JPH1038908A - Collision detecting sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a collision detecting sensor capable of controlling a plurality of apparatuses with fixed time differences between without using a CPU. SOLUTION: To the front wall 48 of a housing, a first contact 50 connected to a circuit 1 is fitted, and above it a second contact 52 connected to a circuit 2 is fitted. In the upper wall 45, one end of a spring terminal 54 made of metal connected to the circuits 1 and 2 is buried and fixed. When the deceleration of a car reaches a specified value at the time of decelerating the car rapidly, a movable measure 44 put in the housing moves by the inertia in the direction of the arrow A, bends the spring terminal 54 bringing it into contact with the first contact 50, and turns the circuit 1 on. When the deceleration of the car exceeds the first specified value and reaches a second specified value, the movable measure 44 moves further on the front side of the car bending the spring terminal 54, and brings the spring terminals 54 into contact with the second contact 52 too, so the circuit 2 is also turned on along with the circuit 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle collision detecting sensor for detecting a vehicle collision and operating or controlling an occupant protection auxiliary device such as an airbag or a seat belt.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 14 shows a conventional collision detection sensor.

In this collision detection sensor 200, a housing 202 mounted on a vehicle body (not shown) includes
A metal movable mass 204 is accommodated so as to be movable in the vehicle front-rear direction. On the front wall 218 of the housing 202,
For example, a contact point 222 connected to a CPU 220 for controlling an airbag or the like is provided. The housing 20
2, a magnet 226 is embedded in the rear wall 217,
The movable mass 204 is attracted to the magnet 226, and the rear wall 2
17 abuts.

The side wall 216 of the housing 202 has a CP
A metal spring terminal 224 connected to U220 protrudes. The spring terminal 224 has a slight gap with the movable mass 204 or is slightly in contact with the movable mass 204.

Since the movable mass 204 is normally attracted to the magnet 226, it does not inadvertently move in the forward direction of the vehicle (the direction of arrow B).
An inertial force larger than the magnetic force of the magnet 226 acts on the movable mass 04, and the movable mass 204 inertially moves in the vehicle forward direction. The movable mass 204 contacts the spring terminal 224 and
, The tip of the spring terminal 224 contacts the contact point 222. This turns on the circuit, and the CPU 220
An occupant protection auxiliary device such as an airbag or a seat belt is operated or controlled based on a signal from the vehicle.

However, in this collision detection sensor 200,
Since the spring terminal 224 comes into contact with one contact 222 to turn on the circuit, when a plurality of devices such as an airbag and a seat belt are operated or controlled with a certain time difference, the operation is controlled. This could only be done by the CPU 220, but not by the collision detection sensor 200.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a collision detection sensor capable of controlling a plurality of devices with a certain time difference without using a CPU.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the movable mass accommodated in the housing and inertially moved when the vehicle suddenly decelerates, and is elastically pushed by the movable mass over the orbit of the movable mass. A spring terminal that is flexibly bent and is provided on the inner wall of the housing connected to the first circuit, and is depressed by the movable mass when the deceleration of the vehicle reaches a first predetermined value. A second contact connected to a first circuit and a second circuit connected to a second circuit and provided on an inner wall of the housing, wherein the spring terminal in contact with the first contact has a deceleration of the vehicle greater than the first predetermined value; And a second contact point which is pressed by the movable mass and further bent and abuts when the predetermined value is reached.

When the deceleration reaches a first predetermined value due to a vehicle collision or the like, the movable mass inertially moves in the forward direction of the vehicle and presses the spring terminal. The spring terminal flexes and first contacts the first contact. Touch As a result, the first circuit is closed.

However, the movement of the movable mass is further restricted by the elastic force due to the bending of the spring terminal, and the movable mass does not move inertially in the forward direction of the vehicle, so that the spring terminal does not come into contact with the second contact.

When the deceleration of the vehicle exceeds a first predetermined value,
When the predetermined value is reached or when the value exceeds the first predetermined value and continues for a long time, the movable mass that bends the spring terminal further increases the inertia in the forward direction of the vehicle against the elastic force of the spring terminal. Move and flex the spring terminal. For this reason, the spring terminal which has contacted the first contact subsequently contacts the second contact, and the second circuit is closed.

As described above, the spring terminals sequentially contact the first contact and the second contact with a simple structure without the control of the CPU by the collision detection sensor. Can be closed.

Therefore, according to the magnitude of the deceleration of the vehicle,
A plurality of devices can be controlled by the collision detection sensor.

