JP4134857B2 - Protective device for passenger seat of vehicle - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a protection device for a passenger seat of a vehicle, and in particular, a protection device for a passenger seat of a vehicle equipped with an occupant lower limb protection device that protects a lower limb of a passenger in the passenger seat and an upper occupant protection device that protects an upper portion of the passenger in the passenger seat. About.

As an occupant upper protection device that protects the upper part of the passenger occupant, an airbag device that inflates and deploys to protect the upper body of the passenger occupant at the time of a vehicle collision is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 below, Further, as a passenger lower limb protection device that protects the lower limb of a passenger in the passenger seat, a device that employs a knee airbag device that inflates and deploys at the time of a vehicle collision to protect the knee of the passenger occupant is disclosed in Patent Document 2 below, for example. For example, Patent Document 3 below discloses a device that employs a knee bolster device that protects the knee of the passenger seat occupant as a passenger limb protection device that protects the lower limb of the passenger seat passenger.
JP-A-9-240406 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-115675 JP 2001-122061 A

  In the airbag apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-240406, an airbag that is inflated and deployed at the time of a vehicle collision can be set in an inflated state according to the seating position / physique of the occupant. Further, in the knee airbag device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-115675, a knee airbag that is inflated and deployed at the time of a vehicle collision is provided along the periphery of the opening of the glove box. Further, in the knee bolster device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-122061, the knee bolster is moved so that the distance between the knee bolster and the knee part of the passenger in the passenger seat is maintained at a constant value in a normal state. Yes.

  When the above-described airbag device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-240406 and the knee airbag device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-115675 are combined, the knee airbag device serves as a passenger in the passenger seat. Since the operation mode is not changed according to the physique, there is a possibility that the passenger in the passenger seat cannot be protected accurately due to the difference in the physique.

  On the other hand, if the airbag device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-240406 and the knee bolster device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-122061 are combined, each device can be adapted to the size of the passenger on the passenger seat. Therefore, regardless of the size of the passenger occupant, it is possible to protect the passenger occupant accurately, but in this case, the distance between the knee bolster and the knee of the passenger occupant is normal and constant. Since the knee bolster is moved so as to be maintained, the movement of the knee bolster may give a passenger an uncomfortable feeling. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a passenger seat protection device for a vehicle that can accurately protect a passenger in the passenger seat without giving the passenger a sense of incongruity.

The present invention ( invention according to claim 1) has a knee bolster that is normally stored and arranged in front of a passenger seated in a passenger seat of a vehicle and moves between a storage position and an optimal position in front of the knee. The passenger seat includes a knee bolster device that protects the knee of the passenger seat passenger and an airbag that is normally stored and disposed in front of the passenger seat passenger seated in the passenger seat of the vehicle and that is inflated and deployed in the event of a vehicle collision. Operation of the knee bolster device and the airbag device based on detection results from an airbag device that protects the upper body of an occupant, a collision unavoidable detection sensor that detects the inevitable collision of the vehicle, and a collision detection sensor that detects a vehicle collision and a control unit for controlling, the control device, the when the vehicle based on a detection result of the collision unavoidable detecting sensor is determined to unavoidable collision knee bolster A vehicle collides based on the detection result of the collision detection sensor after moving the knee bolster toward the knee front optimal position and the first control unit that moves the storage position toward the knee front optimal position A second control unit that inflates and deploys the airbag when it is determined, and the collision unavoidable after the knee bolster is moved toward the knee front optimum position and before the vehicle is determined to have collided. A third control unit is provided that moves the knee bolster toward the storage position when the vehicle is determined to avoid collision based on the detection result of the detection sensor .

In the passenger seat protection device for a vehicle, the controller moves the knee bolster from the stowed position toward the optimal position in front of the knee when the control unit determines that the vehicle is unavoidable based on the detection result of the collision unavoidable detection sensor. After that (after the knee bolster has moved to the knee front optimum position), the airbag can be inflated and deployed when it is determined that the vehicle has collided based on the detection result of the collision detection sensor. The knee bolster is stored when the vehicle is determined to avoid collision based on the detection result of the collision inevitable detection sensor after the knee bolster is moved toward the optimal position in front of the knee and before the vehicle is determined to have collided. It can be moved toward the position.

