JPH11170958A - Airbag control device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To safely protect an occupant by controlling the development of an airbag suitable for the steering condition when a vehicle is collided. SOLUTION: In an airbag control device for vehicles having an airbag control means 22 to control an airbag installed on a steering wheel of a vehicle to be developed when the vehicle is collided, a steering angle detecting means comprising a steering angle sensor 31 to detect the steering angle of the steering wheel is provided, and when the steering angle detected by the steering angle detecting means is confirmed to be larger than the preset reference angle, the development of the airbag is regulated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a vehicle
The present invention relates to a vehicle airbag control device that controls an airbag to deploy to protect an occupant.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-277123, a heater for heating gas generated by an inflator for deploying an airbag to increase the gas pressure is provided, and a seat belt is worn. By configuring the heater to increase the deployment pressure of the airbag when a vehicle collision accident occurs in the absence of a vehicle, depending on whether the occupant is wearing a seat belt,
BACKGROUND ART Occupant restraint systems for deploying airbags at different pressures are known.

[0003]

As described above, when a collision accident occurs in a state where the occupant does not wear a seat belt, the deployment pressure of the airbag is uniformly increased. However, there is a problem that it may not be possible to execute the deployment control of the airbag adapted to the above. That is, when the occupant sitting in the driver's seat operates the steering wheel and deploys the airbag, a large pressure may be applied to the occupant's arm,
It has not been possible to execute airbag deployment control suitable for the steering condition of the steering wheel by the occupant.

In view of such circumstances, the present invention provides an airbag for a vehicle that can appropriately protect an occupant by executing deployment control of an airbag suitable for a steering state at the time of a vehicle collision or the like. A control device is provided.

[0005]

The invention according to claim 1 is
In a vehicle airbag control device having an airbag control means for controlling an airbag installed on a steering wheel of a vehicle to be deployed at the time of a vehicle collision, a steering angle detection means for detecting a steering angle of the steering wheel is provided. When the steering angle detected by the steering angle detection means is confirmed to be larger than a preset reference angle, the deployment of the airbag is restricted.

According to the above configuration, when the steering angle of the steering wheel is confirmed to be larger than the reference angle according to the detection signal of the steering angle detecting means at the time of the collision of the vehicle, the steering angle is reduced. Regulations such as deploying the airbag more slowly than in the case are performed, so that a large pressing force of the airbag is prevented from acting on the arm of the occupant operating the steering wheel.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle airbag control device according to the first aspect, when the steering angle detected by the steering angle detecting means is confirmed to be larger than the reference angle, The deployment pressure of the airbag is reduced as compared with the case where the steering angle is equal to or less than the reference angle, thereby restricting the deployment of the airbag.

According to the above configuration, at the time of collision of the vehicle, if it is confirmed that the steering angle of the steering wheel is larger than the reference angle in accordance with the detection signal of the steering angle detection means, the airbag control is performed. By setting the deployment pressure of the airbag to a value smaller than the normal time by the means, a large pressing force of the airbag is prevented from acting on the arm of the occupant operating the steering wheel.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle airbag control apparatus according to the first aspect, the steering angle detected by the steering angle detecting means is configured so that the airbag can be deployed a plurality of times. Is larger than the reference angle, the airbag is provided with a certain time difference between the first airbag deployment time and the second and subsequent airbag deployment times. It regulates the development of

According to the above configuration, at the time of collision of the vehicle, if it is confirmed that the steering angle of the steering wheel is larger than the reference angle in accordance with the detection signal of the steering angle detecting means, the first of the airbags can be removed. After the first deployment, the deployment operation of the airbag is controlled so that the second and subsequent deployments are performed with a certain time lag, so that the deployment pressure of the airbag is rapidly applied to the arm of the occupant steering the steering wheel. It will be prevented from working.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle airbag control device, there is provided a wearing state detecting means for detecting whether or not an occupant seated in a driver's seat is wearing a seat belt. In the vehicle airbag control device according to any one of the above (1) to (3), the deployment of the airbag is performed only when it is confirmed that the occupant wears the seat belt according to the detection signal of the wearing state detection unit. Is configured to execute the control for restricting the pressure.

