JPH11286239A - Vehicle alarm device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle alarm device capable of alarming that a vehicle is in sudden decelerating state or in stopped state after sudden deceleration to the outside of the vehicle regardless of the intension of an occupant. SOLUTION: In this vehicle alarm device 10, the acceleration sensor 84 of an air bag device 50 is connected to a hazard switch 40 through tan air bag computer 82. When the acceleration sensor 84 detects an acceleration (deceleration) in a vehicle sudden deceleration, the air bag computer 82 not only starts a starting device 62 to operate the air bag device 50 but also lays the hazard switch 40 in ON state to forcedly all turn signal lamps 14, 16, 18, 20 substantially at the same time. Therefore, it can be alarmed to the outside of the vehicle that the air bag device 50 is operated by the sudden decelerating state of the vehicle.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a warning device for a vehicle for warning a vehicle that the vehicle has suddenly decelerated or has stopped after the sudden deceleration by informing the outside, in particular, a following vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a recent vehicle, when an acceleration sensor detects that the vehicle has suddenly decelerated, the bag is bulged forward of the vehicle occupant. A so-called airbag device is provided which receives the occupant's body moving toward the front of the vehicle due to inertia and absorbs its kinetic energy.

In a sudden deceleration state in which the airbag device is activated, or in a state in which the airbag device is activated and the vehicle is stopped on the road, the following vehicle is in a sudden deceleration state. Alternatively, it is preferable that the fact that the airbag device is activated and stopped on the road is notified to the outside, particularly to a following vehicle, to call attention.

In a conventional vehicle, there is a so-called hazard lamp as a means for informing a following vehicle that the vehicle is in a decelerating state or a stopped state. A blinking hazard lamp can call attention to a following vehicle. Was.

However, the hazard lamp blinks when the occupant consciously operates a hazard switch provided on the instrument panel of the vehicle, for example. If the occupant does not operate the switch, the hazard lamp blinks. No attention can be given to the following vehicle.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In consideration of the above fact, the present invention is capable of notifying the outside of a vehicle that the vehicle is in a sudden deceleration state or a stopped state after the rapid deceleration, irrespective of the occupant's intention. It is an object to obtain a vehicular warning device that can.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle warning device comprising: an acceleration sensor for detecting an acceleration of a vehicle; a warning unit for issuing a warning signal to the outside of the vehicle; The warning means is activated when the acceleration sensor detects acceleration in a state of rapid deceleration of the vehicle or when the acceleration sensor detects a state in which the vehicle stops after the rapid deceleration. Control means.

According to the warning device for a vehicle having the above-described structure, when the vehicle is rapidly decelerated and the acceleration sensor detects the acceleration (deceleration) at this time, the control means activates the warning means. Issues a warning signal to the outside of the vehicle. Here, in the vehicular warning device, the warning device operates when the acceleration sensor detects a sudden deceleration state, so that the occupant of the vehicle does not need to intentionally activate the warning device. As described above, the vehicle warning device can surely issue a signal for warning when the vehicle suddenly decelerates, and the vehicle that has issued a signal to the occupants and the like of the following vehicle is rapidly decelerated. You can be alerted by recognizing that

In the present invention, the acceleration in a rapidly decelerating state of the vehicle to such an extent that the control means activates the warning means means, if the vehicle is equipped with an airbag apparatus, the acceleration at which the airbag apparatus is activated. , More specifically, the deceleration (acceleration) when a vehicle traveling at a speed of 25 km / h or more collides with an obstacle and stops.
Say

Further, in the present invention, the signal emitted by the warning means may be light or sound, and is not limited to such a mode as long as the signal can be basically recognized from the outside.

Further, in the present invention, the acceleration sensor
An element having a property of generating, changing, or eliminating an electromagnetic physical quantity by receiving an external force according to acceleration, such as an electric element such as a piezo element, may be used, or an inertial mass such as a metal sphere. A configuration in which the body is moved by inertia at the time of rapid deceleration of the vehicle to make the electrical contacts conductive may be used. Further, a configuration may be employed in which a change in a physical quantity such as a change in the number of rotations of a wheel per unit time during vehicle running is detected.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle warning device according to the first aspect, the control means is provided in the vehicle in a folded state and is supplied with gas inside. The airbag device is connected to an airbag device having a bag body that inflates and deploys toward the occupant side of the vehicle, and activates the airbag device when the acceleration sensor detects acceleration in a rapidly decelerating state of the vehicle. And

According to the vehicle warning device having the above structure, when the acceleration sensor detects the acceleration at the time of rapid deceleration of the vehicle, the control means activates the warning means and activates the airbag device. As a result, gas is supplied to the inside of the bag body of the airbag device, and the bag body is inflated and deployed in front of or on the side of the occupant of the vehicle occupant.

