JP4639544B2 - Occupant detection device and occupant detection method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an occupant detection device and an occupant detection method, and more particularly to an occupant detection device and an occupant detection method suitable for detecting the weight or physique of an occupant sitting on a bench seat for two people.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-337393, a load sensor is provided on a vehicle seat and outputs a signal corresponding to a load acting on the seat, and the vehicle is based on an output signal of the load sensor. An occupant detection device that measures the weight of an occupant seated on a passenger seat is known. In the conventional apparatus, four load sensors are arranged on the front, rear, left, and right of the seat, and the weight of the seated occupant is measured based on the total output value of the four load sensors. Therefore, according to the above-described conventional device, the weight of the occupant seated on the vehicle seat can be detected.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Incidentally, a vehicle may be provided with a two-seat bench seat as a vehicle seat. In such a situation, if the weight of the seated occupant is measured by the above-described conventional method, the total weight of the two occupants seated on the bench seat can be detected, while the weight of the two occupants is determined respectively. A situation that cannot be accurately detected occurs. In this regard, for example, in an airbag device, it is necessary to accurately determine the physique for each vehicle occupant in order to appropriately control the deployment of the airbag, but a configuration in which a bench seat is used as a vehicle seat In this case, the physique of each vehicle occupant cannot be accurately determined. Therefore, there is a risk of hindering proper air bag deployment control.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides an occupant detection device and an occupant detection method capable of accurately detecting the physique and weight of an occupant seated on a bench seat for two people. With the goal.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, a bench seat on which two occupants can be seated and a signal corresponding to a load applied to the bench seat are provided on each of the longitudinal ends of the bench seat. A load sensor for outputting, a total load detecting means for detecting a total load applied to the bench seat based on an output signal of each load sensor, and an output signal and an arrangement position of each load sensor on the bench seat. Based on the relationship between the center of gravity position detecting means for detecting the center of gravity position in the longitudinal direction of the applied load, the total load detected by the total load detecting means, and the center of gravity position detected by the center of gravity position detecting means, By a occupant detection device comprising a physique determination means for determining the physique of an occupant seated on the bench seat,
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an occupant detection method for determining a physique of an occupant seated on a bench seat, wherein the occupant detection method is provided on each longitudinal end side of the bench seat, and according to a load applied to the bench seat. A first step of detecting a total load applied to the bench seat based on each output signal of the load sensor that outputs the detected signal, and an application to the bench seat based on the output signal and the arrangement position of each load sensor Based on the second step of detecting the center of gravity position in the longitudinal direction of the load, the total load detected by the first step, and the center of gravity position detected by the second step, And a third step of determining the physique of the occupant seated on the bench seat.
[0006]
In the first and third aspects of the invention, when the load center of gravity is biased to one of the bench seats, it can be determined that the weight of the passenger seated on the biased side is heavy and the weight of the passenger seated on the opposite side is light. The larger the difference between the two body sizes, the more the load center of gravity is biased to one side with the position where the load sensor is disposed as the limit. For this reason, when the position of the center of gravity of the load applied to the bench seat is detected, it is possible to grasp the physique difference between the passenger seated on one side of the bench seat and the passenger seated on the other side. Further, when the total load applied to the bench seat is detected, the combination of the seat load of the occupant seated on one side and the seat load of the occupant seated on the other side can be determined. For example, in a situation where the total load is 120 kg, if the seat load by one occupant is 80 kg, the seat load by the other occupant is 40 kg, and if the seat load by one occupant is 70 kg, the other It can be determined that the seat load by the passenger is 50 kg. If the physique difference of the occupant can be grasped and the total weight of both is specified, the weights of both are specified, and the physiques of adults, children, etc. can be discriminated. Accordingly, the physique of the seated occupant can be accurately determined based on the relationship between the total load applied to the bench seat and the position of the center of gravity.
