JPH09132111A - Vehicle occupant protection system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Problem] The present invention controls the occupant protection means to speed up the control operation when a signal is output from the inter-vehicle distance warning means to the occupant protection means, and protects the occupant according to the running state. It is intended to be realized and to improve safety. Therefore, there is provided an inter-vehicle distance warning means for outputting at least a distance sensor for detecting an inter-vehicle distance and an alarm means for outputting an alarm to an occupant, and an airbag system section and a seat belt. In a vehicle occupant protection device having an occupant protection means for protecting an occupant having a system section, an inter-vehicle distance warning means and an occupant protection means are provided so as to communicate with each other, and a signal is output from the inter-vehicle distance warning means to the occupant protection means. When it is performed, the control operation of the occupant protection means is accelerated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle occupant protection device, and more particularly to an inter-vehicle distance warning means and an occupant protection means provided in communication with each other when a signal is output from the inter-vehicle distance warning means to the occupant protection means. The present invention relates to an occupant protection device for a vehicle, which controls the occupant protection means to speed up the control operation, realizes occupant protection according to a running state, and improves safety.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Vehicles have the purpose of protecting passengers,
Airbag devices tend to be installed. This airbag device inflates an airbag between an instrument panel of a vehicle and an occupant when the vehicle collides.

An example of the vehicle occupant protection device is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-1234. The vehicle collision detection device disclosed in this publication obtains a distance to a front obstacle and a temporal change rate of the distance by a distance sensor and a differentiating circuit that differentiates a detection value of the distance sensor, and the distance T within a time T. If the distance becomes 0 within T time, a collision unavoidable signal is output. Only when an actual shock is detected when this signal is output, the collision is detected. By outputting a signal (airbag actuation signal), it is possible to reduce the capacity of the inflator and reduce the required strength of the airbag.

[0004]

By the way, in the conventional vehicle occupant protection device, the above-mentioned JP-A-60-12 is used.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 34-34, an inflator actuation signal of the airbag device is output by the outputs of both the vehicle collision prediction device and the impact detection sensor to inflate the airbag.

However, in the system disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-1234, output signals from both the vehicle collision prediction device and the impact detection sensor are required as conditions for operating the inflator.

Therefore, for example, in the case where one of them fails and the output is stopped, the inflator is not actuated despite the fact that the inflator actuation condition is actually satisfied, and improvement is expected. Was there.

Further, in the conventional vehicle occupant protection system, the operating speed of the inflator is set to one preset speed, and the operating speed of the inflator can be changed according to the running state of the vehicle. There is an inconvenience that it cannot be done and is disadvantageous in practical use.

[0008]

Therefore, in order to eliminate the above-mentioned inconvenience, the present invention has at least a distance sensor for detecting an inter-vehicle distance and an alarm means for outputting an alarm to an occupant. In the vehicle occupant protection device, which is provided with an inter-vehicle distance warning means for outputting a vehicle occupant protection means for protecting an occupant having an airbag system section and a seat belt system section, the inter-vehicle distance warning means and the occupant protection means are provided. Is provided so that the control operation of the occupant protection means is accelerated when a signal is output from the inter-vehicle distance warning means to the occupant protection means.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION With the configuration as described above,
When a signal is output from the inter-vehicle distance warning means to the occupant protection means, the control operation of the occupant protection means is controlled so as to speed up, and occupant protection can be realized according to the traveling state, thus improving safety.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 to 8 show an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, 2 is a vehicle occupant protection device (not shown), 4 is an inter-vehicle distance warning means, and 6 is an occupant protection means.

This occupant protection device 2 is, as shown in FIG.
Inter-vehicle distance warning means 4 for outputting an alarm according to the inter-vehicle distance
And an occupant protection means 6 for protecting the occupant.

The inter-vehicle distance warning means 4, as shown in FIG. 2, includes a distance sensor 8 such as a laser radar for detecting the inter-vehicle distance, and a vehicle speed sensor 1 for detecting the vehicle speed of a vehicle (not shown).
0, the inter-vehicle distance warning control unit 12 which inputs the detection signals from the distance sensor 8 and the vehicle speed sensor 10 and outputs the warning signal to the warning means 14 described later in the case of a predetermined warning area, for example, the A area, The alarm control unit 12 includes an alarm unit 14 for issuing an alarm such as a buzzer or an indicator in response to an alarm signal.