According to the above configuration, at the time of a vehicle collision, it is confirmed that the steering angle of the steering wheel is larger than the reference angle according to the detection signal of the steering angle detection means, and the detection signal of the wearing state detection means is obtained. If it is confirmed that the occupant is wearing the seat belt according to the condition, the airbag is deployed so that the pressing force of the airbag does not act on the arm of the occupant operating the steering wheel. Control is performed, and when it is confirmed that the occupant does not wear a seatbelt, control for rapidly deploying the airbag is performed without restricting deployment of the airbag. Will be.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle airbag control device having airbag control means for controlling an airbag installed on a steering wheel of a vehicle to be deployed at the time of a vehicle collision. Steering angle detecting means for detecting the steering angle of the steering wheel, and when it is confirmed that the steering angle detected by the steering angle detecting means is larger than a preset reference angle, prior to the deployment of the airbag, Elimination means for eliminating an object near the steering wheel.

According to the above arrangement, when it is confirmed that the steering angle of the steering wheel is larger than the reference angle according to the detection signal of the steering angle detecting means at the time of the collision of the vehicle, first, the exclusion means is provided. After the operation and the removal of the object near the steering wheel, for example, the occupant's arm, the airbag is deployed and the occupant is protected.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the airbag control apparatus for a vehicle according to the fifth aspect, the steering angle detected by the steering angle detecting means is arranged so that the airbag can be deployed a plurality of times. Is larger than the reference angle, the airbag is opened with a certain time difference between the first airbag deployment time and the second and subsequent airbag deployment times. The first airbag is deployed to remove an object near the steering wheel.

According to the above configuration, at the time of collision of the vehicle, if it is confirmed that the steering angle of the steering wheel is larger than the reference angle in accordance with the detection signal of the steering angle detection means, the first time is performed. After the deployment of the airbag, the occupant's arm or the like in the vicinity of the steering wheel is removed, and then the second and subsequent deployments are performed with a certain time lag to protect the occupant by the deployed airbag. Will be.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle airbag control device according to the sixth aspect, the time difference between the operation timing of the exclusion means for excluding an object near the steering wheel and the deployment timing of the airbag. Is changed according to the collision state of the vehicle.

According to the above arrangement, at the time of collision of the vehicle, if it is confirmed that the steering angle of the steering wheel is larger than the reference angle in accordance with the detection signal of the steering angle detection means, first the exclusion means is provided. After the object in the vicinity of the steering wheel, such as the occupant's arm, is removed and the airbag is deployed after a certain period of time set according to the collision state of the vehicle, the occupant is protected. Will be done.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle airbag control device according to any one of the third, sixth, and seventh aspects, a plurality of gas divided and disposed at a plurality of locations are provided. A generator and a plurality of squibs that individually burn each gas generating agent are provided, and by operating each squib with a fixed time difference, the airbag is configured to be deployed a plurality of times. is there.

According to the above configuration, at the time of collision of the vehicle, if it is confirmed that the steering angle of the steering wheel is larger than the reference angle in accordance with the detection signal of the steering angle detection means, one squib is activated. It becomes the operating state and the first
After the first deployment of the airbag, the other squibs are activated with a certain time lag, and controlled so that the second and subsequent deployments are performed. In a state where the deployment pressure of the airbag is prevented from acting suddenly, the airbag is deployed and the occupant is protected.

The ninth aspect of the present invention relates to the first to eighth aspects.
In the vehicle airbag control device according to any one of the above, the reference angle serving as a reference for determining the steering angle of the steering is set to 90 degrees.

According to the above configuration, when it is confirmed that the steering angle of the steering wheel is larger than 90 degrees according to the detection signal of the steering angle detecting means at the time of the collision of the vehicle, the steering angle becomes 90 degrees. Control is executed to deploy the airbag more slowly than in the following cases, or to deploy the airbag after the removal means removes the arm or the like of the occupant operating the steering wheel.

[0023]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a vehicle airbag control apparatus according to the present invention mounted on a vehicle having a pretensioner 2 for driving a seat belt 1 in a direction for holding an occupant. . This airbag control device
An airbag 4 installed on the steering wheel 3,
An inflator 5 for deploying the airbag 4, acceleration / deceleration detecting means including a pair of G sensors 6 and 7 for detecting acceleration / deceleration acting on the vehicle body, and whether an occupant seated in a driver's seat wears the seat belt 1. A wearing state detecting means including a belt sensor 8 for determining whether or not the steering wheel 3 is turned on; a steering angle detecting means including a steering angle sensor 31 for detecting a steering angle of the steering wheel 3; A control unit 9 for controlling the airbag 4 to deploy at a predetermined timing.

