JP4487249B2 - Vehicle occupant protection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle occupant protection device, and more particularly to a technology related to a seat belt pretensioner.

  As a vehicle occupant protection device, a pretensioner that predicts a collision between a vehicle and an obstacle and winds up webbing to increase the degree of restraint on the occupant's seat has been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for operating a pretensioner when a collision is predicted, and releasing the operation of the pretensioner when the collision prediction is canceled to return the restraint degree of the occupant to a normal state. Is disclosed. Patent Documents 2 and 3 disclose a seat belt device provided with a webbing lock mechanism.

JP 2001-347923 A JP 2001-80461 A JP 2001-10446 A

However, if a collision actually occurs after a collision is predicted, the sensor that predicts the collision may be damaged, making it impossible to predict the subsequent collision (second time). It can happen. For this reason, if the prediction of a collision is canceled due to the establishment of some predetermined condition (for example, the vehicle speed of the vehicle has become zero or the passage of time), the operation of the pretensioner is canceled. Under circumstances where an accident occurs, after the first collision, when the next collision is to be predicted, the above-mentioned sensor or the like may not perform the collision prediction, and the pretensioner may not be activated at the next collision.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to ensure the safety of the passenger even in the case of multiple collisions.

According to the present invention, a webbing that constitutes a seat belt that has an engaging member that releasably engages with a buckle and restrains an occupant to a seat, a pretensioner that can wind up the webbing, a vehicle, and an obstacle A collision prediction means for predicting a collision with the vehicle, and when a collision is predicted by the collision prediction means, the pretensioner is operated so as to be in a highly restrained state where the restraint degree of the occupant becomes high, while the collision is predicted. A vehicle occupant protection device comprising: a control unit that releases the high restraint state when the vehicle runs out; a collision detection unit that detects a collision between the vehicle and an obstacle; and the control unit includes the collision prediction unit. after a collision is predicted by means if a collision is detected by the collision detection means, even if collision prediction before Symbol collision forecast means after the collision detection is released, the pre Vehicle occupant protection device is provided and controls to maintain the high degree of restraint state of Nshona.

According to the vehicle occupant protection device, after a forecast of a collision, when the actual collision occurs, a state where the degree of restraint of the multiply-membered higher is maintained. In other words, the high restraint state is maintained and the occupant is restrained by the seat until the occupant himself performs a buckle release operation and tries to escape from the vehicle. Even in the event of a collision, the safety of the occupant can be ensured more reliably.

In the present invention, it further comprises engagement detection means for detecting whether or not the engagement member is engaged with the buckle,
Wherein, after a collision is predicted by the collision prediction means, when a collision is detected by the collision detection means, until disengagement by at least said engagement detecting means is detected, after the collision detection Even if the collision prediction of the collision prediction means is released, the pretensioner can be controlled to maintain the high restraint state. According to this configuration, it is possible to detect whether or not the occupant has released the engagement between the buckle and the engagement member.

  In the present invention, it is also possible to provide output means for outputting a predetermined guidance to the occupant when a collision is detected by the collision detection means during the high restraint state. A passenger who may be upset by the occurrence of a collision and the high restraint state (the passenger is restrained by the webbing even after the collision, so misunderstanding that a problem has occurred in the seat belt, If you forget to cancel and try to get out of the car forcibly), you can tell the occupant if there is a possibility of multiple collisions and how to get out of the car. Even after confirming whether or not it is safe, it is possible to inform the person that the person is actually going out of the vehicle), and so on.

  Further, in the present invention, the pretensioner includes, as the high restraint state, a first high restraint state and a second high restraint degree in which an occupant restraint is smaller than that in the first high restraint state. The control means operates the pretensioner so as to be in the first high restraint state when a collision is predicted by the collision prediction means. When the collision is detected by the collision detection unit after the collision is predicted by the collision prediction unit, the pretensioner can be operated so as to be in the second high restraint state. After the collision occurs, by reducing the degree of restraint of the occupant on the seat, the occupant's movement (for example, confirmation of the side, the rear, etc.) while seated on the seat is allowed to some extent to deal with the collision. Can do.

