JPH07228216A - Occupant protective device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify circuit constitution by obviating the necessity for individually controlling actuation of a protective tool such as a driver seat side air bag and a protective tool such as a front passenger seat side air bag and prevent ineffective use on the front passenger seat side when an occupant is not present in the front passenger seat by separately actuating the protective tools on the driver seat side and the front passenger seat side. CONSTITUTION:Protective tools being plural different kinds of air bags and seat belts having pretensioners are respectively provided on the driver seat side and the front passenger seat side, and first and second squibs 1 and 2 and third and fourth squibs 3 and 4 to actuate the same seat side protective tools are connected in series to each other, and actuation of the respective protective tools is performed by supplying an ignition current to the squibs 1 to 4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an occupant protection device for protecting an occupant of an automobile, and more particularly, to an occupant protection device having a plurality of protectors such as an airbag and a seat belt with a pretensioner. It is a thing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in order to ensure the safety of an occupant in the event of a vehicle collision, an occupant protection device for preventing an occupant from hitting the windshield, the steering wheel or the like and getting injured has been installed in an automobile. Is increasing. The occupant protection device includes a squib having a heater and an igniting agent inside, a gas generating agent that is ignited by the squib to generate gas, and an airbag and a pretensioner-equipped seat operated by the gas of each gas generating agent. And a seat belt with a pretensioner on the driver's side and passenger side, respectively.
At the time of a collision, each squib is ignited to generate gas so that the airbag is inflated and the seat belt is retracted.

In a conventional occupant protection device, all squibs for airbags and seat belts with pretensioners are connected in parallel to an ignition power source, and all squibs are ignited at the time of a collision, so that the driver's side and the passenger's side The airbag and the seat belt with pretensioner provided on the side are operated.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional occupant protection device connected in parallel, it is difficult to make the amount of current flowing through each squib constant, and a specific squib abnormality affects all squibs. Since it is necessary to provide a protection circuit or the like so as not to apply the above, there is a problem that the circuit configuration becomes complicated. Therefore, recently, FIG.
As shown in JP-A-4-146846, there is disclosed an occupant protection device having a configuration in which squibs 51 and 52 of the same kind of protective equipment for airbags are connected in series. However, in this passenger protection device, the squibs 5 connected in series are connected.
Since 1.52 covers only the same type of protective equipment, if there are multiple types of protective equipment such as airbags and seat belts with pretensioners, the protective equipment on the driver's side and the protective equipment on the passenger's side There is a problem that the circuit configuration for individually controlling the operation becomes complicated.

Further, in the above-mentioned conventional occupant protection device, all squibs are ignited at the time of a collision to operate all airbags and seat belts with pretensioners provided on the driver side and the passenger side. Therefore, when there is no passenger in the passenger seat, the squib on the passenger seat side is wasted.

When a child seat that is fixed backward from the seat is installed in the front passenger seat, the child seat is pressed against the seat due to the deployment of the airbag, and the child is sandwiched between the child seat and the seat. Therefore, there is a problem that the deployment of the airbag is rather dangerous.

Therefore, the present invention is intended to provide an occupant protection device capable of individually controlling the operations of the driver's side protector and the passenger's side protector with a simple circuit structure. An object of the present invention is to provide an occupant protection device capable of actuating protective devices such as an airbag on the passenger side and a seat belt with a pretensioner only when necessary.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an occupant protection device according to a first aspect of the present invention is provided with a plurality of different types of protective equipment on the driver's side and the passenger's side, respectively. The squib for operating the protector is connected in series, and each protector is operated by applying an ignition current to the squib. It is characterized by a seat belt with a tensioner.

The occupant protection system according to claims 3 to 14 is provided with a plurality of protective devices such as an airbag and a seat belt with a pretensioner on the driver seat side and the passenger seat side, respectively, and controls the operation of these protective devices. And has the following features.

That is, the occupant protection system according to a third aspect of the present invention is a driver's seat actuating means for controlling the operation of each of the protective equipment on the driver's side and an operating means for the passenger's seat for controlling the operation of each of the protective equipment on the passenger's side. And a passenger seat prohibiting means for prohibiting the operation of each of the protective equipment on the passenger seat side, and an acceleration determining means for causing the driver seat actuating means and the passenger seat actuating means to start control when an acceleration of a predetermined value or more is detected. It is characterized by having and.

The occupant protection system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is a driver's seat actuating means for controlling the operation of each protective device on the driver's side by an ignition current and an operation of each protective device on the passenger's side by an ignition current. And a passenger seat prohibiting means for prohibiting the operation of each protective device on the passenger seat side by interrupting the ignition current to the passenger seat prohibiting means, and the ignition current for the driver seat actuating means. Ignition power supply means that can be supplied to the passenger seat actuation means, and when acceleration above a predetermined level is detected, an ignition current is supplied from the ignition power supply means to start control of the driver seat actuation means and the passenger seat actuation means. And an acceleration determining means for controlling the acceleration.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the occupant protection system, the driver's seat actuating means and the passenger's seat actuating means of claim 4 ignite by an ignition current from the ignition power source means to operate the respective protective equipment. It has a squib and is characterized in that these squibs are connected in series. Further, in the occupant protection system according to claim 6, the driver seat actuating means and the passenger seat actuating means according to claim 4 or 5 are connected in parallel to the ignition power supply means, and the ignition power supply means is the driver seat actuating means. It is characterized by the number corresponding to the passenger seat prohibiting means.