The pretensioner 2 is configured to wind up a shoulder belt that holds the occupant's shoulder. For example, as shown in FIG.
Take-up reel 10 for winding the webbing with a predetermined spring force
And a pinion gear 11 connected to the drive shaft of the take-up reel 10, a rack gear 12 for driving the pinion gear 11 to rotate, and a gas generator 13 for driving the rack gear 12. At the time of a vehicle collision, the gas generator 13 operates according to a control signal output from the control unit 9 to move the rack gear 12 from the lower standby position to the upper drive position as shown by the arrow. Is generated, the pinion gear 11 is driven to rotate, and the webbing of the seat belt 1 is taken up by the take-up reel 10.

The airbag 4 is, as shown in FIG.
It is stored in a folded state in a storage case 14 provided at the center of the steering wheel 3, and at the time of a vehicle collision,
The protective pad 14a that covers the surface of the storage case 14 is broken and inflated to expand between the steering wheel 3 and an occupant seated in a driver's seat (see FIG. 1).

The inflator 5 is composed of a pair of gas generating agents 16
7 and a pair of squibs 18 and 19 for burning the gas generating agents 16 and 17 individually. Then, at the time of a vehicle collision, only one of the two squibs 18 and 19 is operated at a predetermined operation timing T1 in accordance with a control signal output from the control unit 9, thereby obtaining a characteristic shown by a solid line a in FIG. By operating both squibs 18 and 19 simultaneously at the operation timing T1, the squibs 18 and 19 are deployed based on the characteristic shown by the broken line b in FIG. Further, after one of the two squibs 18 and 19 is operated at the operation timing T1, the other of the two squibs 18 and 19 is operated at an operation timing T2 after a predetermined time has elapsed, whereby the airbag 4 is moved to the position shown in FIG. Is developed based on the characteristic indicated by the virtual line c.

The G sensors 6 and 7 are mounted on, for example, a bumper frame of a vehicle body and a cross member of a cowl portion, detect acceleration / deceleration in the front-rear direction acting on the vehicle body, and output this detection signal to the control unit 9. It is configured to be. As shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 9 includes a collision state determination unit 20 that determines the collision state of the vehicle according to the detection signals output from the G sensors 6 and 7.
And a pretensioner control means 21 for outputting a control signal for operating the pretensioner 2 and an airbag control means 22 for outputting a control signal for operating the inflator 5 to deploy the airbag 4. .

The collision state discriminating means 20 calculates the average value of the acceleration / deceleration detected by the G sensors 6 and 7,
In addition to determining whether or not the vehicle is in a collision state, a threshold value as a criterion for determining whether or not to operate the pretensioner 2 and the inflator 5 at the time of a vehicle collision and an operation timing thereof are set. The collision state including the moving speed and the moving distance of the occupant's head from the previous predetermined time to the time of the collision is calculated.

Further, the pretensioner control means 21
When it is confirmed that the vehicle is in a predetermined collision state and the occupant is wearing the seat belt 1 in accordance with the output signals of the belt sensor 8 and the collision state determination means 20, the pretensioner is driven at a predetermined timing. 2 to output a control signal for operating the second control signal.

The airbag control means 22 includes the G sensors 6, 7, the belt sensor 8, and the collision state determination means 2.
In response to the output signal of 0, when it is confirmed that a vehicle collision accident has occurred while the predetermined deceleration state has been continued for a predetermined time while the seat belt 1 is not worn, the two squibs 18 are used. , 19 are activated, the airbag 4 is deployed relatively slowly, and the deployment of the airbag 4 is prohibited when it is confirmed that a vehicle collision accident has occurred in a rapidly decelerating state. It is configured to be.

The airbag control means 22 responds to the detection signals of the G sensors 6 and 7, the belt sensor 8, the collision state determination means 20 and the steering angle sensor 31 when the seat belt 1 is not worn. When it is confirmed that a vehicle collision accident has occurred in a state other than the deceleration state or the acceleration state, or when the seat belt 1 is worn, the steering angle of the steering wheel 3 is smaller than a preset reference angle. When it is confirmed that the airbag 4 is large, the squibs 18 and 19 are operated with a certain time difference so as to execute control for deploying the airbag 4 at a predetermined speed.

Further, the airbag control means 22 includes:
In accordance with the output signals of the G sensors 6, 7, the belt sensor 8, the collision state determination means 20, and the steering angle sensor 31, when the seat belt 1 is not worn, the acceleration state of the vehicle is continued for a predetermined time. , When it is confirmed that a vehicle collision accident has occurred, or when the seat belt 1 is worn,
When it is confirmed that a vehicle collision accident has occurred while the steering angle of the steering wheel 3 is equal to or less than the reference angle, by operating both squibs 18 and 19 of the inflator 5 simultaneously at a predetermined timing, air The bag 4 is configured to be quickly deployed.

