JP2000177514A - Collision discriminating device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a collision discriminating device by surely discriminating whether a collided object is a walker or not, and select the operation for saving the walker and occupants. SOLUTION: In this collision discriminating device for vehicle comprising a collision detecting means for detecting the collision on the basis of the deformation of a collided surface 10 of vehicle, and a collided object assuming means for assuming a collided object on the basis of an output signal from the collision detecting means 1, the collision detecting means 1 is formed by an electrostatic capacity-type collision detecting sensor part 14 formed by counter electrodes mounted on the collision surface 10 at specific intervals and a dielectric formed by an elastic member inserted between the counter electrodes, and detects the change of electrostatic capacity in accompany with the collision to output an electric signal. A discriminating means 24 compares the electric signal from the collision detecting means 1 with the date on a map formed and stored in advance for every speed, to determine the collided object on the basis of the intensity of shock by collision.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle collision discriminating apparatus comprising: a collision object estimating means for estimating a collision object based on an output signal from a collision detecting means for detecting a collision by deformation of a collision surface of a vehicle; A static electrode for detecting a change in capacitance due to a collision between a counter electrode disposed at a constant distance on the collision surface and a dielectric made of an elastic body interposed between the counter electrodes and outputting an electric signal. A vehicle including a determination unit that determines a collision target based on the strength of a collision by comparing an electric signal from a capacitance type collision detection sensor unit with data on a map created and stored in advance for each vehicle speed. The present invention relates to a collision discriminating apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is known that when a pedestrian collides with a running vehicle, the pedestrian collides with the limb by the vehicle and then collides with a bonnet. Conventional pedestrian collision determination apparatus and method (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-2168)
26) is a hood airbag sensor system as shown in FIG.
A hood sensor F is installed at the hood edge, and when the vehicle C and the pedestrian H collide, when a signal is detected in the order of the bumper sensor S and then the hood sensor F, the collision object is detected by the pedestrian. The airbag G is determined to be present, and the airbag G is deployed. However, in the case of detecting the order other than the order or only one of them, the collision object is determined to be other than the pedestrian, and the airbag G is not deployed. ing.

[0003]

The conventional pedestrian collision judging device and method described above detects a collision object as a pedestrian when a signal is detected in the order of the bumper sensor S and then the hood sensor F, and the pedestrian collision is detected. Airbag G is deployed in the pedestrian, but when a pedestrian detects the danger of a collision,
If you try to avoid a collision, you will instantaneously try to stop the car with your hand, so the first contact will be the hand and the hood, then the lower limb will contact the bumper, There has been a problem that the contact of the pedestrian with the vehicle may not coincide with the deployment of the airbag G.

Further, depending on the conditions of the vehicle body and the speed of the vehicle, the bonnet portion and the bumper portion may come into contact at the same time regardless of the pedestrian's consciousness. When the contact order between the running vehicle and the pedestrian is analyzed in detail in this way, it does not necessarily occur in the order of the bumper and the hood in the above-described conventional device and method. The order may change, and it is not possible to clearly distinguish pedestrians from non-pedestrians, so there is a problem that pedestrians may be erroneously determined to be other than pedestrians. Further, there is a problem that it takes time until the detection by the hood sensor, and the operation of the protection device having a small power is delayed.

Accordingly, the present inventor provides a vehicle collision discriminating apparatus comprising: a collision object estimating means for estimating a collision object based on an output signal from a collision detecting means for detecting a collision based on deformation of a collision surface of the vehicle. A capacitance change due to a collision between a counter electrode disposed at a constant distance on the surface and a dielectric made of an elastic body interposed between the counter electrodes is detected, and is created and stored in advance for each vehicle speed. Focusing on the technical idea of the present invention that the collision target is determined from the strength of the collision by comparing with the data on the map that has been The present invention has been achieved which achieves the purpose of reliably identifying a person other than an occupant and enabling the selection of operation of pedestrian protection or occupant protection.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a collision detecting device for a vehicle detects a collision by deformation of a collision surface of the vehicle, and the collision detecting device. And a collision target estimating means for estimating a collision target based on an output signal from the vehicle.
The collision detecting means is constituted by an opposing electrode disposed at a constant distance on the impinging surface and a dielectric made of an elastic body interposed between the opposing electrodes, and a capacitance change caused by the collision is provided. And outputs an electric signal based on a map in which the collision target estimating means previously generates and stores the electric signal from the collision detecting means for each vehicle speed. And a judgment means for judging the collision target from the temporal change of the electric signal, that is, the intensity of the collision by comparing the data with the data.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the collision detecting means comprises: a first electrode of the capacitance type collision detection sensor; With a capacitance detection circuit that detects stray capacitance generated between the pedestrian and the collision target estimating means, before the pedestrian or obstacle collides with the collision surface of the collision detection means, It is provided with a discriminating means for discriminating between a person and an obstacle by comparing the output value of the stray capacitance from the capacitance detecting circuit with a threshold value.