  In the present invention, the control means can also release the high restraint state after the engagement detection is detected by the engagement detection means. When the occupant is no longer required to be restrained, the high restraint state can be released and the release can be performed based on the occupant's judgment, so that the reliability can be improved.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to ensure the safety of passengers even in the case of multiple collisions.

  FIG. 1A is a schematic view of a vehicle B equipped with an occupant protection device A for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a schematic view of a structure around a driver's seat of the vehicle B. The occupant protection device A is inserted through a tongue plate 2 that is an engagement member that is releasably engaged with the buckle 1 disposed on the side of the seat 100, and a webbing 3 that constitutes a seat belt that restrains the occupant to the seat 100. And an electric pretensioner 5 that also serves as a retractor for winding the webbing 3. In the case of the present embodiment, the webbing 3 constitutes a three-point seat belt device, and is disposed so as to be able to restrain the upper body and waist of the occupant, thus forming a belt shape. The webbing 3 can be wound and pulled out by a pretensioner 5 provided on the floor portion of the vehicle body via an anchor 4 provided on the upper portion of the center pillar.

  The pretensioner 5 is provided for each sheet 100, and is a known electric pre-tension capable of adjusting the winding force of the webbing 3 by combining a conventionally known retractor that winds the webbing 3 with a spring force and the electric motor 5a. It is a tensioner. Although details of the configuration are omitted, for example, a reel for winding a webbing is configured to be driven to rotate by a motor via an inertia clutch. While the inertia clutch is in the non-engaged state, the reel winds up the webbing with a weak force due to the spring force, and when the inertia clutch is engaged as the motor rotates, the rotational force of the motor is transmitted to the reel. The webbing take-up force is adjusted. Of course, other types of pretensioners may be used as long as the winding force of the webbing can be adjusted.

  Next, the occupant protection device A includes a collision prediction sensor 6 for predicting a collision between the vehicle B and an obstacle. Collision predicting sensors 6 are respectively arranged in front and rear of the vehicle B so that a frontal collision and a rear collision can be predicted. The collision prediction sensor 6 can employ various configurations. For example, the collision prediction sensor 6 emits an ultrasonic wave, a laser beam, a radio wave, or the like and receives the reflected wave or the reflected light, so that the collision prediction sensor 6 exists in the front or rear of the vehicle. Examples include detecting the distance, size, moving speed, and the like of an obstacle.

  The occupant protection device A includes a collision detection sensor 7 that detects a collision between the vehicle B and an obstacle. The collision detection sensor 7 is, for example, an acceleration sensor, and it is determined that a collision has occurred when a certain level of acceleration is applied to the vehicle B. The occupant protection device A further includes a buckle engagement detection sensor 8 that detects whether or not the tongue plate 2 is engaged with the buckle 1. The buckle engagement detection sensor 8 is a switch that is provided for each sheet 100 and is turned on when, for example, the tongue plate 2 is engaged with the buckle 1 and turned off when the tongue plate 2 is removed.

  In the case of the present embodiment, a display 9 is provided as output means for outputting various information to the instrument panel of the vehicle B. Note that the output means for outputting information may be an audio output means for outputting information by voice in addition to the display means such as the display 9. The seating sensor 10 is provided for each seat 100 and is a sensor that detects whether or not an occupant is seated on each seat 100 (whether or not the seat is empty), and is, for example, a pressure sensor.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the occupant protection device A. The CPU 11 is a processor that controls the entire occupant protection apparatus A, and executes processing to be described later. The EEPROM 12 is a memory for storing fixed data in addition to programs for each processing described later. The RAM 13 has a work area for programs processed by the CPU 11 and stores variable data and the like. Needless to say, other storage means may be employed as the EEPROM 12 and the RAM 13.

