JPH04166465A - Safety device for automobile accident - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce damage given to a vehicle or crew by outputting a brake operation signal to drive a brake, when the detected value from a shock sensor to detect impulsive force given to a vehicle is larger than a first setting value and smaller than a second setting value. CONSTITUTION:A shock sensor 1 functions to detect impulsive force given to a vehicle, an impulsive force judging device 2 outputs a brake operation signal at the value of impulsive force detected signal from the shock sensor 1 in a prescribed range, and a brake actuator 3 lets a brake device 4 operate braking when the braking signal is output. In this way, until the impulsive force needed to be braked is applied, the brake is not driven and malfunction can be prevented due to detection of small shock. Further when impulsive force over a second setting value is applied, the brake is not driven, hence when excessive shock is applied by a rear-end collision, the vehicle is pushed out forward.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a safety device for automobile accidents, and particularly to a safety device that operates when a vehicle is rear-ended or collided from the side by another vehicle.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, there has been a tendency to place more and more emphasis on the safety of automobiles, and various safety devices have been developed in preparation for the unlikely event of an accident. For example, braking control devices have already been put into practical use that can safely stop a vehicle without slipping when sudden braking is applied by separately controlling the braking action of each of the vehicle's four wheels. Many vehicles are also being equipped with airbags to protect occupants in the event of a collision.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, until now, there has been little development of safety devices that can appropriately control a vehicle braking system after an accident occurs. In particular, rear-end collisions account for a fairly high proportion of car accidents, and moreover, rear-end collisions often result in injuries such as whiplash to the occupants. Therefore, conventional automobiles that do not have sufficient protection functions against rear-end collisions remain a major problem in terms of safety measures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a safety device for automobile accidents that can reduce damage to a vehicle and its occupants in the event of a rear-end collision or the like.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention provides an impact sensor that detects an impact force applied to a vehicle, and an impact sensor that outputs a brake operation signal when a detected value by the impact sensor is larger than a first set value and smaller than a second set value. An automobile accident safety device is configured by a force determiner and a brake actuator that drives a brake device based on this brake operation signal.

[For production]

In the safety device according to the present invention, the occurrence of a rear-end collision or the like is detected by an impact sensor. When this detected value is between the first set value and the second set value, a brake operation signal is output from the impact force determiner, and the brake is automatically driven. If an impact force that is less than the first set value is applied to the vehicle, the brakes will not be activated. For this reason, until a sufficient impact force is applied that requires braking,
The brakes are not activated by the second safety device.

Therefore, malfunctions due to detection of a slight impact can be prevented. Furthermore, even if an impact force greater than the second set value is applied to the vehicle, the brakes will not be activated by this safety device. Therefore, if an excessive impact is applied from behind by a large vehicle, etc., the brakes will not be applied and the vehicle will be pushed forward.

In this way, in the event of an excessive impact, the driver can escape forward without applying the brakes, thereby reducing damage to the vehicle and its occupants.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be described below based on illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of a safety device for automobile accidents according to an embodiment of the present invention. The impact sensor 1 has a function of detecting an impact force applied to a vehicle, and the detected impact force is outputted as an impact force detection signal in the form of an electrical signal. As the impact sensor 1, any sensor may be used as long as it is capable of detecting an abnormal impact force that occurs due to a collision with another vehicle such as a rear-end collision. FIG. 2 shows an embodiment in which the impact sensor is configured by a plurality of pressure sensors attached to the bumper. FIG. 2 is a top view of the rear end of the automobile, showing the bumper 20 attached to the rear body 10. In this embodiment, pressure sensors 31 to 34 are attached to four locations on the bumper 20. Pressure sensors 31 and 32 attached to the rear of the bumper 20 are for detecting an impact caused by a rear-end collision, and pressure sensors 33 and 34 attached to the sides of the bumper 20 are for detecting an impact caused by a rear-end collision.
This is to detect impact caused by contact from the side. If a pressure sensor using a piezo element or the like is used, the pressure value applied to the bumper 20 can be detected as an electrical signal.

That is, in this embodiment, the impact force detection signal output by the impact sensor 1 is an electrical signal indicating the pressure value applied to the bumper 20. The example above has been shown in which pressure sensors are attached to the bumper at the rear of the automobile, but four pressure sensors are similarly attached to the bumper at the front of the automobile.

The impact force determiner 2 is an electric circuit that has a function of outputting a brake operation signal when the value of the impact force detection signal given from the impact sensor 1 is within a predetermined range. This operation is shown in the graph of FIG.

There are two thresholds @11 and 2 in the impact force judger 2.
is set. Then, the value of the impact force detection signal ■ is
When II<I<12 (that is, when the area is in the graph of FIG. 3), a brake operation signal is output. In regions a and C, no brake operation signal is output.