(Effect of the Invention) The first device having the above structure
In the collision detection device for a vehicle according to the invention, the capacitance-type collision detection sensor unit that constitutes the collision detection unit may include an interposition between an opposing electrode disposed at a constant distance on the collision surface. The inserted dielectric detects a change in capacitance due to the collision and outputs an electric signal, and the determination unit constituting the collision target estimation unit converts the electric signal from the collision detection unit into an electric signal. The collision target is determined from the strength of the collision by comparing the data with data on a map created and stored in advance for each vehicle speed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the capacitance detecting circuit constituting the collision detecting means is provided with the capacitance type collision detecting sensor unit. A stray capacitance generated between one of the electrodes and a pedestrian is detected prior to a collision, and the discrimination means constituting the collision object estimating means determines whether a pedestrian or an obstacle collides with a collision surface of the collision detection means. In addition, the output value of the stray capacitance from the capacitance detection circuit is compared with a threshold to determine a person and an obstacle.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle collision discriminating apparatus having the above-mentioned operation, comprising a counter electrode disposed on the collision surface at a predetermined interval and an elastic member interposed between the counter electrodes. By means of the dielectric substance, an electric signal is output by detecting a change in capacitance caused by a collision, and the determination unit generates data on the map in which the output electric signal is created and stored for each vehicle speed in advance. Since the collision target is determined based on the strength of the collision by comparison, it is possible to reliably identify whether the collision target is a pedestrian or a non-pedestrian, and to enable the operation selection of pedestrian protection or occupant protection. This has the effect.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle collision judging device according to the first aspect, wherein the capacitance detecting circuit is arranged so that one of the electrodes of the capacitance type collision detecting sensor section is in contact with a pedestrian. Detecting the stray capacitance that occurs between
The discriminating unit compares the output value of the stray capacitance from the capacitance detection circuit with a threshold value before the pedestrian or the obstacle collides with the collision surface of the collision detection unit, and compares the threshold value with the person. This makes it possible to determine whether the collision target is a person or an obstacle before the collision.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
This will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) A collision detecting device for a vehicle according to a first embodiment comprises a collision detecting means 1 for detecting a collision by deformation of a collision surface 10 of a vehicle, as shown in FIGS. In a vehicle collision discriminating apparatus comprising a collision object estimating means 2 for estimating a collision object based on an output signal from the collision detecting means 1, the collision detecting means 1 is disposed on the collision surface 10 at a constant interval. Opposing electrodes 11, 1
2 and a sensor unit 14 composed of a dielectric 13 made of an elastic body interposed between the opposed electrodes, and a capacitance type collision that detects a change in capacitance due to the collision and outputs an electric signal. A detection circuit 15;
The determination means 24 determines the collision target from the strength of the collision by comparing the electric signal from the collision detection means 1 with data on a map previously created and stored for each vehicle speed. It is.

As shown in FIG. 2, the collision detecting means 1 is inserted into a bumper 100 of a vehicle or mounted on the collision surface 10 of the bumper 100, and is provided with two opposed electrodes arranged at a predetermined interval. It comprises one or a plurality of capacitance type collision detection sensors 14 constituted by 11, 12 and the dielectric 13 interposed therebetween, and a capacitance detection circuit 15 which is integrated or separately provided.

The counter electrodes 11 and 12 are provided on the dielectric 1
The one that does not become resistant to the expansion and contraction of 3 is good. The dielectric 13 is made of an elastic body having a moderate elasticity,
A high dielectric constant rubber such as acrylonitrile butadiene rubber is desirable.

The capacitance detecting circuit 15 converts the capacitance value for detecting the capacitance as follows.
A method of converting to a frequency, a method of converting to a phase, and the like can be adopted.

