JP6787766B2 - Vehicle rollover detection device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle rollover detection device that detects a vehicle rollover.

Conventionally, there is known an occupant protection device that predicts a vehicle rollover and activates a safety device such as an airbag at an early stage. In this type of occupant protection device, an angular velocity sensor provided in the vehicle is used to determine whether or not the vehicle rolls over, and the safety device is controlled.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle occupant protection device including a roll angular velocity sensor that detects a rotational angular velocity acting around a vehicle's front-rear axis as a roll angular velocity. The vehicle occupant protection device disclosed in the same document detects the roll angular velocity by the roll angular velocity sensor, and obtains the roll angle of the vehicle by the roll angular velocity. Then, the occupant protection device of the vehicle determines the operation / non-operation of the protection device based on the roll angular velocity and the roll angle. Further, Patent Document 2 also discloses a similar technique using a roll angular velocity sensor.

JP-A-2007-168598 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-100133

However, in the method of determining the rollover of the vehicle using the roll angular velocity sensor as in the above-mentioned conventional technique, when the rotation speed of the rolling vehicle is slow, there is a possibility that the rollover of the vehicle cannot be detected.

More specifically, prior art roll angular velocity sensors used to detect vehicle rollovers are intended for events that rotate at relatively high speeds. Specifically, the resolution of the roll angular velocity sensor of the prior art was, for example, about 10 to 20 deg / s. Therefore, the conventional roll angular velocity sensor cannot detect a rotation lower than the resolution of the roll angular velocity sensor, for example, about 1 to 3 deg / s. In other words, conventionally, there has been no high-sensitivity roll angular velocity sensor capable of detecting low-speed rotation.

Therefore, in the conventional method of determining the roll of the vehicle using the roll angular velocity sensor, when the vehicle rolls slowly at a rotation speed slower than the rotation speed that can be detected by the roll angular velocity sensor, the roll of the vehicle can be detected. could not. If the rollover of the vehicle cannot be detected properly, there is a problem that an emergency call for notifying the rollover cannot be made and a safety device such as an airbag cannot be activated at an early stage.

Further, for example, acceleration sensors capable of detecting acceleration of about 1 G or less with high accuracy are provided at a plurality of locations of the vehicle, and the acceleration in the width direction and height direction of the vehicle is measured with high accuracy to rotate the vehicle. A method of detecting is also conceivable. However, in order to realize such a detection method, it is necessary to mount a plurality of specially designed high-precision acceleration sensors and control devices on the vehicle, which increases the number of parts and the production cost of the vehicle. There is a problem that it will be done.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is a vehicle rollover detection capable of detecting a vehicle rollover that rotates slowly to an extent that cannot be detected by a conventional roll angular velocity sensor. To provide the device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle rollover detection device capable of determining a vehicle rollover while suppressing an increase in the number of parts by using a system for detecting a side collision of a vehicle. ..

The vehicle rollover detection device of the present invention is a detection means provided in the vehicle to detect a body to be detected existing on the side of the vehicle, and a control means for determining the rollover of the vehicle based on the detection result of the detection means. The control means calculates the degree of proximity of the detected body based on the change in the area ratio of the range in which the presence of the detected body is detected with respect to the entire range of the detection area of the detecting means. , The vehicle is characterized in that the rollover is determined based on the degree of approach.

Further, in the vehicle rollover detection device of the present invention, the control means calculates the rate of increase of the approach degree per hour, and determines the rollover of the vehicle based on the change of the approach degree and the increase rate. It is characterized by.

Further, in the vehicle rollover detection device of the present invention, the control means has a time from the first threshold value to a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value, and the first threshold value. The vehicle is characterized in that it is determined that the vehicle rolls over when the time required to reach the third threshold value, which is larger than the second threshold value, is compared with the time required for the amount of increase in the degree of approach. To do.

Further, in the vehicle rollover detection device of the present invention, the detection means can divide the detection region into at least two regions vertically and can detect the presence of the detected body in each of the regions. The control means is characterized in that when the detected body is detected only in the lower region, it is determined that the vehicle rolls over.