The control operation executed in the control unit 9 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. When the control operation is started, first, after inputting the detection values of the respective sensors (step S1), the deceleration G detected by the G sensors 6 and 7 is set to about 3 g (g is the gravitational acceleration) set in advance. It is determined whether or not the vehicle is in a collision state that is equal to or greater than the collision determination value (step S2),
If the determination is NO, it is determined that there is no need to execute the operation control of the pretensioner 2 and the deployment control of the airbag 4, and the process returns.

On the other hand, if YES is determined in the above step S2, and it is confirmed that the deceleration G of 3 g or more has acted on the vehicle body, that is, that a vehicle collision accident has occurred,
Threshold values V1 and L1, which are criteria for determining whether or not to deploy the airbag 4 based on the detection values of the above sensors,
The operation timing T1 of the pretensioner 2 and the inflator 5 is set (step S3). For example,
A threshold value V1 corresponding to the moving speed of the occupant's head and a threshold value L1 corresponding to the moving distance based on the map data stored in the storage means in advance and the detection values of the sensors; The operation timing T1 is read and set.

Next, based on the detected value of the deceleration G,
The moving speed V and the moving distance L of the head of the occupant are calculated (step S4). That is, the deceleration G is set within a period from the current time when it is confirmed that the vehicle is in the collision state to a current time a predetermined time (for example, one second before) to the current time.
Is integrated by integrating the head velocity V 値 =
Gdt, (t = −1 to 0)}, and by integrating the value of the moving speed V within the same time, the moving distance of the head L 頭部 = {Vdt, (t = −1 to 0) ｝
Ask for.

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the calculated values of the moving speed V and the moving distance L of the head are equal to or larger than the threshold values V1 and L1 set in step S4 (steps S5 and S6). If NO is determined in either of steps S5 and S6, it is necessary to execute the operation control of the pretensioner 2 and the deployment control of the airbag 4 because the inertia force acting on the occupant is small. Judge that there is no return.

If YES is determined in steps S5 and S6, it is determined whether the occupant is wearing the seat belt 1 according to the detection signal of the belt sensor 8 (step S7). If YES is determined, the pretensioner 2 is operated based on the operation timing T1 set in step S3 (step S8), thereby winding the seat belt 1 in a direction for holding the occupant.

If NO is determined in step S7 and it is confirmed that the occupant does not wear the seat belt 1, the deceleration detected by the G sensors 6 and 7 is set to a preset value of about 1 g. It is determined whether or not the vehicle has collided in a state in which the deceleration state that has become equal to or greater than the first reference deceleration has continued from the time immediately before the first reference time t1 set in advance to about 1 second to the present time. (Step S
9).

If YES is determined in step S9, it is determined that a vehicle collision accident has occurred while the deceleration state of the first reference deceleration of 1 g or more has been continued for the first reference time t1 or more. If confirmed, it is determined that the occupant is not properly seated in the driver's seat and is in an out-of-position state (step S10), and then a value larger than the first reference deceleration 1g (for example, 2g). It is determined whether or not the deceleration state equal to or greater than the second reference deceleration set in step S1 has been continued for the first reference time t1 or more (step S11).

When NO is determined in step S11 and it is confirmed that the deceleration state of the second reference deceleration of 2 g or more during the collision of the vehicle is not continued for the first reference time t1 or more. Is the first reference deceleration 1 g
The above-mentioned deceleration state takes a longer time than the first reference time t1, for example, a second reference deceleration time t2 set to about 2 seconds.
It is determined whether or not the above has been continued (step S
12).

If NO is determined in step S12 and it is confirmed that the deceleration state of the first reference deceleration of 1 g or more during the collision of the vehicle has not been continued for the second reference time t2 or more. Outputs a control signal for operating only one of the squibs 18 and 19 constituting the inflator 5 at the operation timing T1 set in the step S3, and maintains the other in a non-operating state (step S3). S13) Deploy the airbag 4 relatively slowly.

Further, it is determined YES in step S11, and the vehicle has collided in the rapid deceleration state where the deceleration state of the second reference deceleration of 2 g or more is continued over the first reference time t1 or more. Is determined, or YES is determined in step S12, and the vehicle is in a collision state in a rapid deceleration state where the deceleration state of 1 g or more of the first reference deceleration is continued over the second reference time t2 or more. If it is confirmed that the airbag 4 has been operated, the control operation is terminated without operating the inflator 5 to prohibit the deployment of the airbag 4.

