JPH0872665A - Automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To surely detect whether an occupant is seated at the front passenger seat. CONSTITUTION: An air bag is respectively provided on a driver's side and a front passenger seat, and an air bag system to actuate the respective air bags by an air bag controller when an air bag sensor detects the impact in the collision is provided. A human body detecting sensor 26 consisting of a pyroelectric sensor to detect the presence or absence of the seating of an occupant at the front passenger seat is provide on the left-down corner part of a supporting frame 20 of an inner mirror 19. The air bag controller is constituted so that the air bag on the front passenger seat side may not be actuated even in the collision when the human body detecting sensor 26 may not detect the seating, i.e., when no occupant is present at the front passenger seat.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle for detecting the seating of a passenger on a passenger seat.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, automobiles have been provided with an air bag system for protecting an occupant in the event of a collision, and the air bag is installed not only on the driver's seat but also on the passenger side. Is coming. In this case, the airbag is operated by the controller when the airbag sensor provided on the vehicle body detects the impact at the time of a collision, but conventionally, at the time of a collision, both the driver side and the passenger side The airbag was working.

However, there is a circumstance that the airbag cannot be used once it is opened, and it is desired that the airbag on the passenger side operates only when an occupant is on the passenger side. Therefore, in order to detect the presence or absence of an occupant in the passenger seat, a seat switch consisting of a micro switch that turns on when a load of a specified value or more is applied is provided on the passenger seat, and this seat switch is used to ignite the passenger side airbag. A configuration has been considered in which the airbag on the passenger side is operated only when the seat switch is turned on by being inserted in the energizing circuit of the device.

[0004]

However, with the seat switch that detects seating by the load on the seat of the passenger seat as described above, even if a load is placed on the seat, it is detected as an occupant. For example, it is not always possible to reliably detect that the passenger is seated in the passenger seat. Further, when the passenger's body is lifted from the seat due to the impact at the time of the collision, the passenger side airbag may not operate.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an automobile capable of reliably detecting whether or not an occupant is seated in the passenger seat.

[0006]

A vehicle according to the present invention has a passenger seat in a passenger compartment, and a human body detection sensor for detecting whether or not the passenger seat is seated, and a human body detection sensor. The present invention is characterized in that the seating information detected by the control means is used for controlling the in-vehicle system (the invention of claim 1). At this time, the human body detection sensor is provided in front of, in the side of, or on the ceiling of the passenger seat in the passenger compartment,
It can be configured to monitor a predetermined range including the seat surface of the passenger seat (the invention of claim 2).

As the in-vehicle system, there is an airbag system equipped with airbags in both the driver's seat and the passenger's seat. In this case, the control means controls the air on the passenger's side based on the detection of the human body detection sensor. It can be configured to control the operation of the bag (the invention of claim 3). Further, as the in-vehicle system, there is a door lock system, and in this case, the control means can be configured to control locking and unlocking of the passenger side door based on the detection of the human body detection sensor (claim Invention of 4). Further, as the vehicle-mounted system, there is an air conditioner system, and in this case, the control means can be configured to control the air blow to the passenger side based on the detection of the human body detection sensor (the invention of claim 5). ).

[0008]

According to the automobile of claim 1 of the present invention, since the human body detection sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the seat on the passenger seat is provided in a non-contact manner, unlike the case where the seat is detected by the load on the seat, With the human body detection sensor, even a child or the like can be detected separately from luggage. Since the presence / absence of the passenger in the passenger seat can be reliably detected by the human body detection sensor, the seating information can be effectively used for controlling the in-vehicle system.

At this time, if the human body detection sensor is provided on the seat of the passenger seat, mounting, wiring, etc. are considerably troublesome, and there is a problem in terms of design.
On the other hand, if the human body detection sensor is provided in front of, in the side of, or on the ceiling of the passenger seat in the passenger compartment, the human body detection sensor is configured to monitor a predetermined range including the seat surface of the passenger seat (the invention of claim 2). It is possible to reliably detect the presence or absence of an occupant in the passenger seat while the human body detection sensor can be mounted and wired relatively easily. In addition, it is possible to provide it at a position where there is no problem in terms of design.