Further, in the vehicle rollover detection device of the present invention, the detection means can divide the detection region into at least two regions vertically and can detect the presence of the detected body in each of the regions. The control means calculates the approach degree for each of the divided regions, and when the approach degree of the lower region increases before the approach degree of the upper region, the vehicle rolls over. Then, it is characterized in that it is determined.

According to the vehicle rollover detection device of the present invention, the vehicle rollover is determined based on the detection means provided in the vehicle and detecting the object to be detected existing on the side of the vehicle and the detection result of the detection means. The control means includes a control means, and the control means calculates the approach degree of the detected object based on the change in the detection result of the detected object with respect to the detection area of the detection means, and the control means calculates the approach degree of the detected object based on the approach degree. Determine the rollover of the vehicle. As a result, even when the vehicle rolls over at a low speed of about 1 to 3 deg / s, which could not be detected by the conventional roll angular velocity sensor, the behavior of the vehicle can be accurately captured and the vehicle Rollover can be detected.

Further, the vehicle rollover detection device of the present invention determines the vehicle rollover by the detection means for detecting the object to be detected existing on the side of the vehicle. Therefore, if the vehicle is equipped with a device that deploys an airbag or the like to detect an object to be detected approaching from the side of the vehicle and protect the occupants, the vehicle does not need to add a new sensor or the like. The rollover of the vehicle can be determined by using the system that detects the side collision of the vehicle.

Further, according to the vehicle rollover detection device of the present invention, the control means calculates the approach degree based on the area ratio of the range in which the presence of the detected object is detected with respect to the entire range of the detection region. Is also good. By calculating the approach degree based on the area ratio, the behavior of the vehicle that rotates and gradually approaches the ground when rolling over can be appropriately grasped as a change in the approach degree. Specifically, when the vehicle rolls over, the range in which the ground is detected gradually expands with respect to the detection area of the detection means, and the degree of approach gradually increases. As a result, even when the vehicle rolls over at a low speed, the rollover of the vehicle can be detected.

Further, according to the vehicle rollover detection device of the present invention, the detection means can measure the distance between the vehicle and the detected object, and the control means has the area ratio and the detection means. The degree of approach may be calculated based on the distance detected in. As a result, the control means can determine the rollover of the vehicle with high accuracy.

Further, according to the vehicle rollover detection device of the present invention, the control means calculates the rate of increase of the approach degree per hour, and determines the rollover of the vehicle based on the change of the approach degree and the increase rate. You may. As a result, the accuracy of the rollover determination can be improved.

Further, according to the vehicle rollover detection device of the present invention, the control means may determine that the vehicle rolls over when the rate of increase increases. As a result, it is possible to accurately determine that the ground gradually approaches the rolling vehicle from the side, and it is possible to detect the rollover of the vehicle even when the vehicle rolls slowly.

In addition, the control means has a time from the first threshold value to a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value, and a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value and the second threshold value. It may be determined that the vehicle rolls over when the time required to reach the threshold value of 3 is compared with the time required for the amount of increase in the degree of approach. Even by such a method, the rollover of the vehicle can be accurately determined.

Further, according to the vehicle rollover detection device of the present invention, the detection means can divide the detection region into at least two regions vertically and can detect the presence of the detected body in each of the regions. Yes, the control means may determine that the vehicle rolls over when the detected body is detected only in the lower region. As a result, the rollover of the vehicle can be accurately determined.

Further, according to the vehicle rollover detection device of the present invention, the detection means can divide the detection region into at least two regions vertically and can detect the presence of the object to be detected in each region. The control means calculates the approach degree for each of the divided regions, and when the approach degree of the lower region increases before the approach degree of the upper region, the vehicle May be determined to roll over. As a result, the rollover of the vehicle can be accurately determined.

