JP6757455B2 - Vehicle occupant protection device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle occupant protection device.

Vehicles such as automobiles are provided with various vehicle occupant protection devices.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a front airbag deployed on the front side of an occupant seated on a seat and a curtain airbag deployed on the outside of the occupant.
As a result, for example, when a car collides with another car, the front airbag can be deployed on the front side of the occupant seated on the seat, and the occupant who has fallen forward with respect to the deployed front airbag can be supported. It is possible to protect the occupants.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-151676

However, even if the front airbag is deployed in the vehicle in this way, for example, if the occupant falls diagonally forward, the occupant's head will be the front airbag after the occupant's head hits the front airbag. It may move to fall sideways. At this time, the head may rotate.

As described above, the vehicle occupant protection device is required to suppress the rotation of the occupant's head after hitting the airbag.

The vehicle occupant protection device according to the present invention is provided on the vehicle body and is provided around the occupant so that at least the head of the occupant on the vehicle body is in contact with the airbag, and the airbag is provided on the vehicle body and deployed. It has a pressing member that can be operated toward the inside of the region and a control unit that controls the operation of the pressing member.
The control unit operates the pressing member so as to displace the airbag in a state where the head of the occupant is in contact with the airbag during or after deployment, and the airbag is subjected to the above. By being pressed by the pressing member, the head can be displaced in the moving direction.

In the present invention, the airbag can be pressed by the pressing member and displaced in the moving direction of the head. Therefore, the rotation of the occupant's head after hitting the airbag can be suppressed.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a structure of an automobile to which the vehicle occupant protection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a vehicle occupant protection device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of rotation drive processing of the airbag module by the control unit of FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement of the components of the vehicle occupant protection device of the second embodiment. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement of the components of the vehicle occupant protection device of the third embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement of the components of the vehicle occupant protection device of the fourth embodiment.

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

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the structure of an automobile 1 to which the vehicle occupant protection device 2 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

The automobile 1 is a kind of vehicle. A passenger compartment for passengers is formed at the center of the vehicle body of the automobile 1 in the front-rear direction. A front chamber for arranging a fuel engine or the like is formed in the front part of the vehicle body. A rear chamber that can be used as a luggage compartment or the like is formed at the rear portion of the vehicle body.
The passenger compartment consists of a substantially quadrangular floor panel 11, a pair of A-pillars 12 erected at the front corner of the floor panel 11, a pair of B-pillars 13 erected in the center of the floor panel 11 in the front-rear direction, and a floor panel 11. It has a pair of C-pillars 14 erected at the rear corner. The upper end of the A pillar 12 and the upper end of the C pillar 14 are connected by a roof rail 15. The upper end of the B pillar 13 is joined to the center of the roof rail 15 in the front-rear direction. A substantially quadrangular roof panel 16 is joined between the pair of left and right roof rails 15.
A toe board 17 is arranged between the front edge of the floor panel 11 and the lower part of the pair of A pillars 12, and a dashboard 18 is arranged on the upper side of the toe board 17. The windshield 19 is fitted so as to be surrounded by the dashboard 18, the upper part of the pair of A-pillars 12, and the front edge of the roof panel 16. The rear glass 20 is fitted between the upper portions of the pair of C-pillars 14.
A front door rotatably supported by the A pillar 12 is arranged between the A pillar 12 and the B pillar 13 arranged in the front-rear direction. A rear door rotatably supported by the B-pillar 13 is arranged between the B-pillar 13 and the C-pillar 14. A pair of side sills 21 are joined to both edges of the floor panel 11 in the left-right width direction.
In this way, the passenger compartment of the automobile 1 becomes a box-shaped space having a substantially cubic shape.
Further, at the center of the floor panel 11 in the left-right width direction, a center tunnel 22 extending in the front-rear direction so as to project into the passenger compartment is formed. Below the center tunnel 22, for example, a drive shaft for transmitting the driving force of a fuel engine to the rear wheels is arranged.
As front seats, a driver seat 23 on which the driver sits and a navigation seat 24 on which the navigator sits are attached to the front of the floor panel 11 side by side in the left-right width direction. The driver seat 23 has a seat portion 41 and a back portion 42. The navigation seat 24 has a seat 41 and a back 42. The center tunnel 22 is located between the seat 41 of the driver seat 23 and the seat 41 of the navigation seat 24. A shift lever 25, a side brake lever, a console box 26 as an interior member, and the like are mounted on the center tunnel 22.
In front of the driver seat 23 and the navigation seat 24, a dashboard 18 extending in the left-right width direction is located. In front of the driver seat 23, a steering wheel 27 provided so as to project rearward from the dashboard 18 is located.
A bench seat 28 on which a plurality of occupants can be seated is attached to the rear portion of the floor panel 11 as a rear seat. The bench seat 28 has a seat 41 and a back 42. The bench seat 28 has a left-right width equivalent to that of the floor panel 11. Up to three occupants can usually be seated on the bench seat 28.