Accordingly, the knee bolster of the knee bolster device can be moved toward the passenger seat occupant when the collision of the vehicle is unavoidable, and the knee bolster of the knee bolster device can be moved to the optimum position in front of the knee of the passenger occupant before the vehicle collision. Is possible. Therefore, at the time of a vehicle collision, the knee bolster of the passenger occupant can be protected by the knee bolster of the knee bolster device that is moving to the knee front optimum position of the passenger occupant, and the airbag that inflates and deploys at the time of the vehicle collision It is possible to protect the upper body of the passenger in the passenger seat, and to accurately protect the passenger in the passenger seat. Further, the knee bolster of the knee bolster device can be moved toward the storage position when avoiding a collision of the vehicle, and there is no possibility of giving a passenger a sense of incongruity.

Further, the present invention (the invention according to claim 2) is normally stored and arranged in front of a passenger seated in the passenger seat of the vehicle, and has a plurality of operating modes between the storage position and the knee front optimal position. A knee bolster device that has a moving knee bolster and protects the knee of the passenger seat passenger, and is normally stored and arranged in front of the passenger seat passenger seated on the passenger seat of the vehicle, and in a plurality of operation modes at the time of a vehicle collision An airbag device having an airbag that inflates and deploys to protect the upper body of the passenger in the passenger seat, a collision inevitable detection sensor that detects inevitable collision of the vehicle, a collision detection sensor that detects vehicle collision, and the passenger in the passenger seat A control device for controlling the operation of the knee bolster device and the airbag device based on a detection result of an occupant physique detection sensor that detects the physique of the vehicle, and the control device includes the collision The knee bolster is moved from the stowed position to the optimal position in front of the knee in an operation mode selected based on the detection result of the occupant physique detection sensor when the vehicle is determined to be inevitable of collision based on the detection result of the unavoidable detection sensor. It is determined that the vehicle has collided based on the detection result of the collision detection sensor after moving the knee bolster toward the knee front optimum position in the selected operation mode and the first control unit that moves the knee bolster. A second control unit for inflating and deploying the airbag in an operation mode selected based on a detection result of the occupant physique detection sensor, and the knee bolster toward the optimal position in front of the knee in the selected operation mode. And when the vehicle is determined to avoid collision based on the detection result of the collision unavoidable detection sensor before the vehicle is determined to have collided. Borusuta particular a has a third control unit that moves toward the storage position is characterized.

In this passenger seat protection device for a vehicle, in addition to the operation of the invention according to claim 1, the knee bolster is moved from the storage position by the control device in an operation mode selected based on the detection result of the occupant physique detection sensor. The airbag 21 can be moved toward the optimal position in front of the knee, and the airbag 21 can be inflated and deployed in an operation mode selected based on the detection result of the occupant physique detection sensor. Thus, as compared with the invention according to claim 1, it is possible to protect the passenger seat passengers A and B more accurately according to the physique of the passenger seat passenger.

The following description will explain the present onset Akira to the accompanying drawings. Figures 1-5 and shows the first embodiment of the passenger seat protector of vehicles, in this first embodiment, the passenger seat PS in front of the vehicle, adult A shown in the front passenger (4 And a knee airbag device 10 as an occupant lower limb protection device that protects the lower limbs, and air as an occupant upper protection device that protects the upper part of the passenger A or B in the passenger seat. A bag device 20 is provided.

  The knee airbag device 10 includes a knee airbag 11 that is normally stored and arranged in front of a passenger occupant A or B sitting in a passenger seat PS of a vehicle, and an inflator 12 that can output in two stages of large and small. The operation (output of the inflator 12) is controlled by the electric control unit ECU.

  The knee airbag 11 has a breakable strap 11a (see FIG. 4) inside, and the strap 11a is not broken, that is, in the case where the output of the inflator 12 is Low output and the pressure in the bag is low. As shown by the phantom line 4, the knee 11 of the passenger occupant A is inflated and deployed with a small capacity and the strap 11a is broken, that is, the output of the inflator 12 is High output and the pressure in the bag is In the high case, as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 5, the knee of the passenger occupant B is protected by inflating and deploying with a large capacity.