It is a front view of the vehicle provided with the vehicle rollover detection device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of the rollover detection device for a vehicle which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the vehicle which shows (A) the tilted state, (B) the further tilted state of the vehicle provided with the vehicle rollover detection device according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a graph which shows the example of the change of the approach degree when the vehicle which includes the vehicle rollover detection device which concerns on embodiment of this invention rolls over. It is a front view of the vehicle which shows the case where the detected object approaches from the side of the vehicle provided with the vehicle rollover detection device which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and is a graph which shows the example of the change of the approach degree. ..

Hereinafter, the vehicle rollover detection device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a vehicle 1 including a vehicle rollover detection device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle rollover detection device 10 is a device provided in the vehicle 1 and determines the rollover of the vehicle 1 by detecting the approach of the ground G to be detected.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of the vehicle rollover detection device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle rollover detection device 10 includes a detection means 11 that detects an object to be detected existing around the vehicle 1, more specifically, a side surface, and a control means that controls the vehicle rollover detection device 10. 20 and.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the detection means 11 is, for example, a radar, sonar, or the like, and is provided on the left and right side surfaces of the vehicle 1. The detection means 11 can detect an object to be detected existing on the side of the vehicle 1 by transmitting radio waves or the like from the side surface of the vehicle 1 to the outside.

Although it is said that radar, sonar, or the like is used as the detection means 11, the detection means 11 is not limited to this, and may be, for example, an imaging device such as a camera. Specifically, for example, the presence of the detected object, the distance from the detected object, and the like may be determined by photographing the surroundings of the vehicle 1 with a stereo camera or the like and analyzing the photographed image. ..

The detection means 11 includes a transmission unit 12 that transmits a transmission wave such as a radio wave, and a reception unit 13 that receives a reflected wave such as a radio wave. When the detection means 11 receives the signal for transmitting the transmission wave from the control means 20, the detection means 11 transmits the transmission wave from the transmission unit 12 toward the outside of the vehicle 1. Then, the transmitted wave is reflected by the detected object, and the reflected reflected wave is received by the receiving unit 13. When the receiving unit 13 receives the reflected wave, the detecting means 11 transmits the reception result of receiving the reflected wave to the control means 20.

The control means 20 is, for example, an electronic control unit (ECU) or the like including an arithmetic unit or the like, and is a device that performs various calculations for determining the rollover of the vehicle 1 and controls the occupant protection device 30 or the like of the vehicle 1. ..

The control means 20 calculates the degree of proximity of the detected body based on the area ratio of the range in which the presence of the detected body is detected with respect to the entire range of the detection area of the detecting means 11. Then, the control means 20 determines whether or not the vehicle 1 rolls over based on the calculated approach degree.

That is, the approach degree is a value calculated by the control means 20 as an index for determining whether or not the vehicle 1 rolls over. In the calculation of the degree of approach, information regarding the distance between the vehicle 1 and the object to be detected detected by the detection means 11 may be used. The method of calculating the degree of approach and the determination of rollover will be described in detail later.

When the control means 20 determines that the vehicle 1 rolls over, it transmits a signal to the airbag device 31, the reporting device 32, the seatbelt device 33, etc., which are the occupant protection devices 30. The airbag device 31 deploys an airbag (not shown) provided in the vehicle 1 based on a signal transmitted from the control means 20.

Further, the reporting device 32 performs emergency communication or the like for notifying that the vehicle 1 has fallen under preset conditions based on the signal transmitted from the control means 20. Further, the seatbelt device 33 adjusts the tension of the seatbelt (not shown) so that the occupant is not injured by, for example, an impact at the time of rolling over.

In this way, by detecting the rollover by the vehicle rollover detection device 10 and operating the occupant protection device 30, the safety of the vehicle 1 for the occupants is enhanced. The information regarding the rollover of the vehicle 1 determined by the vehicle rollover detection device 10 may be used for controlling a device related to the running and safety of the vehicle 1 in addition to the above-mentioned occupant protection device 30.

The vehicle rollover detection device 10 will be described in detail later, but it is not only the determination of the vehicle rollover, but also whether or not the detected object approaching from the side of the vehicle 1 collides with the vehicle 1. Can be determined.

