JP3479967B2 - Satellite sensor for airbag device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a satellite sensor of an airbag device for protecting an occupant in the event of a vehicle collision. [0002] Conventionally, an airbag device is mounted on a vehicle to protect an occupant in the event of a vehicle collision. This airbag device includes a floor sensor for detecting a deceleration due to a vehicle collision and a satellite sensor, and detects the deceleration by the satellite sensor to detect the collision early. [0003] Incidentally, since the satellite sensor is provided on the front side member, the radiator support and the like near the collision site, the front side member and the like are deformed in the early stage of the collision and the satellite sensor is turned on. Before transmitting the signal, the connector of the satellite sensor may be damaged and the electronic control unit may not be able to receive the ON signal. Therefore, there is a satellite sensor provided with a guard bracket 104 covering the satellite sensor main body 100 and the connector 102 as shown in FIG. 8 in order to prevent damage to the connector. In order to protect the female coupler from collision with other objects, there is a solenoid valve in which a protection cylinder surrounding the female coupler is formed integrally with the valve body (see JP-A-7-310846). However, in the above-described satellite sensor, it is necessary to increase the gap between the connector 102 and the guard bracket 104 in order to perform the fitting operation of the connector 102, so that the size of the sensor including the guard bracket 104 increases. There was a problem. An object of the present invention is to provide a satellite sensor of an airbag device which is small in size and can prevent damage to a connector in the event of a collision. A satellite sensor of an airbag device according to the present invention comprises: a satellite sensor main body for detecting an impact when a vehicle collides; a connector provided on the satellite sensor main body; A case that houses the satellite sensor body and surrounds the connector .
The case is connected to the satellite sensor body on the side wall.
At the position facing the connector mounting position, remove the connector.
It has a hole for external work . According to the satellite sensors of the airbag device, since the connector is surrounded by a case for housing the satellite sensor main body, to ensure the detection signal can be prevented that the connector may be damaged by the impact of the collision Can be output. Further, the size of the satellite sensor can be reduced because the connector is surrounded by the case accommodating the satellite sensor body. In addition,
Holes for connector removal on the side wall of the base
Insert the tip of a screwdriver and remove the connector
To reduce the size of the satellite sensor
be able to. An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. As shown in FIG. 1, the control device 2 of the airbag device includes an airbag device 3
6, which mainly includes a control circuit 20, satellite sensors 30A and 30B, a floor sensor 32, and a drive circuit. Among them, the satellite sensors 30A, 30A
B is an electronic sensor generally provided at a front portion of the vehicle for detecting an impact applied to the vehicle, and specifically,
The deceleration applied to the vehicle is detected, and a time-series deceleration signal corresponding to the deceleration is output. Also, the floor sensor 32
An acceleration sensor for measuring a shock applied to a vehicle and transmitted through a vehicle body. Specifically, the acceleration sensor measures a deceleration applied to the vehicle in a front-rear direction as needed, and outputs the measured value as a signal. . The control circuit 20 includes a central processing unit (CPU)
22, an input / output circuit (I / O circuit) 24, a read only memory (ROM) 26, a random access memory 28, and the like. Each component is connected by a bus. Among them, the CPU 22 controls the operation of the airbag device 36 according to a program stored in the ROM 26 and the like. The RAM 28 stores the satellite sensor 30.
A, 30B, and a memory for storing data obtained by signals from the floor sensor 32 and results calculated by the CPU 22 based on the data. Furthermore, I / O
The circuit 24 is a circuit for inputting signals from the satellite sensors 30A and 30B and the floor sensor 32, outputting an operation signal to the drive circuit 34, and the like. The drive circuit 34 is a circuit for energizing and igniting the squibs 38A, 38B of the inflators 36A, 36B in the airbag device 36 according to an operation signal from the control circuit 20. Further, the airbag device 36 includes squibs 38A, 38B in addition to the squibs 38A, 38B serving as ignition devices.
A gas generating agent (not shown) ignited by 8B and a bag 36a (see FIG. 3) expanded by generated gas are provided. Among these components, a control circuit 20 and
The floor sensor 32 and the drive circuit 34 are housed in an ECU (electronic control unit) 44 shown in FIGS.
It is mounted on a floor tunnel 48 in the approximate center of 6. Further, the satellite sensor 30A is connected to the ECU
The satellite sensor 30B is disposed in front of the front side member 50 of the vehicle 46 diagonally forward right with respect to the floor sensor 32 inside 44. It is located at the front of 50. Here, the satellite sensors 30A, 30B
Has a structure shown in FIGS. 4 is a plan view of the satellite sensors 30A and 30B, FIG. 5 is a side view of the satellite sensors 30A and 30B, FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the satellite sensors 30A and 30B, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the satellite sensors 30A and 30B. is there. Each of the satellite sensors 30A and 30B includes a sensor body 60, a connector 62, and a case 64. The sensor main body 60 has a rectangular planar shape, and has a deceleration detecting unit, a circuit unit, and the like inside. A male connector 62 having a cylindrical shape is provided on a main plane 60a of the sensor main body 60. A female connector 68, which is a connector on the wiring side, is fitted to the male connector 62. The case 64 is made of die-cast aluminum, forged metal or resin, and has a cylindrical shape with one end closed. Main plane 60 of sensor body 60
The sensor main body 60 is inserted into the case 64 from the open end of the case 64 so that the side surface surrounding a is in contact with the inner wall surface of the case 64, and the sensor main body 60 is fixed in the case 64 with an adhesive or a screw. Therefore, the sensor body 60 is accommodated in the case 64 and the connector is surrounded,
