JP3375698B2 - Airbag device and disposal method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an air bag device for which disposal process is simplified and an easy disposal processing method for the air bag device. CONSTITUTION:In an air bag device provided with a power supply 3 for storing electricity supplied from an on-vehicle battery 2, a single or a plurality of collision sensor means 4, SS provided in series for detecting collision of a vehicle and becoming conductive, and a starting means 7 connected to the power supply 3 via the collision sensor means 4, SS and starting an air bag 5 in the case of becoming conductive, an external feeder terminal 20 for supplying electricity from the outside to the power supply 3 and a short-circuit means 13 for making the collision sensor means 4, SS conductive respectively, or short-circuited in the case of supplying external feeding are installed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for easily disposing an automobile air bag device and a disposal method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An airbag device is mounted on a steering wheel of an automobile or the like, and when a vehicle collides, a collision sensor detects this and activates a gas generator, and the generated gas deploys (inflates) the airbag. It is interposed between the vehicle and the occupant to protect the occupant. And when the car equipped with this airbag device is scrapped,
At present, the number of such airbags is small and there is no legal regulation, so disposing of installed airbags is left to the dismantling companies.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned gas generator is an explosive substance, which is activated by explosive charge.
Therefore, it is dangerous to leave the gas generator as it is, and also to dismantling and pressing. And
Airbag devices will be installed in all automobiles in the future, and if the number increases, they will explode during dismantling, and since it will be a considerable amount of waste explosive, it may cause another security risk. There is. Therefore, an airbag device that can be easily disposed of or a method of discarding an attached airbag device is desired.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an air bag device which facilitates disposal, and an easy air bag device. It is to provide a disposal method.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an airbag device of the present invention comprises a power source for accumulating electricity supplied from an on-vehicle battery and a single or series device which detects a vehicle collision and conducts electricity. In an airbag device comprising a plurality of collision sensor means provided in the vehicle, and a starting means that is connected to the power source through the collision sensor means and that activates the airbag when energized, an electric power is supplied to the power source from outside. and the external power supply terminal for supplying a short-circuit means for conducting is allowed or shorting the collision sensor means when there is an external power supply from the external power supply terminal, is provided with the external power supply terminal
Is a power supply that supplies electricity from the on-vehicle battery to the power source.
Provided line, said short-circuiting means, when connected to a wiring
In both cases, the voltage of the wiring is supplied from the in-vehicle battery.
If there is a higher voltage than the
It is equipped with a determination means that determines when the high voltage is detected.
The collision sensor means is made conductive or short-circuited.
It is a thing .

[0007]

In the air bag device of the present invention, when electricity is externally supplied to the power source through the external power supply terminal, the short circuit means conducts or short-circuits the collision sensor means by the external power supply, and the starter means is energized so that the air bag is opened. Is activated.

Further, in the airbag device in which the auxiliary collision sensor means for detecting and conducting a specific type of collision is provided in parallel with the main collision sensor means, an on-vehicle battery can be used and a power source (capacitor) is charged. If both ends of the auxiliary collision sensor means are short-circuited, the starting means is energized and the airbag is started. When the on-vehicle battery is unusable and the capacitor has been discharged, when a predetermined voltage is applied to both ends of the auxiliary collision sensor means, a charging current flows through the capacitor and the starting means is energized to start the airbag. .

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the eva bag device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the short-circuiting means, FIG. 3 is a detailed view showing another embodiment of the short-circuiting means, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of an airbag device having an auxiliary collision sensor means.

First, the overall structure will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 1, a main circuit of the airbag device 1 is configured by connecting a safing sensor SS, a semiconductor switch S1, and a squib 7 to a power source 3 in series.

The power supply 3 is composed of a booster circuit 10, a backup capacitor C, etc. The booster circuit 10 is connected to the on-vehicle battery 2 by a wiring 24 via the ignition switch 8 and the connector 9. Then, the voltage (electricity) supplied from the vehicle-mounted battery 2 is boosted by the booster circuit 10 and stored in the backup capacitor C to supply ignition (starting) energy to the main circuit.

A transistor or the like is used for the semiconductor switch S1, the gate of which is connected to the collision determination circuit 12, and the collision determination circuit 12 is further connected to the acceleration sensor 11. Then, when the collision determination circuit 12 determines the collision of the vehicle based on the input from the acceleration sensor 11, it outputs a trigger signal to the semiconductor switch S1 to make it conductive. The semiconductor switch S1, the collision determination circuit 12, and the acceleration sensor 11 constitute the first collision sensor means 4.

The safing sensor SS is provided with a squib 7 when the semiconductor switch S1 or the collision determination circuit 12 fails.
It is a collision sensor having a normally-open contact provided to prevent accidental explosion due to being energized. Then, the contact is closed at a predetermined acceleration smaller than the collision judgment circuit 12 judges the collision so as not to interfere with the operation of the semiconductor switch S1, and the contact is opened when the squib 7 does not reach the ignition and the acceleration is below the predetermined acceleration. It is supposed to return to. And this safing sensor SS comprises a 2nd collision sensor means.