In other words, the vehicle rollover detection device 10 may also have a function as a safety device against a side collision. That is, when the control means 20 determines that an object to be detected, such as another vehicle, collides with the vehicle 1, it transmits a signal to the airbag device 31, the notification device 32, and the seatbelt device 33, and the respective devices 31. , 32, 33 may be operated.

As shown in FIG. 1, the detection region in which the detection means 11 can detect the presence of the object to be detected extends from the detection means 11 toward the lateral outside of the vehicle 1 at a predetermined angle in the vertical direction and is predetermined. It is set in the range up to the distance L1. When the detected body approaches the vehicle 1 until the distance between the detected body and the detecting means 11 becomes smaller than the predetermined distance L1, the detected body is detected by the detecting means 11. The distance L1 at which the detected object can be detected is appropriately set depending on the size of the vehicle 1 and the position where the detection means 11 is provided.

Here, it is desirable that the detection area is at least a predetermined range extending in the vertical direction. That is, the detection region may be a region having a predetermined width in the front-rear direction and the vertical direction of the vehicle 1, or may be a substantially linear detection range having a predetermined spread only in the vertical direction. As a result, when the vehicle 1 rolls over, the ground G to be detected can be suitably detected, and the rollover of the vehicle 1 can be accurately determined.

Further, the detection area is divided into two or more areas in the vertical direction, for example, an upper area 15 and a lower area 16, so that the detected body can be detected in each of the areas 15 and 16. It may be configured.

By dividing the detection area in the vertical direction in this way, it is possible to detect whether the object to be detected exists in the upper part or the lower part of the detection area. As a result, the control means 20 can accurately determine the rollover of the vehicle 1 by grasping that the object to be detected is approaching from below.

The division of the detection area may be realized by providing a plurality of detection means 11. That is, the detection means 11 provided on one side surface of the vehicle 1 is not limited to one, and a plurality of detection means 11 may be provided. For example, two detecting means 11 may be arranged on one side surface of the vehicle 1, one detecting means 11 may detect the upper region 15, and the other detecting means may detect the lower region 16. As a result, the same effect can be obtained with a simpler sensor.

Further, the detection area may be divided into a plurality of areas by arithmetically processing the information detected by the single detection means 11 by the control means 20.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the determination of the rollover of the vehicle rollover detection device 10 will be described in detail.

FIG. 3 (A) is a front view showing a state in which the vehicle 1 is tilted, and FIG. 3 (B) is a front view showing a state in which the vehicle 1 is further tilted than the state of FIG. 3 (A). FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the time when the vehicle 1 falls and the approach degree of the ground G. Note that FIGS. 3A and 3B show a case where the vehicle 1 rolls over to the driver's seat side, but when the vehicle 1 rolls over to the opposite side, that is, to the passenger seat side, the rollover is determined by the same control. Can be done.

As described above, the vehicle rollover detection device 10 determines the degree of approach of the ground G to be detected based on the information detected by the detection means 11, and determines whether or not the vehicle 1 rolls over. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, when the vehicle 1 rolls over, the vehicle 1 tilts and the detection means 11 and the ground G approach each other. As a result, the vehicle rollover detection device 10 can detect that the ground G is approaching from the side of the vehicle 1 by the detecting means 11, and can determine that the vehicle 1 rolls over.

First, as shown in FIG. 3A, when the vehicle 1 is tilted, the detecting means 11 can detect the ground G in the lower region 16. At this time, the detecting means 11 does not detect the ground G in the upper region 15. The range in which the presence of the ground G is detected is narrow, and the ground G is detected only in a region where the distance from the detecting means 11 to the ground G is closer than the detectable predetermined distance L1 in the lower part of the region 16.