As shown in FIG. 2, the occupant protection means 6 includes an airbag system unit 16 that communicates with the inter-vehicle distance warning control unit 12 and a seat belt system unit 18 that communicates with the inter-vehicle distance warning control unit 12. Have.

As shown in FIG. 3, the airbag system unit 16 includes a collision detection sensor 20 and an airbag control unit 22 for inputting a signal from the inter-vehicle distance warning control unit 12 and a signal from the collision detection sensor 20. The airbag control unit 22 outputs an inflator actuation signal (not shown). When the inflator operation signal (not shown) is output, an airbag (not shown) is inflated between an instrument panel (not shown) of the vehicle and an occupant,
It protects passengers.

Further, the seat belt system section 18
As shown in FIG. 4, the collision detection sensor 20 and the signal from the inter-vehicle distance warning control unit 12 and the collision detection sensor 20
And a seatbelt control unit 24 for inputting a signal from the seatbelt pretensioner. When the activation signal of the seat belt pretensioner (not shown) is output, the tension of the seat belt (not shown) is changed to protect the occupant wearing the seat belt (not shown).

That is, the airbag system section 16
The seat belt system unit 18 is provided with a collision detection sensor 20.
Not only the detection signal from the vehicle but also the signal from the inter-vehicle distance warning controller 12 can be used for the operation.

Then, when the inter-vehicle distance warning means 4 outputs a signal of the calculation result to the occupant protection means 6, the control operation of the occupant protection means 6 is accelerated.

More specifically, the inter-vehicle distance warning means 4 is
The detection signals from the distance sensor 8 and the vehicle speed sensor 10 are input to determine the degree of approach. That is, according to the area determination characteristic maps shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the warning area is A area or B area.
Determine if it is a region.

When the warning area is the area A, the warning means 14 outputs only to the warning means 14, and when the warning area is the area B, the warning means 14 and the airbag system portion 16 of the occupant protection means 6 and the seat. Output to the belt system unit 18.

The inter-vehicle distance warning means 4 uses a signal depending on the inter-vehicle distance detection signal from the distance sensor 8 and the vehicle speed detection signal from the vehicle speed sensor 10, that is, according to the area determination characteristic map as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Output a judgment signal.

When the warning area is the area B and the warning means 14 and the occupant protection means 6 output to the airbag system portion 16 and the seat belt system portion 18, the collision detection sensor 20 is used. Is used to shorten the control time from the ON operation of the inflator to the activation of the inflator (not shown), and the initiation signal to the inflator (not shown) is made earlier than that during the normal control.

Next, the operation will be described.

When the program of the control flow chart of the occupant protection system 2 of FIG. 1 is started (100), distance measurement and vehicle speed measurement are carried out by the detection signal from the distance sensor 8 and the detection signal from the vehicle speed sensor 10 (102). .

Then, an approach degree determination (104) is performed from the measured distance and vehicle speed. This proximity determination (104) is
The area determination characteristic map as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is used for the determination.

When it is determined by the proximity determination (104) that the area is the area A, an alarm output (106) is issued to the alarm means 14 to perform the distance measurement and vehicle speed measurement processing (10).
Return to 2).

When it is determined by the proximity determination (104) that the region is the B region, a signal is output to the airbag system unit 16 and the seat belt system unit 18 and an alarm output to the alarm means 14 ( 108) is performed, and the process returns to the process (102) of distance measurement and vehicle speed measurement.

Now, a flow chart of the main part of the airbag system section 16 will be described.

When the flow chart of the air bag system section 16 is started (200), it is judged whether there is an output from the inter-vehicle distance warning control section 12 of the inter-vehicle distance warning means 4 (202), and this judgment (202) is NO. In the case of, the algorithm A of the normal control is used for actuating the inflator (204), and the process returns to the main flowchart of the airbag system section 16.

On the other hand, if the determination (202) is YES, the algorithm B which outputs an initiation signal earlier than the normal control is used for inflator operation (206), and the process returns to the main flow chart of the airbag system section 16.

Next, a flow chart of the main part of the seat belt system section 18 will be described.

When the flow chart of the seat belt system section 18 is started (300), it is judged whether there is an output from the inter-vehicle distance warning control section 12 of the inter-vehicle distance warning means 4 (302), and this judgment (302) is NO. In the case of, the normal seat belt operation is performed (304), and the process returns to the main flowchart of the seat belt system unit 18.

