JP2001130369A - Airbag system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Object] To provide an airbag system capable of operating an airbag device in an optimal state in consideration of a distance between an occupant sitting on a seat and the airbag device. SOLUTION: As a detecting unit 40 for detecting a distance between an occupant 2 sitting on a seat 13 and an airbag device 1, a seat position detecting means for detecting a position of a seat 13 sliding back and forth, and a detected position of the seat 13 And a control unit 30 that controls to change the operation speed or the operation mode of the airbag device 1 based on the control information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an airbag system for controlling the operation of an airbag device based on the position of a seat that slides back and forth.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, an airbag system detects an impact at the time of a collision with a sensor attached to a vehicle body and controls the ECU (electric control unit) as a control unit.
nit) to determine whether it is an impact to deploy the airbag, and if necessary, send an electric signal to an inflator mounted in the steering wheel to burn the gas generating agent to inflate the bag, It is designed to receive the chest and head.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional airbag system, the airbag device is designed to operate uniformly with the same operation without considering the position of the seat that slides back and forth. When an occupant with a small build is operating with the seat positioned extremely forward, the airbag device may not operate in a favorable state when the airbag device is activated by a collision.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an airbag system capable of operating an airbag device in an optimal state in consideration of a distance between an occupant sitting on a seat and the airbag device. The purpose is to provide.

[0005]

An airbag system according to the present invention comprises a seat position detecting means for detecting a position of a sheet sliding back and forth, and an operation speed or operation of the airbag apparatus based on the detected position of the sheet. A control unit for performing control for changing the mode.

According to this configuration, the position of the seat is detected by the seat position detecting means, and the control unit performs control to change the operation speed or the operation mode of the airbag device based on the detected position. It is possible to operate in an optimal state in consideration of the distance between the seated occupant and the airbag device.

In addition, since the distance between the occupant sitting on the seat and the airbag device is indirectly detected by the seat position detecting means, the detecting means can be simplified and the distance can be detected reliably. Become.

In the above airbag system, when the detected position of the seat is within a predetermined range, the control unit controls to stop the operation of the airbag device.

According to this configuration, the seat is positioned extremely forward, and the airbag device does not operate when the occupant is too close to the airbag device. Can be eliminated.

[0010] As the sheet position detecting means, a sensor is provided on one of an upper channel and a lower channel which constitute a slide mechanism for sliding the sheet back and forth.
When the detection object is provided on the other side, the detection means can be configured by simply performing a simple modification of adding the sensor and the detection object to the slide mechanism without changing the components of the slide mechanism having the general structure. Becomes possible.

In addition, as the seat position detecting means, outside the upper channel and the lower channel which constitute a slide mechanism for sliding the seat back and forth,
If the sensor is provided on one side and the object to be detected is provided on the other side, adjustment and setting of the mounting position of the sensor and the object to be detected can be easily performed from the outside.

Further, as the sheet position detecting means, a sensor is provided on one side and an object to be detected is provided on the other side in an internal space formed by an upper channel and a lower channel constituting a slide mechanism for sliding the sheet back and forth. With this configuration, the detection unit is not exposed to the outside, so that stable detection can be performed without being affected by the outside, and inconvenience in appearance does not occur.

Further, as the sheet position detecting means,
If the object to be detected is provided on the lower channel that constitutes the slide mechanism that slides the seat back and forth, and the sensor is provided on the side cover of the seat that covers the side part of the lower channel, it is changed to a component of the slide mechanism with a general structure. The detection means can be configured by simply providing the object to be detected in the lower channel and providing the sensor on the side cover without performing the modification.
In addition, since the detection means is not exposed to the outside, stable detection can be performed without being affected by outside, and there is no inconvenience in appearance.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. 1, an airbag system detects an impact at the time of a collision by a sensor attached to a vehicle body 17, and controls a control unit (ECU) 30 to deploy the airbag 1a. Then, if necessary, an electric signal is sent to the inflator of the airbag device 1 mounted in the steering wheel 16 to burn the gas generating agent, inflate the airbag 1a, and It is designed to receive the chest and head. In the case of a passenger airbag system, the airbag device 1 is provided on the front of the dashboard.

The airbag system according to the present invention includes a seat 1
A seat position detecting means for detecting the position of the seat 13 sliding back and forth, as a detecting unit 40 for detecting the distance between the occupant 2 sitting on the vehicle 3 and the airbag device 1, and air detection based on the detected position of the seat 13. A control unit 30 for controlling the operation of the bag device 1, wherein the control unit 30 performs control to change the operation speed or the operation mode of the airbag device 1 based on the position of the sheet 13 detected by the sheet position detection unit. Thus, the airbag device 1 is operated in an optimal state in consideration of the distance between the occupant 2 sitting on the seat 13 and the airbag device 1. Here, FIG.
FIG. 1B illustrates a state where the sheet 13 that slides back and forth is positioned near the center, and FIG. 1B illustrates a state where the sheet 13 is positioned forward.

An embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
1 shows a configuration example of an airbag system according to an embodiment.

The seat 13 is, for example, provided by a slide mechanism 9 using a lower channel 12 fixed to a vehicle body 17 via legs 14 and 15 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and an upper channel 11 to which the seat 13 is attached. It can slide back and forth.

In the first embodiment, the detection unit 40
As shown in FIG. 2, specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the sensor 3 is provided on the upper channel 11 side, and the detection object 4 is provided on the lower channel 12 side, and the sheet is slid forward and backward. The position of the sheet 13 is detected. The control unit 30 controls the sheet position detecting unit 1
The control of the airbag device 1 is performed based on the position of the seat 13 detected by the value 0. Here, the total slide length is 2
When the sheet 13 shown in FIG. 2A is divided within the range of the slide length L1 from the front end position, the sensor 3 outputs “O”.
N ", control is performed to stop the operation of the airbag device 1. When the sheet 13 shown in FIG. 2B is within the range of the slide length L2 from the rear end position, the sensor 3 is turned" OFF "and the airbag device is turned off. The control is performed to operate 1. The signal of "ON" and "OFF" of the sensor 3 described above may be set to have the opposite relationship.

As a result, when the seat 13 is positioned extremely forward and the occupant 2 is too close to the airbag device 1, the airbag device 1 can be prevented from operating. Therefore, it is possible to solve the problem caused by the operation of the airbag device 1 in such a state.

In addition, since the distance between the occupant 2 sitting on the seat and the airbag device 1 is indirectly detected by the seat position detecting means 10, the detecting means has a simple structure and the distance is reliably detected. Can be.

(Second Embodiment) FIGS. 3 and 4 show a configuration example of an airbag system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

In the second embodiment, a detection unit 4 for detecting the distance between the occupant 2 sitting on the seat 13 and the airbag device 1
It has a sheet position detecting means 20 as 0, and a control unit 30 for controlling to change the operation mode of the airbag device 1 based on the position of the sheet 13 detected by the sheet position detecting means 20.

Specifically, for example, when the total slide length of the sheet 13 from the front end position to the rear end position is 240 mm, the slide length is divided into four and the position of the sheet 13 is shifted from the rear end position to the rear end position. M1 when the range is 60 mm forward
In the M2 mode when the range is 70 mm to 120 mm from the rear end position in the mode, 130 mm to 180 mm from the rear end position.
mm in the M3 mode and 190 mm from the rear end position.
In the range from mm to the front end position, the operation of the airbag device 1 is controlled in the M4 mode.

Here, in the M1 mode to the M3 mode, a difference is provided in the operation level of the airbag device 1, and
The 1 mode is set to an operation level of “strong”, the M2 mode is set to “medium”, the M3 mode is set to an operation level of “weak”, and the M4 mode is set to stop the operation of the airbag device 1. In the M1 mode to the M3 mode, the control unit 30 controls the operation amount of the operation explosive, the generation amount of the operation gas, and the operation speed of the airbag device 1 based on the position of the sheet 13 detected by the sheet position detection unit 20. The control is performed to increase or decrease at least one of them, thereby providing a difference in the operation level of the airbag device 1.

More specifically, the sheet position detecting means 20
As shown in FIG. 3, the sheet 1 is provided with the sensors 5 and 7 on the upper channel 11 side and the detection objects 6 and 8 on the lower channel 12 side, and is slid back and forth.
3 is detected. FIG. 4 shows the signal SE1 of the sensor 5, the signal SE2 of the sensor 7, and the sheet 1 in each mode.
The relationship with the position of No. 3 is shown.

When the position of the seat 13 is within a range of 60 mm forward from the rear end position, as shown in FIGS. 3 (e) and 4, both the sensors 5 and 7 are "OFF", and the air in the M1 mode is set. The operation of the bag device 1 is controlled.

The position of the seat 13 is 70 m from the rear end position.
When the distance is in the range of m to 120 mm, as shown in FIG. 3D and FIG.
N ", and controls the operation of the airbag device 1 in the M2 mode.

The position of the sheet 13 is shifted 130 degrees from the rear end position.
3 (c) and FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, both the sensors 5 and 7 are turned “ON”, and M
The operation of the airbag device 1 is controlled in three modes.

The position of the sheet 13 is set at 190 from the rear end position.
3 (a) and FIG.
As shown in (b) and FIG. 4, the sensor 5 is turned "ON" and the sensor 7 is turned "OFF", and the operation of the airbag device 1 is controlled in the M4 mode.