Further, in the occupant protection system of claim 7, the driver's seat actuating means and the passenger seat actuating means of claim 4 or 5 are connected in series to the ignition power source means. In the occupant protection system according to claim 8, the driver seat actuating means and the passenger seat actuating means according to claim 4 are provided with a plurality of squibs for activating each protective device by igniting an ignition current from the ignition power source means.
It has a current limiting means for controlling the energization amount of the ignition current.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the occupant protection system of the eighth aspect, the current limiting means of the eighth aspect comprises a constant current circuit for limiting the current set so as to optimize the energization amount of the ignition current. It has a feature. In the occupant protection system according to claim 10, the passenger seat side prohibiting means according to claim 3 or 4 has a sensor means for detecting an occupant in the passenger seat, and when the sensor means does not detect the passenger side protection. The feature is that the operation of the tool is prohibited.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the passenger protection apparatus of the tenth aspect, the passenger side prohibiting means according to the third or fourth aspect is a sensor means for detecting an occupant in the passenger seat, and a switch means capable of manually instructing the occupant. And has a feature that the operation prohibiting instruction by the switch means is prioritized over the sensor means.

The occupant protection device according to claim 11 is the occupant protection device according to claim 4, further comprising a normal driver seat activating device or passenger seat activating device when the driver seat activating device or the passenger seat activating device is abnormal. By-pass means for changing the current path so that the ignition current flows only through the means.

Further, in the occupant protection system according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of protective equipments provided on the driver's seat side and the passenger's seat side of the third or fourth aspect are an airbag and a seat belt with a pretensioner. I am trying. According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the occupant protection system of the fourteenth aspect, the driver's seat actuating means and the passenger's seat actuating means of the fourth aspect serially connect a plurality of squibs for activating each protective device by igniting an ignition current from an ignition power source means. These squibs are connected and are characterized in that the variation in the ignition time characteristic is set within 30%.

[0018]

According to the constitutions of claims 1 and 2, it is not necessary to individually control the operations of the protective equipment on the driver's side and the protective equipment on the passenger's side, so that the circuit configuration can be simplified. is there. Further, according to the configurations of claims 3 to 15, since it can be operated only on the driver's seat side, useless use of the protective equipment on the passenger seat side is prevented when the passenger is not present on the passenger seat. can do. In addition, it is possible to eliminate the danger in the case where a child seat that is fixed backward from the seat is installed in the passenger seat.

Further, according to the fifth aspect of the invention, since the squibs are connected in series, the power capacity of the ignition power source means can be reduced. Further, according to the structure of claim 6, the ignition power source means is divided into the number corresponding to the driver's seat actuating means and the passenger seat actuating means, whereby it is possible to prevent the waste of current. . Further, according to the structure of claim 7, the power source capacity of the ignition power source means can be further reduced.

According to the eighth aspect of the invention, the current limiting means can prevent the short circuit. According to the configuration of claim 9, the capacity of the ignition power supply means is optimized and the device can be downsized. According to the structure of claim 10, it is possible to automatically prohibit the operation of the passenger seat actuating means, and according to the structure of claim 11, whether or not an occupant is present in the passenger seat. Regardless of this, the operation of the passenger seat actuating means can be prohibited.

Further, according to the twelfth aspect, when either one of the airbag and the seat belt with the pretensioner does not operate due to a circuit failure, only the normal protective equipment side can be designated and operated. It is possible. Furthermore, according to the structure of claim 14, since the temperatures of all the squibs are in the explosion time zone after the temperature rise time, all the squibs can be reliably ignited.

[0022]

【Example】

[Embodiment 1] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The occupant protection device of this embodiment is an airbag (protective device).
And a seat belt with a pretensioner (protective equipment). The airbag is provided at a portion located in front of the occupant, such as a steering wheel of an automobile or an instrument panel, and is deployed by gas to push the occupant against the seat in the event of a collision. Further, the seat belt with the pretensioner is designed to push the occupant against the seat by retracting the seat belt at the time of a collision.

As shown in FIG. 1, the above-described airbag and seat belt with pretensioner are operated by ignition of the first to fourth squibs 1 to 4. The first squib 1 and the second squib 2 together with the current limiting circuit 6 (current limiting means), the first transistor 5, and the second transistor 11 actuate the driver's seat operating system 10
(Operating means for driver's seat), and the driver's seat operating system 10 operates an airbag and a seat belt with a pretensioner provided on the driver's side. The current limiting circuit 6 is composed of a constant current circuit that limits the current, and prevents the short circuit and optimizes the energizing amount to realize a capacitor 9 including first and second capacitors 9a and 9b described later. (Ignition power supply means)
The capacity of the device is minimized so that the device can be downsized. The current limiting circuit 6 may be composed of a resistor as long as it only prevents a short circuit.