If the above judgment (302) is YES, the seat belt pretensioner is activated (30
6) Return to the main flowchart of the seat belt system unit 18.

As a result, the signal of the calculation result of the inter-vehicle distance warning means 4 can be used in the occupant protection means 6, and the calculation result can be used effectively.

Further, by accelerating the control operation of the occupant protection means 6 by the output signal from the inter-vehicle distance warning means 4, the occupant protection according to the running state, in particular the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle speed can be realized and the safety can be improved. Can improve.

Further, the inter-vehicle distance warning means 4 and the occupant protection means 6 are provided in communication with each other.
If the signal is not output from the vehicle, the normal occupant protection operation is performed, and there is no problem that the occupant protection means 6 does not operate due to the presence or absence of the signal, and the reliability of the operation can be improved.

Furthermore, the area is determined by the area determination characteristic map depending on the detection signals of the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle speed, and the presence or absence of the output signal from the inter-vehicle distance warning means 4 to the occupant protection means 6 is determined. It is possible to perform fine control according to the running state, which is practically advantageous.

[0038]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, an inter-vehicle distance alarm having at least a distance sensor for detecting an inter-vehicle distance and an alarm means for outputting an alarm to an occupant, and outputting an alarm according to an inter-vehicle distance. In an occupant protection device for a vehicle, which is provided with means for protecting an occupant having an airbag system section and a seatbelt system section, an inter-vehicle distance warning means and an occupant protection means are provided so as to communicate with each other. Since the control operation of the occupant protection means is accelerated when the signal is output from the distance warning means to the occupant protection means, the signal of the calculation result of the inter-vehicle distance warning means can be used in the occupant protection means. The calculation result can be used effectively. Further, by accelerating the control operation of the occupant protection means by the output signal from the inter-vehicle distance warning means, occupant protection can be realized according to the traveling state, particularly according to the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle speed, and the safety can be improved. Further, the inter-vehicle distance warning means and the occupant protection means are provided so as to communicate with each other. However, if no signal is output from the inter-vehicle distance warning means, the normal occupant protection operation is performed, and the occupant may be detected depending on the presence or absence of the signal. There is no problem that the protection means does not operate, and the reliability of operation can be improved.

If the inter-vehicle distance warning means outputs a signal that depends on the inter-vehicle distance detection signal from the distance sensor and the vehicle speed detection signal from the vehicle speed sensor, the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle speed are respectively detected. It is possible to determine the area by the area determination characteristic map that depends on the detection signal and determine whether or not there is an output signal from the inter-vehicle distance warning means 4 to the occupant protection means, and it is possible to perform fine control according to the running state, and practically use it. It is advantageous.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart for controlling an occupant protection system showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an occupant protection device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an airbag system section.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a seat belt system unit.

FIG. 5 is a main part flowchart of an airbag system section.

FIG. 6 is a main part flowchart of a seat belt system section.

FIG. 7 is an operation diagram showing a region A.

FIG. 8 is an operation diagram showing a region B.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Passenger protection device 4 Inter-vehicle distance warning means 6 Occupant protection means 8 Distance sensor 10 Vehicle speed sensor 12 Inter-vehicle distance warning control section 14 Warning means 16 Air bag system section 18 Seat belt system section 20 Collision detection sensor 22 Air bag control section 24 Seat belt Control unit

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] December 22, 1995

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] All figures

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG.

[Fig. 2]

[Figure 5]

[Figure 3]

FIG. 4

FIG. 6

FIG. 7

[Figure 8]

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An air bag system section and a seat belt system, which is provided with at least an inter-vehicle distance warning means for outputting an alarm according to an inter-vehicle distance, the distance sensor having at least a distance sensor for detecting an inter-vehicle distance and an alarm means for outputting an alarm to an occupant. In a vehicle occupant protection device provided with an occupant protection means for protecting an occupant having a section, the inter-vehicle distance warning means and the occupant protection means are provided so as to communicate with each other, and a signal is sent from the inter-vehicle distance warning means to the occupant protection means. An occupant protection device for a vehicle, characterized in that the control operation of the occupant protection means is accelerated when output is made. 2. The inter-vehicle distance warning means is a inter-vehicle distance warning means for outputting a signal depending on the inter-vehicle distance detection signal from the distance sensor and the vehicle speed detection signal from the vehicle speed sensor. The vehicle occupant protection device according to 1.