The squib 7 is built in a gas generator (not shown), and this gas generator is connected to the airbag 5. Then, when the squib 7 is energized, the built-in ignition powder is ignited, the gas generator is activated, and the airbag 5 is deployed.

An external power supply terminal 20 is connected to the input side of the connector 9 of the wiring 24 connecting the vehicle-mounted battery 2 and the booster circuit 10. The external power supply terminal 20 has a rectifying means 17 composed of a diode 18 and a resistor 19. They are provided in series. Therefore, either DC voltage or AC voltage can be applied to the external power supply terminal 20. This is to make it possible to use an easily available AC100V power supply.

Further, a short-circuit means 13 is provided between the output side of the connector 9 of the wiring 24 and the first collision sensor means 4 and the safing sensor SS. That is, the short-circuit means 13 includes a discrimination circuit (discrimination means) 14, a trigger circuit 15,
It is composed of a switch circuit 16, the input side of the discrimination circuit 14 is connected to the wiring 24, and a trigger circuit 15 is connected to the discrimination circuit 14. The output side of the trigger circuit 15 is the input side of the switch circuit 16 and the semiconductor switch S1.
, And the output side of the switch circuit 16 is connected to both ends of the safing sensor SS. And
When there is external power supply, the discrimination circuit 14 discriminates this and outputs a voltage to the trigger circuit 15, and the trigger circuit 15 outputs a trigger signal to electrically connect the switch circuit 16 and the semiconductor switch S1. And the switch circuit 1
Due to the conduction of 6, the safing sensor SS is short-circuited.

Next, a concrete configuration example of the short-circuit means 13 will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 2, the discriminating circuit 14 includes a resistor R1 and a Zener diode Z1 having a Zener voltage of 65V connected in series, and an input voltage of 65V.
When the voltage exceeds V, the Zener diode Z1 is turned on and the voltage is output. The trigger circuit 15 is a transistor TR
1, a resistor R2, and a Zener diode Z2. When the discriminator circuit 14 receives an input, the transistor TR1 conducts and the output side is grounded. The semiconductor switch S1 is composed of a pnp transistor, and a ground current causes a gate current to flow between the emitter and the base so as to be conductive. Also, the switch circuit 1
Reference numeral 6 is composed of a pnp transistor TR2 and resistors R3 and R4, and conducts similarly to the semiconductor switch S1 due to the grounding, thereby short-circuiting both ends of the safing sensor SS.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the short-circuit means 13 when the semiconductor switch and the safing sensor are arranged on the downstream side of the squib. 3 is different from FIG. 2 in that the semiconductor switch S1 ′ is provided on the downstream side of the squib 7.
And a safing sensor SS are arranged, and accordingly, npn type transistors are used for the semiconductor switch S1 'and the transistor TR2' of the switch circuit 16 '.
Therefore, the trigger circuit 15 'is configured only by the Zener diode Z2 so that the positive gate voltage is input to the base. As a result, the same effect as that of the configuration of FIG. 2 is achieved.

The external power supply terminal 20 is, as shown in FIG.
The resistor 19 and the diode 18 of the rectifying means 17 are connected in series to the tip of the lead wire 22 on the side connected to the wiring 24,
This is formed together with the lead wire 23 on the ground side by molding (21) the tip portions of both lead wires 22 and 23 including the resistor 19 and the diode 18 with resin. Then, at the time of use, the front end portion (shown by a chain double-dashed line) of the mold 21 is cut as shown by an arrow A to expose both lead wires 22 and 23, and a voltage is applied thereto. Although the external power supply terminal 20 is used only at the time of disposal processing, by doing so, the external power supply terminal 20 can be safely and reliably insulated, and the use at the time of disposal processing is easy. Also, there is evidence that the tip was cut off even if a voltage was applied here by mischief.

Next, the operation of the above airbag device will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, when the vehicle collides during normal use, the collision determination circuit 12 detects the collision based on the input from the acceleration sensor 11 and triggers the semiconductor switch S1 to make it conductive, and the safing sensor SS also causes the collision. Detects and closes the contact. As a result, the electricity accumulated from the backup capacitor C is supplied to the squib 7, the squib 7 is electrically heated and ignited, the gas generator is activated, and the airbag 5 is deployed. At this time, since the voltage of the wiring 24 is a normal voltage supplied from the vehicle-mounted battery 2, the short-circuit means 13 does not operate.

When the airbag apparatus 1 is disposed of, for example, AC1 is applied to the external power supply terminal 20 as an external voltage.
When 00V is applied, it is rectified by the rectifying means 17 and applied to the wiring 24 as a DC voltage. This external voltage is
It is directly applied to the main circuit through the booster circuit 10. On the other hand, since the voltage of the wiring 24 becomes 65 V or more, the determination circuit 14 outputs a voltage to the trigger circuit 15, the trigger circuit 15 outputs a trigger signal, and the semiconductor switch S1.
Is conducted, and the switch circuit 16 is conducted so that the safing sensor SS is short-circuited. As a result, the squib 7 is energized by the above-mentioned external voltage and the airbag is deployed. Therefore, it is possible to easily and safely dispose of the airbag with the AC power supply that is normally used. The external voltage may be a DC voltage of 65V or higher. Further, there is a possibility that the booster circuit 10 and the back-up capacitor C will be destroyed by the application of such a high voltage, but since it occurs after the above-mentioned operation, it has an influence on the effect of the present invention. Never give.