  The inflator 12 simultaneously ignites the two squibs 12a and 12b (see FIG. 2) based on the high output signal from the electric control unit ECU to obtain a high output, and based on the low output signal from the electric control unit ECU. Thus, the low output is obtained by delaying the ignition timing of the two squibs 12a and 12b by several tens of ms.

  The airbag device 20 includes an airbag 21 that is normally stored and arranged in front of a passenger occupant A or B sitting on a passenger seat PS of a vehicle, and an inflator 22 that can output in two stages, large and small. The operation (output of the inflator 22) is controlled by the electric control unit ECU.

  The airbag 21 has a breakable strap 21a (see FIG. 5) inside, and in a state where the strap 21a is not broken, that is, when the output of the inflator 22 is Low output and the pressure in the bag is low, FIG. As shown in the phantom line, inflated and deployed with a small capacity to protect the upper part of the passenger occupant B and the strap 21a is broken, that is, the output of the inflator 22 is high output and the pressure in the bag is high Then, as shown by the phantom lines in FIG. 4, the upper part of the passenger occupant A is protected by inflating and deploying with a large capacity.

  The inflator 22 simultaneously ignites the two squibs 22a and 22b (see FIG. 2) based on the high output signal from the electric control unit ECU to obtain a high output, and based on the low output signal from the electric control unit ECU. Thus, the low output is obtained by delaying the ignition timing of the two squibs 22a and 22b by several tens of ms.

  The electric control unit ECU is connected to the two squibs 12a and 12b of the inflator 12 and the two squibs 22a and 22b of the inflator 22, as schematically shown in FIG. Or, it is connected to an occupant physique detection sensor (for example, a load sensor) S1 that detects the physique of B (child) by weight or the like, and a collision detection sensor (for example, G sensor) S2 that detects a vehicle collision by deceleration. By executing the program corresponding to the flowchart of FIG. 3 (executed every predetermined short time), each squib 12a, 12b and 22a, 22b is based on the detection results from the occupant physique detection sensor S1 and the collision detection sensor S2. Control the operation of

  In the first embodiment configured as described above, the knee airbag device 10 as the occupant lower limb protection device and the airbag device 20 as the occupant upper protection device are in the normal state (the collision detection sensor S2 in step 101 in FIG. 3). As shown in the solid line of FIG. 1 or FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, both the knee airbag device 10 and the airbag device 20 do not operate. It is stored.

  When the vehicle collides (when it is determined “Yes” based on the detection result from the collision detection sensor S2 in step 101 in FIG. 3), the knee is determined based on the detection result from the occupant physique detection sensor S1. Each operation mode of the airbag device 10 and the airbag device 20 is selected by the electric control device ECU, and each operation of the knee airbag device 10 and the airbag device 20 is controlled by the electric control device ECU.

  Specifically, if the passenger in the passenger seat is an adult A, at the time of a vehicle collision, it is determined as “Yes” in Step 101 of FIG. Is executed. Therefore, at this time, the output of the inflator 12 in the knee airbag device 10 is set to Low output, the knee airbag 11 in the passenger seat is Low deployed (inflated and deployed with a small capacity), and the inflator 22 in the airbag device 20 is used. Is output as High, and the airbag 21 in the passenger seat is High deployed (inflated and deployed with a large capacity), as shown by the phantom line in FIG.

  On the other hand, when the passenger in the passenger seat is a small person B, at the time of the collision of the vehicle, it is determined as “Yes” in Step 101 of FIG. 3 and is determined as “No” in Step 102, and Step 104 is executed. Is done. Therefore, at this time, the output of the inflator 12 in the knee airbag device 10 is set to High output, the knee airbag 11 in the passenger seat is High deployed (inflated and deployed with a large capacity), and the inflator 22 in the airbag device 20 is used. Is output as Low, and the airbag 21 of the passenger seat is Low deployed (inflated and deployed with a small capacity), as shown by the phantom line in FIG. Therefore, in the first embodiment, it is possible to protect the passenger seat occupant more accurately according to the physique of the passenger seat occupant.