[0007]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, as described in claim 2, a bench seat on which two occupants can be seated and a signal corresponding to a load applied to the bench seat are provided on each of the longitudinal ends of the bench seat. A load sensor for outputting, a total load detecting means for detecting a total load applied to the bench seat based on an output signal of each load sensor, and an output signal and an arrangement position of each load sensor on the bench seat. Based on the relationship between the center of gravity position detecting means for detecting the center of gravity position in the longitudinal direction of the applied load, the total load detected by the total load detecting means, and the center of gravity position detected by the center of gravity position detecting means, By means of weight detection means for detecting the weight of the passenger seated on the bench seat,
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an occupant detection method for detecting the weight of an occupant seated on a bench seat, wherein the occupant detection method is provided on each longitudinal end side of the bench seat, according to a load applied to the bench seat. A first step of detecting a total load applied to the bench seat based on each output signal of the load sensor that outputs the detected signal, and an application to the bench seat based on the output signal and the arrangement position of each load sensor Based on the second step of detecting the center of gravity position in the longitudinal direction of the load, the total load detected by the first step, and the center of gravity position detected by the second step, And a third step of detecting the weight of the occupant seated on the bench seat.
[0008]
In the second and fourth aspects of the invention, when the position of the center of gravity of the load applied to the bench seat is detected, the physique difference between the passenger seated on one side of the bench seat and the passenger seated on the other side can be grasped. Further, when the total load applied to the bench seat is detected, the combination of the seat load of the occupant seated on one side and the seat load of the occupant seated on the other side can be determined. If the physique difference of the occupant can be grasped and the total weight of both is specified, the weights of both are specified. Therefore, the weight of the seated occupant can be accurately determined based on the relationship between the total load applied to the bench seat and the position of the center of gravity.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a system configuration diagram of an occupant detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the system of this embodiment includes a bench seat 10 provided as a front seat of a vehicle. The bench seat 10 is a seat in which a driver seat and a passenger seat are integrally formed. The bench seat 10 includes seat frames 12 and 14 extending parallel to each other in the vehicle front-rear direction on the bottom surfaces on both sides in the vehicle width direction. Each of the seat frames 12 and 14 is attached at a position of, for example, 430 mm from the center of the bench seat 10 to the longitudinal direction side (that is, the vehicle width direction side). The seat frames 12 and 14 are connected to each other by a beam extending in the vehicle width direction at an interval of 860 mm. A seat cushion 16 is provided above the beam to hold the buttocks of two seated passengers. A seat back 18 that holds the backs of two seated occupants is provided on the vehicle rear end side of the seat frames 12 and 14.
[0010]
A seat rail 22 fixed to the passenger compartment floor 20 is provided below the seat frame 12, and a seat rail 24 fixed to the passenger compartment floor 20 is provided below the seat frame 14, respectively. The seat rails 22 and 24 extend in parallel with each other in the vehicle front-rear direction and are each formed by a U-shaped member in cross section, and guide the seat frames 12 and 14 to be slidable in the vehicle front-rear direction.
[0011]
Load sensors 26 and 28 are disposed between the seat frame 12 and the seat rail 22 in the front and rear thereof. Between the seat frame 14 and the seat rail 24, load sensors 30 and 32 are arranged in front and behind. Each of the load sensors 26 to 32 outputs a signal corresponding to a load applied vertically downward to the arrangement position. As described above, the seat frames 12 and 14 are each mounted at a position of 430 mm on the vehicle width direction side from the seat center. For this reason, specifically, each of the load sensors 26 to 32 outputs a signal corresponding to a load applied vertically downward at a position of 430 mm on the vehicle width direction side from the center of the bench seat 10.
[0012]
Each of the load sensors 26 to 32 is connected to an electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as ECU) 34. Output signals from the load sensors 26 to 32 are supplied to the ECU 34. Based on the output signals of the load sensors 26 to 32, the ECU 34 detects the load applied vertically downward to the bench seat 10 at the positions where the load sensors 26 to 32 are disposed. Further, the ECU 34 detects the physique and weight of the occupant seated on the driver seat side and the passenger seat side of the bench seat 10 based on the load at each arrangement position, as will be described in detail later.
[0013]
A driver seat side airbag inflator 36 and a passenger seat side airbag inflator 38 are connected to the ECU 34. The driver-seat-side airbag inflator 36 has a plurality of squibs and has a function of deploying the airbag disposed on the driver-seat side in multiple stages by energization of the squib. The passenger seat side airbag inflator 38 has a plurality of squibs, and has a function of deploying the airbag disposed on the passenger seat side in multiple stages by energization of the squib. The ECU 34 appropriately controls the driver-side airbag inflator 36 according to the physique and weight of the occupant sitting on the driver seat side of the bench seat 10 when the airbag is to be deployed. The inflator 38 is appropriately controlled according to the physique and weight of the passenger sitting on the passenger seat side of the bench seat 10.