According to this airbag system, the airbag device 1 can be operated in an optimum mode in consideration of the distance between the occupant 2 sitting on the seat 13 and the airbag device 1.

Next, a specific configuration example of the above-described slide mechanism 9 for the seat 13 and the seat position detecting means 10 (20) will be described.

As shown in FIG. 5, the seat 13 includes a headrest portion 13a, a back portion 13b, and a seat portion 13c. The tilt angle of the back portion 13b can be changed by a reclining mechanism 22. This sheet 13
Is attached to the upper channel 11 and is slidable back and forth by a slide mechanism 9 configured in combination with the lower channel 12.

As shown in FIG. 6, the slide mechanism 9 uses a lower channel 12 fixed to a vehicle body 17 via legs 14, 15 and an upper channel 11 to which a seat 13 is attached, as shown in FIG. As described above, the sliding member 19 that is slidable by the roller 18 sandwiched between the lower surface S1 of the upper channel 11 and the upper surface S2 of the lower channel 12 and that covers the distal end of the guide rib 11b of the upper channel 11 is formed by the lower channel. The sheet 13 can be slid forward and backward by being guided by the 12 guide engaging portions 12a.

The sheet position detecting means 10 (2) shown in FIG.
0) is a side cover shown in FIG. 5 in which the detection object 4 (6, 8) is provided on the side wall of the lower channel 12 constituting the slide mechanism 9 for sliding the seat 13 back and forth, and covers the side portion of the lower channel 12. 21 is a sensor fixing part 21
In the figure, an example is shown in which a is formed and a sensor 3 (5, 7) is provided there.

According to this configuration, the detection target 4 (6, 8) is provided on the lower channel 12 without changing the components of the slide mechanism 9 having a general structure, and the sensor 3 (5) is mounted on the side cover 21. , 7), the sheet position detecting means 10 (20) can be constituted only by simple modification. In addition, the sheet position detecting means 10 (2
Since 0) is not exposed to the outside, stable detection can be performed without being affected by the outside, and no inconvenience in appearance occurs.

The sheet position detecting means 10 (2) shown in FIG.
0) indicates the upper channel 11 and the lower channel 1
2 illustrates a configuration example in which a sensor 3 (5, 7) is provided on one of the two and a detection target 4 (6, 8) is provided on the other. Here, the sensor 3 is provided on the side of the central rib 11a of the upper channel 11.
(5, 7) is provided, and the detection target 4 (6, 8) is provided on the upper surface of the guide engagement portion 12a of the lower channel 12.

According to this configuration, the sensor 3 (5, 7) and the detected object 4 (6, 8) can be simply added to the slide mechanism 9 without changing the components of the slide mechanism 9 having a general structure. The sheet position detecting means 10
(20) can be configured. In addition, since the sensors 3 (5, 7) and the detection target 4 (6, 8) are provided outside the upper channel 11 and the lower channel 12, adjustment and setting of these mounting positions can be easily performed from outside. be able to.

The sheet position detecting means 10 (2) shown in FIG.
0) indicates the upper channel 11 and the lower channel 1
In the internal space formed by the sensor 2, one of the sensors 3
(5, 7) is provided, and the detection object 4 (6, 8) is provided on the other side. Here, FIG. 9A shows that the sensor 3 (5, 7) is provided in the concave portion 11c of the upper channel 11,
The object 4 to be detected is placed on the lower upper surface S2 of the lower channel 12.
FIG. 9B shows an example in which (6, 8) is provided. FIG. 9B shows a case in which the detection object 4 (6, 8) is provided in the concave portion 11 c of the upper channel 11, and the sensor 3
An example in which (5, 7) is provided is shown. According to this configuration, since the sheet position detecting means 10 (20) is not exposed to the outside,
Stable detection free from external influences can be performed, and no inconvenience in appearance occurs.

As described above, the airbag system of the present invention is not limited to the specific configuration of each of the above-described embodiments, and it is needless to say that the configuration may be modified, added, or deleted as needed. .

For example, in the above description, an example has been described in which the position of a sheet that slides back and forth is detected by dividing the entire sliding length into two or four using a proximity sensor as a sensor of the sheet position detecting means. The present invention is not limited to this, and may be configured to detect the position of the sheet by dividing the entire slide length into three or five or more. Further, the position of a sheet that slides back and forth may be continuously detected using a position detector such as a linear scale or a rotary encoder.

Although an example in which a proximity sensor is used as a sensor of the sheet position detecting means has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and other types of sensors such as limit switches and photoelectric switches may be used. It goes without saying that it may be used.

[0043]

As described above, according to the airbag system of the present invention, the position of the seat is detected by the seat position detecting means, and the control unit changes the operation speed or operation mode of the airbag device based on the detected position. Therefore, the airbag device can be operated in an optimal state in consideration of the distance between the occupant sitting on the seat and the airbag device.