In this way, the operating voltage of the short-circuit means 13 is significantly different from 65 V, which is approximately 12 V which is the voltage of the on-vehicle battery 2, so that it can be clearly distinguished from the external voltage at the time of discarding and prevents malfunction during normal use. To be done.

Further, in the present embodiment, the external power supply terminal 20 is provided on the wiring 24 from the vehicle-mounted battery 2 so as to be shared, and for this reason, the determination circuit 14 is provided for determining that the short-circuit means 13 is supplied with external power. However, by adopting such a configuration, it is not necessary to increase the number of terminals of the connector 9, so that it is possible to share the parts with the conventional airbag device and prevent an increase in cost. Of course, the short-circuit means 13 is separately provided from the external power supply terminal 20 by a branch circuit.
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the discrimination circuit 14 is omitted by connecting to.

Next, an embodiment in the case of an airbag device having an auxiliary collision sensor means will be described with reference to FIG. 5 is different from FIG. 1 in that the main circuit of the airbag device 31 includes a first and second collision sensor means 4 and SS.
The crash zone sensor S2, which is an auxiliary crash sensor means, is provided in parallel with the main crash sensor means 34, and the main crash sensor means 34 and the crash zone are replaced with the short-circuit means 13 and the external power supply terminal 20 as the discarding means. The external connection terminals a and b are provided at both ends of the sensor S2. The crash zone sensor S2 is attached to, for example, the front center portion of the vehicle, and is used to detect a specific type of collision such as a pole collision that cannot be detected by the main collision sensor means 34 to activate the airbag. Therefore, it is provided in parallel with the main collision sensor means 34. The crash zone sensor S2 may detect a collision other than a pole collision.

When the on-vehicle battery 2 is usable and the backup capacitor C is charged, when the external connection terminals a and b are short-circuited, the squib 7 is energized and the airbag is activated. When the on-vehicle battery 2 is unusable and the backup capacitor C has been discharged, a charging current flows through the backup capacitor C when a voltage for normal use, for example, 12 V DC is applied between the external connection terminals a and b. The squib 7 is energized via the ground and the airbag is activated. Therefore, this type of airbag device 31 can be disposed of safely and easily.

If the airbag device is an existing one installed in a vehicle and the above-mentioned external connection terminals a and b are not provided in advance, the portion is pulled out and the above-mentioned operation is carried out. It is possible to dispose of it.

[0027]

As described above, the airbag device of the present invention includes the external power supply terminal for supplying electricity to the power source from the outside, and the short-circuit means for conducting or short-circuiting the collision sensor means when the external power is supplied. Since the air bag is provided, the airbag can be deployed by supplying electricity from the outside through the external power supply terminal, so that the disposal process can be performed easily and safely.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of an eva bag device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a short-circuit means.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view showing another embodiment of the short-circuit means.

FIG. 4 is an external view of an external power supply terminal.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of an airbag device having an auxiliary collision sensor means.

[Explanation of symbols]

a external connection terminal (both ends of the auxiliary collision sensor means) b external connection terminal (both ends of the auxiliary collision sensor means) C condenser SS safing sensor (second collision sensor means) S2 crash zone sensor (auxiliary collision sensor means) 1 airbag Device 2 Vehicle-mounted battery 3 Power supply 4 First collision sensor means 5 Airbag 7 Squib (starting means) 13 Short-circuit means 14 Discrimination circuit (discrimination means) 17 Rectification means 20 External power supply terminal 24 Wiring 31 Airbag device 34 Main collision sensor means

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A power source (3) for accumulating electricity supplied from an on-vehicle battery (2) , and a plurality of collision sensor means (4, SS) provided in series for detecting a vehicle collision and conducting. ) And the power source (3) through the collision sensor means (4, SS )
An air bag device comprising a starting means (7) for starting an air bag (5) which is connected to a power source and is energized, the external power supply terminal for supplying electricity to the power source (3) from the outside.
And (20), and the external power supply terminal (20) the collision sensor means when there is an external power supply from the (4, SS) to conduct or short-circuited to the short circuit means (13), is provided with the external power supply The terminal (20) is the on-vehicle battery (2).
From the wiring (24) that supplies electricity to the power source (3) from the
And the short-circuit means (13) is connected to the wiring (24).
At the same time, the voltage of the wiring (24) is the on-vehicle battery.
When the voltage is higher than the voltage supplied from (2), the external power supply
It is equipped with a discrimination means (14) for discriminating
When the high voltage is determined, the collision sensor means (4, S
An air bag device characterized in that S) is made conductive or short-circuited. Wherein said external power supply terminal (20) an air bag apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that a rectifying means in series (17) to