacity and a large capacity, and the gas is supplied to the inflating part upon a frontal collision. And an inflatable belt device for inflating the inflatable portion,
Occupant distance grasping means for detecting a seating position of the occupant and grasping a separation distance between the airbag device and the occupant;
When the separation distance is less than a predetermined threshold value, a control device that reduces the supply capacity of the gas supplied from the inflating device for the air belt to the inflating portion of the air belt device ;
Vehicle occupant protection apparatus characterized by having a.

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