If the determination in step S9 is NO, the state in which the deceleration detected by the G sensors 6 and 7 is equal to or less than a preset reference deceleration of about -1 g is determined by the above-mentioned state. It is determined whether or not a vehicle collision accident has occurred in an acceleration state continued for one reference time t1 or more (step S14). That is, at the time of vehicle collision,
It is determined whether or not the acceleration state of the preset reference acceleration of 1 g or more has been continued for the first reference time t1 or more.

If the determination in step S14 is NO, the vehicle is not in the predetermined deceleration state or acceleration state, and the vehicle is out of position where the occupant is not properly seated in the driver's seat. After it is determined that it is impossible to determine whether or not the squibs are present (step S15), one of the two squibs 18 and 19 constituting the inflator 5 is operated at the operation timing T1 set in step S3 (step S15). S16) By operating the other of the two squibs 18 and 19 at an operation timing T2 after a predetermined period of time has elapsed from the operation timing T1 (step S17), the airbag 4 is deployed at a medium speed. Let it.

If YES is determined in the step S14, and it is confirmed that the acceleration state of the reference acceleration of 1 g or more has been continued for the first reference time t1 or more at the time of the collision of the vehicle, or If the pretensioner 2 is activated in step S8, it is determined that the occupant is not in the out-of-position and is properly seated in the driver's seat (step S18). It is determined whether or not the occupant is wearing the seatbelt 1 according to (step S19).

If the determination in step S19 is YES, whether the steering angle θ of the steering wheel 3 detected by the steering angle sensor 31 is larger than a reference steering angle set to about 90 ° in advance. Is determined (step S20), and if it is determined as YES, the process proceeds to steps S16 and S17 and the squibs 18 and 19 are determined.
Are activated with a predetermined time difference, and the airbag 4 is deployed twice, so that the deployment speed is set to a medium level.

If NO is determined in step S20 and it is confirmed that the steering angle θ of the steering wheel 3 is equal to or smaller than the reference steering angle 90 °, the operation timing T1 set in step S3 is determined. Then, by operating both of the squibs 18 and 19 constituting the inflator 5 simultaneously (step S21), the airbag 4 is quickly deployed. Note that the above step S1
If NO is determined in step 9 and it is confirmed that the occupant does not wear the seat belt 1, the process directly proceeds to step S21 without performing the determination of the steering angle θ, and the airbag 4 is quickly moved. It is controlled so that it is expanded to.

As described above, at the time of a vehicle collision, it is confirmed that the steering angle θ of the steering wheel 3 detected by the steering angle detecting means including the steering angle sensor 31 is larger than a preset reference steering angle. In this case, when the squibs 18 and 19 are operated with a predetermined time difference, the deployment of the airbag 4 is restricted as compared with the case where both the squibs 18 and 19 are simultaneously operated. The occupant can be properly protected by the airbag 4 while preventing a large pressing force from acting.

That is, it is considered that the arm of the occupant is in a state of covering the steering wheel 3 when the vehicle in which the occupant sitting in the driver's seat turns the steering wheel 3 greatly turns. When the occupant is deployed in the vehicle, a large pressing force is applied to the arm and the occupant feels discomfort. Therefore, the deployment speed of the airbag 4 is regulated to prevent the occupant from feeling uncomfortable. And the steering wheel 3
When it is confirmed that the steering angle θ is equal to or smaller than the reference steering angle, the squibs 18 and 19 are simultaneously operated to quickly deploy the airbag 4, thereby effectively occupant occupants using the airbag 4. Can be protected.

In particular, as shown in the above embodiment, a pair of gas generating agents 16 and 17 divided and disposed at a plurality of locations.
And a pair of squibs 18 and 19 for individually burning the gas generating agents 16 and 17 respectively.
According to a configuration in which the squibs 18 and 19 are operated with a certain time difference and the airbag 4 is deployed in two stages, the deployment speed is regulated. At the time of the first deployment, the occupant's arm, which is in a state of covering the steering wheel 3, can be urged to separate from the steering wheel 3 or to move the occupant's hand to an appropriate position of the steering 3.

That is, the means for deploying the airbag 4 for the first time constitutes an exclusion means for excluding an object near the steering wheel 3, and responds to a detection signal of the steering angle detection means at the time of a vehicle collision. When it is confirmed that the steering angle of the steering wheel 3 is larger than the reference angle, first, prior to the deployment of the airbag 4, the exclusion means is activated and an object near the steering wheel 3, for example, The occupant's arm or the like is removed so as to be separated from the steering wheel 3. Therefore, at the time of a collision of the vehicle, after the occupant's arm or the like is removed from the vicinity of the steering wheel 3 by operating the above-described elimination means, the airbag 4 is deployed, so that the air or the like is applied to the occupant's arm or the like with a simple configuration. The occupant can be effectively protected by the airbag 4 in a state where the large pressing force of the bag 4 is effectively prevented from acting.