[0014] In the vehicle warning device, as described above, the control means activates the warning means, and the warning means sends a signal to the outside of the vehicle. Accordingly, the fact that the vehicle suddenly decelerates and the airbag device is operated can be recognized outside the vehicle, in particular, the occupants of the succeeding vehicle, to call attention.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle warning device according to the first or second aspect, the warning means is provided near the left and right ends of a front end and a rear end of the vehicle. It is characterized by being provided with a hazard lamp which blinks substantially simultaneously.

According to the above-described vehicle warning device, when the acceleration sensor detects acceleration at the time of sudden deceleration of the vehicle, or when the vehicle stops after sudden deceleration, the control means controls the hazard as a warning means. By flashing the lamp, the outside of the vehicle, in particular, the occupant of the following vehicle or the like can be alerted by recognizing that the vehicle is in a state of rapid deceleration or a state of stopping after rapid deceleration.

Here, the hazard lamp normally blinks by operating a switch provided on the instrument panel of the vehicle. However, in the vehicle warning device, the hazard lamp automatically turns off when the vehicle suddenly decelerates or stops after the sudden deceleration. The hazard lamp blinks. For this reason, it is possible to make the occupant or the like of the succeeding vehicle immediately recognize that the vehicle is in a rapid deceleration state or a state in which the vehicle has stopped after the rapid deceleration, as compared to when the occupant operates the switch.

As the hazard lamp, when the traveling direction of the vehicle is changed to one of the left and right directions, the course on the side corresponding to the direction is blinked in advance to change the course around the vehicle in the direction. Using a so-called turn signal lamp (including a side turn signal lamp) to alert the user, by operating a hazard switch different from the direction support switch, all of the turn signal lamps blink simultaneously, For example, for example, a configuration that warns the surroundings that the vehicle is stopped is generally known. However, the hazard lamp according to the present invention is different from the conventional configuration described above, and further, is different from the turn signal lamp. This includes all configurations that can warn the surroundings of the vehicle by flashing light, including configurations that use lamps.

[0019]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a system of a vehicular warning device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. The vehicle 12 is shown by a perspective view. As shown in FIG. 2, a rear left turn signal lamp 14 is provided at the left end of the rear end of the vehicle 12, and a rear right turn signal lamp 16 is provided at the right end. A front left turn signal lamp 18 is provided on the left end of the front end of the vehicle 12, and is not shown in FIG. 2, but is provided on the right end of the front end of the vehicle 12. (See FIG. 1).

As shown in FIG. 1, the rear and front left turn signal lamps 14 and 18 of all the turn signal lamps 14 to 20 are connected to a control circuit 22 via connection means (not shown) such as a cable. , Is electrically connected to the battery 26 via the left switch circuit 24. The left switch circuit 24 is, for example, an electric circuit that operates a relay by using charging and discharging of a capacitor. The rear and front left turn signal lamps 14 and 18 are intermittent when the left switch circuit 24 is turned ON / OFF (conduction and cutoff). Blinks when power is supplied from the battery 26. On the other hand, the rear and front right turn signal lamps 16 and 20 of all the turn signal lamps 14 to 20 described above are:
Control circuit 2 via connection means (not shown) such as a cable
It is electrically connected to the battery 26 via the second right switch circuit 28. The right switch circuit 28 is basically an electric circuit similar to the left switch circuit 24. The rear and front right turn signal lamps 16 and 20 are intermittently connected to the battery 26 by ON / OFF (conduction and cutoff) of the right switch circuit 28. Blinks when power is supplied to.

The left and right switch circuits 24 and 28 are electrically connected to a turn signal switch 30 via a cable or the like. Further, the turn signal switch 30 is connected to a steering wheel 32 of the vehicle 12.
Light control switch 3 provided on the front side of the vehicle
4 is mechanically engaged with the lever portion 36 (see FIG. 3).

The lever 36 is a turn signal switch 3
0 extends from the base end on the side corresponding to the center of the vehicle 0 to the substantially right direction of the vehicle 12 as a longitudinal direction.
It can be rotated from the position to the ON position displaced by a predetermined angle from the position toward the base end toward both sides in the vertical direction. When the lever 36 is in the OFF position, the turn signal switch 30 is turned off, and none of the left and right switch circuits 24, 28 is operated, and the left and right switch circuits 24, 28 are turned off. However, when the lever portion 36 is turned from the OFF position to the upper ON position, the turn signal switch 30 activates the left switch circuit 24 to blink the rear and front left turn signal lamps 14 and 18. On the other hand, if the lever 36
When the turn signal switch 30 is turned from the FF position to the lower ON position, the turn signal switch 30 activates the right switch circuit 28 to cause the rear and front right turn signal lamps 16, 2.
Flashes 0. In the present embodiment, the lever 3
When the switch 6 is turned from the OFF position to the upper ON position, the rear and front left turn signal lamps 14 and 18 blink, and when the switch 6 is turned to the lower ON position, the rear and front right turn signal lamps 16 and 20 are turned. Blinks, but which of all the turn signal lamps 14 to 20 blinks in the rotation direction of the lever portion 36 is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

That is, the steering wheel 32 is configured to rotate around its center. When the steering wheel 32 rotates counterclockwise as viewed from the occupant, the vehicle 12 changes its course substantially to the left, and when rotated clockwise as viewed from the occupant, the vehicle 12 changes. Changes the course approximately to the right. Here, when the steering wheel 32 rotates counterclockwise, the right half of the steering wheel 32 turns from the lower side to the upper side, and when the steering wheel 32 rotates clockwise, the right half of the steering wheel 32 turns from the upper side. Turn down. Which of the turn signal lamps 14 to 20 blinks in relation to the rotation direction of the lever portion 36 corresponding to the rotation direction of the steering wheel 32. Therefore, for example, when the lever portion 36 is extended in the longitudinal direction from the base end on the side corresponding to the center of the turn signal switch 30 to the substantially left direction of the vehicle 12 (that is, the left half of the steering wheel 32). When the lever portion 36 is provided on the front side of the vehicle), the rear and front right turn signal lamps 16 and 20 blink at the upper ON position, and the rear and front left turn signals at the lower ON position. The lamps 14 and 18 blink.

Further, as shown in FIG.
The instrument panel 38 has a hazard switch 4
0 is provided. This hazard switch 40
When pressed against the urging force of the urging means (not shown) from the FF position, the vehicle is locked at the ON position moved to the front side of the vehicle, and in this state, the movable contact is brought into contact with a fixed contact (both not shown) to conduct. . Further, once pressed at the ON position, the movable contact returns to the OFF position by the urging force of the urging means, and the moving contact is separated from the fixed contact. Further, the hazard switch 40 includes an electromagnet (not shown), and when the electromagnet is energized, the moving contact contacts the fixed contact to conduct. Further, the hazard switch 40 is also electrically connected to the left and right switch circuits 24 and 28 of the control circuit 22 like the turn signal switch 30, and when the hazard switch 40 is moved from the OFF position to the ON position,
Both left and right switch circuits 24, 28 are activated,
All the turn signal lamps 14 to 20 blink substantially simultaneously. That is, the vehicle 12 is configured to use all the turn signal lamps 14 to 20 as so-called hazard lamps.

As shown in FIG. 4, the airbag device 5
0 has a base plate 52. The base plate 52 has an occupant-side end fixed to a bracket 54 embedded in a pad cover 76 described later. The base plate 52 is fixed to the steering wheel 32 by engaging the pad cover 76 with the steering wheel 32.
To be supported. This base plate 5
A circular hole 58 is formed at the center of the second member 2, and a half of the column-shaped inflator 60 on the occupant side is arranged to penetrate.

A flange 61 extending radially outward is formed at the axial center of the inflator 60. The flange 61 is fixed to the base plate 52 by fixing means such as bolts, and thereby the inflator 60 is fixed at a predetermined position. Inside the inflator 60, a starting device 62 (see FIG. 1), a squib, a detonator, a gas generating material, a filter, and the like (all of those without reference numerals are omitted) are stored.
Operates to ignite the detonator and burn the gas generating material through the explosive material, whereby a large amount of gas can be generated inside the inflator 60.

Further, an upper portion (occupant side) of the inflator 60 is formed as a gas ejection portion 64. A plurality of circular gas ejection holes 66 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the gas ejection portion 64 at predetermined intervals. From these gas ejection holes 66, gas generated inside the inflator 60 is ejected to the outside of the inflator 60.

On the occupant side of the inflator 60, a bag 68 is disposed in a folded state. The bag body 68 is a bag-shaped member opened in the direction opposite to the occupant side, and has an open end fixed in a state of being sandwiched by a folded portion 70 folded near the circular hole 58 of the base plate 52. As a result, the inflator 62 is covered with the bag 68.

Further, a pad cover 76 is provided on the occupant side of the bag body 68. The pad cover 76 covers the inflator 60 and the bag 68 arranged on the base plate 52 from the occupant side. Pad cover 7
A fragile portion 78 having a small thickness is formed partially in the bag 6, and when the fragile portion 78 is broken and deployed, the bag body 68 can bulge toward the occupant.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
2 is electrically connected to an airbag computer 82 as control means via a connection means (not shown) such as a cable.
2 is electrically connected to the acceleration sensor 84.

Here, the acceleration sensor 84 includes an electric circuit (not shown) having a so-called piezo element having a crystal such as quartz, Rochelle lead, barium titanate or the like.
A flexible elastic body such as a plate is attached to the piezo element, and an external force from a predetermined direction acts on the elastic body to elastically deform the elastic body. When the piezo element is deformed, the piezo element is deformed. Accordingly, positive and negative charges are generated from the piezo element. The voltage corresponding to the generated charge is the acceleration sensor 8
4 is sent to the airbag computer 82 as a signal.
It is determined whether or not the vehicle 12 is in a state of a predetermined deceleration (acceleration) or more based on the magnitude of the voltage sent from the vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 1, the airbag computer 82 is connected to the above-mentioned hazard switch 40, and an electromagnet (not shown) of the above-mentioned hazard switch 40 is energized by a signal from the airbag computer 82. It is supposed to be.

Next, the operation and effect of this embodiment will be described. Vehicle 1 to which the vehicle warning device 10 is applied
In 2, the vehicle 12 is rapidly decelerating, for example, 25 km / h.
When the vehicle traveling at the above speed collides with an obstacle and stops at the same speed as when the vehicle stops, the deceleration (acceleration) at this time causes the elastic body attached to the piezo element of the acceleration sensor 84 to decelerate. When the piezo element is elastically deformed and the piezo element is deformed, positive and negative charges are generated from the piezo element according to the deformation, and a voltage corresponding to the generated charge is sent to the airbag computer 82 as a signal. The airbag computer 82 determines the magnitude of the voltage of the signal sent from the acceleration sensor 84 to determine whether or not the vehicle 12 is in a state of a predetermined deceleration (acceleration) or more. Next, when it is determined by the airbag computer 82 that the vehicle 12 is at or above a predetermined deceleration (acceleration), the airbag computer 82 sends a signal to the activation device 62 of the airbag device 50 to activate the activation device 62. Activate. When the activation device 62 operates, the primer is ignited, and the gas generating material is burned via the explosive material. As a result, a large amount of gas is generated inside the inflator 60. The gas generated inside the inflator 60 is blown out from each gas blowout hole 66 and supplied to the inside of the bag body 68. The bag body 68 into which the gas is supplied inflates and presses the pad cover 76 from the back side, and the pressing force breaks the fragile portion 78 of the pad cover 76. The bag body 68 which is still inflated by breaking the fragile portion 78 expands the pad cover 76 and expands in front of the occupant of the vehicle 12.

When the vehicle 12 has a predetermined deceleration (acceleration)
When the airbag computer 82 determines that the state is as described above, the airbag computer 82 sends a signal to the activation device 62 of the airbag device 50 to activate the activation device 62, and also sends a signal to the hazard switch 40 to output the hazard signal. The electromagnet of the switch 40 is energized. As a result, even though the occupant does not press the hazard switch 40, the movable contact and the fixed contact come into contact with each other to be in a conductive state, and the hazard switch 40 is turned on. Thereby, the left and right switch circuits 2 of the control circuit 22
4 and 28 are both activated, and all turn signal lamps 1
All of 4 to 20 are blinked.

As described above, in the vehicle 12 to which the vehicle warning device 10 is applied, the all-turn signal lamps 14 to 20 flash together with the airbag device 50. In addition, when the airbag device 50 is operated, all the turn signal lamps 14 to 20 blink even if the occupant of the vehicle 12 does not press the hazard switch 40.
The airbag device 50 is connected to the vehicle behind the vehicle 12 by the vehicle 12.
Has been activated (that is, the vehicle 12
Is suddenly decelerated or the vehicle 12 is stopped due to sudden deceleration for some reason).

In this embodiment, the airbag computer 82 is used as the control means, and the airbag device 50 is used.
And turn on the turn signal switch 40
Although the configuration was such that all the turn signal lamps 14 to 20 were turned on and off, but the turn signal switch 40 was turned on without any operation by the occupant, and all the turn signal lamps 14 to 20 were turned on and off, Turn signal switch 40 together with the operation of airbag device 50
May not be turned on. That is, for example, when the acceleration sensor 84 detects the deceleration in the sudden deceleration state of the vehicle 12, the turn signal switch 40 is forcibly turned on by another control device instead of the airbag computer 82. Is also good. In this case, even if the vehicle does not have the airbag device 50, all the turn signal lamps 14 to 20 are automatically and forcibly blinked, and the vehicle is in a rapid deceleration state or a rapid deceleration state. Later, the following vehicle can be warned that the vehicle has stopped.

In the present embodiment, the turn signal lamps 14 to 20 are shared with the hazard lamps. However, other lamps than the turn signal lamps 14 to 20 may be used as the hazard lamps, or only the hazard lamps may be used. May be provided on the vehicle 12.

Further, in this embodiment, the turn signal lamps 14 to 20, which are also used as hazard lamps, are used as the warning means. However, the structure of the warning means is not limited to this. Any configuration may be used as long as it emits a signal that can be recognized from outside the vehicle 12. Therefore,
For example, a horn of the vehicle 12 that emits a warning sound for the warning means may be used.

[0039]

As described above, the vehicular warning device according to the present invention notifies the outside of the vehicle that the vehicle is in a sudden deceleration state or a stopped state after the rapid deceleration, regardless of the intention of the occupant. This can promptly call attention to the outside of the vehicle, particularly to the following vehicle.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle warning device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a vehicle to which the vehicle warning device according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the vicinity of a steering wheel of the vehicle.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a steering wheel showing a configuration of the airbag device.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 Vehicle warning device 12 Vehicle 14 Rear left turn signal lamp (hazard lamp, warning means) 16 Rear right turn signal lamp (hazard lamp, warning means) 18 Front left turn signal lamp (hazard lamp, warning means) 20 Front Right turn signal lamp (hazard lamp, warning means) 50 airbag device 68 bag body 82 airbag computer (control means) 84 acceleration sensor

Claims (3)

[Claims] An acceleration sensor for detecting an acceleration of the vehicle; a warning unit for issuing a warning signal to the outside of the vehicle; and an acceleration sensor connected to both the acceleration sensor and the warning unit. A warning device for a vehicle, comprising: control means for activating the warning means when the acceleration sensor detects acceleration or when the acceleration sensor detects a state in which the vehicle has stopped after the sudden deceleration. 2. The control means is connected to an airbag device having a bag body which is provided in the vehicle in a folded state and is inflated and deployed toward an occupant side of the vehicle when gas is supplied inside. 2. The vehicular warning device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag device is activated when the acceleration sensor detects acceleration in a rapidly decelerating state of the vehicle. 3. The warning device according to claim 1, wherein the warning means is a hazard lamp provided near the left and right end portions of a front end portion and a rear end portion of the vehicle, each of which blinks substantially simultaneously. 3. The warning device for a vehicle according to 2.