The driver's seat operating system 10 has a configuration in which the current limiting circuit 6, the first transistor 5, the first squib 1, the second squib 2 and the second transistor 11 are connected in series in this order. An ignition determination circuit 7 (acceleration determination means) is connected to the base terminals 5c and 11c of the first transistor 5 and the second transistor 11. The first and second transistors 5 and 11 are connected to the ignition determination circuit 7
Emitter terminal 5b ・ 11 by driver side operation signal from
a and the collector terminals 5a and 11b are in a conductive state (ON
State).

On the other hand, the third squib 3 and the fourth squib 4 include a current limiting circuit 17 (current limiting means), a third transistor 13 (passenger side inhibiting means), and a fourth transistor 14 (passenger side inhibiting means). Therefore, the passenger seat actuation system 12 (passenger seat actuation means) is configured, and the passenger seat actuation system 12 operates the airbag and the seat belt with the pretensioner provided on the passenger seat side. Has become. The passenger seat actuation system 12 has the same circuit configuration as the driver seat actuation system 10 described above, and the emitter side operation signals of the third and fourth transistors 13 and 14 are generated by the passenger side actuation signal from the ignition determination circuit 7. The terminals 13b and 14a and the collector terminals 13a and 14b are switched to a conductive state (ON state).

The driver seat operating system 10 and the passenger seat operating system 12 are connected in parallel, and the current limiting circuit 6.1 is connected.
One end of the second side is connected to one end of the capacitor 9 via the safing sensor 8. On the other hand, the second and fourth
The other end on the side of the transistors 11 and 14 is connected to the other end of the capacitor 9 described above. Then, the safing sensor 8 is configured to mechanically close the contact at the time of a collision and switch to a conducting state, and the safing sensor 8 is conducted to the driver seat operating system 10 and the passenger seat operating system 12. When switched to, the electric power stored in the capacitor 9 is supplied.

The safing sensor 8 may be a semiconductor type or electric type switch in which a collision determination circuit is added to the acceleration sensor so that the safing sensor 8 is switched to the conductive state only when the collision determination circuit determines that a collision has occurred. . When a mechanical switch is applied to the safing sensor 8,
Since the safing sensor 8 becomes inexpensive, it is possible to reduce the total cost of the occupant protection device, and when a semiconductor or electric switch is applied to the safing sensor 8, the occupant protection device malfunctions. Can be reliably prevented.

The ignition determination circuit 7 connected to the driver's seat operating system 10 and the passenger's seat operating system 12 has a passenger seat occupant detection device 15 for outputting an occupant signal, and a voltage output or current according to acceleration. An acceleration sensor 16 (acceleration determining means) that outputs an output acceleration signal is connected.

The passenger seat occupant detection device 15 determines whether or not an occupant is present in the passenger seat, and outputs an occupant signal when it is judged that an occupant is present in the passenger seat. ing. As a specific determination method, the determination is made by detecting the locked state of the seat belt,
It is judged by the switch operation manually by the occupant,
Alternatively, a non-contact type occupant detection sensor (sensor means) such as a non-contact type such as an optical sensor or an ultrasonic sensor or a pressure sensor
The decision is made by.

It should be noted that the passenger seat occupant detection device 15 may be configured to make a judgment by combining a plurality of the above-mentioned judgment methods, and in particular, even when the passenger in the passenger seat is automatically detected, the occupant is forcibly forced. It is desirable to have an occupant's manual switch means so that the signal output can be stopped. This corresponds to the situation where the passenger side airbag and seatbelt with pretensioner should not be operated even when there is an occupant in the passenger seat, such as when a child seat is attached to the passenger seat. This is because.

The ignition determination circuit 7 to which the occupant signal and the acceleration signal are input has an arithmetic unit, a storage unit, a 2-input AND circuit, an input / output unit, and the like.
Various operation programs such as an acceleration determination routine are stored. Then, the ignition determination circuit 7 compares the acceleration signal data converted into a digital value by the input / output unit with a predetermined value by causing the arithmetic unit to execute an acceleration determination routine, and the acceleration signal data is equal to or more than the predetermined value. When the comparison result is obtained, it is determined that the collision is enough to operate the airbag and the seat belt with the pretensioner, and the driver side operation signal and the passenger side operation signal are generated.

The driver's seat side operating signal is output to the driver's seat operating system 10, while the passenger's seat side operating signal is output to one input terminal of the AND circuit. ing. The occupant signal from the passenger seat occupant detection device 15 is input to the other input terminal of the AND circuit. The AND circuit ANDs the passenger seat side operation signal and the passenger signal, The passenger side actuation signal is output to the passenger seat actuation system 12 only when both signals are input together.