The number of the gas generating agents 16 and 17 and the squibs 18 and 19 is not limited to two but may be three or more. Further, instead of the elimination means which is the means for deploying the airbag 4 at the first time, a structure having a separate actuator or the like which eliminates an object such as an arm near the steering wheel 3 may be provided. Further, the time difference between the operation timing of the elimination means and the final deployment time of the airbag 4 may be changed according to the time of a collision of the vehicle. After reliably removing objects such as the nearby arms, the airbag 4
Can be shifted to the deployed state to effectively protect the occupant.

In the event of a vehicle collision, both squibs 1
By operating the airbags 8 and 19 with a predetermined time difference to restrict the expansion of the airbag 4 in the above embodiment, for example, a plurality of inflators including an inflator for expanding the airbag 4 at a low pressure and an inflator for expanding the airbag 4 at a high pressure Is provided, and the steering angle θ of the steering wheel 3 detected by the steering angle sensor 31 is
If it is confirmed that the steering angle is larger than a preset reference steering angle, the deployment of the airbag 4 can be restricted or the opening area can be adjusted by selecting and operating the low-pressure deployment inflator. By providing a valve on the airbag and adjusting the opening of this exhaust valve,
The deployment speed of the airbag 4 may be changed to restrict the deployment.

In the above embodiment, the reference angle which is used as a criterion for determining whether or not to restrict the deployment of the airbag 4 is set to 90 degrees. However, the reference angle is not limited to 90 degrees. Various angles can be changed within a range in which the occupant's arm is considered to largely cover the steering wheel 3.

Further, in the above embodiment, the air bag 4 is only activated when it is confirmed that the occupant is wearing the seat belt 1 in accordance with the detection signal of the wearing state detecting means comprising the belt sensor 8. The squibs 18 and 19 are controlled when the seat belt 1 is not worn by performing control for restricting the deployment.
At the same time, the airbag 4 is quickly deployed without restricting the deployment of the airbag 4, so that the seat belt 1 in which the occupant's seating state is likely to be unstable becomes unstable.
When the vehicle is not worn, the occupant can be properly protected by the airbag 4.

Further, in the above embodiment, it is confirmed that the occupant is not wearing the seat belt 1 according to the detection signal of the wearing state detecting means including the belt sensor 8, and the detection signals of the G sensors 6 and 7 are detected. Accordingly, it was confirmed that a vehicle collision accident occurred in a state where the deceleration state of the preset first reference deceleration of 1 g or more was continued for the preset first reference time t1 or more. In this case, since only one of the squibs 18 and 19 is operated, the air bag 4
Can be deployed at an appropriate speed to effectively protect the occupant.

That is, if the occupant does not wear the seat belt 1 and a collision accident occurs in the above-described deceleration state, the occupant's body moves to the front side of the vehicle body in accordance with the inertia force applied at the time of the collision. Since it is considered that the occupant is in the oblique position, only one of the squibs 18 and 19 constituting the inflator 5 is operated to deploy the airbag 4 relatively slowly, so that the occupant is excessively moved from the airbag 4 to the passenger. The occupant can be properly protected by the airbag 4 in a state in which an excessive pressing force is not applied.

Further, as shown in the above embodiment, according to the detection signal of the acceleration / deceleration detecting means including the G sensors 6 and 7,
The deceleration state of the second deceleration 2g or more set to a value larger than the first reference deceleration 1g is the first reference time t1.
According to the configuration in which the deployment of the airbag 4 is prohibited when it is confirmed that a vehicle collision accident has occurred in the state where the vehicle has been continued over the above, according to the large inertial force acting on the occupant. As a result, it is possible to prevent the airbag 4 from being deployed in a sudden deceleration state in which the occupant's body has moved to a position close to the front end of the passenger compartment. Can be reliably prevented. In this case, it is considered that the vehicle speed is considerably reduced before the vehicle enters the collision state, and even if the airbag 4 is not deployed, the influence given to the occupant is small.

