JPH08188114A - Air bag operation controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent air pressure in a car room from suddenly going up to a higher one at the time when an air bag body has swollen. CONSTITUTION: An inflator 14A of an air bag unit 14 for a driver's seat is connected to a controller 40 as an operation control means, and an inflator 26A of an air bag unit 26 for an occupant's seat and an air pressure sensor 32 both are connected to this controller 40 as well. In the case where the controller 40 is so judged that a climbing speed of car room internal air pressure is more than the car room internal air pressure, each operation timing of both these air bag units 26 and 14 is shifted from that of other air bag units with one another. Accordingly, each swelling completion time of respective air bag bodies is shifted to some extent, and since a rise in the car room internal pressure becomes moderated, such a possibility that the internal air pressure might be suddenly turned up to a higher one at the time of the swell of an air bag body is thus preventable.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air bag operation control device, and more particularly to an air bag operation control device mounted on a vehicle equipped with a plurality of air bag devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a vehicle equipped with a plurality of airbag devices for protecting an occupant seated in a driver's seat, a passenger seat and a rear seat in an emergency of the vehicle.

For example, an airbag device for protecting an occupant seated in the driver's seat is provided in the steering wheel, and when the vehicle suddenly decelerates, the airbag bag bulges toward the occupant seated in the driver's seat. Let Further, an airbag device for protecting an occupant seated in the passenger seat is provided in the instrument panel, and the airbag bag body is inflated toward the occupant seated in the passenger seat during sudden deceleration of the vehicle. In addition, the airbag device for protecting the occupant seated in the rear seat,
It is provided in the seat back of the driver's seat and the passenger seat,
During sudden deceleration of the vehicle, the airbag bag is inflated toward the occupant seated in the rear seat.

Further, there are vehicles in which an airbag device is incorporated in a seat in preparation for a side collision of the vehicle, and a vehicle in which an airbag device is provided in a side door or a console box between a driver's seat and a passenger seat. Is also proposed.

[0005]

However, in such a vehicle, a plurality of airbag devices are simultaneously actuated at the time of sudden deceleration of the vehicle, whereby a plurality of airbag bags are simultaneously bulged into the vehicle compartment. It is possible.
In this case, when the door glass is fully closed, the air pressure inside the vehicle compartment may suddenly rise to a high air pressure due to the swelling of the plurality of airbag bags.

In view of the above facts, it is an object of the present invention to obtain an air bag operation control device capable of preventing the air pressure in the passenger compartment from rapidly rising to a high air pressure when the air bag body is inflated.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air bag operation control device for detecting a pressure inside a vehicle compartment, and a plurality of airbag devices for deploying an airbag bag inside the vehicle compartment. And the operation timings of the plurality of airbag devices when at least one of the vehicle interior pressure detected by the vehicle interior pressure detection means and the vehicle interior pressure increase rate calculated from the vehicle interior pressure becomes a predetermined value or more. And an operation control unit that shifts each other from each other.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air bag operation control device, wherein the vehicle interior pressure detecting means for detecting the air pressure inside the vehicle compartment, the air pressure reducing means for lowering the air pressure inside the vehicle compartment, and the air pressure detecting means for the vehicle interior are detected. The vehicle interior pressure control means for activating the air pressure lowering means when at least one of the generated vehicle interior pressure and the vehicle interior pressure increase rate calculated from the vehicle interior pressure is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. It has a feature.

[0009]

In the air bag operation control device according to claim 1,
The operation control means operates the plurality of airbag devices when at least one of the vehicle interior pressure detected by the vehicle interior pressure detection means and the vehicle interior pressure increase rate calculated from the vehicle interior pressure becomes a predetermined value or more. Stagger the timing from each other. This makes it possible to prevent the atmospheric pressure in the vehicle interior from rising rapidly, so that it is possible to prevent the atmospheric pressure in the vehicle interior from rapidly rising to a high pressure when the airbag bag is inflated.

In the airbag operation control device according to the present invention, the vehicle interior pressure control means includes at least the vehicle interior pressure detected by the vehicle interior pressure detection means and the vehicle interior pressure increase rate calculated from the vehicle interior pressure. When one of the pressures exceeds a predetermined value, the air pressure reducing means is activated. by this,
Since the air pressure in the passenger compartment is lowered, it is possible to prevent the air pressure in the passenger compartment from suddenly rising to high pressure when the airbag bag is inflated.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of an air bag operation control device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 2, the steering wheel 12 of the vehicle 10 is provided with a driver airbag device 14, and the driver airbag 16 is directed toward the occupant 18 seated in the driver seat 16. The body 20 is bulged. Further, in the instrument panel 24 in front of the passenger seat 22, an airbag device 26 for the passenger seat is provided, and toward the occupant 28 seated in the passenger seat 22,
The airbag 30 for the passenger seat is inflated.

