JPH084366Y2 - Car airbag safety device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to a vehicle airbag safety device for ensuring the safety of a driver and passengers of a vehicle from an impact such as a collision of a vehicle, and in particular, The present invention relates to a complete vehicle airbag safety device having an airbag module integrally provided with an airbag, a gas generator, an ignition means, a collision sensor and a battery.

[Conventional technology]

As a conventional airbag safety device for a vehicle of this type, a steering wheel is an airbag unit including an inflatable airbag, a gas generator for supplying inflation gas to the airbag, and an ignition means for igniting the gas generator. A collision sensor for detecting a collision is provided in each part of the vehicle to electrically connect the collision sensor and the airbag unit. Further, a split type vehicle airbag safety device in which a battery of an automobile is used as a power source for activating the ignition means upon detection of a collision sensor has been put into practical use. However, the airbag unit, the collision sensor,
Since it consists of three parts of the battery as a power source and connects between them with wiring, it requires labor for mounting, and there was concern about reliability due to disconnection of wiring between each unit. .

Therefore, a complete type airbag safety device for a vehicle has been proposed in which an airbag module integrally provided with these airbag units, a collision sensor and a battery is fastened to a steering wheel or the like (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Sho. 53-78
See Japanese Patent No. 536). However, in practical use, the battery is required to have the following characteristics. First, long life is required. That is, it must withstand a change in environment such as a high temperature or a low temperature and have a long life while being fastened to the steering wheel or the like. Next, it is required to be small enough to be stored in the airbag module. Further, it is required to have a good responsiveness capable of instantaneously passing a current of 1 to 2 A during operation. A lithium battery is a battery that can satisfy these characteristics to some extent.

[Problems to be solved by the device]

Airbag modules described in the prior art are typically left inactive for many years. Therefore, the lithium battery as a battery is in a state where no current flows for many years. However, if the lithium battery is left as it is in a high temperature state (the temperature inside the vehicle is often high), the internal resistance becomes high, and the instantaneous responsiveness deteriorates, making it unsuitable for airbag module batteries. Have a point.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the conventional technology, and an object of the present invention is to use an airbag module integrally provided with a collision sensor and a battery as a battery. With a lithium battery,
It is intended to provide a vehicle airbag safety device that suppresses an increase in internal resistance and has a good instantaneous response.

[Means for solving the problem]

To achieve the above object, a vehicle airbag safety device according to the present invention comprises an inflatable airbag, a gas generator for supplying inflation gas to the airbag, and an ignition means for igniting the gas generator. In a vehicle airbag safety device having an airbag module that integrally includes a collision sensor that detects a collision and operates the ignition means, and a battery that supplies power to the ignition means, a lithium battery is used as the battery. The liquid crystal display element is provided in the bypass circuit of the collision sensor.

In addition, instead of the above liquid crystal display element, there is one in which a voltage switch or current switch with minute power consumption is provided, and a liquid crystal display element that operates by this voltage switch or current switch is provided.

[Action]

The liquid crystal display element and the voltage switch or current switch which replaces it and consumes only a small amount of current consumes only a small amount of current and does not greatly affect the battery life.However, keeping the minute current flowing causes deterioration of the lithium battery at high temperatures. There is a suppressing effect, and as a result, it is possible to maintain good instantaneous responsiveness. In addition, the liquid crystal display element ensures the soundness of the operating circuit (normal current value, presence / absence of disconnection, increase in circuit resistance, etc.)
Is displayed to alert the driver.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 are views showing an airbag module operating circuit, and FIG. 3 is a view showing a fastening state of a steering wheel of a vehicle airbag safety device.

First, referring to FIG. 3, the entire vehicle airbag safety device will be described. A car airbag safety device 1 is an airbag
10, gas generator 11, ignition means 12, collision sensor 13
The lithium battery 14 and the liquid crystal display element 20 to the base 2
And is integrally housed in the cover 3, and is fastened to the steering wheel 5 with the bolt 4. Therefore, in appearance, it is not necessary to be aware of the existence of the vehicle airbag safety device. The vehicle airbag safety device 1 is also provided on a cover of a small article box in front of the front passenger seat of the steering wheel 5, a back plate of a backrest of a front seat, and the like.

