JP2005271768A - Child seat attachment defective alarm system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a child seat attachment defective alarm system capable of alarming and informing an occupant when an attachment state of the child seat is not proper. <P>SOLUTION: This child seat attachment defective alarm system 1 is provided with a belt tension sensor 3 for measuring tension applied to a seat belt 63; an occupant detection device 2 including an occupant detection sensor 20, a calculating part 22 determining whether the child seat 64 is attached or not from the data detected by the occupant detection sensor 20 and determining acceptance/defectiveness of the attachment state of the child seat 64 based on a tension value measured by the belt tension sensor 3 when it is determined that the child seat 64 is attached, and a communication part 23 for making an alarm instruction of the child seat attachment defective when it is determined that the attachment state is defective; and an alarm device 4 for sending the alarm that the attachment state of the child seat 64 is defective by the alarm instruction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a child seat mounting failure warning system that issues a warning when a child seat is not properly mounted on a seat.

  An automobile is equipped with an airbag for passenger protection. The airbag is designed on the assumption that an adult gets in a normal posture wearing a seat belt. For this reason, for example, when an infant rides using a child seat, it is necessary to perform control such as prohibiting the deployment of the airbag in order to prevent an impact on the infant. In order to perform such airbag control, the presence or absence of the child seat is detected by various methods.

For example, there is a method in which the tension applied to the seat belt for fixing the child seat to the seat is measured by a belt tension sensor, and whether or not the child seat is mounted on the seat is determined from the measured value (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .)
JP 2002-19581 A

  The child seat must be attached to the seat with the seat belt fully pulled out. However, when the seat belt is not sufficiently pulled out or when the seat belt is defective, the child seat is not sufficiently fixed to the seat, which causes a safety problem. Further, when the child seat is not attached in an appropriate manner, there is a problem that the attachment of the child seat is not determined by the measurement by the belt tension sensor and the airbag is not controlled.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and provides a child seat mounting failure warning system that issues a warning when a child seat is not properly mounted and allows the occupant to recognize the warning. Is an issue.

  (1) The child seat wearing failure warning system according to the present invention includes a belt tension sensor for measuring the tension applied to a seat belt for restraining an occupant or fixing a child seat to a seat, and an occupant detection for detecting occupant state data on the seat. A sensor is electrically connected to the occupant detection sensor and the belt tension sensor, and from the data detected by the occupant detection sensor, it is determined whether or not the child seat is attached, and it is determined that the child seat is attached. A calculation unit for determining whether the child seat is attached or not based on a tension value measured by the belt tension sensor, and a child seat when the attachment state is determined to be bad. An occupant detection device including a communication unit that issues a warning instruction for poor mounting, and the occupant detection device Received the warning indication from the communication unit, characterized in that it and a warning device for mounting state of the child seat a warning that it is defective.

  The occupant detection device determines whether or not a child seat is mounted on the seat. When the child seat is mounted, whether the mounted state is good or bad is determined based on the tension value of the seat belt measured by the belt tension sensor. As a result, if the child seat is not properly attached, a warning instruction for a child seat attachment failure is issued. The warning device receives a warning instruction from the occupant detection device, and gives a warning that the child seat is not properly worn. By this warning, the occupant recognizes that the child seat is not properly worn.

  Thus, in the child seat mounting failure warning system of the present invention, a warning is issued when the child seat mounting state is not appropriate. As a result, when the child seat is mounted, the occupant can easily know whether the mounted state is good or bad. As a result, the safety of the infant riding on the child seat is improved.

  (2) Preferably, the occupant detection device is configured to be electrically connected to an ignition switch and operate in conjunction with the ignition switch being turned on. In this configuration, whether or not a child seat is attached is determined immediately after the engine is started, and if a child seat is attached, the attached state is determined. A warning is issued when the child seat is not properly worn. Therefore, according to this configuration, it is possible to know the wearing state of the child seat linked to the timing of boarding the vehicle.

  (3) Preferably, the warning device may be an indicator electrically connected to the occupant detection device. In this configuration, for example, a child seat wearing defect can be easily visually recognized by turning on an indicator in the combination meter in response to a warning instruction from an occupant detection device.

  (4) Preferably, an airbag control device is electrically connected to the occupant detection device, a navigation device is connected to the airbag control device via a LAN communication line, and the warning device is connected to the navigation device. It is preferable that the child seat wearing failure warning instruction from the occupant detection device is transmitted to the navigation device via the airbag control device.