By the way, in the automobile 1, a vehicle occupant protection device 2 for protecting occupants and the like in the event of a collision is used.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the vehicle occupant protection device 2 according to the first embodiment.
The vehicle occupant protection device 2 includes a front airbag module 50, a pressing member 61, and a control unit 71.

The front airbag module 50 includes a front airbag 51, an inflator 52, and a module base 53.
The front airbag 51 is, for example, a cloth sewn into a bag shape having a substantially cubic shape.
The inflator 52 is a small tank that houses explosives and high pressure gas. The inflator 52 is connected to the front airbag 51.
The module base 53 is, for example, a metal plate. A front airbag 51 and an inflator 52 are fixed to the module base 53.
Further, the module base 53 is fixed to the steering support beam 29 in the dashboard 18. The module base 53 is fixed rearward at a position on the front side of the navigation seat 24. Both ends of the steering support beam 29 are fixed to a pair of A pillars 12.
Then, the front airbag module 50 expands backward from the module base 53 when the high-pressure gas is introduced.

The pressing member 61 is, for example, a pressing airbag module 62. The pressing airbag module 62 has a pressing airbag 63, an inflator 64, and a module base 65.
The module base 65 is fixed to the A pillar 12. The pressing airbag 63 expands diagonally inward and rearward from the A pillar 12 by introducing the high-pressure gas of the inflator 64. The deployment area of the pressing airbag 63 overlaps with the deployment area of the front airbag 51. The pressing airbag 63 presses the outer surface of the front airbag 51 from the outside.

The control unit 71 is, for example, a microcomputer device. The microcomputer device has a CPU, ROM, RAM, an input / output port, and a system bus connecting these. The ROM stores a program for controlling the operation of the vehicle occupant protection device 2. The CPU reads this program into RAM and executes it. As a result, the microcomputer device functions as a control unit 71 of the vehicle occupant protection device 2.
An inflator 52 and various detection units are connected to the input / output ports. The detection unit includes an outside camera 72 that images the outside of the vehicle such as from the passenger compartment to the front of the vehicle body, an in-vehicle camera 73 that images the inside of the vehicle, an acceleration sensor 74, a vehicle speed sensor 75, and a steering angle sensor 76. The control unit 71 controls the operation of the vehicle occupant protection device 2 based on the input information from these detection units. The control unit 71 controls, for example, the driving of the pressing member 61.

Next, the operation of the vehicle occupant protection device 2 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of rotation drive processing of the airbag module 50 by the control unit 71 of FIG. The control unit 71 periodically executes the process shown in FIG.

Before the collision, the control unit 71 predicts and determines the collision mode based on the input information input to the input / output port indicating the inside / outside situation of the vehicle body (step ST1).
Here, the input information indicating the inside / outside situation of the vehicle body includes the input information used for predicting the collision form such as the captured image outside the vehicle, the input information at the time of the collision, and the input information of the inside situation such as the captured image inside the vehicle.
Further, as the collision form, there are, for example, a full wrap collision, an offset collision, an oblique collision, and a side collision. A full-wrap collision is, for example, a head-on collision with an oncoming vehicle over the entire width of the vehicle. An offset collision is, for example, a head-on collision in a state of being displaced from an oncoming vehicle. An oblique collision is a head-on collision with an oncoming vehicle in a further offset state. A side collision is a collision of another automobile 1 with the side surface of the vehicle body. Then, the behavior of the vehicle body and the behavior of the occupants at the time of a collision change depending on the difference in the collision form.
Therefore, in the prediction determination of the collision form before the collision, the control unit 71 first predicts and determines the collision form based on the input information indicating the inside / outside situation of the vehicle body.
For example, the control unit 71 predicts the relative position and relative speed of the preceding vehicle, the oncoming vehicle, and the structure from the captured image outside the vehicle, and further, the degree of coincidence between the initial deployment direction of the airbag 51 and the impact input direction and the impact. Predict the magnitude of the value.
Further, the control unit 71 predicts the occupant's riding position, physique or weight of the occupant from the captured image in the vehicle, and further, the degree of coincidence between the occupant's falling direction due to the impact and the initial deployment direction of the airbag 51, the occupant and the vehicle body. Predict the distance to the interior parts.
In this way, the control unit 71 predicts and determines the collision mode.
The control unit 71 may perform prediction determination of these collision modes not only during the normal time before the collision but also during the collision.