The collision object estimating means 2 compares the electric signal from the collision detecting means 1 with data on a map prepared in advance for each vehicle speed, determines the collision strength, and determines what the collision was. A first storage unit 21 for storing the sampled capacitance signal voltage
A second storage means 22 for storing a threshold value for each vehicle speed and a reference value for determining the strength of a collision; and the first storage means 21
The comparison means 23 compares the input signal of the second storage means 22 with the comparison data of the second storage means 22 to determine the collision strength. It consists of a judgment means 24.

The judging means 24 constituting the collision object estimating means 2 is used for pedestrian protection for activating a pedestrian protection airbag through a pedestrian protection control means from an output signal thereof or for occupant protection in a vehicle compartment. An operation selecting means for determining whether the occupant protects the airbag is provided.

In the vehicle collision determining apparatus according to the first embodiment having the above-described structure, the output of the capacitance from the collision detecting means 1 is integrated for a predetermined time as shown in FIG. In such a case, the collision is determined, so that it is possible to prevent an error when the output includes noise and to prevent malfunction of various protection devices.

The collision detecting means 1 may be provided with an analog operation part for obtaining the output change rate (Y) of the capacitance or the collision object estimating means 2 with a digital operation part for obtaining the output change rate. The evaluation time width (Δt) is determined according to the magnitude of the above, so that the larger the output change, the shorter the evaluation time width and the earlier the operation of various protection devices is determined. (FIGS. 12, 14)

Based on the output change rate of the capacitance, whether the magnitude of the change rate (Y) of the capacitance at the time (T1) after the predetermined evaluation time width (Δt) exceeds the threshold value (Yr) is determined. As shown in FIG. 3, by determining whether the object is a pedestrian or an elongated fixed object such as a column, it is determined whether the object is a pedestrian or an elongated fixed object, so that the accuracy of the determination for the elongated collision object is improved.

(Second Embodiment) A collision detection device for a vehicle according to a second embodiment detects a stray capacitance prior to a collision.
The difference is that a judgment means 26 for discriminating between a person and an object based on whether the output value of the capacitance detection circuit 16 and the stray capacitance is equal to or larger than a threshold value is added, and the following description will focus on the difference.

A second capacitance detection circuit for detecting a stray capacitance generated between one electrode 11 on the front side of the vehicle of the capacitance type collision detection sensor section 14 and the pedestrian by the collision detection means 1 16 is added.

The collision target estimating means 2 is to prevent the occupant or pedestrian protection device from malfunctioning so that the output value of the stray capacitance is equal to or greater than the threshold value before the pedestrian or obstacle collides with the collision detection sensor unit 14. It is constituted by a judging means 26 for judging a person and an object depending on whether or not. (FIGS. 16, 17)

In the vehicle collision determining apparatus according to the second embodiment having the above-described structure, the capacitance detecting circuit may be configured such that a stray capacitance generated between one electrode of the capacitance type collision detection sensor and a pedestrian. Before the collision, the discriminating means compares the output value of the stray capacitance from the capacitance detecting circuit with a threshold value before the pedestrian or obstacle collides with the collision surface of the collision detecting means. This makes it possible to discriminate between a person and an obstacle, and thus has an effect of enabling the collision target to identify the person and the obstacle prior to the collision.

[0026]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) A collision detection apparatus for a vehicle according to a first embodiment is a more specific example of the first embodiment, and includes a bumper as shown in FIGS. A vehicle shock absorbing member 201 made of hard urethane foam is disposed on a base portion on the vehicle side in 100, and a pedestrian shock absorbing member 202 made of soft urethane foam is disposed on the front surface of the vehicle shock absorbing member. The impact surface 10 is formed on the front surface of the pedestrian impact absorbing member 202.

The capacitance type collision detection sensor unit 14 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, two opposing electrodes 11 and 12 are provided at a fixed interval over substantially the entire width of the vehicle of the pedestrian shock absorbing member 102 and are mounted on the collision surface 10. The dielectric 13 between the two opposing electrodes 11 and 12
Is inserted.

The electrode material constituting the counter electrodes 11 and 12 has better elasticity in the longitudinal direction, and is preferably a metal mesh electrode, a metal electrode provided with slits at a predetermined pitch, or a conductive material. An electrode such as an elastic body having a high hardness may be used.

The dielectric 13 is preferably an elastic material having a high dielectric constant, ie, rubber, and the dielectric constant is most preferably in the range of 2 to 59. Further, the compression rigidity of the dielectric 13 is 2 to 20.
0 kPa / mm is desirable. When only the sensor is provided in front of the pumper 100, the compression rigidity is desirably 100 to 5000 kPa / mm.

