JPH03217356A - Air bag controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To check whether the suitability of an air bag controller to the vehicle concerned is proper or not in an actual-car-assembled state in an easy manner by reading the setting value on a car-crash judgement for operating and controlling the air bag with generation of the specified timing and outputting it to the outside. CONSTITUTION:Any impact generating in a vehicle is detected by a means A. When the impact detected is in the specified level, it so judges as a car crash and thereby an air bag for protection of people aboard is controlled by a first means B so as to inflate it. On the other hand, the setting value that sets the said specified level of impact judgement is stored by a means C. In the above device, timing for reading the setting value stored in the means C is generated by a means D. With generation of this timing, the setting value is read out of the means C and controlled by a second means E so as to output it to the outside. With this constitution, whether an air bag controller is suitable to the vehicle conserned or not in an actual-car-assembled state is easily checkable.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an airbag control device (hereinafter referred to as an airbag ECU) for protecting an occupant in a vehicle.

[Conventional technology]

The airbag ECU detects a vehicle collision and protects the occupants from the collision by, for example, inflating an airbag provided on the vehicle steering wheel.
In this case, a collision of the vehicle is determined by calculating the impact that occurred on the vehicle based on the G signal from an acceleration sensor (hereinafter referred to as G sensor) installed in the vehicle, and if the calculation result exceeds a predetermined value. is detected as a vehicle collision. Note that the predetermined value serving as this threshold value may be determined for each of the various vehicle models in which the airbag ECU is installed, or for each of the various types of vehicles in which the airbag ECU is installed.
It is set depending on the installation state of the U, etc., and is stored as a set value in the memory in the airbag ECU.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

By the way, during the process of assembling the airbag ECU to the vehicle, there is a risk that the airbag ECU may be erroneously assembled.

If this incorrectly assembled vehicle is put on the market by mistake, the set values are not suitable for the vehicle, and in the case of airbags, malfunctions such as erroneous ignition or misfire may result in failure to achieve the purpose of passenger protection. This may cause serious problems such as not being able to be used properly. Therefore, it is necessary to reconfirm whether the assembled airbag ECU is suitable for the vehicle.

However, in the past, it has been difficult to check the device after it has actually been installed on a vehicle, and once it has been installed on the actual vehicle, there is no way to remove it and check it again. In addition, when installing a product on a wide variety of vehicles like today, it is often necessary to change the set values stored in the memory to correspond to each vehicle, so if the product is installed on a different vehicle by mistake, it can be easily checked visually. It was impossible to confirm.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to make it possible to confirm whether or not the installed airbag control device is compatible with the vehicle when it is installed in the actual vehicle. The second step is to expand the airbag control system.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the airbag control device of the present invention controls the operation of an airbag for passenger protection mounted on a vehicle, as shown in the basic configuration diagram of FIG. , a detection means for detecting an impact occurring on the vehicle; and determining that the impact detected by the detection means is at a predetermined level, thereby determining a collision of the vehicle and deploying the air bag for protecting the occupant. An airbag control device comprising: a first control means for inflating; and a storage means storing a setting value for setting the predetermined level in the judgment of the first control means, and a second control means for reading out the setting value from the storage means and outputting it to the outside in accordance with the generation of the timing by the timing means. It is characterized by

[Effect]

Therefore, in accordance with the timing generated by the timing means, the setting value necessary for determining a vehicle collision is read out from the storage means by the second control means and output to the outside.

That is, since the set value is set by the vehicle as described above, by checking the set value output by the second control means, it is possible to determine whether the assembled airbag control device is compatible with the vehicle. You can check whether it is correct or not.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of an airbag device to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

In FIG. 1, 101 is an airbag ECU, and G
It has a built-in sensor and makes ignition decisions. It also has a self-failure diagnosis function to detect abnormalities in internal and external wiring. Reference numeral 102 denotes a switch installed at the front of the vehicle, and when the contact is turned on in the event of a vehicle collision, the airbag is activated.

103 is an ignition device for an airbag, which is usually a heating element (
The type of squib used is one that energizes the squib, uses the heat generated to ignite the igniter, propagates the flame, and generates a larger amount of gas than the gas generating agent. Reference numeral 11 denotes a warning lamp for self-diagnosis, which is installed, for example, in the instrument panel of a vehicle (not shown), and is turned on to notify the user when an abnormality occurs.

