JP2005082022A - Protective device for front passenger seat of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a protection device for a passenger seat of a vehicle capable of accurately protecting a passenger in the passenger seat without giving a sense of incongruity to the passenger in the passenger seat.
A protection device for a passenger seat of a vehicle includes an occupant leg protection device 10 and a passenger seat that are normally stored and arranged in front of a passenger occupant A seated in a passenger seat PS and protect the lower limbs of the passenger occupant A. An occupant upper protection device 20 that protects the upper portion of the occupant A, and a control device that controls the occupant lower limb protection device 10 and the occupant upper protection device 20 based on detection results from the occupant physique detection sensor and the collision detection sensor. The occupant leg protection device 10 and the occupant upper protection device 20 both have a plurality of operation modes, and the operation modes of the devices 10 and 20 are selected by the control device based on the detection result from the occupant physique detection sensor. The operations of the devices 10 and 20 are controlled by the control device based on the detection result from the collision detection sensor.
[Selection] Figure 4

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 a constant value. 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 relates to an occupant lower limb protection device that protects a lower limb of the passenger seat occupant that is normally stored and disposed in front of a passenger occupant seated in a passenger seat of a vehicle, and an occupant upper protection that protects the upper portion of the passenger occupant An occupant physique detection sensor that detects a physique of the passenger in the passenger seat, a collision detection sensor that detects a vehicle collision, and the occupant leg protection based on detection results from the occupant physique detection sensor and the collision detection sensor A control device for controlling the operation of the device and the upper occupant protection device, the occupant lower limb protection device and the occupant upper protection device both have a plurality of operation forms, and are detected from the occupant physique detection sensor. Based on the result, each operation mode of the occupant lower limb protection device and the occupant upper protection device is selected by the control device, and the detection result from the collision detection sensor Wherein each actuation of the occupant leg protecting device and the occupant upper protection device is characterized in that is controlled by the control device Zui.

  In this passenger seat protection device for a vehicle, the passenger lower limb protection device and the passenger upper protection device are not operated normally and are housed, so there is no possibility of giving the passenger a sense of incongruity. Further, each operation mode of the occupant leg protection device and the occupant upper protection device is selected by the control unit based on the detection result from the occupant physique detection sensor, and the occupant leg protection device and the occupant upper part are selected based on the detection result from the collision detection sensor. Since each operation of the protection device is controlled by the control device, it is possible to protect the passenger seat occupant more accurately according to the physique of the passenger seat occupant.

  In this case, the occupant leg protection device may be a knee airbag device that has an airbag that inflates and deploys at the time of a vehicle collision and protects the knee portion of the passenger occupant. The knee bolster device may be a knee bolster device that has a knee bolster that moves toward and protects the knee of the passenger occupant, and the occupant upper protection device includes an airbag that inflates and deploys when a vehicle collides, It may be an airbag device that protects the upper body.

  In carrying out the present invention, the control device detects a collision unavoidable detection sensor of the vehicle, the occupant physique detection sensor, and the occupant leg protection device and the occupant upper part based on detection results from the collision detection sensor. The occupant leg protection device has a knee bolster that moves toward the passenger occupant when a vehicle collision is unavoidable and moves to a storage position when the vehicle avoids a collision. It is a knee bolster device that protects the knee, and the occupant upper protection device may be an airbag device that includes an airbag that inflates and deploys when a vehicle collides to protect the upper body of the passenger on the passenger seat.

  In this case, the knee bolster of the knee bolster device can be moved toward the passenger occupant when the collision of the vehicle is unavoidable, and the knee bolster of the knee bolster device is moved to the optimum position in front of the knee of the passenger occupant before the vehicle collision. Can be made to wait. 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 has moved to the optimal position in front of the knee of the passenger occupant and is waiting, and is inflated and deployed at the time of the vehicle collision The upper body of the passenger in the passenger seat can be protected by the airbag, and the passenger in the passenger seat can be accurately protected. Further, the knee bolster of the knee bolster device can be moved to the storage position when avoiding a collision of the vehicle, and there is no possibility that the passenger in the passenger seat feels uncomfortable.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of a protection device for a passenger seat of a vehicle according to the present invention. In this first embodiment, a passenger on the passenger seat (shown in FIG. 4) is located in front of the passenger seat PS of the vehicle. As an occupant upper protection device that protects the upper part of the passenger occupant A or B and is equipped with a knee airbag device 10 as an occupant lower limb protection device that protects the lower limbs of the adult A and the child B shown in FIG. The airbag apparatus 20 is equipped.

  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.

  FIGS. 6 to 9 show a second embodiment of the protection device for a passenger seat of a vehicle according to the present invention. In this second embodiment, a passenger seat passenger (shown in FIG. 8) is located in front of the passenger seat PS of the vehicle. An adult A and a child B shown in FIG. 9) are equipped with a knee bolster device 30 as a passenger lower limb protection device that protects the lower limbs, and air as a passenger 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 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 this 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 optimal position in front of the knee 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.

1 is a perspective view schematically showing a first embodiment of a protection device for a passenger seat according to the present invention. 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 relationship between the electric control apparatus of 2nd Embodiment, each sensor connected to this, each squib, and 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 (4)

  An occupant lower limb protection device for protecting the lower limb of the passenger seat occupant, which is normally stored and arranged in front of a passenger occupant seated in the passenger seat of the vehicle, and an occupant upper protection device for protecting the upper portion of the passenger occupant; An occupant physique detection sensor that detects the physique of the passenger on the passenger seat, a collision detection sensor that detects a vehicle collision, the occupant physique detection sensor, and the occupant leg protection device and the occupant based on detection results from the collision detection sensor A control device for controlling the upper protection device, wherein both the occupant lower limb protection device and the occupant upper protection device have a plurality of operation forms, and the occupant is based on a detection result from the occupant physique detection sensor. Each operation mode of the lower limb protection device and the occupant upper protection device is selected by the control device, and the occupant is based on the detection result from the collision detection sensor. Limb protector and the actuated passenger seat protection device for a vehicle, characterized in that it is controlled by the control device of the occupant upper protection device.   2. The passenger seat protection device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the occupant leg protection device is a knee airbag device that has a knee airbag that inflates and deploys when a vehicle collides to protect a knee portion of a passenger occupant. The passenger upper protection device for a passenger seat of a vehicle, wherein the upper passenger protection device is an airbag device that has an airbag that inflates and deploys in the event of a vehicle collision and protects the upper body of the passenger in the passenger seat.   The passenger seat protection device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the occupant lower limb protection device is a knee bolster device that has a knee bolster that moves toward the passenger occupant in the event of a vehicle collision and protects the knee of the passenger occupant. A passenger seat protecting device for a vehicle, wherein the passenger upper protecting device is an airbag device that has an airbag that inflates and deploys in the event of a vehicle collision and protects the upper body of the passenger seat passenger. 2. The passenger seat protection device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to detect the collision inevitable of the vehicle, the occupant physique detection sensor, and the detection result from the collision detection sensor. A lower limb protection device and a control device for controlling the operation of the occupant upper protection device, wherein the occupant lower limb protection device moves a knee bolster that moves toward a passenger seat passenger when a vehicle collision is unavoidable and moves to a storage position when the vehicle collision is avoided A knee bolster device that protects the knee of the passenger in the passenger seat, and the upper passenger protection device is an airbag device that has an airbag that inflates and deploys in the event of a vehicle collision and protects the upper body of the passenger in the passenger seat A passenger seat protection device for a vehicle.

Images