6 to 9 is shows a second embodiment of the passenger seat protector of vehicles, in the second embodiment, the passenger seat PS in front of the vehicle, adult A shown in the front passenger (FIG. 8 And an air bag device as an occupant upper protection device for protecting the upper part of the passenger A or B in the passenger seat, as well as being equipped with a knee bolster device 30 as an occupant lower limb protection device for protecting the lower limbs. 20 is equipped.

  The knee bolster device 30 includes a knee bolster 31 that is normally housed and arranged in front of a passenger occupant A or B seated in a passenger seat PS of a vehicle, and an actuator 32 that is variable in operating stroke in two large and small stages. The operation (operation of the actuator 32) is controlled by the electric control unit ECU.

  The knee bolster 31 is an active knee bolster that is driven and held in the front-rear direction of the vehicle by the actuator 32 to protect the knee of the passenger A or B. If the operating stroke of the actuator 32 is small, the virtual bolster 31 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, when the L1 moves toward the knee of the passenger occupant A and stands by in the state where the knee of the passenger occupant A is protected and the operating stroke of the actuator 32 is large, As indicated by the phantom line, the knee of the passenger seat occupant B is protected by waiting in a state where L2 (L1 <L2) is moved toward the knee portion of the passenger occupant B.

  The actuator 32 is, for example, a hydraulic cylinder, and the operation stroke is set to L1 based on the small movement signal from the electric control unit ECU, and the operation stroke is set to L2 based on the large movement signal from the electric control unit ECU. Thus, the operation stroke is set to zero based on the return signal from the electric control unit ECU, and the return is stored and held (see the solid lines in FIGS. 8 and 9).

  The airbag device 20 has the same configuration as the airbag device 20 of the first embodiment, and is normally stored and arranged in front of the passenger A or B sitting on the passenger seat PS of the vehicle. The bag 21 and an inflator 22 that can output in two stages, large and small, are provided, and the operation (output of the inflator 22) is controlled by the electric control unit ECU. In addition, since the detailed structure of the airbag 21 and the inflator 22 is the same as the thing of the said 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same structure and those description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As schematically shown in FIG. 6, the electric control unit ECU is connected to the two squibs 22a and 22b of the actuator 32 and the inflator 22, and the physique of the passenger in the passenger seat A (adult) or B (child). An occupant physique detection sensor (for example, a load sensor) S1 that detects vehicle weight based on a body weight, etc., a collision detection sensor (for example, a G sensor) S2 that detects a vehicle collision by deceleration, and a collision between the vehicle and a collision object is unavoidable. That is, it is connected to a collision unavoidable detection sensor (for example, a millimeter wave radar) S3 that detects a collision unavoidable state based on a distance between the vehicle and a collision target, and the program corresponding to the flowchart of FIG. By executing (executed every predetermined short time), the occupant physique detection sensor S1, the collision detection sensor S2, and the collision inevitable detection sensor It controls each operation of the actuator 32 and the inflator 22 based on the detection result from the sub S3.

  In the second embodiment configured as described above, the knee bolster device 30 as an occupant leg protection device and the airbag device 20 as an occupant upper protection device are in a normal state (from the collision unavoidable detection sensor S3 in step 201 of FIG. 7). In a state where it is determined as “No” based on the detection result of (2), the knee bolster device 30 and the airbag device 20 are both housed as shown by the solid lines in FIG. 8 and FIG. There is no risk of giving the passenger A or B a discomfort.

  When the collision between the vehicle and the object to be collided is unavoidable (when it is determined “Yes” based on the detection result from the collision unavoidable detection sensor S3 in step 201 in FIG. 7), the occupant physique The operation mode of the knee bolster device 30 is selected by the electric control unit ECU based on the detection result from the detection sensor S1, and the operation of the knee bolster device 30 is controlled.