Next, the inside of the airbag ECUIOI will be explained. Reference numeral 1 denotes a memory that stores set values for ignition determination, and for example, dark values of integral values of generated G are preset and stored. Note that the memory is constructed of non-volatile memory so that the stored memory contents will not be erased even if the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned off. 2 and 3 are input terminals for checking, and as described later, input signals to these terminals control the memory read mode and the ignition device 1 in the airbag control by the microprocessor (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 6.
The normal mode in which the ignition determination of 03 is performed is selected. 4 is a G sensor that detects deceleration occurring in the vehicle, and converts the G signal into a voltage signal (analog). 5 is an A/D converter that converts the output signal of the G sensor, which is output as an analog value, into a digital signal and outputs it to the CPU 6. 6 is C
The PU calculates and processes the G signal after A/D conversion, detects a collision of the vehicle based on the calculation result or the input signal from the switch 102, and outputs an ignition signal to the ignition circuit 7. It also has a self-diagnosis function, which detects abnormalities in internal and external connections using the abnormality detection interface 9, and lights up the alarm lamp 11 via the drive circuit 10. Furthermore, it has a function of sending the set value in the memory 1 to the output terminal 8 by signals applied to the input terminals 2 and 3. ．． 7 is an ignition circuit which operates the ignition device 10 to operate the ignition device 103 in response to an ignition signal generated by the CPU 6.
This is a huffer for power amplification, etc. for supplying electricity to 3. 8
is an output terminal for reading the set value in the memory 1 of the CPU 6, and is connected to a flashing device such as a lamp on the outside, a display, etc. Reference numeral 9 is an interface circuit for performing diagnosis as described above, and reference numeral 10 is a drive circuit that performs power amplification and the like to turn on the alarm lamp 11.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained using FIG. 2.

When the airbag device is activated, a power supply voltage is applied to the CPU 6, and airbag control is started in step 201. Then, in step 202, initial settings of each parameter etc. in the ignition determination calculation are performed, and in step 203
A control mode for airbag control is selected in accordance with input signals input to the CPU 6 via input terminals 2 and 3. Normally, the input terminals 2 and 3 are fixed to GND (Lo level) or the power supply voltage (Hi level), and their status is determined in step 203.

If the determination in step 203 is YES, step 20
4, the control mode is fixed to the normal mode. Then, in the next step 205, the CPU 6 performs a predetermined airbag calculation based on the G signal input from the G sensor 4 via the A/D converter 5, calculates the impact that has occurred on the vehicle, and in step 206 A comparison is made with the set value stored in the memory l, and if it is determined that ignition is necessary, an ignition signal is sent to the ignition circuit 7. Then, the ignition circuit 7 receives the ignition signal output from the CPU 6 and supplies an ignition current to the ignition device 103 through a current flow circuit or the like, and as described above, the ignition device 103 generates a large amount of gas by ignition, not shown. Deploys the airbag and terminates its operation. Further, if it is determined in step 206 that ignition is not necessary, the process returns to step 203 again.

Next, the setting value reading mode in the memory 1 will be explained.

Normally GND (Lo level) 8 or power supply voltage (Hi
For example, a test signal as shown in FIG. 3 is applied to the input terminals 2 and 3, which are fixed at a certain level. When this test signal is input into the CPU via the input terminals 2 and 3, the CPU 6 changes the control mode to the set value read mode (step 2 o) since the determination at step 203 is No.
7) and is fixed in this set value read mode.

Note that this test signal has a signal pattern that does not occur during normal operation, so unless this test signal is externally applied to input terminals 2 and 3, the setting value read mode will not be entered. . When the control mode is fixed to the set value read mode by the stem 207, the data such as the dark value (set value) for collision determination stored in the memory 1, the recorded value such as the calculation start acceleration value, etc. is read out in step 208. And next step 20
At step 9, these data in the memory 1 are sent to the output terminal 8 as serial data as shown in FIG. The bag returns to its normal function, that is, the normal mode described above. The output terminal 8 is connected to an external inspection device such as a display, a lamp flashing device, etc., and each set value is displayed or the lamp is turned on based on the serial data sent from the CPU 6 via the output terminal 8. Incorrect installation of the airbag ECU 101 can be detected by flashing the .
It is possible to check whether the airbag ECUI 0 1 is compatible with the vehicle in which it is assembled in the actual vehicle.

In the above embodiment, the data sent to the output terminal 8 directly indicates the specifications such as the darkness value and the judgment value, but it is also possible to output a product identification code based on the memory contents.

Further, the input terminals 2 and 3 and the output terminal 8 may be used in common with the existing input/output terminals of the CPU 6, or may be newly provided separately.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention, when assembled on an actual vehicle,
This has the excellent effect of being able to confirm whether the assembled airbag control device is suitable for the vehicle.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a system block diagram of an airbag device to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and Fig. 2 is a CP of the system shown in Fig. 1.
Flowchart showing the action of U6, Figure 3 is manual terminal 2
, 3 and a time chart showing an example of an output signal appearing at the output terminal 8. FIG. 4 is a basic configuration diagram of the present invention. 1... Memory, 2, 3... Input terminal, 4... G sensor, 6... CPU, 7... Ignition circuit, 8... Output terminal, 10I... Air bag ECU, 102...
Switch, 103...Ignition device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A device for controlling the operation of an airbag for protecting occupants mounted on a vehicle, comprising: a detection means for detecting an impact occurring on the vehicle; and an impact detected by the detection means; a first control means that determines that the vehicle has crashed and inflates the occupant protection airbag by determining that the predetermined level is present; and a setting that sets the predetermined level in the determination of the first control means. An airbag control device comprising: a storage means in which a value is stored; a timing means for generating a timing for reading out a setting value stored in the storage means; and second control means for reading out the setting value from the storage means and outputting it to the outside.