[0014]
In the above configuration, when the occupant sits on the bench seat 10, a load due to the weight of the occupant is transmitted to the seat frames 12 and 14 via the seat cushion 16 and the beam. When the load is transmitted to the seat frames 12, 14, the load is dispersed and transmitted to the load sensors 26 to 32, and the load sensors 26 to 32 output signals corresponding to the dispersed loads. When only one occupant is seated on the bench seat 10, the total value of the loads detected based on the output signals of the load sensors 26 to 32 is the weight of the occupant. It is possible to detect the physique and weight of the child.
[0015]
However, when there are two occupants sitting on the bench seat 10, since the load due to the weight of each occupant is distributed to each load sensor 26 to 32, it is detected based on the output signal of each load sensor 26 to 32. The total load value (that is, the total seat load applied to the bench seat 10) is the total weight of the two occupants, while the physique and weight of each occupant are determined based on the output signals of the load sensors 26 to 32, respectively. A situation occurs that cannot be detected accurately. If such a situation occurs, the airbag on the driver's seat and the airbag on the passenger's seat cannot be appropriately deployed according to the physique / weight of each occupant.
[0016]
Therefore, the occupant detection device according to the present embodiment is characterized in that even if two occupants are seated on the bench seat 10, the occupant's physique and weight are accurately detected. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG.2 and FIG.3, the characteristic part of a present Example is demonstrated.
[0017]
FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the total seat load of the bench seat 10 and the position of the center of gravity of the load in the vehicle width direction in terms of the weight of the passenger seated on the driver seat side of the bench seat 10 and the weight of the passenger seated on the passenger seat side. The corresponding figure is shown. In addition, in FIG. 2, the passenger | crew seated on the passenger seat side of the bench seat 10 is respectively (1) does not exist, (2) 3 years old child (weight 15kg), (3) 6 years old child (weight 25kg), (4) Under the circumstances of 6-year-old child + booster seat (weight 5 kg), (5) Female 1 (weight 50 kg), (6) Male 1 (weight 85 kg), and (7) Male 2 (weight 110 kg) The case where the occupant seated on the driver's seat is a female 1 (weight 50 kg) is indicated by a one-dot chain line, the case where the occupant is male 1 (weight 85 kg) is indicated by a solid line, and the case where the occupant is male 2 (weight 110 kg) is indicated by a broken line. , Respectively.
[0018]
When there is no occupant sitting on the passenger seat side of the bench seat 10, almost no load is applied to the passenger seat side, and a large load is applied to the driver seat side. For this reason, when there is no passenger seated in the passenger seat, the output signals of the load sensors 26 and 28 on the driver's seat side indicate the load corresponding to the weight of the passenger seated on the driver's seat side, while the load on the passenger seat side The output signals of the sensors 30 and 32 show almost no load. The load sensors 26 to 32 are disposed at a position 430 mm from the center of the bench seat 10 in the vehicle width direction side. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the position of the center of gravity in the vehicle width direction of the load applied to the bench seat 10 is 430 mm from the center of the bench seat 10 to the vehicle width direction side regardless of the passenger seated in the driver's seat. At the same time, the total seat load applied to the bench seat 10 is a value corresponding to the weight of the occupant seated in the driver's seat, and most of the load is a total load based on the output signals of the load sensors 26 and 28 on the driver's seat side. Will be shown.
[0019]
In this state, when an occupant sits on the passenger seat side of the bench seat 10, most of the load due to the weight of the occupant is transmitted to the load sensors 30 and 32. Under the situation where the passengers on the driver's seat side are the same, as the weight of the passenger on the passenger seat side becomes heavier, the total value of the loads detected based on the output signals of the load sensors 26 to 32 as shown in FIG. The total seat load of the bench seat 10 increases, and the center of gravity position in the vehicle width direction of the load moves to the passenger seat side. Further, under the situation where the passengers on the passenger side are the same, the weight of the entire seat load of the bench seat 10 increases as the weight of the passenger on the driver side increases, and the position of the center of gravity of the load in the vehicle width direction is the driver's seat. Will move to the side.