As shown in FIG. 3 (B), when the vehicle 1 is further tilted from the state shown in FIG. 3 (A), the range in which the presence of the ground G in the region 16 is detected is widened. Specifically, in FIG. 3B, the area of the range where the ground G is detected is substantially the entire area 16, and is larger than the area of the range where the ground G is detected in the state shown in FIG. 3A. Is also big. That is, when the vehicle 1 rolls over, the area ratio of the range in which the presence of the ground G is detected to the detection area increases with time.

Therefore, the control means 20 (see FIG. 2) calculates the degree of approach based on the area ratio of the range in which the presence of the detected object is detected with respect to the entire range of the detection area of the detection means 11, and based on the area ratio. The rollover of the vehicle 1 can be determined from the calculated approach degree.

Specifically, when the vehicle 1 rolls over as described above, the area ratio increases with time, so the approach degree calculated based on the area ratio also gradually increases as shown in FIG. .. Therefore, when the degree of approach gradually increases and exceeds a predetermined threshold value, it can be determined that the vehicle 1 rolls over or rolls over. As a result, even when the vehicle 1 slowly rotates and rolls over, the rollover of the vehicle 1 can be detected.

In this way, the control means 20 determines the rollover of the vehicle 1 based on the detection result of the detection means 11, and determines the rollover of the vehicle 1 without using an angular velocity sensor or the like that detects the rotation speed of the vehicle 1. be able to. That is, the control means 20 can detect the rollover of the vehicle 1 regardless of the rotation speed of the vehicle 1.

More specifically with reference to FIG. 4, when the vehicle 1 rolls over, the approach degree of the ground G gradually increases with time. In addition, the rate of increase in the degree of approach of the ground G increases with time. Specifically, the amount of increase in the degree of approach from time T1 to time T2, that is, the difference between the degree of approach D2 and the degree of approach D1, is the amount of increase in the degree of approach from time T2 to time T3 having the same time length. That is, it is less than the difference between the approach degree D3 and the approach degree D2. In other words, when the vehicle 1 rolls over, the degree of approach increases with time, and the rate of increase, which is the slope of the degree of approach, also increases with time, and the graph showing the time change of the degree of approach becomes a substantially quadratic curve. Become.

Therefore, the control means 20 (see FIG. 2) can calculate the rate of increase of the approach degree per hour and determine the rollover of the vehicle 1 based on the change of the degree of approach and the rate of increase. As a result, the control means 20 can detect that the ground G is approaching from the side of the vehicle 1, and can accurately determine the rollover of the vehicle 1. Therefore, the occupant protection device 30 and the like can be operated at an appropriate timing.

Further, the control means 20 can also determine the rollover of the vehicle 1 based on the change in the required time with respect to the amount of increase in the degree of approach. Specifically, the control means 20 changes the approach degree from the first threshold value to the second threshold value from the time required for the approach degree to reach the second threshold value larger than the first threshold value from the first threshold value. Calculate the time required for the amount of increase in approach when ascending. Further, when the approach degree increases from the first threshold value to the third threshold value, the control means 20 takes time from the time required for the approach degree to reach the third threshold value larger than the second threshold value from the first threshold value. Calculate the time required for the amount of increase in the degree of approach of. Then, the time required for the amount of increase in the degree of approach from the first threshold value to the third threshold value is larger than the time required for the amount of increase in the degree of approach from the first threshold value to the second threshold value. When is shortened, the control means 20 may determine that the vehicle 1 rolls over. Even by such a method, the rollover of the vehicle 1 can be accurately determined.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, when the vehicle 1 is tilted, the detecting means 11 approaches the ground G. For example, the detection means 11 is closer to the ground G in the state shown in FIG. 3B than in the state shown in FIG. 3A. That is, when the vehicle 1 rolls over, the distance between the detecting means 11 and the ground G becomes shorter with time.

Regarding the distance between the detecting means 11 and the ground G at the time of rollover, more specifically, as shown in FIG. 3B, the ground G detected on the vehicle 1 side (right side of the paper) of the area 16 is the vehicle of the area 16. It is closer to the detection means 11 than the ground G detected on the opposite side (left side of the paper) away from 1. In other words, the ground G detected in the lower part of the area 16 is closer to the detecting means 11 than the ground G detected in the upper part of the area 16.