An atmospheric pressure sensor 32 is provided on the upper surface of the instrument panel 24 as a vehicle interior atmospheric pressure detecting means.

As shown in FIG. 1, the inflator 14A of the driver airbag device 14 is connected to a controller 40 as an operation control means, and is operated by an output signal from the controller 40 to generate gas. The airbag 20 for the driver's seat is inflated.

The inflator 26A of the passenger seat air bag device 26 is connected to a controller 40, which is operated by an output signal from the controller 40 to generate gas and inflate the passenger seat air bag body 30. It is like this.

The atmospheric pressure sensor 32 is connected to the controller 40, and inputs the detected atmospheric pressure data P in the passenger compartment to the controller 40. The controller 40 calculates the vehicle interior pressure increase rate S based on the vehicle interior pressure data P from the atmospheric pressure sensor 32. Further, an acceleration sensor 42 arranged at a predetermined position of the vehicle is also connected to the controller 40, and the detected acceleration data α is sent to the controller 4
0 is input.

Further, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, in addition to the passenger airbag device 26 and the driver airbag device 14, the rear airbag device 44, and further the door. It is equipped with an air bag device 46 for a vehicle, an air bag device (not shown) for a console box, and an acceleration sensor 45 corresponding to a shock in the vehicle width direction.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. As shown in FIG. 4, in the airbag operation control at the time when the pressure in the vehicle interior increases, the acceleration sensor 4 is operated at step (hereinafter referred to as S) 110.
Outputs 2 and 45 are read, and in S112, it is determined whether or not the deceleration α of the vehicle is equal to or greater than a predetermined deceleration α1, and when it is determined that the deceleration α is equal to or greater than the predetermined deceleration α1, S1 is determined.
14, the inflator 26A of the passenger airbag device 26 and the inflator 14A of the driver airbag device 14 are operated to inflate the passenger airbag bag 30 and the driver airbag 20. Let

In addition to this, as shown in FIG.
At 0, the output of the atmospheric pressure sensor 32 is read and S10
In 2, the vehicle interior pressure increase rate S is calculated from the vehicle interior pressure P detected by the atmospheric pressure sensor 32.

Subsequently, in S104, it is determined whether or not the vehicle interior air pressure increase rate S is equal to or higher than a predetermined air pressure increase rate S1.
When it is determined that the vehicle interior air pressure increase rate S is equal to or higher than the predetermined air pressure increase rate S1, the process proceeds to S106, and a flag for performing airbag operation control when the vehicle interior air pressure rises is set (F =
1).

On the other hand, if it is determined in S104 that the vehicle interior pressure increase rate S is not equal to or higher than the predetermined pressure increase rate S1, the process proceeds to S108, and whether the vehicle interior pressure P is equal to or higher than the predetermined vehicle interior pressure P1. If it is determined that the vehicle interior pressure P is equal to or higher than the predetermined vehicle interior pressure P1, the process proceeds to S106, and a flag for performing airbag activation control when the vehicle interior pressure rises is set (F = 1).

Further, in S115 of FIG. 4, a flag for carrying out air bag operation control when the vehicle interior pressure rises is set (F
= 1), and when it is determined that the flag is set, the process proceeds to S116, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed, and when it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed, S11 is performed.
8, the inflator of the other airbag device is activated to inflate the other airbag bag.

Therefore, when it is determined that the vehicle interior pressure increase rate S is equal to or higher than the predetermined pressure increase rate S1 or the vehicle interior pressure P is equal to or higher than the predetermined vehicle interior pressure P1, the passenger seat Operation timings of the airbag device 26 for the driver, the airbag device 14 for the driver's seat, and the other airbag devices are deviated from each other, so that the airbag bag body 30 for the passenger seat, the airbag bag body 20 for the driver seat, and the other airbag bag body The swelling completion time is shifted. As a result, the increase in the air pressure in the vehicle compartment is moderated, so that it is possible to prevent the air pressure in the vehicle compartment from rapidly increasing to a high pressure when the airbag bag is inflated.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, when it is determined in S108 that the indoor pressure P is not equal to or higher than the predetermined vehicle interior pressure P1, the process returns to S100. Therefore, S in FIG.
If it is determined in 115 that the flag is not set, the process proceeds to S118 without waiting for a predetermined time to actuate the inflator of the other airbag device to inflate the other airbag bag.