The collision determination algorithm of the vehicle collision determination device according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In step 101 as shown in FIG.
The target value Xr based on the vehicle speed Vc detected by the vehicle speed sensor 203 is read from the second storage means 22.

In step 102, the collision detecting means 1
Is read from the first storage means 21. In step 103, the data X is set to the reference value X.
It is determined whether it exceeds r, and if it exceeds, it is assumed that T0 = T, X0 = X, and I = 1, and the data X from the collision detecting means 1 is integrated in step 104.

In step 105, the time T becomes T0 +
It is determined whether or not Δt has been exceeded, and if so, it is determined in step 106 whether or not the integrated data ΔX exceeds the reference value R.

If it has exceeded, at step 107, the detection data at time T1 after Δt from time T0 is converted to X1
In step 108, a signal change rate ΔX1 (= X1−X0) is calculated.

In step 109, reference values of levels 1 to 4 corresponding to the vehicle speed are read from the second storage means.
In step 110, when the signal change rate ΔX1 is equal to or lower than the level 1, in step 111, the output data at the time T2 after Δt from the time T1 is read as the collision strength E as X2.

In step 112, if the read output data X2 is smaller than or equal to the detected data at time T1, then in step 113, the pedestrian protection mode is determined.

If the output data X2 is greater than the detected data at time T1 by X1, then in step 114,
It is determined that the vehicle has collided with a pole or the like, and the occupant protection mode is determined.

If the signal change rate .DELTA.X1 is equal to or higher than level 1 and equal to or lower than level 2, the collision strength D is determined in step 118 as the occupant protection mode in accordance with the vehicle speed and the collision strength.

If the signal change rate .DELTA.X1 is not less than level 2 and not more than level 3, the collision strength C is determined in step 118 as the occupant protection mode according to the vehicle speed and the collision strength.

If the signal change rate .DELTA.X1 is equal to or higher than level 3 and equal to or lower than level 4, the collision strength B is determined in step 118 as the occupant protection mode in accordance with the vehicle speed and the collision strength.

If the signal change rate .DELTA.X1 is equal to or greater than level 4, the collision strength A is determined in step 118 as the occupant protection mode in accordance with the vehicle speed and the collision strength. Next, in step 119, the judgment result is output.

In the vehicle collision discriminating apparatus of the first embodiment, an algorithm for integrating the output signals within a certain time (Δt) is added to the processing after the output signal from the collision detecting means 1 exceeds the threshold value. Therefore, it corresponds to an output having a component having a higher frequency component than noise or a change in the actual signal, and this integration has an effect of preventing erroneous determination due to noise.

When the integrated value .DELTA.X is equal to or greater than the reference value R, the vehicle collision determining device of the first embodiment shifts to the first determination to activate the protection device. This has the effect of returning to the initial monitoring mode.

(Second Embodiment) A vehicle collision discriminating apparatus according to a second embodiment is an embodiment belonging to the first embodiment, and as shown in FIGS. The difference is that the first and second collision detecting means 1A and 1B are provided side by side on the base portion and the front portion on the side, respectively, and the difference will be mainly described below.

In the first collision detecting means 1A, two opposing electrodes 11A and 12A are arranged on a front surface of the bumper 100 at a predetermined interval over substantially the entire width of the vehicle. The dielectric 13A is interposed between the opposing electrodes 11A and 12A, and is configured to sense a small amount of deformation of the bumper as much as a collision of a pedestrian.

The second collision detecting means 1B is provided on the base portion of the bumper 100 on the side of the vehicle at a constant interval over substantially the entire width of the vehicle.
2B is provided, and the dielectric 13B is interposed between the two opposed electrodes 11B and 12B so as to detect a large amount of deformation of the bumper such as a collision with a heavy object such as a vehicle and a fixed object. Is configured.

The first and second collision detecting means 1A,
1B includes the capacitance detection circuits 15A and 15A, respectively.
B is connected, the capacitance value is converted to a voltage for capacitance detection, and output to the first and second collision object estimation means for performing the determination shown in FIG. 7B.