  In this configuration, the occupant information from the occupant detection device is used by the airbag control device, and a warning instruction for child seat attachment failure is transmitted to the navigation device via the airbag control device. Therefore, conventionally, when the occupant detection device and the airbag control device are connected by a communication line, the system can be configured at a lower cost by using the existing communication line. Further, by issuing a warning by voice, image or the like in the navigation device in accordance with a warning instruction from the occupant detection device, the occupant can easily recognize a child seat wearing defect.

  In addition, since the navigation device is connected by a LAN communication line, a signal can be sent at a higher speed than when a serial communication line or a parallel communication line is used. Furthermore, when a high-speed protocol such as CAN (Controller Area Network) is used, signals can be sent more quickly.

  According to the child seat wearing failure warning system of the present invention, the passenger can easily recognize whether the child seat is worn or not. As a result, the safety of the infant riding on the child seat is improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the child seat wearing failure warning system of the present invention will be described.

<First embodiment>
First, the configuration of the child seat wearing failure warning system of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a layout diagram of the child seat wearing failure warning system of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the passenger seat in FIG. FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the child seat wearing failure warning system.

  As shown in these drawings, the child seat wearing failure warning system 1 of this embodiment includes a vehicle battery 7, an ignition switch 9, an occupant detection device 2, an airbag control device 8, a belt tension sensor 3, and a navigation. And a device 4.

  The occupant detection device 2 includes a CCD camera 20 and an electronic control unit 21. The CCD camera 20 is incorporated in the corner of the room mirror 11. The CCD camera 20 images the passenger state of the passenger seat 6. The CCD camera 20 is included in the occupant detection sensor of the present invention. The passenger seat 6 is included in the seat in the present invention.

  The electronic control unit 21 is accommodated at the end of the instrument panel 12 on the passenger seat 6 side. The electronic control unit 21 includes a calculation unit 22 and a communication unit 23. The calculation unit 22 detects the locus of the change point of the pixel density from the image data captured by the CCD camera 20. From this trajectory, it is determined whether or not an occupant is seated in the passenger seat 6, whether it is an adult or a child, and whether or not a child seat 64 is mounted. When the child seat 64 is attached, the attachment state of the child seat 64 is determined based on a tension value from a belt tension sensor 3 described later. The communication part 23 outputs the determination result of the calculating part 22 to the airbag control apparatus 8 mentioned later.

  A child seat 64 is disposed on the seat cushion 61 of the passenger seat 6. The seat belt 63 is passed through a holding hole (not shown) on the seat back 62 side of the child seat 64. The child seat 64 is fixed to the passenger seat 6 by locking the seat belt 63 passed through the holding through hole to the buckle 630.

  The belt tension sensor 3 is disposed at the lower right side in the traveling direction of the passenger seat 6. The belt tension sensor 3 is attached below the buckle 630. The belt tension sensor 3 measures the tension of the seat belt 63 locked to the buckle 630. The belt tension sensor 3 and the calculation unit 22 are connected by a signal line S2.

  The airbag control device 8 is disposed on the back side of the center console 13. The airbag control device 8 and the communication unit 23 are connected by a signal line S3. The navigation device 4 is disposed at a substantially central portion of the instrument panel 12. The airbag control device 8 and the navigation device 4 are connected by a LAN communication line S4. The ignition switch 9 is disposed in the vicinity of the root of the steering shaft of the handle 14 (indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 1).

  Next, the movement of the child seat wearing failure warning system of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of the child seat wearing failure warning system of the present embodiment. When the ignition switch 9 is turned on, the child seat wearing failure warning system system 1 is started (STP1). The ON signal of the ignition switch 9 is transmitted from the ignition switch 9 to the occupant detection device 2 via the signal line S1 (STP2). Thereby, in the occupant detection device 2, the occupant state of the passenger seat 6 is imaged by the CCD camera 20 (STP3). The captured image data is transmitted to the calculation unit 22. Based on the image data, the calculation unit 22 determines whether an occupant is seated in the passenger seat 6, whether it is an adult or a child, and whether a child seat 64 is mounted (STP4). ).