The case 64 serves as a connector guard. On the four side walls of the case 64,
At a position facing the mounting position of the connector 62 of the sensor main body 60, a rectangular connector removing operation hole 70 for removing the connector 62 is provided. On one side of the case 64, a bracket 72 having a screw hole 72a for attaching the satellite sensors 30A, 30B to the front side member 50 of the vehicle 46 or the like is integrally formed. Furthermore,
On the surface of the case 64 where the bracket 72 is provided,
When the satellite sensors 30A and 30B are attached to the front side member 50 of the vehicle 46, a rotation preventing pawl 74 is provided for preventing the satellite sensors 30A and 30B from rotating. FIG. 7 shows satellite sensors 30A and 30B.
Indicates a state fixed on the front side member 50. The rotation preventing pawl 74 provided on each of the satellite sensors 30A and 30B is
The satellite sensors 30 </ b> A and 30 </ b> B are fixed on the front side member 50 by being inserted into sensor locking holes provided in the front side member 50. Since the male connector 62 of each of the satellite sensors 30A and 30B is surrounded by the case 64 to the end thereof, even when the vehicle 46 collides, the male connector 62 can be prevented from being damaged.
The ON signal of 30B can be reliably transmitted to the control circuit 20 via the connectors 62 and 68 and the wiring. Therefore, the control circuit 20 energizes the squibs 38A and 38B of the airbag device 36 based on the input of the ON signal transmitted from the satellite sensors 30A and 30B, and activates the inflators 36A and 36B to activate the airbag device. 36 can be reliably operated. Further, since the case 64 of the satellite sensors 30A and 30B is provided with the hole 70 for connector removal work, even if the gap between the female connector 68 and the case 64 is narrow, FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the end of the female connector 68 is inserted into the connector removing hole 70 by using the tip of the driver or the like, and the end of the female connector 68 is pushed away from the main plane 60 a of the sensor main body 60. Removal can be performed. Therefore, in these satellite sensors 30A and 30B,
The case 64 is downsized, that is, the satellite sensors 30A, 3
OB itself can be reduced in size and cost can be reduced. Further, since the satellite sensors 30A and 30B can be reduced in size, the satellite sensors 30A and 30B can be easily mounted on the vehicle 46 and the resonance characteristics can be improved. Further, since the connector removing operation holes 70 are provided on each of the four side walls of the case 64, the operation can be performed from four directions. Can be easily drained even when the vehicle enters. Further, since the plurality of connector removal operation holes 70 are provided, the weight of the satellite sensors 30A and 30B can be reduced. Since the case 64 is provided with the rotation preventing pawl 74, the satellite sensors 30A, 30
B can be prevented from rotating and floating. Also,
Since the case 64 and the bracket 72 are integrally formed, the case 64 and the bracket 72 do not separate at the time of a collision, and the impact resistance can be improved. Incidentally, in order to evaluate the acceleration detected by the sensor main body 60, the acceleration pickup was stuck to the outside of the satellite sensor with an adhesive or the like. According to the satellite sensors 30A and 30B, an acceleration pickup can be mounted in the case 64, and peeling of the acceleration pickup due to a collision impact can be prevented. According to the present invention, since the connector is surrounded by the case accommodating the satellite sensor main body,
The connector can be prevented from being damaged by the impact of the collision, and the detection signal can be reliably output. Further, the size of the satellite sensor can be reduced because the connector is surrounded by the case accommodating the satellite sensor body. [0029] Also, it is possible to remove the to case connector insert the screwdriver tip such as connector detaching work holes provided in the side wall portion of the can to reduce the size of the satellite sensors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an activation control device for an airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a satellite sensor or the like of the airbag device according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a vehicle. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a satellite sensor or the like of the airbag device according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a vehicle. FIG. 4 is a plan view of a satellite sensor of the airbag device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a side view of a satellite sensor of the airbag device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the satellite sensor of the airbag device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a satellite sensor of the airbag device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a satellite sensor of a conventional airbag device. [Description of Signs] 2 ... Control device for airbag device, 20 ... Control circuit, 22
... Central processing unit, 24 ... I / O circuit, 26 ... ROM, 2
8 ... RAM, 30A, 30B ... Satellite sensor, 32
... Floor sensor, 34 ... Drive circuit, 36 ... Airbag device, 44 ... ECU, 46 ... Vehicle, 50 ... Front side member, 60 ... Sensor body, 62 ... Male connector, 64 ...
Case, 70: Connector removal work hole, 72: Bracket, 74: Rotation prevention pawl.

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-11-268606 (JP, A) JP-A-8-31468 (JP, A) JP-A-7-231542 (JP, A) JP-A-55-97116 (JP) JP-A-10-123164 (JP, A) JP-A-3-269367 (JP, A) JP-A-6-337272 (JP, A) JP 6-6130 (JP, U) JP 6-23848 (JP, U) JP 6-29501 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B60R 21/16-21/32 B60R 21/00 610 B60R 21 / 00 628 G01P 15/00-15/16

Claims (1)

(57) [Claim 1] A satellite sensor main body for detecting an impact when a vehicle collides, a connector provided on the satellite sensor main body, a housing for accommodating the satellite sensor main body and the connector Bei example and a case surrounding the case, co of the satellite sensor main body of the side wall portion
At the position facing the connector mounting position,
A satellite sensor for an airbag device, comprising a removal work hole .