  Specifically, when the passenger in the passenger seat is an adult A, “Yes” is determined in step 203 in FIG. 7, and step 204 is executed. Therefore, at this time, the operating stroke of the actuator 32 in the knee bolster device 30 is set to L1, and the knee bolster 31 of the passenger seat moves L1 toward the passenger occupant A and waits as shown by the phantom line in FIG. To do.

  By the way, in this case, when the vehicle collides, “Yes” is determined in Step 206 in FIG. 7, and Step 208 is executed. Therefore, at this time, the output of the inflator 22 in the airbag device 20 is set to High output, and the airbag 21 in the passenger seat is High deployed (inflated and deployed with a large capacity), which is indicated by a virtual line in FIG. It becomes like this.

  In the above case, when the collision of the vehicle is avoided, “No” is determined in Step 206 in FIG. 7, “No” is determined in Step 201, and Step 202 is executed. Therefore, at this time, the operating stroke of the actuator 32 in the knee bolster device 30 is set to zero and is returned and stored and held, and the knee bolster 31 in the passenger seat is returned and stored as shown by the solid line in FIG. Note that steps 201, 203, 204, and 206 in FIG. 7 are repeatedly executed until a vehicle collision is avoided.

  On the other hand, when the passenger seat occupant is a small person B, “No” is determined in Step 203 of FIG. 7, and Step 205 is executed. Therefore, at this time, the operating stroke of the actuator 32 in the knee bolster device 30 is set to L2, and the knee bolster 31 of the passenger seat moves L2 toward the passenger occupant A and waits as shown by the phantom line in FIG. To do.

  By the way, in this case, when the vehicle collides, “Yes” is determined in Step 207 of FIG. 7, and Step 209 is executed. Therefore, at this time, the output of the inflator 22 in the airbag device 20 is set to Low output, and the airbag 21 in the passenger seat is Low deployed (inflated and deployed with a small capacity), as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. become. Therefore, also in this 2nd Embodiment, according to the physique of a passenger seat passenger, it is possible to protect a passenger seat passenger more appropriately.

  In the above case, when the collision of the vehicle is avoided, “No” is determined in Step 207 of FIG. 7, “No” is determined in Step 201, and Step 202 is executed. Therefore, at this time, the operating stroke of the actuator 32 in the knee bolster device 30 is set to zero and is returned and stored and held, and the knee bolster 31 in the passenger seat is returned and stored as shown by the solid line in FIG. Note that steps 201, 203, 205, and 207 in FIG. 7 are repeatedly executed until a vehicle collision is avoided.

  In the second embodiment, the knee bolster 31 of the knee bolster device 30 can be moved toward the passenger seat occupant A or B when a vehicle collision is unavoidable, and the knee bolster 31 of the knee bolster device 30 can be moved to the passenger seat before the vehicle collision. It is possible to wait for the passenger A or B to move to the optimal position in front of the knee. Therefore, at the time of a vehicle collision, the knee of the passenger seat occupant A or B can be protected by the knee bolster 31 of the knee bolster device 30 that has moved to the knee front optimum position of the passenger occupant A or B and is waiting. At the same time, the upper body of the passenger occupant A or B can be protected by the airbag 21 that is inflated and deployed in the event of a vehicle collision, so that the passenger occupant A or B can be accurately protected. Further, by executing step 202 in FIG. 7, the knee bolster 31 of the knee bolster device 30 can be moved to the storage position when avoiding a collision of the vehicle, and there is no possibility that the passenger A or B in the passenger seat will feel uncomfortable.

  In each of the above embodiments, the knee airbag device 10, the airbag device 20, and the knee bolster device 30 are each configured to have two modes of operation. However, the knee airbag device 10, the airbag device 20, and the knee bolster device 30 It is also possible to implement as a configuration having three or more operation modes. Further, the knee bolster device 30 can be adopted instead of the knee airbag device 10 of the first embodiment. Moreover, in each said embodiment, although comprised so that each apparatus might be controlled using single electric control apparatus ECU, it comprised so that each apparatus might be controlled using the several electric control apparatus connected mutually. It is also possible to carry out.

