Occupant protection apparatus for vehicle

• US 20050283292A1
• Filed: 06/22/2005
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Kawato, Takashi, Aoki, Koji, Hirota, Koichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,031,814 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0276 reaction to emergency situations, e.g. crash
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4221 due to impact coming from the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42736 of the whole seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42745 of the back-rest B60N2/433 takes precedence; higher part of the back-rest moving together with the headrest B60N2/888
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42754 of the cushion
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4279 electric or electronic triggering
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01252 Devices other than bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0136 responsive to actual contact with an obstacle , e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558

Abstract

An occupant protection apparatus for a vehicle includes a first power source means, a second power source means for supplying power of higher voltage than that of the first power source means, a collision-predicting means for predicting a collision, a driving means for driving an actuation mechanism of the vehicle on the basis of an output from the collision-predicting means, and a switching means for switching over from the first power source means to the second power source means for supplying power to the driving means when a collision is predicted to occur by the collision-predicting means.

Claims

1. An occupant protection apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a first power source means;

a second power source means for supplying power of higher voltage than that of the first power source means;

a collision-predicting means for predicting a collision;

a driving means for driving an actuation mechanism of the vehicle on the basis of an output from the collision-predicting means; and

a switching means for switching over from the first power source means to the second power source means for supplying power to the driving means when a collision is predicted to occur by the collision-predicting means.

3. The occupant protection apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a monitor means for monitoring a voltage of the second power source means, wherein the switching means keeps supplying power from the first power source means to the driving means when an abnormal voltage is detected by the monitor means.

5. The occupant protection apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a monitor means for monitoring a voltage of the second power source means; and

a warning means for warning an occupant of an abnormality when an abnormal voltage of the second power source means is detected by the monitor means.

7. The occupant protection apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 3, further comprising:

a warning means for warning an occupant of an abnormality when the abnormal voltage of the second power source means is detected by the monitor means.

9. The occupant protection apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second actuation mechanism provided at the vehicle, and

a second driving means for driving the second actuation mechanism, wherein

a start time of supplying power to the second actuation mechanism is different from a start time of supplying power to the actuation mechanism when power is supplied from the second power source means to the actuation mechanism and the second actuation mechanism.

11. The occupant protection apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 3, further comprising:

a second actuation mechanism provided at the vehicle, and

a second driving means for driving the second actuation mechanism, wherein

a start time of supplying power to the second actuation mechanism is different from a start time of supplying power to the actuation mechanism when power is supplied from the second power source means to the actuation mechanism and the second actuation mechanism.

13. The occupant protection apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 5, further comprising:

a second actuation mechanism provided at the vehicle, and

a second driving means for driving the second actuation mechanism, wherein

a start time of supplying power to the second actuation mechanism is different from a start time of supplying power to the actuation mechanism when power is supplied from the second power source means to the actuation mechanism and the second actuation mechanism.

15. The occupant protection apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 7, further comprising:

a second actuation mechanism provided at the vehicle, and

a second driving means for driving the second actuation mechanism, wherein

a start time of supplying power to the second actuation mechanism is different from a start time of supplying power to the actuation mechanism when power is supplied from the second power source means to the actuation mechanism and the second actuation mechanism.

17. The occupant protection apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 9, wherein an action of the second actuation mechanism is started after an action of the actuation mechanism is completed when power is supplied from the second power source means to the actuation mechanism and the second actuation mechanism.

19. The occupant protection apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein an action of the second actuation mechanism is started after an action of the actuation mechanism is completed when power is supplied from the second power source means to the actuation mechanism and the second actuation mechanism.

2. An occupant protection apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a first power source means;

a second power source means for supplying power of higher voltage than that of the first power source means;

an operation-inputting means provided so as to be operable by an occupant;

a collision-predicting means for predicting a collision;

a driving means for driving an actuation mechanism of the vehicle on the basis of either one of an output from the operation-inputting means and an output from the collision-predicting means; and

a switching means for selecting the first power source means to supply power to the driving means when an action command is input from the operation-inputting means and for switching over from the first power source means to the second power source means to supply power to the driving means when a collision is predicted to occur by the collision-predicting means.

4. The occupant protection apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising:

a monitor means for monitoring a voltage of the second power source means, wherein the switching means keeps supplying power from the first power source means to the driving means when an abnormal voltage is detected by the monitor means.

6. The occupant protection apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising:

a monitor means for monitoring a voltage of the second power source means; and

a warning means for warning an occupant of an abnormality when an abnormal voltage of the second power source means is detected by the monitor means.

8. The occupant protection apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 4, further comprising:

a warning means for warning an occupant of an abnormality when the abnormal voltage of the second power source means is detected by the monitor means.

10. The occupant protection apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising:

a second actuation mechanism provided at the vehicle, and

a second driving means for driving the second actuation mechanism, wherein

a start time of supplying power to the second actuation mechanism is different from a start time of supplying power to the actuation mechanism when power is supplied from the second power source means to the actuation mechanism and the second actuation mechanism.

12. The occupant protection apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 4, further comprising:

a second actuation mechanism provided at the vehicle, and

a second driving means for driving the second actuation mechanism, wherein

a start time of supplying power to the second actuation mechanism is different from a start time of supplying power to the actuation mechanism when power is supplied from the second power source means to the actuation mechanism and the second actuation mechanism.

14. The occupant protection apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 6, further comprising:

a second actuation mechanism provided at the vehicle, and

a second driving means for driving the second actuation mechanism, wherein

a start time of supplying power to the second actuation mechanism is different from a start time of supplying power to the actuation mechanism when power is supplied from the second power source means to the actuation mechanism and the second actuation mechanism.

16. The occupant protection apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 8, further comprising:

a second actuation mechanism provided at the vehicle, and

a second driving means for driving the second actuation mechanism, wherein

a start time of supplying power to the second actuation mechanism is different from a start time of supplying power to the actuation mechanism when power is supplied from the second power source means to the actuation mechanism and the second actuation mechanism.

18. The occupant protection apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 10, wherein an action of the second actuation mechanism is started after an action of the actuation mechanism is completed when power is supplied from the second power source means to the actuation mechanism and the second actuation mechanism.

20. The occupant protection apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 12, wherein an action of the second actuation mechanism is started after an action of the actuation mechanism is completed when power is supplied from the second power source means to the actuation mechanism and the second actuation mechanism.