The ignition determination circuit 7 controls the output of the driver side operation signal and the passenger side operation signal by software such as an acceleration determination routine and hardware such as an AND circuit. It is not limited to. That is, the ignition determination circuit 7 may perform all the control by software.

Specifically, the ignition judging circuit 7 judges whether or not the occupant signal is inputted by executing the occupant judging routine after executing the acceleration judging routine.
When it is determined that it is input, the driver side operation signal and the passenger side operation signal are output, while when it is determined that it is not input, only the driver side operation signal is output. Is also good.

The operation of the occupant protection device having the above structure will be described. For example, when the engine of the automobile is started or the automobile starts, the passenger seat occupant detection device 15 is activated to determine whether or not an occupant is present in the passenger seat or the passenger seat needs to be activated. become.
Then, when it is necessary to operate the passenger seat, the occupant signal is output to the ignition determination circuit 7, while when it is not present, the output of the occupant signal is stopped.

Next, when a shock such as a collision is applied to the automobile, the safing sensor 8 is switched from the cut-off state to the conductive state due to the rapid acceleration, and the acceleration sensor 16 outputs a voltage or a current according to the acceleration. Will output the acceleration signal. The acceleration signal is input to the ignition determination circuit 7 and the ignition determination circuit 7
Will compare the acceleration signal with a predetermined value. Then, when the comparison result that the acceleration signal is equal to or higher than the predetermined value is obtained, it is determined that the collision is enough to operate the airbag and the seat belt with the pretensioner.

After that, the ignition judging circuit 7 judges whether or not the passenger signal is inputted from the passenger seat occupant detecting device 15 described above. When it is judged that the passenger signal is inputted, the driver's seat is judged. The driver side operation signal and the passenger side operation signal are output to the passenger operation system 10 and the passenger seat operation system 12, respectively.

As a result, a current due to the capacitor 9 flows through the driver's seat operating system 10 and the passenger's seat operating system 12, and this current serves as the ignition current for all the first parts.
Or, the fourth squibs 1 to 4 are ignited. The ignition of the first to fourth squibs 1 to 4 activates the airbag on the driver's seat side and the passenger's seat side and the seat belt with the pretensioner to protect the occupant.

On the other hand, when the occupant signal is not input to the ignition determination circuit 7, the driver side operation signal is output only to the driver seat operation system 10. This allows
A current from the capacitor 9 will flow through the driver's seat operating system 10, and this current will ignite the first and second squibs 1 and 2 as an ignition current. The ignition of the first and second squibs 1 and 2 actuates the airbag and the seat belt with pretensioner on the driver's side to protect the occupant.

In this embodiment, since the driver's seat operating system 10 and the passenger's seat operating system 12 are separated,
To correspond to these operating systems 10 and 12, respectively,
The capacitor 9 may be first and second capacitors 9a and 9b, and currents may be independently output from the first and second capacitors 9a and 9b to both operating systems 10 and 12, respectively.

[Embodiment 2] Another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The same members as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. The occupant protection system according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG.
0 and a passenger seat operating system 25. In the driver's seat operating system 20, a fifth transistor 22 (bypass means) is arranged between the first and second squibs 1 and 2, and a collector terminal 22a and an emitter terminal 22b of the fifth transistor 22 are arranged.
And are connected to the first and second squibs 1 and 2, respectively.

An ignition determination circuit 24 is connected to the base terminal 22c of the fifth transistor 22 described above. Further, the collector terminal 22a of the fifth transistor 22 is
The collector terminal 21a of the sixth transistor 21 (bypass means) is connected, the emitter terminal 21b of the sixth transistor 21 is connected to one side of the capacitor 9, and the base terminal 21c is connected to the ignition determination circuit 24. Has been done. The collector terminal 22b of the fifth transistor 22 has a seventh transistor 23 (bypass means).
Of the seventh transistor 23, the emitter terminal 23b of the seventh transistor 23 is connected to the other side of the capacitor 9 via the safing sensor 8, and the base terminal 23c of the seventh transistor 23 is connected to the ignition determination circuit 24. ing.

Since the passenger seat operating system 25 has the same circuit configuration and operation as the driver seat operating system 20 described above,
A description of the following operations will be omitted.

The operation of the occupant protection device on the driver's seat side in the above arrangement will be described based on the operation of the ignition determination circuit 24. When the ignition determination circuit 24 recognizes that all the parts are normal, the ignition determination circuit 24 that has detected the impact on the vehicle uses the first transistor 5 and the fifth transistor 2
2 and the second transistor 11 are turned on (ON state). As a result, the driver's seat operating system 2
The current of the capacitor 9 flows to 0, the first and second squibs 1 and 2 are ignited, and the airbag and the seat belt with the pretensioner are activated.