Further, in the above embodiment, the G sensor 6,
7, the deceleration state of the first reference deceleration of 1 g or more is continued for a second reference time t2 or more that is set to be longer than the first reference time t1 in accordance with the detection signal of the acceleration / deceleration detection means consisting of In this state, when it is confirmed that a vehicle collision accident has occurred, the deployment of the airbag 4 is prohibited, so that the occupant's body moves in accordance with the inertial force acting upon the vehicle collision. In a sudden deceleration state in which the vehicle is moved to a position near the front end of the chamber and the vehicle speed is considered to be sufficiently decelerated, the airbag 4 is prevented from being deployed and the pressing force acts on the occupant. It can be reliably prevented.

In the above embodiment, YES is determined in any of steps S11 and S12 of the control operation shown in FIG. 7, and the deceleration state of the second reference deceleration 2g or more is changed to the first reference time t1 or more. When the vehicle is confirmed to be in a collision state in a state where the vehicle is in a state of being continued for a period of time, or in a state where the deceleration state of the first reference deceleration of 1 g or more is continued for a period of the second reference time t2 or more. In the above, an example has been described in which the deployment of the airbag 4 is prohibited when it is confirmed that the vehicle has collided. However, instead of this configuration, the deceleration state of the second deceleration 2 g or more is performed. Alternatively, the configuration may be such that the deployment of the airbag 4 is prohibited when it is confirmed that a vehicle collision accident has occurred while continuing over the second reference time t2 or longer.

That is, as shown in FIG.
When it is determined as YES in 9 and it is confirmed that the vehicle collision accident has occurred while the deceleration state of the first reference deceleration of 1 g or more is continued for the first reference time t1 or more, The deceleration state of the second deceleration 2g or more set to a value larger than the first reference deceleration 1g is the second reference time t2 set to a time longer than the first reference time t1.
It may be determined whether or not the above has been continued (step S31). Then, this step S31
If YES is determined in step S3, the flow returns as it is to prohibit the deployment of the airbag 4, and the process proceeds to step S3.
If the determination at 1 is NO, the process may proceed to step S13 to deploy the airbag 4 at a lower pressure than normal.

Further, in the above embodiment, it is confirmed in steps S7 and S19 that the occupant does not wear a seat belt according to the detection signal of the wearing state detecting means including the belt sensor 8, and the G sensor 6 , 7 in accordance with the detection signal of the acceleration / deceleration detecting means.
In a case where it is confirmed that a vehicle collision accident has occurred in a state in which the acceleration state equal to or higher than the preset reference acceleration of 1 g has been continued over the reference time t1 in step 4, the squibs 18 and 19 are removed. By operating at the same time,
Since the deployment speed of the airbag 4 is made faster than when the two squibs 18 and 19 are deployed with a predetermined time difference, it is possible to quickly deploy the airbag 4 and effectively protect the occupant in the event of a vehicle collision. it can.

That is, when a collision accident occurs in the above-described acceleration state, even if the occupant does not wear the seat belt 1, the occupant's body moves to the rear side of the vehicle body according to the inertia force, and the occupant moves the driver's seat. Seat in the proper state and airbag 4
The squibs 18 and 1 constituting the inflator 5 are considered to be in a state where they are hardly subjected to the pressing force by the
By operating both of them simultaneously to increase the deployment speed of the airbag 4, the airbag 4 can be quickly deployed and the occupant can be properly protected.

Then, the above steps S7, S9, S14
Are determined to be NO, and the deceleration state of the first reference deceleration 1 G or more or the acceleration state of the reference acceleration 1 g or more is performed over the reference time t1 or more in a state where the occupant is not wearing the seat belt. If it is determined that the vehicle collision has occurred and it is not known whether the occupant is properly seated in the driver's seat in a state where the squib is not continued, the process proceeds to step S16 and both squibs are performed. 18,
Since the air bag 4 is operated at a predetermined time difference, it is possible to protect the occupant by deploying the airbag 4 at an appropriate speed while preventing the occupant from being applied with excessive pressing force in the event of a vehicle collision. it can.

Further, as shown in the above embodiment, the deceleration of 3 g or more acts on the vehicle, and the moving speed V and the moving distance L of the occupant's head are each set to the predetermined threshold V
According to the configuration in which the pretensioner 2 is actuated to wind up the seat belt 1 when it is confirmed that the vehicle has collided because it is larger than 1, L1, the inertia force or the like at the time of collision is determined. Since the occupant's body moved to the front side of the vehicle body can be pulled back by the seat belt 1 and properly seated in the driver's seat, the occupant's protection effect by operating the pretensioner 2 and the airbag The occupant can be properly protected by a synergistic effect with the occupant protection effect by deploying the vehicle 4.