The collision discrimination algorithm of the vehicle collision discrimination device according to the second embodiment is shown in FIG.
Steps 01 to 106 are the same as those in the first embodiment. In steps 201 to 206 and steps 207 to 213, the first embodiment and the second embodiment are executed based on the data from the eleventh storage unit and the twelfth storage unit, respectively. Similarly, the collision strength is determined. In step 214, the operation modes of pedestrian protection and occupant protection are determined, and in step 215, the determination result is output.

The vehicle collision discriminating apparatus according to the second embodiment uses the outputs from the first and second collision detecting means 1A and 1B to detect a collision with a pedestrian and a vehicle as shown in FIG. Heavy and fixed objects (posts, poles, etc.)
This has an effect that the collision with the object can be clearly identified.

Further, in the vehicle collision discriminating apparatus of the second embodiment, the output signal from the collision detecting means 1A and 1B exceeds the threshold value in the processing after the output signal exceeds the threshold value.
Since an algorithm for internal integration is added, an output having a component having a higher frequency than noise or a change in the actual signal is supported. Therefore, similarly to the first embodiment, there is an effect that erroneous determination due to noise is prevented by this integration.

When the integrated value ΣX is equal to or greater than the reference value R, the vehicle collision determination device of the second embodiment shifts to the determination that the protection device should be activated for the first time. This has the effect of returning to the initial monitoring mode.

(Third Embodiment) A vehicle collision determination apparatus according to a third embodiment is an example belonging to the first embodiment, and includes a bumper 10 as shown in FIGS.
The first and second collision detecting means 1A and 1B are respectively arranged side by side so that the central portions thereof are overlapped with each other in the upper and lower portions in 0, and the collision detection means is separated into three regions A to C so that collision can be detected. This is a difference, and the following description will focus on the difference.

The first and second collision detecting means 1A,
1B includes the capacitance detection circuits 15A and 15A, respectively.
B is connected, the capacitance value is converted into a voltage for detecting the capacitance, and is output to the collision target estimating means 2 which performs the determination shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 11, the collision target estimating means 2 determines whether a pedestrian, a pole, or a pedestrian according to the collision intensity and the collision area (A, B, C) based on the output from the first and second detecting means. , The collision target of the vehicle, the type of collision (frontal, offset, rear-end collision), and the collision position are determined. The method of determining the rank of the collision strength from each sensor output is the same as in the first and second embodiments, and the description is omitted.

The vehicle collision determining device of the third embodiment is
Since the two collision detection sensors are arranged at the center so as to overlap vertically, as shown in FIG. 11, the type of collision target and the collision position can be determined at three places in the vehicle width direction. .

(Fourth Embodiment) The vehicle collision discriminating apparatus according to the fourth embodiment is an example belonging to the first embodiment, and uses the collision detecting means 1 as shown in FIGS. The capacitance detection circuit 15 is configured by a capacitance detection unit 151, a capacitance change rate calculation means circuit 152, and a threshold crossing determination circuit 153.

The capacitance detecting section 151 amplifies the capacitance output from the capacitance detection sensor 14 and outputs an amplified output B as shown in FIG. And a rectifier circuit 1512 of an OP amplifier which outputs a half-wave rectified capacitance output C by half-wave rectifying the amplified capacitance output, and a DC output D which smoothes the half-wave rectified capacitance output. And a smoothing circuit 1513 of an OP amplifier that outputs

The capacitance change rate calculating means circuit 152
Is constituted by a differentiating circuit 1521 composed of a CR circuit for differentiating the DC output X including the variation due to the collision output from the smoothing circuit 1513 and outputting a differential output Y,
The threshold crossing determination circuit 153 compares the threshold value set by the variable resistor 1532 with the differentiated DC output Y and outputs a pulse-like trigger output Z.
531.

The sine wave signal A from the oscillator 140 is
By the inverting amplifier circuit 1511 of the amplifier, about-(Cx
The amplitude is amplified by a factor of / Cf), and an amplified signal B is output. The amplified signal B is output as a half-wave rectified output C having only a positive polarity by the half-wave rectification circuit 1512 of the OP amplifier, and the smoothing circuit 1513 of the OP amplifier of the final group is output.
Is output as a DC signal D proportional to the amplitude value.

However, the frequency f of the sine wave signal of the oscillator 140 and the inverting amplifier circuit 1 of the OP amplifier (OP1)
The circuit constant of 511 needs to satisfy the conditions shown in Expressions 1 and 2 below.