When the ignition determination circuit 24 recognizes that the first transistor 5 and the harness connected to the first squib 1 are abnormal, the first transistor 5
And the sixth transistor 21 and the fifth transistor 22 are made non-conductive (OFF state), while the seventh transistor 23 and the second transistor 11 are made conductive (ON state).
Will be. As a result, the current of the condenser 9 flows only in the second squib 2 of the driver's seat actuation system 20, the second squib 2 is ignited, and the seat belt with the pretensioner operates.

If the ignition determination circuit 24 recognizes that the harness connected to the second transistor 11 or the second squib 2 is abnormal, the fifth transistor 22, the seventh transistor 23, and the The two transistors 11 are brought into a non-conducting state (OFF state), while the first transistor 5 and the sixth transistor 21 are brought into a conducting state (ON state). As a result, the driver's seat operating system 2
The current of the capacitor 9 flows only in the first squib 1 having the number 0, and the first squib 1 is ignited and the airbag is operated.

As a result, the occupant protection system of this embodiment is
When either one of the airbag and the seat belt with pretensioner does not operate due to a circuit failure, it is possible to specify and operate only the normal protective equipment side.

[Embodiment 3] Another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The same members as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. As shown in FIG. 3, the occupant protection system according to the present embodiment has a driver seat actuation system 3 as shown in FIG.
2 and the first and second squibs 1 and 2 and the third and fourth squibs 3 and 4 that form the passenger seat actuation system 33.
And have. The first to fourth squibs 1 to 4 are connected in series in this order, and the collector terminal 5a of the first transistor 5 is connected to one end of the first squib 1.

The first transistor 5 has an emitter terminal 5b connected to the current limiting circuit 6 and a base terminal 5c connected to the collision determination circuit 30. The collision determination circuit 30 determines from the acceleration signal from the acceleration sensor 16 whether or not the impact is enough to operate the airbag and the seat belt with the pretensioner. When it is determined to be the impact, the first transistor 5 is detected. An ON signal for switching the ON state to the ON state is output.

At both ends of the third squib 3 and the fourth squib 4, the collector terminal 3 of the eighth transistor 31 is provided.
1b and the emitter terminal 31a are connected to each other, and the passenger seat occupant detection device 15 is connected to the base terminal 31c of the eighth transistor 31. Then, the passenger seat occupant detection device 15 outputs a passenger signal to make the eighth transistor 31 conductive (ON state) and bypass the current from the second squib 2 when the passenger seat side is not operated. It has become.

The operation of the occupant protection device having the above structure will be described. For example, when the engine of the automobile is started or the automobile starts, the passenger seat occupant detection device 15 is activated. Then, for example, when there is no passenger in the passenger seat, a passenger signal for turning on the eighth transistor 31 (ON state) is output, while when there is, a passenger signal is output. Is not output and the eighth transistor 31 is in a non-conducting state (OFF state)
Will be maintained.

Next, when a shock such as a collision is applied to the automobile, the safing sensor 8 is switched from the cut-off state to the conductive state due to the rapid acceleration, and the acceleration sensor 16 outputs an acceleration signal corresponding to the acceleration. It will be. The acceleration signal will be input to the collision determination circuit 30, and the collision determination circuit 30 will compare the acceleration signal with a predetermined value. Then, when the comparison result that the acceleration signal is equal to or higher than the predetermined value is obtained, it is determined that the collision is enough to operate the airbag and the seat belt with the pretensioner, and the first transistor 5 is turned on (ON). The ON signal is output so that the state). As a result, the occupant protection device can actuate the airbag and the seat belt with the pretensioner on the driver's side and the passenger's side as well as on the driver's side only. There is.

As shown in Examples 1 to 3 above,
A plurality of different types of airbags and a protective device that is a seat belt with a pretensioner are provided on the driver side and the passenger side, respectively, and the protective devices on the same side are activated.
And second squibs 1 and 2, third and fourth squibs 3
・ 4 are connected in series, and the operation of each protective device is the same as the squib 1 above.
This is done by passing an ignition current through 4 to 4. As a result, it is not necessary to individually control the operations of the protective equipment on the driver's side and the protective equipment on the passenger's side, so that the circuit configuration can be simplified.

In addition, the occupant protection device is provided with a plurality of protective devices such as an airbag and a seat belt with a pretensioner on the driver's seat side and the passenger seat side, respectively, and controls the operation of these protective devices. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, a driver's seat operating means such as a driver's seat operating system 10 for controlling the operation of the driver's side protective equipment, and a passenger's seat operation for controlling the operation of the passenger's side protective equipment. A passenger seat actuation means such as the system 12 and a passenger seat prohibition means such as a third transistor 13 and a fourth transistor 14 that prohibit the actuation of the protective equipment on the passenger seat side, and an acceleration sensor 16 detects acceleration higher than a predetermined value. When it does, it has an acceleration determination means such as an ignition determination circuit 7 that causes the driver's seat operating means and the passenger's seat operating means to start control.