  The interface (I / F) 14 relays input or output of information between the CPU 11 and each device described below, and one or a plurality of interfaces (I / F) are provided according to the type of each device. The drive circuit 15 is a circuit that drives the motor 5a of the pretensioner 5 described above. The CPU 11 outputs a drive command for the motor 5 a to the drive circuit 15 via the interface 14 to control the pretensioner 5. Since the pretensioner 5 is provided for each sheet 100, the CPU 11 outputs a drive command for the motor 5a in units of each sheet 100. Further, the CPU 11 acquires the detection results of the collision prediction sensor 6, the collision detection sensor 7, the buckle engagement sensor 8, and the seating sensor 10 through the interface 14, and performs processing described later. The display controller 9 a is a controller that performs display control of the display 9, and performs display control of the display 9 according to a command from the CPU 11.

  Next, the operation of the occupant protection device A having such a configuration will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the pretensioner control process executed by the CPU 11. In S1, the detection result of the collision prediction sensor 6 is acquired, and processing for predicting whether or not a collision occurs is performed. Here, for example, when an obstacle is present within a predetermined distance or when approaching at a predetermined speed or more, a collision may occur and the collision is predicted. In S2, it is determined whether or not a collision has been predicted based on the result of the collision prediction process in S1. If a collision is predicted, the process proceeds to S3, and if not, the process returns to S1.

  In S3, the detection result of the seating sensor is acquired, and the seating state of each seat 100 is detected. In S4, the occupant operates the pretensioner 5 of the seat 100 being seated based on the detection result of S3. Specifically, the occupant is restrained to the seat 100 by driving the motor 5 a to wind up the webbing 3 by a predetermined amount and increasing the tension of the webbing 3. That is, a high restraint state in which the restraint degree of the occupant by the webbing 3 is increased is generated. In S5, the same collision prediction process as in S1 is performed again. In S6, it is determined whether or not the collision prediction is canceled based on the result of the collision prediction process in S5. If canceled, the process proceeds to S7, and if not, the process proceeds to S9.

  In S7, the detection result of the collision detection sensor 7 is acquired, and processing for detecting whether or not a collision has occurred is performed. In S8, it is determined whether or not a collision has occurred based on the result of the collision detection process in S7. If there is a collision, the process proceeds to S11, and if not, the process returns to S5. In S9, the same collision detection process as in S7 is performed again. In S10, it is determined whether or not a collision has occurred based on the result of the collision detection process in S9. If applicable, the process proceeds to S11, and if not, the process proceeds to S15.

  In S11, the restraint degree of the occupant is adjusted. Here, the pretensioner 5 is controlled so that the restraint degree of the occupant is smaller than the restraint degree (first high restraint state) of the pretensioner 5 in the collision prediction stage in S4 (second high restraint state). ). Specifically, for example, control is performed so that the rotational torque of the motor 5a is decreased and the tension of the webbing 3 is lowered. After the collision occurs, by reducing the degree of restraint of the occupant on the seat 100, the occupant's operation (for example, confirmation of the side, the rear, etc.) while sitting on the seat 100 is allowed to some extent, and the collision is dealt with. can do.

  In S12, a predetermined guidance is output to the display 9. Here, information related to the collision accident, guidance on how to deal with the collision accident, and the like are output. For example, a message such as “A collision has occurred” is displayed as an example of the former. Also, as an example of the latter, a message such as “Check the surroundings and get out of the vehicle. The pretensioner is released when the seat belt is removed from the buckle” is displayed. Passengers who may be upset due to the occurrence of a collision and the high restraint state (the passenger is restrained by the webbing even after the collision, so misunderstanding that the seat belt has failed, and release the buckle If you forget to forcibly and try to get out of the car forcibly)), you can check whether there is a possibility of multiple collisions and whether it is safe to get out of the car. After that, it is possible to inform the occupant of how to deal with the situation such as actually escaping out of the vehicle, etc., and to encourage calm action.

