Vehicle passenger restraining system

• US 20060102414A1
• Filed: 11/07/2005
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Pal, Chinmoy, Ootani, Ryuuji
• Granted Patent: US 7,597,352 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/282
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/13 Roll-over protection electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01

Abstract

A vehicle passenger restraining system comprises a plurality of passenger restraining devices, upper and lower deformation detecting devices, and a passenger restraining device operating unit. The upper deformation detecting device is disposed in a generally central upper end of a first lateral side of a cabin to output one of a first signal indicative of a first load input from a first direction and a second signal indicative of a second load input from a second direction. The lower deformation detecting device is disposed in a generally central lower end of the first lateral side to output a third signal indicative of a third load input from a third direction. The passenger restraining device operating unit is configured to determine a load input characteristic based on the first, second and third signals to operate at least one of the passenger restraining devices in accordance with the load input characteristic.

Claims

1. A vehicle passenger restraining system comprising:

a plurality of passenger restraining devices configured and arranged to restrain a passenger inside a passenger compartment of a vehicle;

an upper deformation detecting device disposed in a generally central upper end section of a first lateral side of the passenger compartment, the upper deformation detecting device being configured and arranged to selectively output at least one of a first signal indicative of a first load input from a first direction and a second signal indicative of a second load input from a second direction that is different from the first direction upon detection of at least one of the first and second load inputs;

a lower deformation detecting device disposed in a generally central lower end section of the first lateral side of the passenger compartment, the lower deformation detecting device being configured and arranged to output at least a third signal indicative of a third load input from a third direction upon detection of the third load input; and

a passenger restraining device operating unit configured to determine a load input characteristic based on the first, second and third signals, and to operate at least one of the passenger restraining devices in accordance with the load input characteristic.

2. The vehicle passenger restraining system as recited in claim 1, wherein

the upper deformation detecting device includes

a switch section having a plurality of operating directions including at least the first and second directions, and

a signal output section configured to output at least one of the first and second signals depending on a direction in which the switch section is operated.

3. The vehicle passenger restraining system as recited in claim 2, wherein

the lower deformation detecting device includes

a switch section having at least one operating direction including the third direction, and

a signal output section configured to output at least the third signal when the switch section is operated in the third direction.

4. The vehicle passenger restraining system as recited in claim 1, further comprising

a vehicle cabin structure defining the passenger compartment, the vehicle cabin structure having an upper mounting portion to which the upper deformation detecting device is coupled and a lower mounting portion to which the lower deformation detecting device is coupled, the upper mounting portion having a structural rigidity that is lower than a structural rigidity of a peripheral area of the upper mounting portion.

5. The vehicle passenger restraining system as recited in claim 4, wherein

the lower mounting portion has a structural rigidity that is higher than a structural rigidity of a peripheral area of the lower mounting portion.

6. The vehicle passenger restraining system as recited in claim 5, wherein

the vehicle cabin structure includes a body structure and a door member coupled to a door receiving opening formed on the first lateral side of the body structure to selectively close and open the door receiving opening, the door member including the upper mounting portion and the lower mounting portion.

7. The vehicle passenger restraining system as recited in claim 1, wherein

the upper deformation detecting device is oriented with respect to the vehicle so that the first signal is outputted upon a load input acting generally downward from a top of the vehicle, and the second signal is outputted upon a load input acting generally inward in a widthwise direction of the vehicle.

8. The vehicle passenger restraining system as recited in claim 2, wherein

the switch section of the upper deformation detecting device is oriented with respect to the vehicle generally along the vertical direction of the vehicle so that the upper deformation detecting device is configured and arranged to output the first signal when a top load input acting generally downward from a top of the vehicle causes the switch section to be depressed and to output the second signal when a side load input acting generally inward in a widthwise direction of the vehicle causes the switch section to be pushed from a side.

9. The vehicle passenger restraining system as recited in claim 1, wherein

the lower deformation detecting device is oriented with respect to the vehicle so that the third signal is outputted upon a load input acting generally inward in a widthwise direction of the vehicle.

10. The vehicle passenger restraining system as recited in claim 3, wherein

the switch section of the lower deformation detecting device is oriented with respect to the vehicle generally along a widthwise direction of the vehicle so that the lower deformation detecting device is configured to output the third signal upon a load input acting generally inward in a widthwise direction of the vehicle causing the switch section to be depressed.

11. The vehicle passenger restraining system as recited in claim 6, wherein

the upper mounting portion of the door member includes a cabin inside wall and a cabin outside wall extending substantially in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the upper deformation detecting device being disposed between the cabin inside wall and the cabin outside wall with the switch section thereof being oriented with respect to the vehicle generally in an upward direction.

12. The vehicle passenger restraining system as recited in claim 11, wherein

the body structure has a downwardly protruding part disposed in an upward position of the switch section when the door member is closed, the downwardly protruding part being configured and arranged to depress the switch section when a top load causes the central upper end section of the first lateral side of the passenger compartment to deform.