Therefore, when the airbag device operates,
When there is no possibility that the atmospheric pressure in the vehicle interior will suddenly rise to a high atmospheric pressure due to the fact that the door glass is open, etc., the deceleration α of the vehicle detected by the acceleration sensors 42, 45 is equal to or greater than a predetermined deceleration α1. When it is determined that the inflator 26A of the passenger airbag device 26, the inflator 14A of the driver airbag device 14 and the inflators of other airbag devices are simultaneously activated, the airbag 30 for the passenger seat, The airbag 20 for seats and other airbags are inflated at the same time.

Further, in the first embodiment, when it is determined that the vehicle interior pressure increase rate S is equal to or higher than the predetermined pressure increase rate S1, or it is determined that the vehicle interior pressure P is equal to or higher than the predetermined vehicle interior pressure P1. If it does, the passenger airbag device 2
6 and the driver's airbag device 14 are deviated from each other in operation timing, but instead of this, when it is determined that the vehicle interior pressure increase rate S is equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure increase rate S1, or the vehicle interior pressure P When it is determined that is equal to or higher than the predetermined vehicle interior air pressure P1, the gas ejection amount of the inflator of each airbag device may be controlled to shift the inflation completion time of each airbag bag. For example, one airbag device may be provided with two or more inflators, and the ignition timing of one of the inflators and the rest of the inflators may be shifted.

Further, in the first embodiment, when it is determined that the vehicle interior pressure increase rate S is equal to or higher than the predetermined air pressure increase rate S1, or it is determined that the vehicle interior pressure P is equal to or higher than the predetermined vehicle interior pressure P1. If it does, the passenger airbag device 2
6. Although the operation timings of the driver airbag device 14 and the other airbag device are shifted from each other, the calculation of the vehicle interior pressure increase rate S in S102 and the vehicle interior pressure increase rate S in S104 are performed at a predetermined atmospheric pressure. When it is determined that the vehicle interior pressure P is equal to or higher than the predetermined vehicle interior pressure P1 without determining whether the rising speed S1 or more, the passenger airbag device 26,
The operation timings of the driver-seat airbag device 14 and other airbag devices may be shifted from each other. Or S10
The determination as to whether the vehicle interior pressure P in 8 is equal to or higher than the predetermined vehicle interior pressure P1 may be omitted.

Next, a second embodiment of the airbag operation control device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The same members as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 6, an opening 54 is formed at a portion of the package tray trim 50 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the high mount stop lamp 52. The portion 54 communicates with the outside air through a duct (not shown). Further, the opening 54 is usually the cover 5 that constitutes a part of the air pressure reducing means.
6 closed. One end of the wire 58 is fixed to the back surface of the cover 56, and the wire 5
The other end of 8 is connected to a wire drawing device 60 which constitutes a part of the air pressure reducing means. This wire retracting device 60 is equipped with an inflator 60A, and when the inflator 60A is activated, the wire 58 is connected to the arrow A in FIG.
It is designed to pull in the direction. Also, the wire 58
When is pulled in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 6, the cover 56 swings downward (in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 6) and the opening 54 is opened.

As shown in FIG. 5, the inflator 60A
Is connected to the controller 40 and is operated by an output signal from the controller 40.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, this second
In the airbag operation control apparatus of the embodiment, it is determined in S115 whether the flag is set (F = 1). Activate the inflator 60A,
After that, the process proceeds to S118, and the inflator of the other airbag device is operated to inflate the other airbag bag.

Therefore, when it is determined that the vehicle interior pressure increase rate S is equal to or higher than the predetermined pressure increase rate S1, or the vehicle interior pressure P is determined to be equal to or higher than the predetermined vehicle interior pressure P1, the controller 40 Is an inflator 26A of the passenger airbag device 26, a driver airbag device 1
4 inflator 14A and the inflator of the other airbag device are actuated substantially at the same time, and the passenger airbag bag 3
0, the airbag 20 for the driver's seat and other airbags are inflated substantially at the same time, and the wire retracting device 6
The 0 inflator 60A is operated. Therefore, the wire 58 is pulled in the direction of arrow A in FIG.
Swings in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 6 to open the opening 54. As a result, the air pressure in the vehicle interior is lowered, so that it is possible to prevent the air pressure in the vehicle interior from rapidly rising to a high pressure when the airbag bag is inflated.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, when it is determined in S108 that the indoor pressure P is not equal to or higher than the predetermined vehicle interior pressure P1, the process returns to S100. Therefore, S in FIG.
If it is determined in 115 that the flag is not set, S
Moving to 118, the inflator of the other airbag device is activated to inflate the other airbag bag.