The detection of the human body detection sensor can be utilized for controlling the operation of the airbag of the airbag system (the invention of claim 3). For example, when there is no passenger in the passenger seat, the passenger seat It is possible to prevent the airbag from operating. Further, the detection of the human body detection sensor can be used for controlling the door lock system (the invention of claim 4), and for example, the locking and unlocking of the passenger side door can be controlled depending on the presence or absence of a passenger in the passenger side. Is possible. Furthermore, the detection of the human body detection sensor,
It can be used to control the air conditioner system (the invention of claim 5), and for example, it becomes possible to control the air blow to the passenger seat side depending on the presence or absence of a passenger in the passenger seat.

[0011]

EXAMPLES Some examples of the present invention will be described below.
This will be described with reference to the drawings. (1) First Example First, a first example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG. 3 shows a main part of an automobile according to this embodiment, in which a vehicle compartment 2 is provided inside a body 1 of the automobile.
A driver's seat is provided in the front part of the passenger compartment 2, and a passenger seat 4 having a passenger seat 3 on which an occupant M (see FIG. 2) is seated is provided to the left of the driver's seat. There is.

The body 1 is provided with a front pillar 5 and a center pillar 6 which form an entrance / exit of the passenger seat 4, and the entrance / exit is opened and closed by a door 7. An outer mirror attachment portion 9 to which an outer mirror (door mirror) 8 is attached is provided on the outer front portion of the door 7. Further, an armrest 11 having a window regulator switch portion 10 is provided inside the door 7 so as to be located laterally of the passenger seat 4.

On the other hand, in the passenger compartment 2, an instrument panel 12 is provided in front of the driver's seat and the passenger seat 4. The instrument panel 12 is provided with a steering wheel 13 (only a part of which is shown) on the driver's seat side, and a glove box 14 on the passenger seat 4 side. Further, a center console 17 having an air conditioner operation panel 15, an audio operation panel 16 and the like is provided in an intermediate portion between the driver's seat in the center of the instrument panel 12 and the passenger seat 4. On the left side of the driver's seat (right side of the passenger seat 4),
A shift lever 18 is provided.

An inner mirror 19 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is provided above the center of the front part of the passenger compartment 2. The inner mirror 19 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal antiglare mirror, and is configured to have a mirror body 21 in which a mirror is combined with a liquid crystal cell inside a support frame 20. Installed on. The support frame 20 is adjustable in angle with respect to the mounting member 22.

Further, although not shown in detail, the vehicle according to this embodiment is provided with an air bag system, a door lock system, an air conditioner system and the like as in-vehicle systems. Of these, the airbag system is configured to include an airbag (not shown) on each of the driver seat side (steering wheel 13) and the passenger seat 4 side (instrument panel 12). When an impact is detected, the airbag controller 23 (see FIG. 4), which is a control means, operates (inflates) each airbag.

Further, the door lock system is configured to control locking and unlocking of all doors including the door 7 by a door lock controller 24 which is a control means shown in FIG. The air conditioner system includes an air conditioner controller 2 as a control means shown in FIG.
5 is configured to control the air conditioning in the passenger compartment 2 (adjust the air blowing mode, air blowing amount, blowing temperature, etc.).

In the present embodiment, the inner mirror 19 is provided with a human body detection sensor 26 for contactlessly detecting whether or not the occupant M is seated on the passenger seat 4 (passenger seat 3). There is. This human body detection sensor 26
Is a well-known pyroelectric sensor for detecting infrared rays emitted from the human body, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower left portion of the support frame 20 of the inner mirror 19 in front of the passenger seat 4. Is installed in the corner of the. As shown in FIG. 2, the human body detection sensor 26 is adapted to monitor a predetermined range E1 including the seat surface of the passenger seat 3 and thereby detect the presence or absence of the occupant M in the passenger seat 4. It is like this.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the output of the human body detection sensor 26 is output from the airbag controller 2 as described above.
3, the door lock controller 24 and the air conditioner controller 25 are provided as seating information via the controller 27. The air bag controller 23, the door lock controller 24, and the air conditioner controller 25 use the seating information for controlling each system.

In this case, the airbag controller 2
When the human body detection sensor 26 does not detect the seating, that is, when the passenger M is not in the passenger seat 4, the airbag 3 on the passenger seat 4 side is not operated even at the time of a collision. Further, the door lock controller 24 is configured to control the locking and unlocking of the door 7 on the passenger seat 4 side, depending on whether or not the human body detection sensor 26 detects seating, that is, the presence or absence of the occupant M on the passenger seat 4. Further, the air conditioner controller 25 is configured to control the air blowing mode to the passenger seat 4 side depending on whether or not the human body detection sensor 26 detects the seating, that is, the presence or absence of the occupant M in the passenger seat 4.

In this embodiment, the passenger seat 4
The human body detection sensor 26 including a pyroelectric sensor is provided on the inner mirror 19 located in the upper front part of the passenger seat 3
Since the predetermined range E1 including the seat surface is monitored, the presence / absence of sitting on the passenger seat 4 can be detected without contact. In this case, unlike the case where seating is detected by the load on the seat as conventionally considered, even a child or the like can detect the seat separately from the luggage, and as a result, the passenger M in the passenger seat 4 can detect the seat. It is possible to reliably detect whether or not you are seated.

In the present embodiment, the human body detection sensor 26
Are provided at the corners of the support frame 20 of the inner mirror 19, so that the support frame 20 of the inner mirror 19 can be attached by a slight modification, and can be shared with the working substrate of the inner mirror 19. Since it can be integrated and wiring can be performed at the same time, mounting, wiring and the like can be performed extremely easily as compared with the case where the passenger seat 3 is provided. Moreover, it can be done without any problems in terms of design.

In the present embodiment, the human body detection sensor 2
When the passenger M is not in the passenger seat 4 by the detection of 6,
Since the airbag on the passenger seat 4 side is configured not to operate, it is possible to sufficiently meet the request to operate the passenger seat 4 side airbag only when the occupant M is present. Further, since the door lock system and the air conditioner system are also controlled based on the detection of the human body detection sensor 26, it is possible to control them in an appropriate form according to the presence or absence of the occupant M in the passenger seat 4. Can also be obtained together.

(2) Second and Third Embodiments FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 6 and 7 show a third embodiment of the present invention. The second and third embodiments differ from the first embodiment in that the mounting position of the human body detection sensor 26 is changed to the inner mirror 19 portion, and the ceiling portion 31 of the passenger seat 4 in the passenger compartment 2 is replaced. It has been changed to. Therefore, for the same parts as those in the first embodiment, new illustration and description will be omitted and common reference numerals will be used.

In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a human body detection sensor is provided at a portion of a room lamp portion (not shown) provided in a substantially central portion of a ceiling portion 31 in the passenger compartment 2 near the passenger seat 4 side. 26 is attached. In this case, the human body detection sensor 26 is adapted to monitor the predetermined range E2 including the seat surface of the passenger seat 3 from above, thereby detecting the presence or absence of the occupant M in the passenger seat 4. ing.

On the other hand, in the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the human body detection sensor 26 is attached to the sun visor 32 on the passenger seat 4 side provided at the front end of the ceiling 31. . In this case, the human body detection sensor 26
Monitors the predetermined range E3 including the seating surface of the passenger seat 3 from above the front part, whereby the presence or absence of the occupant M in the passenger seat 4 is detected.

Also in these second and third embodiments,
The same operation and effect as those of the first embodiment can be obtained. When the human body detection sensor 26 is provided on the ceiling portion 31 in the vehicle interior 2, it may be attached to a map lamp including an inner mirror portion or a sunroof portion.

(3) Fourth and Fifth Embodiments FIG. 8 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 9 and 10 show a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In these fourth and fifth embodiments, the human body detection sensor 26 is provided in front of the passenger seat 4 in the passenger compartment 2, and other parts are common to the first embodiment. ing.

That is, in the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the human body detection sensor 26 is provided in the portion of the center console 17 provided in the intermediate portion between the driver's seat and the passenger seat 4 facing the passenger seat 4 side. I am trying. In this case, it is possible to provide the human body detection sensor 26 on the air conditioner operation panel 15 or the audio operation panel 16.

In the fifth embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the glove box 1 provided in front of the passenger seat 4 is shown.
The human body detection sensor 26 is provided on the knob 14a portion of the No. 4 door. As a result, the human body detection sensor 26 monitors the predetermined range E4 including the seat surface of the passenger seat 3 from the front. Also, the glove box 14
It is also possible to provide the human body detection sensor 26 on the door itself or on the instrument panel 12 portion around it.
Also in the fourth and fifth embodiments, it is possible to obtain the same actions and effects as those of the first embodiment and the like.

(4) Sixth to Ninth Embodiments FIG. 11 shows sixth to ninth embodiments of the present invention. The sixth to ninth embodiments are examples in which the human body detection sensor 26 is provided on the side of the passenger seat 4 in the vehicle compartment 2, and the mounting positions are different from each other. They are collectively shown in one drawing. still,
In FIG. 11, (A) to (D) are added after the reference numeral “26” of the human body detection sensor 26 to distinguish them. The other parts are also common to the first embodiment.

That is, in the sixth embodiment, the human body detection sensor 26 (A) is provided in the upper portion of the front pillar 5 so that the predetermined range E5 including the seat surface of the passenger seat 3 is monitored from the upper side. It has become. In the seventh embodiment, the human body detection sensor 26 (B) is provided in the outer mirror mounting portion 9 portion, and the predetermined range E6 including the seat surface of the passenger seat 3 is monitored from the side.

In the eighth embodiment, the human body detection sensor 26
(C) is provided on the inner side surface portion of the armrest 11, and the predetermined range E7 including the seat surface of the passenger seat 3 is monitored from the side. In the ninth embodiment, the human body detection sensor 26 (D) is provided on the side surface portion of the shift lever 18, and the predetermined range E8 including the seat surface of the passenger seat 3 is monitored from the side.

Also in these sixth to ninth embodiments,
It is possible to obtain the same operation and effect as those of the first embodiment and the like. In addition, as an example in which the human body detection sensor 26 is provided on the side of the passenger seat 4 in the vehicle compartment 2, in addition, the human body detection sensor 26 may be provided on the center pillar 6 or the window regulator switch portion 10, or an armrest (not shown) on the center side. ), Etc.

In each of the above-described embodiments, a pyroelectric sensor is used as the human body detecting sensor 26. As the human body detecting sensor, an infrared sensor is used to determine whether or not a person is seated based on reflected light. Various sensors are used as long as they can detect the occupant M in the front passenger seat 4 in a non-contact manner, such as by using a sensor to determine presence / absence of a seat from a reflected wave, or determining presence / absence of a seat. It is possible.

In the above embodiment, the human body detection sensor 2
Although the detection signal of No. 6 is used for controlling the airbag system, door lock system, and air conditioner system as the in-vehicle system, it may be used for controlling at least one of the in-vehicle systems. It may be used to control the in-vehicle system. In addition, the present invention can be appropriately modified and implemented within a range not departing from the gist, for example, by adding a sheet switch as described in the conventional example to further improve the detection accuracy. .