More specifically, the occupant protection system includes a driver's seat actuating means for controlling the operation of the protective equipment on the driver's side by the ignition current, and an assistant for controlling the operation of the protective equipment on the passenger's side by the ignition current. Seat-side actuating means, passenger-side prohibiting means that prohibits the operation of the protective equipment on the passenger-side by shutting off the ignition current to the passenger-side prohibiting means, and ignition current for driver-side actuating means and passenger-side Ignition power source means such as a condenser 9 that can be supplied to the operating means, and when acceleration above a predetermined level is detected, an ignition current is supplied from the ignition power source means to control the driver seat operating means and the passenger seat operating means. And acceleration determining means for starting.

Thus, the occupant protection device can operate the protective equipment separately on the driver's seat side and the passenger's seat side, and can be operated only on the driver's seat side. Therefore, it is possible to prevent useless use of the protective equipment on the passenger side when no passenger is present in the passenger seat. In addition, it is possible to eliminate the danger in the case where a child seat that is fixed to the seat rearward is installed in the passenger seat.

Further, the driver seat actuating means and the passenger seat actuating means are provided with a plurality of first and second squibs 1 and 2 for activating each protective device by igniting by an ignition current from the ignition power source means. It has 3 and 4 squibs 3 and 4, and these 1st and 2nd squibs 1 and 2 and 3rd and 4th squibs 3 and 4 are respectively connected in series. As a result, the power capacity of the ignition power source means can be reduced.

The driver's seat actuating means and the passenger's seat actuating means are connected in parallel to the ignition power supply means such as the condenser 9, and the ignition power supply means corresponds to the driver's seat actuating means and the passenger's side prohibiting means. It is composed of two first and second capacitors 9a and 9b, which are the same number. As a result, the occupant protection device can prevent the electric current from being wasted when it is not necessary to operate the passenger seat side by dividing the ignition power supply means.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the driver's seat operating system 32 and the passenger's seat operating system 33 are connected in series to the ignition power source means such as the capacitor 9. As a result, the power capacity of the ignition power source means can be further reduced. The driver's seat actuating means and the passenger's seat actuating means are provided with a plurality of first to fourth squibs 1 to 4 for activating the respective protective equipment by igniting them with an ignition current from the ignition power source means.
And current limiting means such as a current limiting circuit 6 for controlling the amount of ignition current passed. As a result, a short circuit can be prevented by the current limiting means.

Further, the current limiting means comprises a constant current circuit for limiting the current set so as to optimize the energization amount of the ignition current. This makes it possible to optimize the capacity of the ignition power supply means and downsize the device.

Further, the passenger seat side prohibiting means has a sensor means for detecting an occupant in the passenger seat, and when the sensor means does not detect, the operation of the protective equipment on the passenger seat side is prohibited. Has become. This makes it possible to automatically prohibit the operation of the passenger seat actuating means.

Further, the passenger seat side prohibiting means has a sensor means for detecting an occupant in the passenger seat and a switch means capable of instructing prohibition manually by the occupant. Also has a priority to prohibit the operation of protective equipment on the passenger side. This makes it possible to prohibit the operation of the passenger seat actuating means regardless of whether or not an occupant is present in the passenger seat.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the occupant protection system has a normal ignition means for the driver's seat or the passenger's seat when the driver's seat or the passenger's seat actuating means is abnormal. Bypass means for changing the current path so as to flow (fifth to seventh transistors 22, 21, 23)
have. Accordingly, when either one of the airbag and the seat belt with the pretensioner does not operate due to a circuit failure, it is possible to specify and operate only the normal protector side.

In the above-mentioned first to third embodiments,
Although the protective equipment is described as an airbag and a seat belt with a pretensioner, it is not limited to this. Further, the driver's seat actuating means and the passenger seat actuating means respectively control two protective devices of the airbag on the driver's seat side and the passenger's seat side and the seat belt with a pretensioner. It controls all the protective equipment mounted on the passenger side and passenger side. Also,
It is desirable that variations in ignition time characteristics of the first to fourth squibs 1 to 4 are set within 30%. In this case, the temperatures of all the first to fourth squibs 1 to 4 are increased. Since it is in the explosion time zone after the warm time has elapsed, the first to fourth squibs 1 to 4 can be reliably ignited.

[0065]

As described above, according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, a plurality of different types of airbags and a protector which is a seat belt with a pretensioner are provided on the driver's side and the passenger's side, respectively, and the same seat is provided. The squibs for operating the side protection devices are connected in series, and the respective protection devices are operated by applying an ignition current to the squibs. As a result, it is not necessary to individually control the operations of the protective equipment on the driver's side and the protective equipment on the passenger's side, so that the circuit configuration can be simplified.

The invention of claim 3 is as described above.
A plurality of protective devices such as airbags and seat belts with pretensioners are provided on the driver's side and passenger's side, respectively, to control the operation of these protective devices, and to control the operation of each protective device on the driver's side. Seat actuation means, passenger seat actuation means for controlling the operation of each protective equipment on the passenger side, passenger side prohibition means for prohibiting the operation of each protective equipment on the passenger seat side, and acceleration above a predetermined level is detected When this is done, the driver's seat actuating means and the passenger seat actuating means have an acceleration determining means for starting control.