Further, by providing a third contact, a fourth contact and the like, when the deceleration reaches a third or fourth predetermined value which is larger than the second predetermined value, the third circuit and the fourth It is also possible to close the circuits 4 and the like with a certain time difference.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the movable mass accommodated in the housing and moving inertia when the vehicle suddenly decelerates, the contact connected to the second circuit and provided on the inner wall of the housing, A second protruding in the movement trajectory, connected to the first circuit and elastically bent to be able to contact the contact;
A spring terminal, which projects into the movement trajectory of the movable mass and is depressed by the movable mass and elastically bent when the deceleration of the vehicle reaches a first predetermined value; And when the deceleration of the vehicle reaches a second predetermined value larger than the first predetermined value, the vehicle further bends to deflect the second spring terminal to abut on the contact, thereby causing the second circuit to And a first spring terminal to be closed.

When the deceleration of the vehicle reaches a first predetermined value,
Since the movable mass deflects the first spring terminal, the first spring terminal abuts on the second spring terminal, and the first circuit is closed.

Next, when the deceleration of the vehicle reaches the second predetermined value, or when the deceleration exceeds the first predetermined value and continues for a long time,
The first spring terminal bent by being pushed by the movable mass pushes the second spring terminal, and the second spring terminal is bent and comes into contact with the contact. This closes the second circuit following the first circuit.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the movable mass which is housed in the housing and which is conductive and inertially moves at the time of rapid deceleration of the vehicle, and which is connected to the first circuit and is within the movement locus of the movable mass. When the deceleration of the overhanging vehicle reaches a first predetermined value with an interval of, the first spring terminal pair with which the movable mass that has inertially moved abuts, and into the movement trajectory of the movable mass respectively connected to the second circuit. A second vehicle in which the deceleration of the overhanging vehicle is larger than the first predetermined value at a predetermined interval.
And a second spring terminal pair that comes into contact with the movable mass that has been inertially moved by bending the first spring terminal pair when the predetermined value is reached.

When the deceleration of the vehicle reaches a first predetermined value,
The movable mass contacts the first spring terminal pair. Since the movable mass has conductivity, the first spring terminal pair is electrically connected via the movable mass, and the first circuit is closed.

Next, when the deceleration of the vehicle has reached the second predetermined value or has continued for a long time exceeding the first predetermined value,
The movable mass that has bent the first spring terminal pair further inertially moves in the forward direction of the vehicle, and comes into contact with the second spring terminal pair. Thus, the second spring terminal pair is electrically connected via the movable mass, and the second circuit is closed following the first circuit.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG.
The collision detection sensor 40 according to the embodiment has a housing 42 formed into a substantially cylindrical shape with a bottom, and the axial direction of the housing 42 substantially coincides with the vehicle front-rear direction, and
The movable mass 44 is attached to a vehicle body (not shown) such that an inertial movement direction (a direction of an arrow A) of a movable mass 44 described later is a forward direction of the vehicle.

In the housing 42, a spherical movable mass 4 is provided.
4 are accommodated. There is a sufficient gap between the movable mass 44 and the upper wall 45 of the housing 42, and when the movable mass 44 inertia moves in the axial direction of the housing 42, the movement of the movable mass 44 due to the viscous resistance of air. It is not restricted.

The housing 42 of the collision detection sensor 40
A first contact point 50 is attached to the front wall 48 of the first contact point, and a second contact point 52 is attached above the first contact point 50.
The first contact 50 and the second contact 52 are directly connected to circuits 1 and 2 for operating or controlling an occupant protection auxiliary device such as an airbag and a seat belt pretensioner, respectively.

A magnet 56 is embedded in the rear wall 46 of the housing 42. When the deceleration of the vehicle does not reach a predetermined value due to the magnetic force of the magnet 56, the movable mass 44 is inadvertently moved to the vehicle front side. Not to move to

On the upper wall 45 of the housing 42, one end of a metal spring terminal 54 connected to the circuits 1 and 2 is embedded and fixed. The spring terminal 54 is formed in a flexible plate shape, and the other end of the spring terminal 54 protrudes greatly into the housing 42. The movable mass 44 abutting on the rear wall of the housing 42 and the spring terminal 54 are usually separated from each other, and the spring terminal 24 is straight without bending.
As shown in FIG. 3, when the movable mass 44 moves in the forward direction of the vehicle, the movable mass 44 comes into contact with the spring terminal 54 and presses the spring terminal 54, so that the spring terminal 54 bends in the forward direction of the vehicle. As a result, the spring terminal 54 is connected to the contact 50 and the contact 5.
2, and the circuits 1 and 2 are turned on.