  In S13, the detection result of the buckle engagement detection sensor 8 is acquired, and it is detected whether or not the tongue plate 2 is engaged with the buckle 1. In S14, based on the result of S12, it is determined whether or not the engagement between the tongue plate 2 and the buckle 1 is released. If the engagement is not released, the process returns to S13, and if the engagement is released, the process proceeds to S15. In S15, the pretensioner 5 is controlled so as to release the high restraint state. For example, the power supply to the motor 5a is cut off to make the motor 5a free. When the occupant is no longer required to be restrained, the high restraint state can be released and the operation is released based on the occupant's judgment, so that the reliability can be improved.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when a collision is detected after the collision is predicted, at least until the engagement between the buckle 1 and the tongue plate 2 is released, regardless of the result of the collision prediction, The high restraint state continues. In other words, after a collision is predicted, when a collision actually occurs, the high restraint state is maintained until the occupant performs a release operation of the buckle 1. Therefore, since the occupant is restrained by the seat 100 until the occupant himself tries to get out of the vehicle, the safety of the occupant can be more reliably ensured even during multiple collisions without being affected by the prediction result of the collision prediction. .

<Other embodiments>
In the above embodiment, the motor 5a is always energized during the high restraint state, and the winding force of the webbing 3 is always generated. For example, a known locking mechanism as described in Patent Documents 2 and 3 is used. If the motor 5a is provided, the motor 5a need not be always energized. An application example in this case will be described below.

First, as a premise, like the lock mechanism described in Patent Documents 2 and 3,
(1) If the webbing 3 is pulled out rapidly, the webbing 3 is locked and cannot be pulled out. However, if you try to pull it out slowly, you can pull it out.
(2) When a rapid acceleration is applied to the vehicle, the webbing 3 is locked (hereinafter referred to as an acceleration sensitive lock) and cannot be pulled out. However, when the webbing 3 is slightly wound, the acceleration sensitive lock is released.
Assume that the lock mechanism is adopted. In the present embodiment, the buckle engagement sensor 8 is not necessary.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the pretensioner control process in this embodiment instead of FIG. In S21, the detection result of the collision prediction sensor 6 is acquired, and processing for predicting whether or not a collision occurs is performed. Here, for example, when an obstacle is present within a predetermined distance or when approaching at a predetermined speed or more, a collision may occur and the collision is predicted. In S22, it is determined whether or not a collision has been predicted based on the result of the collision prediction process in S21. If a collision is predicted, the process proceeds to S23, and if not, the process returns to S1.

  In S23, the detection result of the seating sensor is acquired, and the seating state of each seat 100 is detected. In S24, the occupant operates the pretensioner 5 of the seat 100 being seated based on the detection result of S23. Specifically, the occupant is restrained to the seat 100 by driving the motor 5 a to wind up the webbing 3 by a predetermined amount and increasing the tension of the webbing 3. That is, a high restraint state in which the restraint degree of the occupant by the webbing 3 is increased is generated. However, unlike the above embodiment, the energization of the motor 5a is cut off after the webbing 3 is wound.

  In S25, the same collision prediction process as in S21 is performed again. In S26, it is determined whether or not the collision prediction is canceled based on the result of the collision prediction process in S25. If released, the process proceeds to S27, and if not, the process proceeds to S29.

  In S27, the detection result of the collision detection sensor 7 is acquired, and processing for detecting whether or not a collision has occurred is performed. In S28, it is determined whether or not a collision has occurred based on the result of the collision detection process in S27. If there is a collision, the process proceeds to S11, and if not, the process returns to S5. When a collision actually occurs, the acceleration-sensitive lock described above is activated and the webbing 3 is locked, so that the highly restrained state of the occupant is maintained even when the motor 5a is not energized.

  In S29, the same collision detection process as in S27 is performed again. In S30, it is determined whether or not a collision has occurred based on the result of the collision detection process in S29. If applicable, the process proceeds to S31, and if not, the process proceeds to S33. As described above, when the collision actually occurs, the acceleration-sensitive lock described above is activated and the webbing 3 is locked, so that the high restraint state of the occupant is maintained even when the motor 5a is not energized. Is done.