(Equation 1)

(Equation 2) f: frequency of sine wave signal (Hz) Cf, Cx: capacitance of sensor unit and capacitor (F) Rf, R1: electric resistance (Ω)

As shown in FIG. 13, an output X which is a DC signal D of the capacitance detecting circuit is differentiated by the differentiating circuit 1521 by a capacitor and a resistor branched at the downstream end of the capacitor to obtain an output change rate Y. Further, the threshold value E is compared with the threshold value E by the comparison circuit 1531 of the OP amplifier, and a trigger signal output Z is output when the threshold value E is exceeded. The setting of the threshold value E is performed by a variable resistor 1532 provided between the constant voltage terminal and the ground.

The vehicle collision determining apparatus according to the fourth embodiment is
This is a countermeasure for the case where the sampling period is coarser than the collision phenomenon, and the analog circuit that converts capacitance to voltage processes as much as possible. Here, the collision is constantly monitored by an analog circuit, and a trigger signal is generated when the analog output from the collision detection means 1 reaches a certain level.

The collision determination algorithm by digital processing in the collision object estimating means 2 is started by the trigger signal. Further, the analog circuit has a function of differentiating the sensor output, and the differentiated signal Y is input to the collision target estimating means 2 of the digital processing together with the capacitance output signal and the trigger signal.

The determination algorithm in the fourth embodiment will be described below. The above-described embodiment is applied to a portion for starting the arithmetic processing in the collision determination ECU in response to a trigger signal (Z) from an analog circuit constituting the external collision detection means 1 and a portion for reading the output change rate in addition to the output of the collision sensor. There are features for the examples.

In the present algorithm, the next data is read in accordance with the output change rate Y0 at the time T0 when the trigger signal is output exceeding the threshold value in step 402, and step 403 is executed.
The data reading time T1 can be corrected within the time (T1 = T0 + Δt) determined by the vehicle speed. For example, there is a great difference in the change in sensor output between a pedestrian and a rear-end collision, and if this is simply determined only by the vehicle speed, a fast phenomenon cannot be captured. Alternatively, a slow phenomenon cannot be accurately detected due to the resolution or the like. Therefore, by determining a desirable Δt from the output change rate when the threshold value is exceeded in step 404, the accuracy and speed of discrimination of a collision can be improved.

Next, at step 405, it is determined whether or not the output increment rate ΔX exceeds the minimum reference value Xr for activating any protection device. If not, the process returns to the monitoring mode again.

Further, when determining whether the vehicle is a pedestrian or a thin fixed support after the determination of the collision strength E, the output change rate Y1 at time T1 is read in steps 407 and 408. Are determined based on whether the output change rate Y1 is greater than the target value Yr. As shown in FIG. 4, the pedestrian determination can be made at the stage of T1 without delaying until the time T2, so that the operation of the protection device can be hastened.

As shown in FIG. 15, the discrimination algorithm of the modification of the fourth embodiment differs from the discrimination algorithm of the fourth embodiment in steps 401 to 405 in steps 101 to 202 of the second embodiment. The main difference is that the algorithm for preventing erroneous determination due to noise or the like described in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is added to the fourth embodiment shown in FIG.

(Fifth Embodiment) The vehicle collision judging device according to the fifth embodiment is an embodiment belonging to the second embodiment, and has a second electrostatic capacitance as shown in FIG. 16 and FIG. The capacitance type collision detection sensor 142 detects a change in stray capacitance before collision with a human body such as a pedestrian.

This is for improving the accuracy of discriminating a pedestrian from a flexible center pole or pylon. Attached to the surface,
Alternatively, a pair of electrodes 142 interposed at a position very close to the surface of the bumper and opposed to each other with a certain distance therebetween.
It is configured to detect a change in the stray capacitance C generated between one of the pedestrian-side electrodes 1421 and 1422 and the pedestrian prior to the collision.

As shown in FIG. 17, the discrimination algorithm of the vehicle collision discrimination device of the fifth embodiment uses a second capacitance-type collision detection sensor to detect the stray capacitance before collision with a human body such as a pedestrian. The change is read, the output associated with the stray capacitance within a certain time immediately before the collision is integrated in step 501, and the total amount (ΔC
If f) exceeds the target value (Cr), an algorithm for determining a pedestrian is added to the algorithm of the first embodiment. In the fifth embodiment, the stray capacitance is integrated for a certain time, but the maximum value during that time may be used. Others are the same as FIG.