As a result, since it can be operated only on the driver's seat side, it is possible to prevent wasteful use of the protective equipment on the passenger seat side when no passenger is present in the passenger seat. Further, there is an effect that it is possible to eliminate a risk when a child seat that is fixed to the seat rearward is installed in the passenger seat.

Further, in the occupant protection system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the driver's seat actuating means for controlling the operation of each protective device on the driver's side by the ignition current and the operation of each protective device on the passenger's side by the ignition current. And a passenger seat prohibiting means for prohibiting the operation of each protective device on the passenger seat side by interrupting the ignition current to the passenger seat prohibiting means, and the ignition current for the driver seat actuating means. Ignition power supply means that can be supplied to the passenger seat actuation means, and when acceleration above a predetermined level is detected, an ignition current is supplied from the ignition power supply means to start control of the driver seat actuation means and the passenger seat actuation means. And a means for determining acceleration.

As a result, as in the case of the effect of claim 3, since it is possible to operate only on the driver's side,
It is possible to prevent useless use of the protective equipment on the passenger side when no passenger is present in the passenger seat. Further, there is an effect that it is possible to eliminate a risk when a child seat that is fixed to the seat rearward is installed in the passenger seat.

In the occupant protection system according to a fifth aspect of the invention, the driver seat actuating means and the passenger seat actuating means of claim 4 ignite a plurality of protective devices by igniting an ignition current from the ignition power source means. Since the squibs are provided and the squibs are connected in series, the squibs are connected in series, so that the power supply capacity of the ignition power supply means can be reduced.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the occupant protection system, the driver's seat actuating means and the passenger seat actuating means of the fourth or fifth aspect are connected in parallel to the ignition power source means, and the ignition power source means is the driver's seat. In addition to the effect of claim 3, the ignition power supply means corresponds to the driver's seat actuating means and the passenger seat actuating means. By being divided into, there is an effect that it is possible to prevent waste of current.

The occupant protection system according to claim 7 is characterized in that the driver seat actuating means and the passenger seat actuating means according to claim 4 or 5 are connected in series to the ignition power source means. In addition to the above effect, the power supply capacity of the ignition power supply means can be further reduced.

In the occupant protection system according to an eighth aspect, the driver's seat actuating means and the passenger's seat actuating means according to the fourth aspect operate a plurality of protective devices by igniting with an ignition current from the ignition power source means. A squib and a current limiting means for controlling the amount of ignition current supplied are provided.
In addition to the above effect, there is an effect that a short circuit can be prevented by the current limiting means.

Further, in the occupant protection system according to claim 9, the current limiting means according to claim 8 comprises a constant current circuit for limiting the current set so as to optimize the energization amount of the ignition current. Therefore, in addition to the effect of the third aspect, there is an effect that the capacity of the ignition power supply means can be optimized and the device can be downsized.

Further, in the occupant protection system according to a tenth aspect, the passenger seat side prohibiting means according to the third or fourth aspect has a sensor means for detecting an occupant in the passenger seat, and when the sensor means does not detect the passenger. Since the protective device on the passenger seat side is prohibited from operating, in addition to the effect of claim 3, the operation of the passenger seat actuating means can be automatically prohibited. .

Further, in the occupant protection system according to claim 11, the passenger seat side prohibiting means according to claim 3 or 4 is a sensor means for detecting an occupant in the passenger seat and a switch means capable of manually instructing the occupant. In addition to the effect of claim 3, whether or not an occupant is present in the front passenger seat is provided. It is possible to inhibit the operation of the passenger seat actuating means regardless of whether the operation is performed.

The occupant protection system according to a twelfth aspect is the occupant protection system according to the fourth aspect, further comprising a normal driver's seat actuation means or passenger's seat actuation means when the driver's seat actuation means or the passenger seat actuation means is abnormal. In addition to the effect of claim 3, in addition to the effect of claim 3, any one of the airbag and the seat belt with a pretensioner has a bypass means for changing the current path so that the ignition current flows only to the means. When one of them does not operate, it is possible to specify and operate only the normal protective equipment side.