That is, when there is no possibility that the air pressure in the passenger compartment will suddenly rise to a high pressure due to the fact that the door glass is opened when the airbag apparatus is activated, the acceleration sensors 42 and 45 detect the pressure. When it is determined that the deceleration α of the vehicle is equal to or greater than the predetermined deceleration α1, the inflator 60A of the wire retracting device 60 does not operate, and the inflator 26A of the passenger airbag device 26 and the driver airbag device. The inflator 14A of 14 and the inflator of the other airbag device are actuated substantially at the same time to inflate the passenger airbag bag 30, the driver airbag bag 20 and the other airbag bag at the same time.

Although the opening 54 is formed in the package tray trim 50 in the second embodiment, the opening 54 may be formed in another place, for example, the roof portion. Also,
In the second embodiment, the wire retracting device 60 is configured to be operated by the inflator 60A, but the wire retracting device 60 may be configured by other operating means such as a solenoid instead of the inflator 60A.

Further, the second embodiment and the first embodiment may be combined. In this case, when it is determined that the vehicle interior pressure increase rate S is equal to or higher than the predetermined pressure increase rate S1, or the vehicle interior pressure P is the predetermined vehicle interior pressure P1.
When it is determined that the above is the case, the operation timings of the passenger airbag device 26, the driver airbag device 14 and the other airbag devices are shifted from each other, and the inflator 60A of the wire retracting device 60 is activated. Let
Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent the atmospheric pressure in the vehicle compartment from rapidly rising to a high atmospheric pressure when the airbag body is inflated.

[0038]

According to the airbag operation control apparatus of the present invention as set forth in claim 1, there are provided a vehicle interior pressure detecting means for detecting an atmospheric pressure in the vehicle interior, and a plurality of airbag devices for deploying an airbag bag in the vehicle interior. And, when at least one of the vehicle interior pressure detected by the vehicle interior pressure detection means and the vehicle interior pressure increase rate calculated from the vehicle interior pressure is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the operation timings of the plurality of airbag devices are shifted from each other. Since the configuration including the operation control means is provided, it has an excellent effect that it is possible to prevent the atmospheric pressure in the vehicle compartment from rapidly rising to a high pressure when the airbag bag is inflated.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air bag operation control device for detecting a pressure inside a vehicle compartment, a means for detecting a pressure inside the vehicle, a means for reducing a pressure inside the vehicle, and a pressure detecting means for detecting the pressure inside the vehicle. A vehicle interior pressure control means for activating the air pressure lowering means when at least one of the vehicle interior pressure detected by the means and the vehicle interior pressure rising speed calculated from the vehicle interior pressure exceeds a predetermined value. With such a configuration, it has an excellent effect that it is possible to prevent the atmospheric pressure in the vehicle compartment from suddenly rising to high pressure when the airbag body is inflated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an airbag operation control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a front part of a vehicle compartment of a vehicle to which the airbag operation control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied, as seen obliquely from the rear of the vehicle.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a vehicle interior pressure reading control of the airbag operation control apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an airbag device operation control of the airbag operation control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an airbag operation control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a rear portion of a vehicle compartment to which the airbag operation control apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention is applied, as seen obliquely from the front of the vehicle.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing airbag device operation control of the airbag operation control device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 14 Driver airbag device 14A Inflator 20 Driver airbag bag 26 Passenger airbag 26A Inflator 28 Passenger airbag bag 30 Passenger airbag bag 32 Atmospheric pressure sensor ) 40 controller (operation control means) 42 acceleration sensor 54 opening (atmospheric pressure reducing means) 56 cover (atmospheric pressure reducing means) 60 wire retracting device (atmospheric pressure reducing means) 60A inflator

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle interior pressure detecting means for detecting a pressure inside a vehicle compartment, a plurality of airbag devices for deploying an airbag bag inside the vehicle compartment, and a vehicle interior pressure detected by the vehicle interior pressure detecting means. An operation control unit that shifts the operation timings of the plurality of airbag devices from each other when at least one of the vehicle interior pressure increase rate calculated from the vehicle interior pressure exceeds a predetermined value. Airbag operation control device. 2. A vehicle interior pressure detecting means for detecting the air pressure inside the vehicle compartment, and an air pressure reducing means for lowering the air pressure inside the vehicle compartment.
A vehicle interior pressure control that activates the air pressure lowering means when at least one of the vehicle interior pressure detected by the vehicle interior pressure detection means and the vehicle interior pressure increase rate calculated from the vehicle interior pressure becomes a predetermined value or more. An airbag actuation control device comprising: