KR20120134012A - Collision detecting device for vehicle and occupant protection system having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A collision detection device and a passenger protection system with the same are provided to guarantee the accuracy of detecting a collision with the small number of sensors as a first sensor is used as a main sensor and redundancy is guaranteed by a second sensor. CONSTITUTION: A collision detection device(1) for vehicles comprises a first sensor(2), a second sensor(3), and a judging unit(4). The first and second sensors detect the movement of the vehicle. The judging unit judges a collision against the lateral sides of the vehicle on the basis of the output signals of the first and second sensors. The judging unit stores a safety threshold and a main threshold higher than the safety threshold. The judging unit determines that a collision occurs only when the output value of the second sensor is higher than the safety threshold and the output value of the first sensor is higher than the main threshold. [Reference numerals] (2) First sensor; (3) Second sensor; (4) Judging unit; (51) Passenger protection ECU; (52) Passenger protection member

Description

COLLISION DETECTING DEVICE FOR VEHICLE AND OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEM HAVING THE SAME

The present invention relates to a collision detection device of a vehicle and a rider protection system having the device.

Occupant protection systems have been developed that detect collisions on the side of the vehicle to activate occupant protection devices such as airbags. For example, JP2008-74127A (corresponding to US2008 / 0067794A1) describes an active controller that activates the occupant protection device.

With regard to the detection of collisions (ie side impacts) on the vehicle side, for example, the front area and the rear area of the vehicle side are detected via separate sensing systems using multiple sensors.

For example, lateral collisions to the front area may include acceleration sensors arranged as main sensors in the first seat row and safety sensors (eg inside the instrument cluster) in the front area of the passenger compartment. detection using an acceleration sensor arranged as a safing sensor. In addition, side impacts against the rear region are safe in the rear region of the seating space (e.g. below the bottom of the second seat row) and the acceleration sensor disposed as the main sensor on the side of the second seat row. It is detected using an acceleration sensor arranged as a sensor. If the vehicle has a third row of seats, side impacts to the rear region are detected using an acceleration sensor disposed on the side of the third row of seats. At this time, the front region of the side of the vehicle is a side region of the vehicle including the first row of seats, and the rear region of the side of the vehicle is the side region of the vehicle from the first row of seats toward the rear of the vehicle.

In such collision detection, a large number of sensors are required and therefore it is difficult to reduce manufacturing costs.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a collision detection device and a occupant protection system for detecting a side collision of a vehicle, which can reduce manufacturing costs without deteriorating the accuracy of collision detection.

According to one aspect, the collision detection device includes a first sensor, a second sensor and a determination unit. The first sensor is disposed in the rear region of the seating space of the vehicle defined from the first row of seats towards the rear of the vehicle. The first sensor detects the movement of the vehicle with respect to the collision. The second sensor is disposed in one of the front area of the seating space of the vehicle and the side area of the first seat row defined from the first row of rows toward the front of the vehicle. The second sensor detects the movement of the vehicle with respect to the collision. The determination unit determines the side collision based on the output signals from the first sensor and the second sensor. The judging unit stores a safety threshold and a main threshold that is greater than the safety threshold. The judging unit determines that the side collision has occurred only when the output value of the second sensor is larger than the safety threshold and the output value of the first sensor is larger than the main threshold.

In such a configuration, the first sensor disposed in the rear region acts as a main sensor and the second sensor disposed in the side region or front region of the first seat row acts as a safety sensor. The number of sensors that detect side collisions can be reduced, thereby reducing manufacturing costs. In addition, the first sensor is used as the main sensor and redundancy is ensured due to the second sensor. Thus, even if the number of sensors is reduced, the collision detection accuracy is less likely to drop.

The main threshold is set to a value larger than the value of the safety threshold, so that even if the unit of the main threshold and the safety threshold are different, it is more difficult for the output value to exceed the main threshold than the safety threshold under the same conditions. In other words, the main threshold is set to a severe value than the value of the safety threshold.

For example, when the collision detection device is employed in the occupant protection system with the occupant protection device, the occupant protection device is activated based on the determination result of the collision detection device to protect the occupant from the collision shock.

The above objects, features and advantages of the present invention as well as other objects, features and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like parts have been given similar reference numerals.
1 is a view showing the arrangement position of the collision detection device and the occupant protection system in a vehicle according to an embodiment,
2 is a view showing a schematic structure of a collision detection device and a passenger protection system according to an embodiment,
3 is a flowchart illustrating a collision determination executed by a collision detection apparatus according to an embodiment;
4 is a view illustrating a schematic structure of a collision detection apparatus and a passenger protection system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the collision detection device 1 according to the exemplary embodiment includes a first sensor 2, a second sensor 3 and a determination unit 4.

The first sensor 2 is an acceleration sensor and is arranged in the rear region of the seating space defined from the rear end of the first row of rows towards the rear of the vehicle. For example, the first sensor 2 is arranged below the floor of the second row of seats. The first sensor 2 detects the movement of the vehicle with respect to the side impact, such as a collision with the rear region of the side of the vehicle. For example, the first sensor 2 detects an acceleration such as a change in acceleration during side impact.

The seating space means the space where the occupant can stay, and is defined as the inside of the body of the vehicle such as the inside of the panel defining the outer surface of the vehicle and the inside of the outer door panel. The rear end of the first row of rows corresponds to the rear end of the first row of rows or the rear end of the seatbelt of the first row of seats closer to the rear of the vehicle with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. For example, the front region of the side of the vehicle is a side region of the vehicle that includes the first row of seats, and the rear region of the side of the vehicle is the side region of the vehicle from the first row of rows toward the rear of the vehicle.

The second sensor 3 is an acceleration sensor and is arranged in the side region of the first row of seats. For example, the right second sensor 3 is arranged inside the right inner panel located adjacent to the installation position of the right seat belt of the first row of seats. Similarly, the left second sensor 3 is arranged inside of the left inner panel located adjacent to the installation position of the left seat belt of the first seat row.

Each of the second sensors 3 detects the movement of the vehicle with respect to the side impact, such as a collision with the rear region of the side of the vehicle. For example, the second sensor 3 detects an acceleration such as a change in acceleration during side impact. The second sensors 3 are used as main sensors to detect side impacts on the front region of the vehicle side.

The determination unit 4 is provided by an ECU (Electronic Control Unit). The determination unit 4 determines whether side collision such as a collision with respect to the rear region of the vehicle side surface has occurred, based on the output signals from the first sensor 2 and the second sensor 3. The determination unit 4 is disposed inside the instrument panel, for example.

The determination unit 4 has a storage member such as a read-only memory (ROM) for storing the main threshold value THm and the safety threshold value THs. The main threshold THm is set to a value larger than the safety threshold THs, so that the sensor's output value is more difficult to exceed the main threshold THm than the safety threshold THs. If the first sensor 2 and the second sensor 3 are acceleration sensors, for example, the value of the main threshold THm is at least 20G and at most 30G, and the value of the safety threshold THs is at least 2G and at most 3G.

Next, the operation of the determination unit 4 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

When the sensing operation starts, at S1, the determination unit 4 compares the output value V2 from the second sensor 3 with the safety threshold THs. If the output value V2 of the second sensor 3 is equal to or less than the safety threshold value THs (corresponding to "no" in S1), in S2, the determination unit 4 determines that no side collision has occurred.

If the output value V2 of the second sensor 3 is greater than the safety threshold value THs (corresponds to "Yes" in S1, in S3, the determination unit 4 is equal to the output value V1 from the first sensor 2). Compare the main threshold value THm If the output value V1 of the first sensor 2 is equal to or less than the main threshold value THm (corresponding to "no" in S3), in S2, the determination unit 4 causes a collision. If the output value V1 of the first sensor 2 is larger than the main threshold value THm (corresponding to "YES" in S3), then in S4, the determination unit 4 determines that a collision has occurred.

In this way, the determination unit 4 under the condition that the output value V2 of the second sensor 3 is larger than the safety threshold THs, and the output value V1 of the first sensor 2 is larger than the main threshold THm. Determines that a collision has occurred. Under other conditions, the determination unit 4 determines that no collision has occurred. In other words, the determination unit 4 collides when the output value V2 of the second sensor 3 is greater than the safety threshold value THs and the output value V1 of the first sensor 2 is greater than the main threshold value THm. It is determined that this has occurred.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the collision detection device 1 together with the occupant protection device 5 constitutes an occupant protection system 10. The occupant protection device 5 includes a occupant protection member 51 and a occupant protection ECU 52. The occupant protection member 51 serves to protect the occupant from a collision shock. For example, the occupant protection member 51 includes at least one air bag installed adjacent to the side of the seating space.

The occupant protection ECU 52 is provided by an electronic control unit. The occupant protection ECU 52 controls the operation of the occupant protection member 51 such as active and inactive (expanded and unexpanded) of the occupant protection member 51.

The occupant protection ECU 52 receives a determination result indicating whether a collision has occurred from the determination unit 4. The occupant protection ECU 52 controls the occupant protection member 51 based on the determination result of the determination unit 4. The occupant protection ECU 52 activates the occupant protection member 51 only when the determination unit 4 determines that a collision has occurred (for example, S4 in FIG. 3). The occupant protection ECU 52 does not activate the occupant protection member 51 when the determination unit determines that a collision has not occurred (for example, S2 in FIG. 3).

In the above-described embodiment, the first sensor 2 disposed in the rear region of the seating space is used as the main sensor. Therefore, the movement of the vehicle due to the side collision with respect to the rear region of the vehicle can be detected efficiently. In addition, the second sensor 3 disposed in the front region of the seating space defined from the rear end of the first row of rows toward the front of the vehicle is used as a safety sensor. Therefore, redundancy for the occupant protection ECU 52 can be ensured. Therefore, even if the number of sensors is reduced in comparison with a device in which a plurality of sensors are arranged on both sides of the vehicle, the collision detection accuracy is low.

Since the first sensor 2 is used as the main sensor, it is not necessary to mount a plurality of sensors as the main sensor in the rear region of the side of the vehicle such as the sides of the second row of seats and the third row of seats. Thus, the number of sensors is reduced, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost. The first sensor 2 may be provided by a sensor which is generally used as a floor safing sensor for the vehicle rear region. In this case, for example, the detection of the side collision with respect to the front area of the vehicle is carried out using the acceleration sensor 9 arranged in the front area of the seating space as the safety sensor using the second sensor 3 as the main sensor. do. In other words, the second sensor 3 is commonly used for the detection of side impacts on the front region and the detection of side impacts on the rear region.

According to the collision detection apparatus 1 and the occupant protection system 10 of the exemplary embodiment described above, the manufacturing cost is reduced by reducing the number of sensors without deterioration of detection accuracy.

(Modified)

The invention is not limited to the above-described exemplary embodiments, but may be modified in various other ways. For example, an acceleration sensor 9 arranged in the front area of the seating space can be used as the second sensor 3. In other words, the second sensor 3 may be provided by a sensor which is used as a safety sensor in the detection of side impacts on the front region of the vehicle. When a yaw rate sensor is mounted in a vehicle, the yaw rate sensor can be used as the second sensor 3. Also in this case, the safety threshold THs is smaller than the value of the main threshold THm so that the sensor output value can easily exceed the safety threshold THs. The yaw rate sensor may be a sensor integrated with the acceleration sensor 9. The second sensor 3 may be provided by a sensor installed inside the door panel of the first row of seats. Also in these cases, redundancy can be ensured in the collision detection of the collision detection device 1 and the active control of the occupant protection device 10.

As shown in FIG. 4, the determination unit 4 may include a main determination section 41, a safety determination section (SF determination section) 42, and an AND circuit 43. The main determination section 41 compares the output value V1 of the first sensor 2 with the main threshold value THm according to the signal output from the first sensor 2. The safety judgment section 42 compares the output value V2 of the second sensor 3 and the safety threshold THs according to the signal output from the second sensor 3. The AND circuit 43 provides an AND gate. The AND circuit 43 receives signals from the main determination section 41 and the safety determination section 42 and transmits the signals to the occupant protection ECU 52. The AND circuit 43 outputs a signal indicating a high level only when the signals from the main judgment section 41 and the safety judgment section 42 indicate a high level.