Next, the operation of the collision detection sensor 40 according to the first embodiment will be described. When the vehicle is not suddenly decelerating, as shown in FIG. 1, the movable mass 44 is located in the rear direction of the vehicle by the magnetic force of the magnet 56 in the housing 42.

When the deceleration of the vehicle reaches a first predetermined value, the movable mass 4 is opposed to the magnetic force of the magnet 56.
4 moves forward (in the direction of arrow A) of the vehicle, and the spring terminal 54
Press to bend. Here, when the time during which the deceleration of the vehicle exceeds the first predetermined value is short, as shown in FIG. 2, after the spring terminal 54 is bent and abuts on the first contact 50, the spring terminal Since the movable mass 44 is returned to the vehicle rear side by the elastic reaction force of the magnet 54 and the magnetic force of the magnet 56, only the circuit 1 is turned on and the circuit 2 is not turned on.

If the deceleration of the vehicle exceeds the first predetermined value and reaches the second predetermined value which is set to a larger value, or if the time during which the first predetermined value is exceeded is long, the graph shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the movable mass 44 having the spring terminal 54 in contact with the first contact 50 moves further toward the front of the vehicle to move the spring terminal 5.
4 bends. As a result, the spring terminal 54 also contacts the second contact 52, so that the circuit 2 is turned on together with the circuit 1.

As described above, the two circuits can be separately turned on with a fixed time difference according to the magnitude and time of the deceleration of the vehicle by the collision detection sensor 40.
, Two types of occupant protection assist devices can be operated or controlled. Moreover, the structure of the collision detection sensor 40 is simple.

FIG. 4 shows a collision detection sensor 60 according to a modification of the first embodiment.

In the collision detection sensor 60, as shown in FIG. 5, the other end of the spring terminal 74 is connected to the first branch 74A and the second branch 74A.
It has a forked shape having a branch 74B. Also, a first contact 70 is provided upright from the bottom wall 66 of the housing 62 corresponding to the first branch 74A, and a second contact 72 is attached to the front wall 68 of the housing 62 corresponding to the second branch 74B. ing.

The movable mass 64, which has inertially moved in the forward direction of the vehicle when the deceleration of the vehicle has reached the first predetermined value, presses the spring terminal 74 to bend as shown in FIG. Since the first branch 74A comes into contact with the first contact 70, the circuit 1 is turned on.

When the deceleration of the vehicle exceeds the first predetermined value,
When the predetermined value is reached, or when the time exceeding the first predetermined value is long, the movable mass 64 moves further toward the front of the vehicle to deflect the spring terminal 74 as shown in FIG. Therefore, the second branch 74B comes into contact with the second contact 72, and the circuit 1
At the same time, the circuit 2 is turned on.

FIG. 8 shows a collision detection sensor 80 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

In the collision detection sensor 80, a first spring terminal 92 is fixed to the upper wall 86 of the housing 82, and a second spring terminal 94 is fixed to the front wall 88 side of the first spring terminal 92. The first spring terminal 92 is connected to the circuit 1 and the circuit 2. On the other hand, the second spring terminal 94 is connected to the circuit 1
It is connected to the. One contact 90 is attached to the front wall 88 of the housing 82, and is connected to the circuit 2.

The movable mass 84, which has inertially moved in the forward direction of the vehicle when the deceleration of the vehicle has reached the first predetermined value, presses and bends the first spring terminal 92 as shown in FIG. The first spring terminal 92 contacts the second spring terminal 94, and the circuit 1 is turned on.

At this time, the movable mass 84 returns to the vehicle rear direction by the elastic reaction force of the first spring terminal 92 and the magnetic force of the magnet 96 in a state where the first spring terminal 92 is in contact with the second spring terminal 94. However, when the deceleration of the vehicle exceeds the first predetermined value and reaches the second predetermined value, or when the time during which the deceleration exceeds the first predetermined value is long, the vehicle further moves forward. It moves and presses the first spring terminal 92 to bend. Since the bent first spring terminal 92 further presses and bends the second spring terminal 94, as shown in FIG. 10, the second spring terminal 94 contacts the contact 90, and the circuit 2 is turned on together with the circuit 1. You.

As described above, in the collision detection sensor 80, C
The two circuits can be turned on separately with a fixed time difference according to the magnitude and time of deceleration of the vehicle with a simple structure without providing a PU.

FIG. 11 shows a collision detection sensor 100 according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

In the collision detection sensor 100, the movable mass 10 is provided on the upper wall 105 and the lower wall 106 of the housing 102.
4 opposing each other at an interval shorter than the diameter of
The spring terminal pair 112 is fixed. 1st spring terminal pair 1
A second spring terminal pair 114 is fixed to the front wall 108 side of the second spring terminal 12 at a distance shorter than the diameter of the movable mass 104. First spring terminal pair 112
Are connected to the circuit 1, and the second spring terminal pair 114 is connected to the circuit 2. The collision detection sensor 1
The movable mass 104 of No. 00 is formed of a conductive material.

The movable mass 104 that has inertially moved toward the front of the vehicle when the deceleration of the vehicle has reached the first predetermined value contacts the first spring terminal pair 112 as shown in FIG. Movable mass 1
Since 04 has conductivity, the first spring terminal pair 112 is electrically connected via the movable mass 104, and the circuit 1 is turned on.

After the movable mass 104 comes into contact with the first spring terminal pair 112, the elastic reaction force of the first spring terminal pair 112 and the magnet 1
With the magnetic force of 16, the vehicle is returned in the backward direction of the vehicle. However, when the deceleration of the vehicle exceeds the first predetermined value and reaches the second predetermined value, or when the deceleration exceeds the first predetermined value for a long time. In this case, the movable mass 104 bends the first spring terminal pair 112, moves further in the vehicle forward direction, and comes into contact with the second spring terminal pair 114 as shown in FIG. As a result, the second spring terminal pair 114 is electrically connected via the movable mass 104, and the circuit 2 is turned on together with the circuit 1.

In the collision detection sensors 40, 60, 80, and 100 of the above embodiments, more contacts and spring terminals are provided in the housing, and a predetermined time difference is set according to the magnitude of deceleration and time. , A plurality of circuits can be turned on.

[0044]

Since the present invention has the above-described configuration, a plurality of devices can be controlled with a fixed time difference without using the CPU.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a collision detection sensor according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an operation state of the collision detection sensor according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an operation state of the collision detection sensor according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a collision detection sensor according to a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view showing the inside of a collision detection sensor according to a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an operation state of a collision detection sensor according to a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing an operation state of a collision detection sensor according to a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a collision detection sensor according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an operation state of a collision detection sensor according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing an operation state of a collision detection sensor according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a collision detection sensor according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing an operation state of a collision detection sensor according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing an operation state of a collision detection sensor according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a conventional collision detection sensor.

[Explanation of symbols]

 40 collision detection sensor 42 housing 44 movable mass 50 first contact 52 second contact 54 spring terminal 60 collision detection sensor 62 housing 64 movable mass 70 first contact 72 second contact 74 spring terminal 80 collision detection sensor 82 housing 84 movable mass 90 Contact 92 First spring terminal 94 Second spring terminal 100 Collision detection sensor 102 Housing 104 Movable mass 112 First spring terminal pair 114 Second spring terminal pair

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Koichi Fujita 1 Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture Inside Toyota Motor Corporation

Claims (3)

[Claims] A movable mass which is accommodated in a housing and inertially moves when the vehicle suddenly decelerates; a spring terminal which protrudes into the trajectory of the movable mass and is elastically bent by being pressed by the movable mass; A first contact that is connected to the inner wall of the housing and that contacts the spring terminal that is pressed and bent by the movable mass when the deceleration of the vehicle reaches a first predetermined value; and connected to a second circuit. The spring terminal provided on the inner wall of the housing and abutting on the first contact point presses the movable mass when the deceleration of the vehicle reaches a second predetermined value larger than the first predetermined value. And a second contact that is further bent and abutted. 2. A movable mass accommodated in a housing and inertia-moving when the vehicle suddenly decelerates; a contact connected to a second circuit and provided on an inner wall of the housing; A second spring terminal which is connected to the circuit and elastically bends and is capable of abutting on the contact; protruding into the movement trajectory of the movable mass, being pressed by the movable mass when the deceleration of the vehicle reaches a first predetermined value; And elastically flexes to abut the second spring terminal to close the first circuit;
When the deceleration of the vehicle reaches a second predetermined value larger than the first predetermined value, the vehicle further bends to bend the second spring terminal to abut on the contact to close the second circuit. A collision detection sensor comprising: a spring terminal; 3. A movable mass which is housed in a housing and which is conductive and inertially moves when the vehicle suddenly decelerates, and which is connected to a first circuit and projects a predetermined distance into a movement locus of the movable mass. When the deceleration of the movable mass reaches a first predetermined value, the movable mass that has moved by inertia contacts the first deceleration.
A deceleration of the vehicle, which is connected to the spring terminal pair and the second circuit and extends at predetermined intervals into the movement trajectory of the movable mass, reaches a second predetermined value larger than the first predetermined value. And a second spring terminal pair in which the movable mass that has been inertially moved by bending the first spring terminal pair abuts.