As described above, when the vehicle 1 rolls over, the distance between the detection means 11 and the ground G is different between the upper portion of the region 16 and the lower portion of the region 16 in the region 16. Therefore, it can be used for determining the rollover of the vehicle 1 by detecting the difference in the distance from the detected body in the area 16.

Specifically, when the detection means 11 capable of measuring the distance to the object to be detected by the time difference between the transmission of the transmitted wave and the reception of the reflected wave, such as a radar or sonar, is provided, the detection means 11 The distance information to the object to be detected measured by the control means 20 (see FIG. 2) can be used to calculate the degree of approach.

That is, the control means 20 calculates the approach degree based on the area ratio of the range in which the object to be detected is detected and the distance detected by the detection means 11, and the rollover of the vehicle 1 is based on the calculated approach degree. Can be determined.

Specifically, the degree of proximity may be calculated as a value obtained by dividing the area ratio of the range in which the detected object is detected by the distance from the detecting means 11 to the detected object. In this case, the degree of approach increases as the range in which the object to be detected is detected becomes wider, and increases as the distance between the detection means 11 and the object to be detected becomes closer. That is, the degree of approach is a value that increases as the object to be detected approaches the detection means 11.

By calculating the approach degree based on the distance to the object to be detected detected by the detection means 11 in this way, the change in the approach degree at the time of rollover becomes clearer, and the control means 20 rolls over the vehicle 1. Can be determined with high accuracy.

Further, when the vehicle 1 falls, the ground G is detected in the area 16 due to the tilt of the vehicle 1, and the ground G is not detected in the area 15. Therefore, when the presence of the detected body is not detected in the area 15 and the presence of the detected body is detected only in the area 16, it can be determined that the vehicle 1 rolls over. As a result, for example, when the detected body approaches from the side of the vehicle 1 and the detected body is detected in both the area 15 and the area 16, it is possible to prevent the vehicle 1 from being erroneously determined to roll over. be able to.

Further, as already described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, when the vehicle 1 rolls over, the detecting means 11 first detects the ground G in the area 16, and the range in which the detected object is detected with the passage of time is It widens to the area 15 side. Therefore, the control means 20 calculates the approach degree for each of the divided areas 15 and 16, and determines that the vehicle 1 rolls over when the approach degree of the area 16 increases before the approach degree of the area 15. You may.

By using the information of the detection area divided in the vertical direction in this way, the control means 20 can more accurately grasp how the object to be detected is approaching from the side of the vehicle 1. it can. Therefore, the control means 20 can determine whether or not the approaching object to be detected is the ground G, and can accurately determine the rollover of the vehicle 1.

The graph shown in FIG. 4 shows a case where the ground G is substantially flat. For example, when unevenness or the like is formed on the ground G, the change in the degree of approach is different. Therefore, the conditions for determining the threshold value and the like are set in advance in consideration of the variation in the calculated approach degree, and it is determined that the vehicle 1 rolls over when the calculated approach degree and the increase rate of the approach degree are within a predetermined range. You may.

FIG. 5 (A) is a front view of vehicle 1 showing a case where another vehicle W approaches from the side of vehicle 1, and FIG. 5 (B) shows a case where another vehicle W approaches from the side of vehicle 1. It is a graph which shows an example of the change of the approach degree when colliding with a vehicle 1.

As shown in FIG. 5A, when another vehicle W approaches as a body to be detected from the side of the vehicle 1, the other vehicle W has both the upper region 15 and the lower region 16. Is detected in. Specifically, when another vehicle W approaches, the vehicle W is first detected in the substantially center of the vertical direction, which is the region farthest from the vehicle 1 in the detection area, and then instantaneously as the vehicle W approaches. In addition, the vehicle W will be detected in substantially the entire region 15 and 16.