The brake actuator 3 has a function of causing the brake device 4 to perform a braking operation when a brake operation signal is output. Generally, sudden operation of the brake system is dangerous as the vehicle body may slip, so it is preferable that the brake actuator 3 be programmed to perform the most appropriate braking operation. For example, it is possible to input data regarding vehicle speed, and to perform a relatively rapid braking operation when the vehicle speed is slow, and a relatively slow braking operation when the vehicle speed is fast.

Next, the operation of this safety device will be explained. During normal running, the impact sensor 1 does not detect an impact and therefore does not output an impact force detection signal. However, in reality, a weak signal will be output as an impact force detection signal due to wind pressure while the vehicle is running or other disturbances. However, as long as this signal value ■ is within the area a of the graph in FIG. 3, the impact force determiner 2 will not output a brake operation signal.

In order to prevent malfunctions during normal driving, it is preferable to set the setting value (1) to a value as high as possible.

Suppose that this car is hit from behind by another car while waiting at a traffic light at an intersection. When such a sudden accident occurs, the driver is usually unable to take appropriate measures. In other words, it is unlikely that the driver will be able to press the brake pedal immediately, and even if the driver presses the brake pedal while waiting at a traffic light, the impact of a rear-end collision will often cause the driver to take his or her foot off the pedal. If this safety device is installed, the following safety measures will be automatically taken in such cases.

That is, as the setting value 11 in the impact force determiner 2,
If an appropriate value is set assuming such a rear-end collision, the value of the impact force detection signal I at the time of a rear-end collision will fall within the range shown in Figure 3, and the brake operation signal will be output from the impact force determiner 2. Output. In this way, the brake actuator 3 performs a braking operation, and the brake device 4 automatically operates without the driver performing a brake operation. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the vehicle from being pushed forward due to the impact of a rear-end collision. Note that in FIG. 1, all signal transmission from the impact sensor 1 to the impact force determiner 2 to the brake actuator 3 is performed by electrical signals, so the brake device 4 is not activated until an accident actually occurs. The time required for this to occur is extremely short, and in practice, effective braking operation is possible.

The safety device of this embodiment also operates in the event of a side collision. As shown in FIG. 2, pressure sensors 33 and 34 are attached to the sides of the bumper 20, so
Even when a side collision occurs at the beginning of an intersection, the impact force determiner 2 outputs a brake operation signal and the brake device 4 operates. Generally, even in such a side collision accident, the driver is often unable to take appropriate measures because the accident is unexpected. If the safety device of this embodiment is installed, secondary accidents such as collisions with buildings caused by side collisions can be prevented.

By the way, when a rear-end collision or the like occurs, always operating the brakes is not necessarily the best way to protect passengers. For example, in the event of a rear-end collision with a vehicle such as a large dump truck, operating the brakes often causes more damage to the occupants. In other words, if the brakes are applied, the entire large impact of the rear-end collision will be applied to the vehicle. In such a case, it would be more appropriate to take measures to allow the impact of the rear-end collision to push the vehicle forward naturally without operating the brakes, thereby easing the impact on the vehicle. This is why region C is provided in FIG. That is, if the value of the impact force detection signal I given from the impact sensor 1 is larger than the predetermined setting value (2), the impact force determiner 2 does not output a brake operation signal. In this way, if a collision involving a very large impact force occurs, the automatic braking operation by this safety device will not be performed.

In this way, in this safety device, as shown in FIG. 3, automatic braking operation is performed only when the value of the impact force detection signal I satisfies 11<1<12. Setting values ■1 and I2 are set to optimal values, taking into consideration the type of impact sensor used and the type of vehicle in which it is installed.

Although the present invention has been described above based on Examples, the present invention is not limited to these Examples, and can be implemented in various other forms. For example, in the above embodiment, a pressure sensor attached to a bumper was used as the impact sensor 1, but an acceleration sensor or the like that is currently used for activating an air bag may also be used.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the automobile accident safety device of the present invention, when the impact force applied to the vehicle is within a predetermined range,
Since the brakes are automatically applied, damage to the vehicle and passengers in an automobile accident can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of a safety device for rear-end collisions according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a top view showing an embodiment in which an impact sensor is configured by a plurality of pressure sensors attached to a bumper, and Fig. 3 2 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the impact force determiner in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 10... Rear body, 20... Bumper, 31-3
4...Pressure sensor. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] an impact sensor that detects an impact force applied to a vehicle; a value detected by the impact sensor is greater than a first set value, and
an impact force determiner that outputs a brake operation signal when the impact force is smaller than a second set value; and a brake actuator that drives a brake device based on the brake operation signal;
A safety device for automobile accidents characterized by comprising: