JPH10119712A - Occupant detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify an occupant detector for a rear seat by suppressing an action of an occupant protection device on the basis of an output signal from a switch when an armrest is housed in a backrest part and allowing the action when the armrest is pulled down for use. SOLUTION: When an armrest 11 is pulled down to a seat part in a rear seat, a micro switch 7 is turned on so that a switch circuit 8 is turned on, and if a signal processing circuit 2 determines a serious accident on the basis of acceleration generated in a vehicle, ignition current is supplied to both of the first and second driving circuits 3, 5. On the other hand, when the armrest 11 is housed in a housing part in a backrest central part, the switch 7 is turned off, and it is determined that no occupant is seated on the rear seat and the circuit 8 is turned off, so that supply of the ignition current to a detonator 6 for inflating a rear seat air bag is prevented even if the ignition current is supplied to a detonator 4 for inflating a driver seat air bag via the first driving circuit 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is provided with a plurality of occupant protection devices such as airbags, and operates as needed when a passenger in a rear seat is seated, for example, when a vehicle collision accident occurs. The present invention relates to an occupant detection device effective for an occupant protection device to be protected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art First, prior to describing an occupant detection device according to the present invention, based on FIG. 6 showing a conventional example, in order to operate a driver seat airbag, a passenger seat airbag and the like in parallel, An occupant protection device for driving a plurality of individually provided primers 4 and 6 in parallel will be described. That is, in FIG. 6, when the acceleration signal due to the collision detected by the acceleration sensor 1 is supplied to the signal processing circuit 2, the magnitude of the collision is determined, and when the signal processing circuit 2 determines that the collision is a serious collision, The signal processing circuit 2 supplies an ignition current to one of the primers 4 to deploy the airbag for the driver's seat via the first drive circuit 3, and also supplies the ignition current to the passenger seat via the second drive circuit 5. The ignition current is supplied to the other primer 6 to deploy and drive the airbag.

[0003]

However, when the passenger airbag in the occupant protection device having a plurality of primers is replaced with a rear-seat airbag as described above, that is, the driver-seat and rear-seat airbags are used. In an occupant protection device that deploys and drives bags in parallel, for example, even when no occupant is seated in the rear seat, if ignition current is supplied to a driver primer, a rear seat is provided. There is a problem that the ignition current is also supplied to the primer for use in the airbag and the airbag is deployed and driven.

For this purpose, a detection device has been developed which detects whether or not an occupant is seated in a passenger seat. For example, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 1-130857, this detection device employs a system in which a sheet-shaped pressure sensor is built in a seat and a resistance value changes when a weight of an occupant is added. Yes and 7-7853
In No. 9, a pair of electrodes are arranged on the floor side and the ceiling side of the body of the seat with the seat interposed, and the occupant in the rear seat is measured by measuring the change in capacitance due to the change in the dielectric constant between the electrodes. There is a method of detecting whether or not a person is seated.

However, if such an occupant detection device is used for detecting the occupant's seat in the rear seat,
There was a risk that the cost would increase as a detection device.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has simplified the occupant detection device for the rear seat.
The purpose is to provide low-cost products.

[0007]

An occupant detection device according to the present invention is provided with switch means for detecting a retracted state and a retracted state of an armrest provided at the center of a backrest of a rear seat. When is stored in the backrest portion, based on the output signal from the switch means, outputs a signal to suppress the operation of the occupant protection device,
When the armrest is pulled down and is in a usable state, the occupant protection device is made operable.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiment 1 FIG. First, an embodiment of an occupant detection device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
5 to 5, the same components as those shown and described in FIG. 6 or equivalent components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Only different portions will be described below. That is, the switch circuit 8 is interposed between the signal processing circuit 2 and the second drive circuit 5, and is turned off when an on signal is supplied from the elbow rest storage state detection switch circuit described below. .

This elbow rest storage state detection switch circuit includes:
For example, as shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, the micro switch 7 is provided at the center of the rear seat 9 of the vehicle, and rotates the elbow rest 11 that partitions the rear seat 9 left and right. Attached to the tip of a bracket 13 that is rotatably supported about a center axis L,
A base end of the bracket 13 is attached to a vehicle side plate 12 that separates a vehicle trunk room and a vehicle interior by a nut 15. As a result, when the elbow rest 11 is folded down as shown in FIG. 4 until it is pressed against the seat of the rear seat 9 as shown in FIG. 2, the microswitch 7 is turned on, and the switch circuit 8 is turned on. Switch. As a result, when the signal processing circuit 2 determines that a serious accident has occurred based on the acceleration generated in the vehicle by the acceleration sensor 1,
The ignition current is supplied to both the first and second drive circuits 3 and 5, and the occupant in the driver's seat and the occupant in the rear seat 9 are protected from collision.

On the other hand, the elbow rest 11 extends from the seat to the rotation center axis L.
When the micro switch 7 is turned off when it is rotated upward around the backrest 9a and stored in the armrest storage unit 10 formed in the center of the backrest 9a, that is, the occupant is not seated on the rear seat 9. And switch circuit 8
Is turned off. Thereby, the signal processing circuit 2
Supplies ignition current to the primer 4 for deploying the driver's seat airbag via the first drive circuit 3 even if it determines that the accident is a serious accident based on the acceleration signal, but deploys the rear seat airbag. Current is not supplied to the primer 6 for the purpose. Reference numeral 16 denotes a pair of brackets 1 for the elbow rest 11.
3 is a screw for rotatably attaching to 3.

In the above embodiment, the micro switch 7 is used to detect (determine) that the elbow pad 11 is down and is in a usable state. However, the reed switch is fixedly attached to the bracket 13 side. With elbow rest 11
A configuration may be adopted in which a magnet is provided inside, and it is determined that the reed switch is turned on when the magnet approaches, and turned off when the magnet is separated.

A light-emitting diode is provided on one of the pair of brackets 13 and a light-receiving element is provided on the other, and the light-receiving element is provided on the other. Needless to say, the lodging and the standing state may be detected.

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily detect whether or not a person is sitting on the rear seat by using a switch such as a microswitch, so that the effect that the cost can be reduced is exhibited. Is done.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of an occupant protection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a state where an elbow pad 11 of a rear seat 9 is laid down and pulled out.

FIG. 3 is an exploded explanatory view showing a structure for attaching an armrest 11 to a vehicle side in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an essential part explanatory view for explaining a state in which the elbow rest 11 is folded down.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a main part, illustrating a state in which the elbow rest 11 is erected.

FIG. 6 is a circuit block diagram of a conventional occupant protection device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Acceleration sensor 2 Signal processing device 3, 5 Drive circuit 4, 6 Primer 7 Micro switch 8 Switch circuit 9 Rear seat 10 Elbow rest storage part 11 Elbow rest 12 Vehicle side plate 13 Bracket

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A switch means for detecting a retracted state and a retracted state of an armrest provided in the center of a backrest of a rear seat, wherein a switch is provided when the armrest is retracted in the backrest. An occupant protection device which outputs a signal for suppressing the operation of the occupant protection device based on an output signal from the means, and enables the occupant protection device to operate when the armrest is pulled down and is in a usable state. Detection device.