Next, the control unit 71 determines whether or not the front airbag module 50 needs to be pressed or the pressing timing based on the predicted collision mode (step ST2). Here, the pressing timing may be a discrete value or a continuous value.
For example, when the predicted collision mode is a full-wrap collision, the control unit 71 determines that pressing of the front airbag module 50 is unnecessary.
Further, when the predicted collision form is an oblique collision, the control unit 71 determines that the front airbag module 50 needs to be pressed.
When pressing the front airbag module 50 is required, the control unit 71 determines the timing of pressing the front airbag 51, that is, the timing of starting the deployment of the pressing airbag module 62. The control unit 71 calculates the delay time until the fallen occupant reaches the front airbag 51 according to the physique of the occupant, the vehicle speed, and the like. The delay time may be based on, for example, the timing at which the ignition signal is output to the inflator 52 of the front airbag module 50.

In this way, the necessity of pressing the front airbag module 50 is determined before the collision, and the control unit 71 determines the occurrence of the collision by a collision determination process different from that in FIG.
In the collision determination process, the control unit 71 determines the occurrence of a collision based on various detection information input to the input / output ports.
Then, when a collision occurs, the control unit 71 outputs an ignition signal to the inflator 52. The control unit 71 adjusts the timing of outputting an ignition signal to the inflator 52 so that the occupant rushes into the front airbag 51 at the timing when the airbag 51 is deployed to the maximum size or immediately before or after the airbag 51 is deployed.
When an ignition signal is input to the inflator 52, the front airbag module 50 ignites explosives and blows high-pressure gas into the airbag 51. As a result, the front airbag 51 is deployed. The front airbag 51 starts deploying when the inflow of high-pressure gas starts, then reaches the maximum size, and when the internal pressure further increases, it starts releasing gas and deflate. When the occupant hits the deployed front airbag 51, the occupant can be protected as compared with the case where the occupant hits the interior parts or the like.
If it is determined that the front airbag 51 needs to be pressed at the time of prediction, the control unit 71 ignites the inflator 64 of the pressing airbag module 62 after a delay time after starting the deployment of the front airbag 51. Output a signal. The pressing airbag 63 operates toward the front airbag 51 during or after deployment.
As a result, for example, when an occupant seated on the navigation seat 24 hits the front airbag 51 while falling inward, the front airbag 51 can be displaced inward according to the movement of the occupant. The front airbag 51 can be displaced along the direction of movement of the occupant's head.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the pressing airbag 63 is deployed at the timing when the occupant who falls inward abuts on the front airbag 51, and the front airbag 51 during or after deployment is adjusted to the movement of the occupant. It can be displaced inward. Therefore, it becomes difficult for the head of the occupant, who falls inward, to move sideways so as to be displaced from the front airbag 51 after hitting the front airbag 51.
On the other hand, the head of the occupant who falls inward rotates when it hits the front airbag 51 and then moves sideways so as to be displaced from the front airbag 51 while being in contact with the front airbag 51. become. When this rotation is large and fast, the brain is likely to rotate with a delay with respect to the rotation of the head. In the present embodiment, the occurrence of such a situation can be effectively suppressed.

[Second Embodiment]
The vehicle occupant protection device 2 of the second embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the configuration of the pressing member 61 is different. In the following description, the components corresponding to those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement of the components of the vehicle occupant protection device 2 of the second embodiment.
The pressing member 61 has a pressing rod 66 and a solenoid 67. The pressing member 61 is fixed to the A pillar 12.
The pressing rod 66 is movably provided from the A pillar 12 toward the deployment region of the front airbag 51.
The solenoid 67 moves the pressing rod 66 by a control signal from the control unit 71.
As a result, the pressing rod 66 protrudes from the A pillar 12, and its tip penetrates into the deployment region of the front airbag 51.

In the collision determination process, the control unit 71 determines the occurrence of a collision based on various detection information input to the input / output ports, and further deploys the front airbag 51. Then, when it is determined that the front airbag 51 needs to be pressed at the time of prediction, the control unit 71 sends a drive signal to the solenoid 67 of the pressing member 61 after a delay time from the start of deployment of the front airbag 51. Output. As a result, the pressing rod 66 operates to displace the front airbag 51 during or after deployment inward.
As a result, for example, when an occupant seated on the navigation seat 24 hits the front airbag 51 while falling inward, the front airbag 51 can be displaced inward according to the movement of the occupant. The front airbag 51 can be displaced along the direction of movement of the occupant's head.

[Third Embodiment]
The vehicle occupant protection device 2 of the third embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the configuration of the pressing member 61 is different. In the following description, the components corresponding to those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement of the components of the vehicle occupant protection device 2 of the third embodiment.
The pressing member 61 is, for example, a pressing airbag module 62. The pressing airbag module 62 includes a pressing airbag 63, an inflator 64, and a switching valve 68. Then, the inflator 64 is connected to the pressing airbag 63 and the curtain airbag 69 via the switching valve 68. The curtain airbag 69 is an airbag deployed outside the occupant in the case of a side collision. By sharing the inflator 64 in this way, it becomes possible to accommodate the curtain airbag 69 together with the pressing airbag module 62 in the A pillar 12 which can secure only a narrow space.