The airbag 10 is inflated like a balloon at the time of a collision and serves as a cushioning material between the steering wheel 5 and the like, and is normally folded small and stored in the case 3. The air bag 10 and the gas generator 11 are hermetically attached. Further, the module cover 3 is provided with notches and thin portions (not shown) so that the airbag 10
When it expands, it will expand (open). The gas generator 11 is formed by accommodating therein a temperature raising agent, a gas generating agent, a filter and the like. As the ignition means 12, an electric detonator using a heating wire or the like is used, and it is paired with the temperature raising agent of the gas generator 11 or is embedded therein. The collision sensor 13 is capable of detecting a predetermined deceleration state, closing the contacts at the time of collision, and supplying the electric power of the lithium battery 14 to the ignition means 12, and various types have been put into practical use. The lithium battery 14 has a long life such as used as a backup power source for a microcomputer, is mounted in a battery holder 15 embedded in the module cover 3, and is covered with a battery cover 16. The structure is such that the lithium battery 14 can be replaced by removing the battery cover 16. The battery holder 15 is provided on the side surface of the module cover 3 and is a place where replacement work can be easily performed. The liquid crystal display device 20 described in detail below is provided with the module cover 3
It is provided in the part where it is easy to see.

Next, the operation circuit of the airbag module and its function will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 1 is an operation circuit corresponding to the airbag module 1 of FIG. An operating circuit 17 that connects the ignition means 12, the collision sensor 13, and the lithium battery 14 in series is a basic circuit. The liquid crystal display element 20 is provided in the bypass circuit 18 of the collision sensor 13. This liquid crystal display element 20
Is a device that can keep a minute current flowing for a long time like a display element of a wristwatch. However, it does not significantly reduce the battery capacity for a long period of time. This is based on the knowledge that the minute current continues to flow in the operating circuit 17 and the high temperature deterioration of the lithium battery 14 is suppressed. Further, the soundness of the operating circuit 17 (normal current value, presence / absence of disconnection, increase in circuit resistance, etc.) can be checked according to the degree of the display, and the driver can know the presence / absence of abnormality.

FIG. 2 shows that a liquid crystal display device 20 of FIG. 1 is replaced with a current switch 21 of minute power consumption. Since the current switch 21 consumes a small amount of power, a minute current can be kept flowing for a long period of time, like the liquid crystal display element 20 shown in FIG. Then, the liquid crystal display element 22 provided in the parallel circuit 19 of the lithium battery 14 can perform a predetermined display according to a command from the current switch 21. Therefore, when the current switch 21 detects an abnormality in the soundness of the circuit, the liquid crystal display element 22 can display that effect. That is, the liquid crystal display element 22 can perform accurate display. Instead of the current switch 21, a voltage switch with minute power consumption can be used.

[Advantages of the Invention] A vehicle airbag safety device according to the present invention is a vehicle airbag safety device having an airbag module integrally provided with a battery for supplying electric power to an ignition means, wherein the battery is a lithium battery. , A liquid crystal display element is provided in a bypass circuit of the collision sensor, and a voltage switch or current switch of minute power consumption is provided in place of the liquid crystal display element, and a liquid crystal display element that operates by this voltage switch or current switch is provided. It may be a thing. The liquid crystal display element and the voltage switch or current switch that replaces it with minute power consumption suppresses the high temperature deterioration of the lithium battery by continuing to flow a minute current, and further, the liquid crystal display element displays the soundness of the operating circuit. Give the driver an alarm. Therefore, the lithium battery becomes a battery having a long life, a small size, and excellent responsiveness, so that the airbag module can be put into practical use. At the same time, by displaying the soundness of the operating circuit and giving a warning to the driver, it is possible to ensure the operation of the airbag module.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 and 2 are views showing an airbag module operating circuit, and FIG. 3 is a view showing a fastening state of a vehicle airbag safety device to a steering wheel. 1 ... Airbag module, 5 ... Steering wheel, 10 ... Airbag, 11 ... Gas generator, 12 ... Ignition means, 13 ... Collision sensor, 14 ... Battery, 15 ... Battery holder, 16 …… Battery cover, 17 …… Operating circuit, 18 …… Bypass circuit, 20,22 …… Liquid crystal display element, 21 …… Current switch (voltage switch).

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An inflatable airbag, a gas generator for supplying inflation gas to the airbag, an ignition means for igniting the gas generator, and a collision sensor for detecting a collision and activating the ignition means. And an air bag safety device having an air bag module integrally provided with a battery for supplying electric power to the ignition means, wherein the battery is a lithium battery, and a liquid crystal display element is provided in a bypass circuit of a collision sensor. A car airbag safety device characterized by the above. 2. A vehicle, characterized in that, in place of the liquid crystal display element according to claim 1, a voltage switch or current switch with minute power consumption is provided, and a liquid crystal display element that operates with this voltage switch or current switch is provided. Airbag safety device.