  In S31, a predetermined guidance is output to the display 9. Here, information related to the collision accident, guidance on how to deal with the collision accident, and the like are output. For example, a message such as “A collision has occurred” is displayed as an example of the former. Also, as an example of the latter, a message such as “Check the surroundings and get out of the vehicle. The pretensioner is released when the seat belt is removed from the buckle” is displayed. By outputting a predetermined guidance to the occupant who may be upset by the occurrence of a collision and the high restraint state, the occupant can be informed of how to deal with it, and encourage calm action. Can do.

  Next, S32 is a process when a collision occurs, and S33 is a process when a collision does not occur. If no collision has occurred, a process of releasing the acceleration sensitive lock is performed in S33. Here, as described above, by slightly winding the webbing 3 with the motor 5a, the acceleration sensitive lock is released, and the restraint of the passenger by the webbing 3 returns to the normal state.

  On the other hand, when proceeding to S32, the CPU 11 does nothing. Accordingly, the acceleration-sensitive lock remains in the locked state, and the high restraint state is maintained. As shown in S32, when the occupant wants to escape from the restraint by the webbing 3, the engagement between the buckle 1 and the tongue plate 2 is released. Further, when the acceleration-sensitive lock is released, the acceleration-sensitive lock is released when the occupant sends out the webbing 3 in the winding direction with his / her own hand instead of winding the motor 5a in S33. It will be.

  As described above, also in the present embodiment, when a collision is detected after the collision is predicted, at least until the engagement between the buckle 1 and the tongue plate 2 is released, regardless of the result of the collision prediction, the occupant The high restraint state for is continued. Therefore, since the occupant is restrained by the seat 100 until the occupant himself tries to get out of the vehicle, the safety of the occupant can be more reliably ensured even during multiple collisions without being affected by the prediction result of the collision prediction. .

(A) is the schematic of the vehicle B carrying the vehicle occupant protection device A which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, (b) is the schematic of the structure of the driver's seat periphery of the vehicle B. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an occupant protection device A. FIG. It is a flowchart of the pretensioner control process which CPU11 performs. It is a flowchart of the pretensioner control process in other embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

A Crew protection device B Vehicle 1 Buckle 3 Webbing 5 Pretensioner 6 Collision prediction sensor 7 Collision detection sensor 8 Buckle engagement detection sensor

Claims (5)

A webbing that has an engaging member that releasably engages with the buckle, and that constitutes a seat belt that restrains the occupant to the seat;
A pretensioner capable of winding the webbing;
A collision prediction means for predicting a collision between a vehicle and an obstacle;
When the collision is predicted by the collision predicting means, the pretensioner is operated so as to be in a high restraint state where the restraint degree of the occupant is high, and when the collision is not predicted, the high restraint state is released. Control means;
In a vehicle occupant protection device equipped with
A collision detecting means for detecting a collision between the vehicle and an obstacle;
Wherein, after a collision is predicted by the collision prediction means, when a collision is detected by the collision detection means, even if collision prediction before Symbol collision forecast means after the collision detection is released, the pre An occupant protection device for a vehicle , wherein the tensioner is controlled to maintain the high restraint state. Furthermore, an engagement detection means for detecting whether or not the engagement member is engaged with the buckle,
Wherein, after a collision is predicted by the collision prediction means, when a collision is detected by the collision detection means, until disengagement by at least said engagement detecting means is detected, after the collision detection 2. The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 1 , wherein the pretensioner is controlled to maintain the high restraint state even when the collision prediction of the collision prediction unit is released .   2. The vehicle occupant protection according to claim 1, further comprising an output unit that outputs a predetermined guide to the occupant when a collision is detected by the collision detection unit during the high restraint state. apparatus. The pretensioner generates, as the high restraint state, a first high restraint state and a second high restraint state in which an occupant is restrained less than the first high restraint state. Is controllable to
The control means includes
When a collision is predicted by the collision prediction means, the pretensioner is operated so as to be in the first high restraint state,
After the collision is predicted by the collision predicting means, when the collision is detected by the collision detecting means, the pretensioner is operated so as to be in the second high restraint state. Item 4. The vehicle occupant protection device according to any one of Items 1 to 3.   3. The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 2, wherein the control unit releases the high restraint degree state after the engagement detection unit detects the disengagement. 4.

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