When the control unit 71 determines that the front airbag module 50 needs to be pressed at the time of prediction, the control valve 68 selects the pressing airbag 63 by the switching valve 68. As a result, the gas supply destination of the inflator 52 is switched to the pressing airbag 63.
In other cases, the control unit 71 selects the curtain airbag 69 by the switching valve 68. The gas supply destination of the inflator 52 is switched to the curtain airbag 69.

As a result, when it is necessary to press the front airbag module 50 at the time of a collision, the control unit 71 deploys the pressing airbag 63 at the timing when the occupant who falls inward abuts on the front airbag 51, and is deploying or deploying. The deployed front airbag 51 can be displaced inward according to the movement of the occupant. Therefore, it becomes difficult for the head of the occupant, who falls inward, to move sideways so as to be displaced from the front airbag 51 after hitting the front airbag 51.

[Fourth Embodiment]
The vehicle occupant protection device 2 of the fourth embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the configuration of the pressing member 61 is different. In the following description, the components corresponding to those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement of the components of the vehicle occupant protection device 2 of the fourth embodiment.
The pressing member 61 is a pressing airbag module 62 arranged adjacent to the front airbag module 50 in four directions of up, down, left, and right. The pressing airbag module 62 has a plurality of pressing airbags 63, an inflator 64, and a switching valve 68. It should be noted that the switching valve 68 may be provided so that the gas supply destination of one inflator 64 can be switched between the plurality of pressing airbag modules 62. The deployment areas of the four pressing airbags 63 overlap the deployment areas of the front airbag 51 vertically and horizontally.

Next, the operation of the vehicle occupant protection device 2 will be described.
The overall flow of the rotational drive processing of the airbag module 50 by the control unit 71 of the present embodiment is the same as that in FIG.

Before the collision, the control unit 71 predicts and determines the collision mode based on the input information input to the input / output port indicating the inside / outside situation of the vehicle body. Further, based on the predicted collision mode, the necessity of pressing the front airbag module 50, the pressing direction, and the pressing timing are determined. The control unit 71 switches the gas supply destination of the inflator 52 to the pressing airbag module 62 on the opposite side of the pressing direction by the switching valve 68, if necessary.

Further, the control unit 71 determines the occurrence of a collision.
Then, when it is determined that a collision occurs, the control unit 71 outputs an ignition signal to the inflator 52 of the front airbag module 50. As a result, the front airbag 51 is deployed.
Further, when it is determined that the front airbag 51 needs to be pressed at the time of prediction, the control unit 71 starts deploying the front airbag 51, and after a delay time, the pressing airbag module on the opposite side to the pressing direction. An ignition signal is output to the inflator 52 of 62. The pressing airbag 63 on the opposite side of the pressing direction operates toward the front airbag 51 during or after deployment.
As a result, for example, when an occupant seated on the navigation seat 24 hits the front airbag 51 while falling inward, the front airbag 51 can be displaced in the pressing direction according to the movement of the occupant. The front airbag 51 can be displaced along the direction of movement of the occupant's head.

1 ... Automobile (vehicle), 2 ... Vehicle occupant protection device, 11 ... Floor panel, 12 ... A pillar, 13 ... B pillar, 14 ... C pillar, 15 ... Roof rail, 16 ... Roof panel, 17 ... Toe board, 18 ... Dashboard, 19 ... Windshield, 20 ... Rear glass, 21 ... Side sill, 22 ... Center tunnel, 23 ... Driver seat, 24 ... Navigation seat, 25 ... Shift lever, 26 ... Console box, 27 ... Steering wheel, 28 ... Bench seat , 29 ... Steering support beam, 41 ... Seat, 42 ... Back, 50 ... Airbag module, 51 ... Airbag, 52 ... Inflator, 53 ... Module base, 61 ... Pressing member, 62 ... Pressing airbag module, 63 ... Pressing airbags, 64 ... inflators, 65 ... module bases, 66 ... pressing rods, 67 ... solenoids, 68 ... switching valves, 69 ... curtain airbags, 71 ... control units, 72 ... outside cameras, 73 ... in-vehicle cameras, 74 ... Acceleration sensor, 75 ... Vehicle speed sensor, 76 ... Steering angle sensor

Claims (1)

An airbag that is installed on the vehicle body and deploys around the occupant so that at least the head of the occupant on the vehicle body hits it.
A pressing member provided on the vehicle body and capable of operating toward the inside of the deployment region of the airbag,
A control unit that controls the operation of the pressing member,
Have,
The control unit
The pressing member is operated so as to displace the airbag while the occupant's head is in contact with the airbag during or after deployment.
The airbag is
By being pressed by the pressing member, the head can be displaced in the moving direction.
Vehicle occupant protection device.

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