As shown in FIG. 5B, when another vehicle W collides with the vehicle 1 from the side, the approach degree of the vehicle W rapidly increases in a short time. That is, the graph showing the time change of the approach degree of the vehicle W rises sharply in a substantially straight line and becomes the value in the collision state which is the maximum value.

In this way, when another vehicle W collides from the side of the vehicle 1, the degree of approach increases sharply, and the rate of increase in the degree of approach per hour is larger than that in the case where the vehicle 1 falls. Also, it is almost constant. As a result, the control means 20 can determine that the vehicle W collides from the approach degree and the rate of increase in the approach degree.

As described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the case where the vehicle 1 rolls over and the case where another vehicle W collides from the side of the vehicle 1 as described with reference to FIG. 5 The detection result of the object to be detected by the detection means 11 is different.

Specifically, when the vehicle 1 rolls over, the ground G is first detected only in the lower region 16, but when another vehicle W collides, the vehicle W is detected in both the regions 15 and 16 immediately after the start of detection. Is detected. Therefore, as described above, by dividing the detection region into the upper region 15 and the lower region 16 in the vertical direction, the vehicle rollover detection device 10 can roll over the vehicle 1 and the vehicle W from the side. It is possible to distinguish between approaching and approaching.

Further, when the vehicle 1 rolls over, first, the ground G is detected from below the region 16, and the range in which the ground G is detected gradually expands upward. On the other hand, when another vehicle W collides from the side, the vehicle W is detected in substantially the entire region 15 and 16 at short time intervals. Therefore, by determining the range in which the object to be detected is detected in the areas 15 and 16, it is possible to discriminate between the rollover of the vehicle 1 and the lateral approach of the other vehicle W.

Further, as described above, the rate of increase in the degree of approach differs between the case where the vehicle 1 rolls over and the case where another vehicle W approaches from the side. Therefore, the control means 20 can discriminate between the rollover of the vehicle 1 and the side collision of the other vehicle W by calculating the rate of increase in the degree of approach of the object to be detected.

As described above, the vehicle rollover detection device 10 has a function of determining the rollover of the vehicle 1 and the approach of another vehicle W from the side. Therefore, in order to detect a lateral collision of the vehicle W. There is no need to separately provide another detection device or the like. In other words, it is equipped with a device that detects the vehicle W approaching from the side of the vehicle 1 to protect the occupants, a device that detects the detected object on the side of the vehicle 1 and controls the vehicle 1. In the case of the vehicle 1, the rollover of the vehicle 1 can be detected by using the common detection means 11 without adding a new device for detecting the side object to be detected.

In the present embodiment, an example in which the detection area is divided into upper and lower parts has been described, but the number of divisions of the detection area is not limited to this. For example, the detection area may be divided into more areas in the vertical direction. As a result, the control means 20 can grasp the rotational behavior of the vehicle 1 in more detail.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example of determining the rollover of the vehicle 1 and the lateral approach of the other vehicle W with the range from the detection means 11 to the predetermined distance L1 as the detection region is shown. The range of the area is not limited to this. For example, the rollover may be determined from the detection means 11 in the detection region at a distance L1, and the lateral approach of another vehicle W may be determined at a distance longer than the distance L1.

That is, the determination of the rollover of the vehicle 1 and the determination of the approach of the other vehicle W may be performed with reference to the detection areas in different ranges. As a result, it is possible to more appropriately determine the rollover of the vehicle 1 and the approach of the vehicle W.

Further, when determining the rollover of the vehicle 1, the detection result by the detection means 11 on the opposite side of the direction in which the vehicle 1 falls may be used. Specifically, when determining the rollover of the vehicle 1, the detection means 11 on either the left or right side surface side detects the object to be detected, and the detection means 11 on the other side surface side on the opposite side detects the object to be detected. If the body is not detected, it may be determined to be a rollover.

That is, when the approach degree based on the detection result by the detection means 11 on one side surface increases and the approach degree based on the detection result by the detection means 11 on the other side surface side on the opposite side does not change, the vehicle 1 is said to be said. It may be determined that the vehicle rolls over to one side surface. As a result, the accuracy of the rollover determination can be improved.