The first embodiment of the vehicles of the passenger-side protection device is a perspective view schematically showing. It is a circuit diagram which shows the electric control apparatus of 1st Embodiment, the both sensors connected to this, and the relationship of each squib. 3 is a flowchart of a program executed by the electric control device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing when the adult is seated in the front passenger seat in 1st Embodiment. It is action | operation explanatory drawing when the child is seated in the front passenger seat in 1st Embodiment. It is a circuit diagram which shows the electric control apparatus of 2nd Embodiment of the passenger seat protection apparatus of a vehicle, each sensor connected to this, each squib, and the relationship of an actuator. It is a flowchart of the program performed with the electric control apparatus shown in FIG. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing when the adult is sitting on the front passenger seat in 2nd Embodiment. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing when the child is seated in the front passenger seat in 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Knee airbag apparatus, 11 ... Knee airbag, 12 ... Inflator, 12a, 12b ... Squib, 20 ... Air bag apparatus, 21 ... Air bag, 22 ... Inflator, 22a, 22b ... Squib, 30 ... Knee bolster apparatus, 31 ... Nee Bolster, 32 ... Actuator, S1 ... Occupant physique detection sensor, S2 ... Collision detection sensor, S3 ... Collision inevitable detection sensor, ECU ... Electric control device, PS ... Passenger seat, A ... Adult, B ... Child

Claims (2)

A knee bolster device that has a knee bolster that is normally stored and disposed in front of a passenger seated in the passenger seat of the vehicle and moves between the stored position and the knee front optimum position to protect the knee portion of the passenger seat passenger When,
An airbag device for protecting the upper body of the passenger seat occupant having an airbag that is normally stored and arranged in front of a passenger seat passenger seated on the passenger seat of the vehicle and that is inflated and deployed in the event of a vehicle collision;
A collision unavoidable detection sensor for detecting the inevitable collision of the vehicle and a control device for controlling the operation of the knee bolster device and the airbag device based on the detection result from the collision detection sensor for detecting the collision of the vehicle ;
The control device is configured to move the knee bolster from the stowed position toward the knee front optimal position when the vehicle is determined to be inevitable based on the detection result of the collision inevitable detection sensor;
A second control unit that inflates and deploys the airbag when it is determined that the vehicle has collided based on the detection result of the collision detection sensor after the knee bolster is moved toward the knee front optimal position;
The knee bolster when the vehicle is determined to avoid collision based on the detection result of the collision inevitable detection sensor after the knee bolster is moved toward the knee front optimum position and before it is determined that the vehicle has collided. A passenger seat protection device for a vehicle, comprising a third control unit that moves the vehicle toward the storage position . The knee portion of the passenger seat occupant having a knee bolster that is normally stored and disposed in front of a passenger seated in the passenger seat of the vehicle and moves between a storage position and an optimal position in front of the knee portion in a plurality of operation modes. A knee bolster device to protect the
An airbag having an airbag that is normally stored and arranged in front of a passenger seated in a passenger seat of a vehicle and that inflates and deploys in a plurality of operation modes in the event of a vehicle collision, and protects the upper body of the passenger seat passenger Equipment,
Of the knee bolster device and the airbag device based on the detection results of a collision unavoidable detection sensor that detects the inevitable collision of a vehicle, a collision detection sensor that detects a vehicle collision, and an occupant physique detection sensor that detects the physique of the passenger on the passenger seat Equipped with a control device to control the operation,
The control device moves the knee bolster from the storage position in the operation mode selected based on the detection result of the occupant physique detection sensor when the vehicle is determined to be inevitable based on the detection result of the collision unavoidable detection sensor. A first control unit that moves toward the knee front optimal position;
The detection result of the occupant physique detection sensor when it is determined that the vehicle has collided based on the detection result of the collision detection sensor after moving the knee bolster toward the knee front optimal position in the selected operation mode A second control unit for inflating and deploying the airbag in an operation mode selected based on
After the knee bolster is moved toward the knee front optimum position in the selected operation mode and before it is determined that the vehicle has collided, the vehicle avoids collision based on the detection result of the collision inevitable detection sensor. A passenger seat protection device for a vehicle, comprising: a third control unit that moves the knee bolster toward the storage position when it is determined .

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