  When the child seat 64 is attached, the tension value X applied to the seat belt 63 is input from the belt tension sensor 3 to the arithmetic unit 22 via the signal line S2 (STP5). Here, when a warning instruction for child seat mounting failure has already been issued (STP6), the occupant detection device 2 checks the state (on or off) of the ignition switch 9 via the signal line S1 (STP9). ). On the other hand, when the warning instruction for the child seat attachment failure has not been issued yet (STP6), the tension value X from the belt tension sensor 3, the minimum value A and the maximum value B of the tension input in advance are set. Each is compared (STP7). When the tension value X satisfies A <X <B, it is determined that the child seat 64 is properly attached, and the occupant detection device 2 changes the state (ON or OFF) of the ignition switch 9 via the signal line S1. Check (STP9). Further, when the tension value X does not satisfy A <X <B (X ≦ A or B ≦ X), it is determined that the child seat 64 is not properly attached, and the communication unit 23 transmits the signal line S3 and the airbag control device 8. The child seat wearing warning instruction is transmitted to the navigation device 4 via the LAN communication line S4 (STP8). Thereafter, the occupant detection device 2 checks the state (ON or OFF) of the ignition switch 9 via the signal line S1 (STP9). Note that the navigation device 4 issues a warning by voice in response to a warning instruction from the communication unit 23.

  On the other hand, when the child seat 64 is not attached, the occupant detection device 2 immediately checks the state (ON or OFF) of the ignition switch 9 via the signal line S1 (STP9).

  When the ignition switch 9 is still on (STP9), the above-described occupant state imaging (STP3), determination of whether or not the child seat 64 is mounted (STP4), input of the tension value X (STP5), and determination of presence or absence of warning instruction (STP6) The comparison of the tension value X with the minimum value A and the maximum value B (STP7), the warning instruction (STP8), and the check of the ignition switch 9 (STP9) are appropriately loop processed. If the ignition switch 9 is turned off during the loop processing (STP9), the child seat attachment failure warning system 1 is immediately terminated (STP10).

  Next, the effect of the child seat wearing failure warning system of this embodiment will be described. According to the child seat wearing failure warning system 1 of the present embodiment, the occupant detection device 2 determines whether or not the child seat 64 is properly worn in addition to whether or not the child seat 64 is worn. When the child seat 64 is not properly attached, a warning is given. For this reason, when the child seat 64 is mounted, the occupant can easily know whether the mounted state is good or bad. As a result, the safety of the infant riding on the child seat 64 is improved.

  In addition, the child seat mounting failure warning system 1 of the present embodiment determines whether or not the child seat 64 is mounted immediately after the engine is started (see STP4 in FIG. 4). When the child seat 64 is attached, the attached state of the child seat 64 is determined based on the tension value from the belt tension sensor 3, and a warning is issued if the attached state is not appropriate (see STP 5 to 8 in the figure). . Thus, according to the child seat wearing failure warning system 1 of the present embodiment, the occupant can recognize the wearing state of the child seat 64 linked to the timing of boarding the vehicle.

  Further, in the child seat wearing failure warning system 1 of the present embodiment, the airbag control device 8 and the navigation device 4 are connected by a LAN communication line S4 (see FIG. 3 above). For this reason, the warning instruction is transmitted at a relatively high speed, and the warning by the navigation device 4 is promptly performed.

  By the way, in the airbag control device 8, when the empty seat or the child seat 64 is mounted, it is necessary to prevent the airbag from being deployed. In addition, it is necessary to adjust the deployment pressure of the airbag depending on whether the passenger is an adult or a child. For this reason, conventionally, the occupant detection device 2 and the airbag control device 8 are connected by the signal line S3. In the child seat wearing failure warning system 1 of the present embodiment, a warning instruction is transmitted to the navigation device 4 via the airbag control device 8. Thus, since the existing communication line is used, the child seat wearing failure warning system 1 of the present embodiment is low in cost.

<Second embodiment>
The difference between this embodiment and 1st embodiment is a point which connected the indicator directly to the passenger | crew detection apparatus. Therefore, only the differences will be described here.

  FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of the child seat wearing failure warning system of the present embodiment. In addition, about the site | part corresponding to FIG. 3, it shows with the same code | symbol. As shown in FIG. 5, the indicator 5 and the communication unit 23 are connected by a signal line S5. The indicator 5 is disposed in the combination panel.

  When a warning instruction for child seat attachment failure is transmitted from the communication unit 23, the indicator 5 is turned on. In the first embodiment, once the child seat 64 is mounted incorrectly, the warning is not performed again (STP 6 in FIG. 4). However, in this embodiment, by omitting the warning instruction presence / absence judgment (STP6), the indicator 5 can always be turned on when the child seat is not properly mounted.