Further, when the information of the detection means 11 arranged on the left and right sides of the vehicle 1 is used at the same time as described above, for example, the ground G is detected in the lower part of the detection area of the detection means 11 in a normal state. It may be set to the state.

With such a setting, when the approach degree based on the detection result by the detection means 11 on one side surface side increases and the approach degree based on the detection result by the detection means 11 on the other side surface side on the opposite side decreases. It may be determined that the vehicle 1 rolls over to one of the side surfaces. For example, when the approach degree on the driver's seat side increases and the approach degree on the passenger seat side decreases, it may be determined that the vehicle 1 may fall toward the driver's seat side.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example is shown in which the ground G detected by the detection means 11 is on the same plane as the surface on which the vehicle 1 travels, but the shape of the ground G and the detection information are described in the above example. Not limited. For example, the shape of the ground G, the presence / absence of obstacles on the road, the position, the size, etc. may be detected by the detecting means 11, and such information may be incorporated into the detection information of the ground G.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

1 Vehicle 10 Vehicle rollover detection device 11 Detection means 12 Transmitter 13 Receiver 15, 16 Area 20 Control means 30 Crew protection device 31 Airbag device 32 Notification device 33 Seatbelt device

Claims (5)

A detection means provided in the vehicle to detect an object to be detected existing on the side of the vehicle, and
It has a control means for determining the rollover of the vehicle based on the detection result of the detection means.
The control means calculates the approach degree of the detected object based on the change in the area ratio of the range in which the presence of the detected object is detected with respect to the entire range of the detection area of the detection means, and is based on the approach degree. A vehicle rollover detection device for determining the rollover of the vehicle. A detection means provided in the vehicle to detect an object to be detected existing on the side of the vehicle, and
It has a control means for determining the rollover of the vehicle based on the detection result of the detection means.
The control means calculates the degree of approach of the object to be detected and the rate of increase of the degree of approach per hour based on the change in the detection result of the object to be detected with respect to the detection area of the detection means, and the degree of approach and the said. A vehicle rollover detection device for determining a vehicle rollover based on a change in the rate of climb . A detection means provided in the vehicle to detect an object to be detected existing on the side of the vehicle, and
It has a control means for determining the rollover of the vehicle based on the detection result of the detection means.
The control means calculates the degree of approach of the object to be detected based on the change in the detection result of the object to be detected with respect to the detection area of the detection means, and the degree of approach is from the first threshold value to the first threshold value. The time required to reach the second threshold value, which is also large, and the time required from the first threshold value to reach the third threshold value larger than the second threshold value are compared, and the required amount for the increase in the degree of approach is required. A vehicle rollover detection device for determining that the vehicle rolls over when the time is shortened . A detection means provided in the vehicle to detect an object to be detected existing on the side of the vehicle, and
It has a control means for determining the rollover of the vehicle based on the detection result of the detection means.
The control means calculates the degree of approach of the object to be detected based on the change in the detection result of the object to be detected with respect to the detection area of the detection means, and determines the rollover of the vehicle based on the degree of approach .
The detection means can divide the detection region into at least two regions vertically and can detect the presence of the object to be detected in each region.
The control means is a vehicle rollover detection device, which determines that the vehicle rolls over when the detected body is detected only in the lower region . A detection means provided in the vehicle to detect an object to be detected existing on the side of the vehicle, and
It has a control means for determining the rollover of the vehicle based on the detection result of the detection means.
The control means calculates the degree of approach of the object to be detected based on the change in the detection result of the object to be detected with respect to the detection area of the detection means, and determines the rollover of the vehicle based on the degree of approach .
The detection means can divide the detection region into at least two regions vertically and can detect the presence of the object to be detected in each region.
The control means calculates the approach degree for each of the divided regions, and when the approach degree of the lower region increases before the approach degree of the upper region, the vehicle rolls over. A vehicle rollover detection device characterized by determining that.

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