[0020]
That is, as the position of the center of gravity of the load applied to the bench seat 10 in the vehicle width direction is deviated from the center of the seat in the vehicle width direction, the physique difference between the driver's side passenger and the passenger's side passenger (of the driver's side passenger) It can be determined that the ratio between the weight and the weight of the passenger on the passenger side is large. For this reason, if the position of the center of gravity is grasped, the difference in physique between the two can be grasped. When the total seat load applied to the bench seat 10 is grasped in a situation where the physique difference between the driver's side passenger and the passenger's side passenger is grasped, the weights of both can be specified. Therefore, based on the relationship between the total seat load applied to the bench seat 10 and the position of the center of gravity in the vehicle width direction of the load, the physique of the occupant seated on the bench seat 10, that is, whether it is an adult or a child is accurately determined. It becomes possible to do.
[0021]
FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of an example of a control routine executed by the ECU 34 in this embodiment in order to realize the above function. The routine shown in FIG. 3 is a routine that is repeatedly started each time the process is completed. When the routine shown in FIG. 3 is started, first, the process of step 100 is executed.
[0022]
In step 100, a load (hereinafter, referred to as “vertical load”) applied to the driver seat side of the bench seat 10 by adding up the loads detected based on the output signals of the load sensors 26 and 28 disposed on the driver seat side. The passenger seat of the bench seat 10 is summed up by detecting the X) (referred to as the driver's seat side load) and adding the detected loads based on the output signals of the load sensors 30 and 32 disposed on the passenger seat side. A load Y (hereinafter referred to as passenger seat side load) Y applied vertically downward is detected.
[0023]
In step 102, the total seat load (X + Y) applied to the bench seat 10 is detected by taking the sum of the driver seat side load X and the passenger seat side load Y detected in step 100. In step 104, the arrangement position of the load sensors 26, 28 in the vehicle width direction, the arrangement position of the load sensors 30, 32 in the vehicle width direction, the driver seat side load X and the passenger seat side load detected in step 100 above. Based on the relationship with Y, the gravity center position L in the vehicle width direction of the load applied to the bench seat 10 is detected.
[0024]
In step 106, based on the parameters detected in steps 102 and 104, the airbag control threshold value indicating whether the occupant seated on the passenger side in advance is an adult or a child is shown in FIG. By referring to the map shown in FIG. 4, it is determined whether the passenger seated on the passenger seat side is an adult or a child. Specifically, if the relationship between the total seat load (X + Y) of the bench seat 10 and the gravity center position L of the load is located on the upper right side of the airbag control threshold value shown in FIG. If it is determined that the occupant is an adult and the relationship is located on the lower left side of the airbag control threshold, it is determined that the occupant seated in the passenger seat is a child.
[0025]
In step 108, based on the determination result in step 106, the passenger is instructed to permit / prohibit deployment of the passenger side airbag. Specifically, when the passenger seated on the passenger seat side is an adult, deployment of the airbag is permitted, and when the passenger seated on the passenger seat side is a child, deployment of the airbag is prohibited. When the processing of step 108 is executed, the passenger side airbag will operate according to the deployment permission / deployment prohibition command. When the processing of step 108 is completed, the current routine is terminated.
[0026]
According to the routine shown in FIG. 3, the passenger seated on the passenger seat side of the bench seat 10 based on the relationship between the total seat load (X + Y) applied to the bench seat 10 and the gravity center position L in the vehicle width direction of the load. The physique can be determined. Moreover, the physique of the passenger | crew who seats on the driver's seat side of the bench seat 10 can also be discriminate | determined with the map shown in FIG. For this reason, according to the present Example, the physique of the passenger | crew seated on the bench seat of two persons can be discriminate | determined correctly. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to execute appropriate airbag control in accordance with the physique of the passenger seated on the bench seat 10.
[0027]
Further, the total seat load (X + Y) applied to the bench seat 10 is grasped, and the passenger seated on the driver seat side and the passenger seat side of the bench seat 10 based on the center of gravity position L in the vehicle width direction of the load. If the physique difference is grasped, the weights of both are specified. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to accurately detect the weight of each occupant seated on the bench seat 10.