Further, in the occupant protection system according to a thirteenth aspect, the plurality of protective equipments provided on the driver's seat side and the passenger's seat side of the third or fourth aspect are an airbag and a seat belt with a pretensioner. . As a result, as in the third aspect, since it can be operated only on the driver's side, when the passenger is absent in the passenger's side, the airbag on the passenger's side and the seat belt with the pretensioner are wasted. Can be prevented from being used. Further, there is an effect that it is possible to eliminate a risk when a child seat that is fixed to the seat rearward is installed in the passenger seat.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the occupant protection system of the fourteenth aspect, the driver's seat actuating means and the passenger's seat actuating means ignite by an ignition current from the ignition power source means to activate a plurality of protective devices. The squibs are connected in series, and the squibs have a configuration in which the variation in the ignition time characteristic is set within 30%. As a result, since the temperatures of all the squibs are in the explosion time zone after the temperature rise time, it is possible to reliably ignite all the squibs.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an occupant protection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an occupant protection device according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an occupant protection device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a conventional example and is a block diagram of an occupant protection device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 1st squib 2 2nd squib 3 3rd squib 4 4th squib 5 1st transistor 6 Current limiting circuit 7 Ignition judging circuit 8 Safing sensor 9 Capacitor 10 Operating system for driver's seat 11 Second transistor 12 Operating system for passenger's seat 13 Third Transistor 14 Fourth Transistor 15 Passenger Seat Occupant Detection Device 16 Acceleration Sensor 17 Current Limiting Circuit 20 Driver Seat Operating System 21 Sixth Transistor 22 Fifth Transistor 23 Seventh Transistor 24 Ignition Judgment Circuit 25 Passenger Seat Operating System 30 Collision judgment circuit 31 8th transistor 32 Operating system for driver's seat 33 Operating system for passenger's seat

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A driver's seat side and a passenger's seat side are respectively provided with a plurality of different types of protective equipment, and squibs for operating the protective equipment on the same seat side are connected in series, and the activation of each protective equipment applies an ignition current to the squib. An occupant protection device characterized by being carried out. 2. An occupant protection device, wherein the plurality of protective devices are an airbag and a seat belt with a pretensioner. 3. An occupant protection device having a plurality of protective equipments on a driver's seat side and a passenger's side, respectively, and an occupant protection device for controlling the operation of these protective equipments. The driver's seat operating means for controlling the operation of each protective equipment on the driver's seat side. And a passenger seat actuating means for controlling the operation of each protective equipment on the passenger side, a passenger seat prohibiting means for prohibiting the operation of each protective equipment on the passenger seat side, and when acceleration exceeding a predetermined level is detected, An occupant protection device comprising: an actuation means for a driver's seat and an acceleration determination means for causing the actuation means for a passenger seat to start control. 4. An occupant protection device having a plurality of protective equipments on a driver's seat side and a passenger's seat side, respectively, for controlling the operation of these protective equipments. In the passenger seat, the operation of each protective equipment on the driver's seat side is controlled by an ignition current. Activation means, and the activation means for the passenger seat that controls the activation of the protective equipment on the passenger side by the ignition current, and the activation of the protective equipment on the passenger side by shutting off the ignition current to the inhibition means on the passenger side. Means for prohibiting the passenger seat, an ignition power supply means capable of supplying an ignition current to the driver seat actuation means and the passenger seat actuation means, and the ignition power supply means for driving the driver seat when an acceleration of a predetermined value or more is detected. Occupant protection device having an acceleration determining means for supplying ignition current to the vehicle operating means and the passenger seat operating means to start control. 5. The driver seat actuating means and the passenger seat actuating means have a plurality of squibs for activating each protective device by igniting by an ignition current from an ignition power source means, and these squibs are connected in series. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein
Occupant protection device. 6. The driver seat actuating means and the passenger seat actuating means are connected in parallel to an ignition power source means, and the ignition power source means are arranged in a number corresponding to the driver seat actuating means and the passenger side prohibiting means. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein
Or 5 occupant protection device. 7. The occupant protection system according to claim 4, wherein the driver seat actuating means and the passenger seat actuating means are connected in series to an ignition power source means. 8. The driver seat actuating means and the passenger seat actuating means include a plurality of squibs for activating the respective protective equipment by igniting by an ignition current from an ignition power source means, and a current for controlling an energization amount of the ignition current. The occupant protection device according to claim 4, further comprising a limiting means. 9. The occupant protection system according to claim 8, wherein the current limiting means comprises a constant current circuit that limits a current set so as to optimize the energization amount of the ignition current. 10. The passenger side prohibiting means has a sensor means for detecting an occupant in the passenger seat, and when the sensor means does not detect, the operation of the protective equipment on the passenger side is prohibited. 5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein
Occupant protection device. 11. The passenger seat side prohibiting means has a sensor means for detecting an occupant in the passenger seat and a switch means capable of instructing the operation prohibition by the occupant's manual operation. The occupant protection system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the instruction is prioritized over the sensor means. 12. The occupant protection system according to claim 4, further comprising:
When the driver's seat operating means or passenger's seat operating means is abnormal,
An occupant protection device having a bypass means for changing a current path so that an ignition current flows only to a normal driver's seat operating means or passenger's seat operating means. 13. The protective equipment provided on the driver's seat side and the passenger's seat side, respectively, is an airbag and a seat belt with a pretensioner.
Or 4 occupant protection device. 14. The driver seat actuating means and the passenger seat actuating means have a plurality of squibs connected in series to ignite by an ignition current from an ignition power source means to actuate each protective equipment. , The variation of ignition time characteristics is 3
The occupant protection device according to claim 4, wherein the occupant protection device is set within 0%.