[0066]

As described above, the present invention relates to a vehicle airbag control apparatus having an airbag control means for controlling an airbag installed on a steering wheel of a vehicle so as to be deployed at the time of a collision of the vehicle. A steering angle detecting means for detecting a steering angle of the steering wheel. When it is confirmed that the steering angle detected by the steering angle detecting means is larger than a preset reference angle, In the event that a vehicle collision accident occurs in a state where the steering wheel is largely operated, a large pressing force is prevented from acting on the occupant's arm while the steering wheel is largely operated. There is an advantage that the occupant can be properly protected.

The present invention also relates to a vehicle airbag control device having an airbag control means for controlling an airbag installed on a steering wheel of a vehicle to be deployed in the event of a vehicle collision. A steering angle detecting means for detecting an angle, and when it is confirmed that the steering angle detected by the steering angle detecting means is larger than a preset reference angle,
Prior to the deployment of the airbag, an elimination means for eliminating an object near the steering wheel is provided.
By removing the object consisting of the occupant's arm and the like from the steering wheel by this removing means, the airbag is effectively prevented from being applied to the object by a large pressing force of the airbag. By deploying, the occupant can be effectively protected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of a vehicle airbag control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a specific configuration of a pretensioner.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a specific configuration of the airbag.

FIG. 4 is a time chart showing the deployment characteristics of the airbag.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of the airbag control device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a first step of an airbag deployment control operation.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a second step of the airbag deployment control operation.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing another example of the second stroke of the airbag deployment control operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Seat belt 3 Steering wheel 4 Airbag 8 Belt sensor (wearing state detecting means) 16, 17 Gas generator 18, 19 Squib 22 Airbag control means 31 Steering angle sensor (Steering angle detecting means)

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An airbag control device for a vehicle having an airbag control means for controlling an airbag installed on a steering wheel of a vehicle to be deployed at the time of a collision of the vehicle, wherein a steering angle of the steering wheel is detected. A steering angle detection unit configured to restrict the deployment of the airbag when it is confirmed that the steering angle detected by the steering angle detection unit is larger than a preset reference angle. A vehicle airbag control device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. When it is confirmed that the steering angle detected by the steering angle detecting means is larger than a reference angle, the deployment pressure of the airbag is reduced as compared with the case where the steering angle is equal to or smaller than the reference angle. 2. The airbag control device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the airbag deployment is restricted by lowering the airbag. 3. The vehicle airbag control device according to claim 1, wherein the steering angle detected by the steering angle detecting means is larger than a reference angle. If this is confirmed, the deployment of the airbag is regulated by giving a certain time difference between the first deployment time of the airbag and the second and subsequent deployment times of the airbag. An airbag control device for a vehicle, wherein the control device is configured as described above. 4. The vehicle airbag control device according to claim 1, further comprising a wearing state detecting means for detecting whether an occupant sitting in a driver's seat is wearing a seat belt. Only when it is confirmed that the occupant is wearing a seat belt in accordance with the detection signal of the wearing state detecting means, the control for restricting the deployment of the airbag is executed. Vehicle airbag control device. 5. A vehicle airbag control device having an airbag control means for controlling an airbag installed on a steering wheel of a vehicle to be deployed at the time of a collision of the vehicle, wherein the steering angle of the steering wheel is detected. A steering angle detecting means, and when it is confirmed that the steering angle detected by the steering angle detecting means is larger than a preset reference angle, the steering wheel is located near the steering wheel prior to deployment of the airbag. An airbag control device for a vehicle, comprising: an exclusion unit that eliminates an object. 6. The vehicle airbag control device according to claim 5, wherein the steering angle detected by the steering angle detecting means is larger than a reference angle. When it is confirmed that the airbag is deployed with a predetermined time difference between the first deployment time of the airbag and the second and subsequent deployment times of the airbag, the first airbag is deployed. An airbag control device for a vehicle, wherein an object near the steering wheel is removed by the second deployment of the airbag. 7. A time difference between an operation timing of an exclusion unit for excluding an object near a steering wheel and an air bag deployment time is changed according to a collision state of a vehicle. The vehicle airbag control device according to claim 6. 8. A fuel cell system comprising: a plurality of gas generating agents divided and disposed at a plurality of locations; and a plurality of squibs for individually burning the respective gas generating agents, and operating the squibs with a certain time difference. 8. The vehicle airbag control device according to claim 3, wherein the airbag is configured to be deployed a plurality of times. 9. The airbag control device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a reference angle serving as a reference for determining a steering angle of the steering wheel is set to 90 degrees.