[0028]
In the above embodiment, the bench seat 10 corresponds to the “bench seat” recited in the claims, and the ECU 34 executes the process of step 102 in the routine shown in FIG. The “total load detecting means” and the “first process” described in the claims by executing the processing of step 104 to execute the processing of the step 104 to “the center of gravity position detecting means” and “the first step”. By performing the process of step 106, the “process of 2”, the “physique discriminating means” described in the claims and the “third process” described in claim 3 are all added to the bench seat 10. Based on the relationship between the seat load and the physique difference between the passenger seated on the driver's seat side and the passenger seated on the passenger seat side of the bench seat 10 based on the center of gravity position L in the vehicle width direction of the load. Is claimed by sensing the weight of the occupant seated in Chishito 10 described in the "physique determining means" and claim 4, "the fourth process" has been realized, respectively.
[0029]
By the way, in the above embodiment, the bench seat for detecting the physique / weight of the seated occupant is applied to a bench seat in which the driver's seat and the passenger seat are integrally formed, but the present invention is not limited thereto. What is necessary is just to apply to a two-seat sheet, without being done.
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first and third aspects of the invention, it is possible to accurately detect the physique of an occupant sitting on a two-seat bench seat.
[0030]
Moreover, according to the invention of Claim 2 and 4, the weight of the passenger | crew who seats on a bench seat for two persons can be detected correctly.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an occupant detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between the total seat load and the position of the center of gravity of the load according to the weight of the occupant seated on the driver seat side of the bench seat and the weight of the occupant seated on the passenger seat side.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a control routine that is executed to detect the physique and weight of the occupant in the present embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 seats 26-32 load sensor 34 electronic control unit (ECU)

Claims (4)

A bench seat that two passengers can sit on,
A load sensor disposed on each longitudinal end of the bench seat and outputting a signal corresponding to a load applied to the bench seat;
A total load detecting means for detecting a total load applied to the bench seat based on an output signal of each load sensor;
Based on an output signal and an arrangement position of each load sensor, a center-of-gravity position detecting unit that detects a center-of-gravity position in a longitudinal direction of a load applied to the bench seat;
Physique discrimination means for discriminating the physique of the occupant seated on the bench seat based on the relationship between the total load detected by the total load detection means and the centroid position detected by the centroid position detection means;
An occupant detection device comprising: A bench seat that two passengers can sit on,
A load sensor disposed on each longitudinal end of the bench seat and outputting a signal corresponding to a load applied to the bench seat;
A total load detecting means for detecting a total load applied to the bench seat based on an output signal of each load sensor;
Based on an output signal and an arrangement position of each load sensor, a center-of-gravity position detecting unit that detects a center-of-gravity position in a longitudinal direction of a load applied to the bench seat;
Weight detection means for detecting the weight of an occupant seated on the bench seat based on the relationship between the total load detected by the total load detection means and the gravity center position detected by the gravity center position detection means;
An occupant detection device comprising: An occupant detection method for determining the physique of an occupant seated on a bench seat,
A first load that is disposed on each longitudinal end of the bench seat and detects a total load applied to the bench seat based on each output signal of a load sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to the load applied to the bench seat. Process,
A second step of detecting the position of the center of gravity in the longitudinal direction of the load applied to the bench seat based on the output signal and the arrangement position of each load sensor;
A third step of determining a physique of an occupant seated on the bench seat based on a relationship between the total load detected in the first step and the position of the center of gravity detected in the second step; ,
An occupant detection method comprising: An occupant detection method for detecting the weight of an occupant seated on a bench seat,
A first load that is disposed on each longitudinal end of the bench seat and detects a total load applied to the bench seat based on each output signal of a load sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to the load applied to the bench seat. Process,
A second step of detecting the position of the center of gravity in the longitudinal direction of the load applied to the bench seat based on the output signal and the arrangement position of each load sensor;
A third step of detecting the weight of an occupant seated on the bench seat based on the relationship between the total load detected in the first step and the position of the center of gravity detected in the second step; ,
An occupant detection method comprising:

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