In addition, since the distance between the occupant sitting on the seat and the airbag device is indirectly detected by the seat position detecting means, the detecting means can be simplified and the distance can be reliably detected.

In the above-described airbag system, if the control section performs control to stop the operation of the airbag apparatus when the detected position of the sheet is within a predetermined range, the sheet may be extremely forward. When the occupant is too close to the airbag device, the airbag device does not operate. Therefore, it is possible to solve the problem caused by the operation of the airbag device in such a state.

As the sheet position detecting means, a sensor is provided on one of the upper channel and the lower channel which constitutes a slide mechanism for sliding the sheet back and forth.
When the detection object is provided on the other side, the detection unit can be configured simply by adding a sensor and a detection object to the slide mechanism without changing the components of the slide mechanism having a general structure. Can be.

Further, as the sheet position detecting means, outside the upper channel and the lower channel which constitute a slide mechanism for sliding the sheet back and forth,
If the sensor is provided on one side and the object to be detected is provided on the other side, adjustment and setting of the mounting position of the sensor and the object to be detected can be easily performed from the outside.

As the sheet position detecting means, a sensor is provided on one side and an object to be detected is provided on the other side in an internal space formed by an upper channel and a lower channel constituting a slide mechanism for sliding the sheet back and forth. With this configuration, since the detection unit is not exposed to the outside, stable detection can be performed without being affected by the outside, and there is no inconvenience in appearance.

Further, as the sheet position detecting means,
If the object to be detected is provided on the lower channel that constitutes the slide mechanism that slides the seat back and forth, and the sensor is provided on the side cover of the seat that covers the side part of the lower channel, the structure is changed to a general structure of the slide mechanism The detection unit can be configured simply by providing the object to be detected in the lower channel and providing a sensor on the side cover without adding a simple modification. In addition, since the detection unit is not exposed to the outside, stable detection can be performed without being affected by the outside, and there is no inconvenience in appearance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A and 1B are diagrams showing a configuration example of an airbag system of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A shows a state in which a sheet that slides back and forth is positioned near the center, and FIG. It represents the state when it is positioned to the side.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating a configuration example of an airbag system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 2A illustrates a case where a sheet that slides back and forth is within a distance L1 from a front end position;
(B) shows a state where the sensor is turned on, and (b) shows a state where the sensor is turned off when the sheet is within the range of the distance L2 from the rear end position.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing a configuration example of an airbag system according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIGS.
4 mode state, (c) M3 mode state,
(D) shows the state of the M2 mode, and (e) shows the state of the M1 mode.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a sensor signal and a seat position in each mode of an airbag system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example of a sheet that slides back and forth.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a seat slide mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line P-P in FIG. 5, showing a first configuration example of the seat position detecting means in the airbag system of the present invention.

8 is a QQ sectional view of FIG. 6 showing a second configuration example of the seat position detecting means in the airbag system of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line QQ of FIG. 6 showing a third configuration example of the seat position detecting means in the airbag system of the present invention, wherein (a) shows a sensor provided in a concave portion of an upper channel; (B) shows an example in which a detection target is provided in a concave portion of an upper channel and a sensor is provided in a lower upper surface of a lower channel.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Airbag device 2 Occupant 3,5,7 Sensor 4,6,8 Detected object 9 Slide mechanism 10,20 Seat position detecting means 11 Upper channel 12 Lower channel 13 Seat 21 Side cover 22 Reclining mechanism 30 Control unit 40 Detecting unit

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle comprising: a sheet position detecting means for detecting a position of a sheet sliding back and forth; and a control unit for controlling to change an operation speed or an operation mode of the airbag device based on the detected position of the sheet. An airbag system, characterized in that: 2. The airbag system according to claim 1, wherein when the detected position of the seat is within a predetermined range, the control unit performs control to stop the operation of the airbag device. 3. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein one of an upper channel and a lower channel constituting a slide mechanism for sliding the sheet back and forth is provided as the sheet position detecting means, and a detection target is provided on the other. Airbag system. 4. A sensor is provided on one of the upper and lower channels constituting a slide mechanism for sliding a sheet back and forth as the sheet position detecting means, and a detection target is provided on the other. Item 3. The airbag system according to Item 2. 5. A sensor is provided on one side and an object to be detected is provided on the other side in an internal space formed by an upper channel and a lower channel constituting a slide mechanism for sliding a sheet back and forth as the sheet position detecting means. The airbag system according to claim 1 or 2. 6. The sheet position detecting means, wherein a detection target is provided on a lower channel constituting a slide mechanism for sliding the sheet back and forth, and a sensor is provided on a side cover of the sheet which covers a side portion of the lower channel. The airbag system according to claim 1 or 2.