  The child seat wearing failure warning system 1 of the present embodiment has an effect of being able to recognize the wearing state of the child seat 64 linked to the timing of getting on the vehicle, similarly to the child seat wearing failure warning system of the first embodiment. . Moreover, according to the child seat wearing failure warning system 1 of the present embodiment, even if the navigation device 4 is not equipped, the occupant can know the wearing state of the child seat 64.

<Third embodiment>
The difference between this embodiment and 2nd embodiment is a point which connected the indicator to the airbag control apparatus. Therefore, only the differences will be described here.

  FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of the child seat wearing failure warning system of the present embodiment. In addition, about the site | part corresponding to FIG. 5, it shows with the same code | symbol. As shown in FIG. 6, the indicator 5 and the airbag control device 8 are connected by a signal line S5. A child seat wearing failure warning instruction from the communication unit 23 is transmitted to the indicator 5 via the airbag control device 8. Similarly to the second embodiment, by omitting the warning instruction presence / absence judgment (STP6), the indicator 5 can always be turned on when the child seat is not properly attached.

  The child seat wearing failure warning system 1 of the present embodiment has the same effect as the child seat wearing failure warning system of the second embodiment. Moreover, since the existing communication line of the passenger | crew detection apparatus 2 and the airbag control apparatus 8 is utilized like 1st embodiment, the child seat mounting defect warning system 1 of this embodiment is low-cost.

<Others>
The embodiment of the child seat mounting failure warning system of the present invention has been described above. However, the child seat wearing failure warning system of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The child seat wearing failure warning system of the present invention can be implemented in various forms that have been modified or improved by those skilled in the art without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, a child seat is attached to the passenger seat. However, the seat on which the child seat is mounted is not limited to the passenger seat. A child seat may be mounted on the rear seat. In this case, the belt tension sensor may be attached to the seat belt that fixes the child seat.

  Moreover, the kind of passenger detection sensor of the passenger detection device is not particularly limited. A load sensor, a pressure sensor, a distance sensor, or the like may be used in addition to the imaging sensor as in the above embodiment. A plurality of these sensors may be used in combination.

It is an arrangement plan of the child seat wearing failure warning system of the first embodiment. It is a perspective view of the passenger seat in FIG. It is a block diagram of the child seat wearing defect warning system of the first embodiment. It is a flowchart of the child seat wearing defect warning system. It is a block diagram of the child seat wearing defect warning system of the second embodiment. It is a block diagram of the child seat wearing defect warning system of the third embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1: Child seat wearing failure warning system 2: Occupant detection device 20: CCD camera (occupant detection sensor) 21: Electronic control unit 22: Calculation unit 23: Communication unit 3: Belt tension sensor 4: Navigation device 5: Indicator 6: Passenger seat (seat)
61: Seat cushion 62: Seat back 63: Seat belt 630: Buckle 64: Child seat 7: Vehicle battery 8: Air bag control device 9: Ignition switch 11: Room mirror 12: Instrument panel 13: Center console 14: Handle

Claims (4)

A belt tension sensor for measuring the tension applied to the seat belt for restraining the passenger or fixing the child seat to the seat;
An occupant detection sensor for detecting occupant state data on the seat, and whether the child seat is mounted based on the data detected by the occupant detection sensor that is electrically connected to the occupant detection sensor and the belt tension sensor When the child seat is determined to be attached, a calculation unit that determines whether the child seat is attached or not based on the tension value measured by the belt tension sensor, and the attached state A communication unit that issues a warning instruction for a child seat wearing failure when it is determined that the vehicle is defective, and an occupant detection device,
A warning device that receives the warning instruction from the communication unit of the occupant detection device and issues a warning that the child seat is in a poor mounting state;
Child seat wearing failure warning system equipped with.   The child seat wearing failure warning system according to claim 1, wherein the occupant detection device is electrically connected to an ignition switch and operates in conjunction with the ignition switch being turned on.   The child seat mounting failure warning system according to claim 1, wherein the warning device is an indicator electrically connected to the occupant detection device. An airbag control device is electrically connected to the occupant detection device,
A navigation device is connected to the airbag control device via a LAN communication line,
2. The child seat attachment failure according to claim 1, wherein the warning device is the navigation device, and a warning instruction for the child seat attachment failure from the occupant detection device is transmitted to the navigation device via the airbag control device. Warning system.

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