That is, the determination unit 4 compares the output value V1 of the first sensor 2 with the main threshold value THm, compares the output value V2 of the second sensor 3 with the safety threshold value THs, The determination is made through the AND circuit 43. The judging unit 4 determines that a collision has occurred only when the output values from the main judging section 41 and the safety judging section 42 are larger than each threshold. The AND circuit 43 is connected to the occupant protection ECU 52. The AND circuit 43 provides a signal to the occupant protection ECU 52 indicating that a "collision has occurred". In this manner, the determination can be performed by comparing the output value of each sensor with its corresponding threshold during sensing. Also in this manner, a desirable effect similar to that in the exemplary embodiment described above can be achieved. In the operation shown in FIG. 2, the order of steps S1 and S3 may be reversed.

The occupant protection member 51 includes, for example, a side airbag, a curtain shield airbag, a door mount curtain airbag, and the like. In FIG. 1, the occupant protection member 51 is shown only on the sides of the second and third seat rows, but the occupant protection member 51 is installed on both sides of the first seat rows. The determination unit 4 and the occupant protection ECU 52 can be integrated in one ECU. Even in a car that does not have a third row of seats, no sensor on the side of the second row of seats is needed. Therefore, similar desirable effects are achieved.

Thus, in the embodiment, the collision detection device comprises a first sensor 2, a second sensor 3, 9 and a determination unit 4. The first sensor 2 is arranged in the rear region of the seating space defined from the first row of seats towards the rear of the vehicle, to detect the movement of the vehicle against the collision. The second sensors 3, 9 are arranged in one of the front area of the seating space defined from the rear end of the first row of seats toward the front of the vehicle and the side area of the first row of seats. The second sensors 3, 9 detect the movement of the vehicle with respect to the collision. The determination unit 4 is only when the output value V2 of the second sensors 3, 9 is larger than the safety threshold THs and the output value V1 of the first sensor 2 is larger than the main threshold THm. It is determined that a side collision has occurred. Also in this case, similar desirable effects are achieved.

Although only selected exemplary embodiments have been chosen to describe the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications can be made from the invention without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. In addition, the foregoing descriptions of exemplary embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and are not intended to limit the disclosure defined by the claims and their equivalents.

1: collision detection device
2: the first sensor
3,9: second sensor
4: Judgment unit
5: occupant protection device
10: occupant protection system
51: passenger protection member
52: occupant protection ECU
41: main judgment section
42: safety judgment section
43; AND circuit

Claims (3)

A collision detection device for detecting a collision on a vehicle side,
A first sensor 2 disposed in the rear region of the seating space of the vehicle defined from the first row of rows toward the rear of the vehicle, for detecting movement of the vehicle with respect to the collision;
A second sensor (3, 9) disposed in one of the front area of the seating space defined from the first row of rows toward the front of the vehicle and the lateral area of the first row of rows, for detecting movement of the vehicle against a collision;
A determination unit 4 for determining a collision with respect to the side of the vehicle based on output signals from the first sensor 2 and the second sensor 3, 9,
The determination unit 4 stores the safety threshold THs and the main threshold THm having a value larger than the value of the safety threshold THs, and outputs V2 of the second sensors 3, 9. ) Determines that a collision has occurred only when the safety threshold value THs is greater than and the output value V1 of the first sensor 2 is larger than the main threshold value THm.
Collision Detection Device.
The method of claim 1,
The second sensors 3, 9 are acceleration sensors 3, which are arranged in the side region of the first row of seats,
Collision Detection Device.
Occupant protection system,
The collision detection device according to claim 1 or 2,
A passenger protection device (5) which is activated based on the determination result of the collision detection device to protect the occupant from a collision shock;
Occupant protection system.

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