The vehicle collision discriminating apparatus of the fifth embodiment is
The second capacitance detection sensor detects a stray capacitance generated between one electrode of the capacitance type collision detection sensor unit and a pedestrian prior to a collision, and the determination unit determines whether the pedestrian or the obstacle is present. Before an object collides with the collision surface of the collision detection unit, the output value of the stray capacitance from the capacitance detection circuit is compared with a threshold value to determine a person and an obstacle. This has the effect of enabling the collision target to distinguish between a person and an obstacle.

The above-described embodiments and examples have been described by way of example only, and the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention will be described below with reference to the claims, the detailed description of the invention, and the drawings. Modifications and additions are possible without departing from the technical idea of the present invention that can be recognized by those skilled in the art.

In the fourth embodiment, as an example, the capacitance change rate calculation circuit 152 and the threshold value exceeding judgment circuit 1
Although the example in which 53 is provided in the capacitance detection circuit of the collision detecting means has been described, the present invention is not limited to them, and may be a signal processing means independent of the collision detecting means. It is also possible to provide it in the estimating means.

In the above-described embodiments and examples, an example has been described in which the collision detection means is constituted by a capacitance detection sensor in which a dielectric is interposed between opposing electrodes disposed to face each other at a fixed distance. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and any method can be adopted as long as it can take out the amount of deformation (volume change) between the opposing electrodes due to collision with the collision object as an electrical output. An embodiment may be adopted in which a liquid is sealed between a pressure-sensitive element and a counter electrode caused by collision with a collision target, and the amount of deformation, that is, a change in volume is detected as an electrical output by a pressure sensor.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a vehicle collision determination device according to a first embodiment and a first example of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a collision detection unit of the vehicle collision determination device according to the first embodiment and the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an output example of the first embodiment and the first example.

FIG. 4 is a chart showing a determination algorithm in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an arrangement of a collision detection unit in a bumper according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an arrangement of a collision detection unit in a bumper according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an arrangement of a collision detection unit in a bumper in a vehicle collision determination device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and a matrix showing a relationship between outputs of first and second collision detection means and a collision target. FIG.

FIG. 8 is a chart showing a determination algorithm in the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an output example of the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view and a horizontal sectional view showing an arrangement of a collision detection unit in a bumper in a vehicle collision determination device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a matrix diagram showing a relationship between outputs of first and second collision detecting means, a collision position, and a collision target in the third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a vehicle collision determination device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit constituting a capacitance detection circuit in the fourth embodiment and a time chart showing signal waveforms.

FIG. 14 is a chart showing a determination algorithm in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a chart showing a determination algorithm in a modification of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing a vehicle collision determination device according to a second embodiment and a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a chart showing a determination algorithm in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a conventional pedestrian determination device for a vehicle.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Collision detection means 2 Collision object estimation means 10 Collision surface 11, 12 Counter electrode 13 Dielectric 14 Capacitance type collision detection sensor part 24 Judgment means

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Akio Kosato 41-Cho, Yokomichi, Nagakute-cho, Aichi-gun, Aichi Prefecture Inside Toyota Central R & D Laboratories Co., Ltd. No. 41, Chochu-Yokomichi 1 Toyota Central Research Laboratory Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2F051 AA01 AB06 AC01 AC07

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle collision discriminating apparatus comprising: collision detection means for detecting a collision by deformation of a collision surface of a vehicle; and collision object estimation means for estimating a collision object based on an output signal from the collision detection means. The collision detecting means is constituted by an opposing electrode disposed at a constant distance on the impinging surface and a dielectric made of an elastic body interposed between the opposing electrodes. And a capacitance type collision detection sensor unit that outputs an electric signal by detecting the collision signal, wherein the collision target estimating means creates an electric signal from the collision detecting means in advance for each vehicle speed and stores the electric signal on a map. And a determination unit that determines a collision target based on a temporal change of an electric signal, that is, a collision strength by comparing the data with the data of the vehicle. 2. The capacitance detection circuit according to claim 1, wherein the collision detection unit includes a capacitance detection circuit that detects a stray capacitance generated between one electrode of the capacitance type collision detection sensor and a pedestrian. The collision target estimating means compares the output value of the stray capacitance from the capacitance detection circuit with a threshold value before the pedestrian or the obstacle collides with the collision surface of the collision detecting means. A vehicle collision determination device, comprising: a determination unit configured to determine a person and an obstacle.