13. The vehicle passenger restraining system as recited in claim 12, wherein

the upper mounting portion of the door member includes an upper opening formed between a tip end of the switch section of the upper deformation detecting device and the downwardly protruding part so that the downwardly protruding part penetrates the upper opening and depress the switch section when the top load causes the central upper end portion of the first lateral side of the passenger compartment to deform.

14. The vehicle passenger restraining system as recited in claim 11, wherein

the upper mounting portion further includes an outer perimeter wall disposed in an upper portion of the switch section, the outer perimeter wall including a downward pressing section configured and arranged to depress the switch section when a top load causes an upper portion of the door member to deform.

15. The vehicle passenger restraining system as recited in claim 11, wherein

the upper mounting portion further includes an outer perimeter wall disposed in an upper portion of the switch section, the outer perimeter wall including a bellows-shaped section configured and arranged to stretch out and allow the outer perimeter wall to descend such that the outer perimeter wall pushes the switch section when a top load causes an upper portion of the door member to deform.

16. The vehicle passenger restraining system as recited in claim 11, wherein

the cabin inside wall of the upper mounting portion includes a sideways pressing part oriented to face laterally toward the switch section of the upper deformation detecting device, the sideways pressing part being configured and arranged to press the switch section in at least one of a sideways direction and a diagonal direction when a side load causes an upper portion of the door member to deform.

17. The vehicle passenger restraining system as recited in claim 11, further comprising

a body side welt coupled to the body structure having a welt protruding part disposed in an lateral inner position with respect to the switch section of the upper deformation detecting device, the welt protruding part being configured and arranged to push the switch section in a sideways direction when a side load causes an upper portion of the door member to deform.

18. The vehicle passenger restraining system as recited in claim 17, wherein

the upper mounting portion of the door member further includes a lateral opening in a portion adjacent to the cabin inside wall between the switch section and the welt protruding part of the body side welt, and

the welt protruding part being configured and arranged to penetrate the lateral opening to push the switch unit in the sideways direction when the side load causes the upper portion of the door member to deform.

19. The vehicle passenger restraining system as recited in claim 6, wherein

the lower mounting portion of the door member has a closed cross sectional structure with the lower deformation detecting device being mounted inside the closed cross sectional structure such that the switch section thereof is oriented with respect to the vehicle to face generally inward in a widthwise direction of the vehicle.

20. The vehicle passenger restraining system as recited in claim 19, wherein

the closed cross sectional structure of the lower mounting portion includes a weak section disposed in one of an upper wall surface and a lower wall surface of the closed cross sectional structure.

21. A vehicle passenger restraining method, comprising:

selectively outputting at least one of a first signal indicative of a first load input from a first direction and a second signal indicative of a second load input from a second direction that is different from the first direction upon detection of at least one of the first and second load inputs to an upper part of a first lateral side of a passenger compartment of a vehicle;

outputting at least a third signal indicative of a third load input from a third direction upon detection of the third load input to a lower part of the first lateral side of the passenger compartment of the vehicle;

determining a load input characteristic based on the first, second and third signals; and

operating at least one of a plurality of passenger restraining devices in accordance with the load input characteristic.

22. A vehicle passenger restraining system, comprising:

passenger restraining means for restraining a passenger in a passenger compartment of a vehicle;

upper deformation detecting means for selectively outputting at least one of a first signal indicative of a first load input from a first direction and a second signal indicative of a second load input from a second direction that is different from the first direction upon detection of at least one of the first and second load inputs to an upper part of a first lateral side of the passenger compartment of the vehicle;

lower deformation detecting means for outputting at least a third signal indicative of a third load input from a third direction upon detection of the third load input to a lower part of the first lateral side of the passenger compartment of the vehicle;

load input characteristic determining means for determining a load input characteristic based on the first, second and third signals; and

passenger restraining operating means for operating the passenger restraining means in accordance with the load input characteristic.

23. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body structure forming a passenger compartment;

a plurality of passenger restraining devices coupled to the vehicle body structure, and configured and arranged to restrain a passenger inside the passenger compartment;

an upper deformation detecting device disposed in a generally central upper end section of a first lateral side of the passenger compartment of the vehicle body structure, the upper deformation detecting device being configured and arranged to selectively output at least one of a first signal indicative of a first load input from a first direction and a second signal indicative of a second load input from a second direction that is different from the first direction upon detection of at least one of the first and second load inputs;

a lower deformation detecting device disposed in a generally central lower end section of the first lateral side of the passenger compartment of the vehicle body structure, the lower deformation detecting device being configured and arranged to output at least a third signal indicative of a third load input from a third direction upon detection of the third load input; and

a passenger restraining device operating unit configured to determine a load input characteristic based on the first, second and third signals, and to operate at least one of the passenger restraining devices in accordance with the load input characteristic.