[0036]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention has the following excellent effects.
That is, according to the automobile of claim 1, a human body detection sensor that detects whether or not a passenger is seated on the passenger seat in a non-contact manner, and a control unit that uses the seating information detected by the human body detection sensor to control the in-vehicle system. Since it is provided, it is possible to reliably detect whether or not the occupant is seated in the passenger seat, and the seating information can be effectively used for controlling the in-vehicle system.

In this case, the human body detection sensor may be provided in front of, in the side of, or on the ceiling of the passenger seat in the vehicle compartment to monitor a predetermined range including the seat surface of the passenger seat (claim 2). (Vehicles), human body detection sensors can be mounted and wired relatively easily, and the presence / absence of passengers in the passenger seat can be reliably detected, and there is no design problem. Can be provided in the.

The detection of the human body detection sensor can be used for controlling the operation of the airbag of the airbag system (the automobile of claim 3). For example, when there is no passenger in the passenger seat, the passenger seat It is possible to prevent the airbag from being operated, and it is possible to sufficiently meet the demand that the airbag on the passenger side is operated only when an occupant is present.

Further, the detection of the human body detection sensor can be utilized for controlling the door lock system (vehicle according to claim 4). For example, the passenger side door can be locked or unlocked depending on the presence or absence of a passenger. It becomes possible to control. Furthermore, the detection of the human body detection sensor can be used for controlling the air conditioner system (vehicle according to claim 5), and for example, it is possible to control the blowing to the passenger seat side depending on the presence or absence of a passenger in the passenger seat. It will be.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing a first embodiment of the present invention, in which a side view (a) and a front view (b) of an inner mirror are shown side by side.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing a monitor range of a human body detection sensor.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a main part of an automobile.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a main part.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing a monitor range of a human body detection sensor according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a sun visor portion showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view showing a monitor range of a human body detection sensor.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an essential part of an automobile showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a glove box portion showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic side view showing a monitor range of a human body detection sensor.

FIG. 11 is a front view of a passenger seat portion showing the sixth to ninth embodiments of the present invention collectively.

[Explanation of symbols]

In the drawing, 2 is a passenger compartment, 3 is a passenger seat, 4 is a passenger seat, 5
Is a front pillar, 6 is a center pillar, 9 is an outer mirror mounting part, 10 is a window regulator switch part, 11 is an armrest, 12 is an instrument panel, 14 is a glove box, 15 is an air conditioner operation panel, 16 is an audio operation panel, 17 is a center console, 18 is a shift lever, 19 is an inner mirror,
20 is a support frame, 23 is an airbag controller, 24
Is a door lock controller, 25 is an air conditioner controller, 26 is a human body detection sensor, 27 is a controller, 31
Is a ceiling part, 32 is a sun visor, M is an occupant, and E1 to E8
Indicates the monitor range.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yutaka Yoshida No. 1 Noda, Toyota, Oguchi-cho, Niwa-gun, Aichi Prefecture Tokai Rika Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle having a passenger seat in a passenger compartment,
A vehicle comprising: a human body detection sensor that detects whether or not the passenger seat is seated in a non-contact manner; and a control unit that uses the seating information detected by the human body detection sensor to control an in-vehicle system. 2. The human body detection sensor is provided in front of, in the side of, or on the ceiling of the passenger seat in the vehicle compartment, and is configured to monitor a predetermined range including the seat surface of the passenger seat. The automobile according to claim 1. 3. The in-vehicle system comprises an airbag system in which an airbag is provided in both a driver's seat and a passenger's seat, and the control means is based on the detection of the human body detection sensor. The vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the vehicle is configured to control the operation of the vehicle. 4. The in-vehicle system comprises a door lock system, and the control means is configured to control locking and unlocking of a passenger side door based on detection by the human body detection sensor. The automobile according to claim 1 or 2, which is characterized in that. 5. The on-vehicle system comprises an air-conditioning system, and the control means is configured to control air flow to the passenger side based on the detection of the human body detection sensor. The automobile according to item 1 or 2.