Soft switch control method for co-driver seat safety air bag

Abstract

The invention discloses a soft switch control method for a co-driver seat safety air bag, and the main design concept of the method lies in that the control logic of triggering the co-driver safety air bag through a soft switch is comprehensively ensured to better meet the safety requirement through a diagnosis mechanism of secondary judgment controlled by the co-driver safety air bag. Specifically, after a vehicle is started, the state of a co-driver seat is judged according to a logic sequence by detecting a safety belt locking signal and the pressure of the co-driver seat, and the control mode of a co-driver safety air bag soft switch arranged in a central control interface and the actual functions of a safety air bag and an air curtain are decided according to the state of the co-driver seat. While the cost of the whole vehicle is saved, the functional safety requirement is met, and the driving risk is remarkably reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of automotive safety technology, and in particular to a soft-switch control method for the passenger-side airbag. Background Technology

[0002] As a type of active safety feature in automobiles, the front passenger airbag effectively reduces injuries to the front passenger in the event of a collision. However, in some scenarios, child seats are permitted in the front passenger seat. These seats themselves provide collision protection for children, thus eliminating the need for a front passenger airbag. Furthermore, the deployment of a front passenger airbag could cause additional harm to a child. Therefore, front passenger airbags currently have a deactivation function.

[0003] There are currently two main solutions:

[0004] I. The physical switch solution installed on the vehicle body: The passenger-side airbag control module directly reads the physical switch signal via high and low voltage levels. The physical switch is typically a mechanical lock structure, and the passenger-side airbag is deactivated by turning the switch with a mechanical key. However, the switch is a physical component and needs to be installed on the vehicle body, which not only affects the vehicle's styling but also results in high unit cost due to functional safety requirements.

[0005] Second, regarding the solution controlled via the central touchscreen, the passenger-side airbag control module determines whether the user has deactivated the passenger-side airbag by recognizing the CAN signal sent by the central touchscreen. However, actual testing revealed that the current soft-switch's activation and deactivation control logic is relatively simple, posing a safety hazard and failing to meet functional safety requirements. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of the above, the present invention aims to provide a soft-switch control method for the passenger-side airbag based on industry functional safety standards, so as to solve the aforementioned technical problems.

[0007] The technical solution adopted in this invention is as follows:

[0008] This invention provides a method for controlling the soft switch of a passenger-side airbag, comprising:

[0009] Step S1: After starting the vehicle, check the locking status of the passenger seat belt;

[0010] Step S2: If it is determined that the passenger seat belt is locked, the soft switch of the passenger airbag and curtain airbag is automatically activated and the soft switch is prohibited from being turned off until the passenger seat belt is released.

[0011] Step S3: If it is determined that the passenger seat belt is unfastened, then detect the passenger seat pressure signal and determine the current status of the passenger seat based on the seat pressure signal;

[0012] Step S4: Determine the control mode of the soft switch based on the current state of the co-driver.

[0013] In at least one of the possible implementations, when the front passenger seatbelt is not locked, the system determines whether the front passenger seat is currently in a child seat installation state or an unoccupied state based on the front passenger seat pressure signal.

[0014] In at least one possible implementation, the decision-making control mode of the soft switch includes:

[0015] If the current state of the passenger seat is that it is equipped with a child seat, then the soft switch is prohibited from being activated, and the deployment function of the passenger seat airbag and curtain airbag is forcibly disabled.

[0016] In at least one possible implementation, the decision-making control mode of the soft switch further includes:

[0017] If the co-driver is currently in an unmanned state, then the soft switch's on / off function is released.

[0018] In at least one possible implementation, the control method further includes:

[0019] After confirming that the passenger seatbelt is unbuckled, obtain the current vehicle speed and gear.

[0020] Based on the current vehicle speed or gear, decide whether to skip the step of detecting the pressure signal of the passenger seat;

[0021] After determining that the pressure detection step should be skipped, the opening and closing function of the soft switch is released directly.

[0022] In at least one possible implementation, the step of deciding whether to skip the detection step of the passenger seat pressure signal based on the current vehicle speed or gear includes:

[0023] When the gear is P or R, or when the current vehicle speed is not higher than a preset vehicle speed threshold, the pressure detection step is temporarily skipped.

[0024] Compared to existing technologies, the main design concept of this invention lies in its diagnostic mechanism for secondary judgment in passenger airbag control, which comprehensively ensures that the control logic for triggering the passenger airbag via a soft switch is more in line with safety requirements. Specifically, after vehicle startup, the system detects the seatbelt locking signal and passenger seat pressure, determines the passenger seat status in a logical sequence, and thereby decides the control mode of the passenger airbag soft switch set in the central control interface, as well as the actual functions of the airbag and curtain airbag. This invention saves on overall vehicle costs while meeting functional safety requirements and significantly reducing driving risks. Attached Figure Description

[0025] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the soft switch control method for the passenger-side airbag provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0027] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0028] This invention proposes an embodiment of a soft-switch control method for the passenger-side airbag, specifically, as follows: Figure 1 As shown, it includes:

[0029] Step S1: After starting the vehicle, check the locking status of the passenger seat belt;

[0030] Step S2: If it is determined that the passenger seat belt is locked, the soft switch of the passenger airbag and curtain airbag is automatically activated and the soft switch is prohibited from being turned off until the passenger seat belt is released.

[0031] Step S3: If it is determined that the passenger seat belt is unfastened, then detect the passenger seat pressure signal and determine the current status of the passenger seat based on the seat pressure signal;

[0032] Step S4: Determine the control mode of the soft switch based on the current state of the co-driver.

[0033] To elaborate further, determining the current state of the passenger seat based on the seat pressure signal mainly refers to determining whether the passenger seat is currently occupied by a child seat or is unoccupied, based on the seat pressure signal when the passenger seat belt is not locked.

[0034] Based on this, the control mode of the soft switch, as determined by the decision, further includes:

[0035] If the current state of the passenger seat is that it is equipped with a child seat, then the soft switch is prohibited from being activated, and the deployment function of the passenger seat airbag and curtain airbag is forcibly disabled.

[0036] Furthermore, the control mode of the soft switch in the decision-making process also includes: if the current state of the co-driver is unmanned, then the opening and closing function of the soft switch is released, that is, the opening or closing operation of the soft switch is not restricted.

[0037] Based on this concept, and considering the ease of operation for users of airbags and side curtain airbags, in some other embodiments of the present invention, the control method further includes:

[0038] After confirming that the passenger seatbelt is unbuckled, obtain the current vehicle speed and gear.

[0039] Based on the current vehicle speed or gear, decide whether to skip the step of detecting the pressure signal of the passenger seat;

[0040] Furthermore, after determining that the pressure detection step should be skipped, the on / off function of the soft switch is directly released, meaning that there is no restriction on opening or closing the soft switch, and it can be adjusted according to the user's actual needs. The current vehicle speed and gear selection decision involved here mainly refers to:

[0041] If the gear is P (Park) or R (Reverse), or if the current vehicle speed is not higher than a preset vehicle speed threshold (e.g., 3 kph), the pressure detection step is skipped.

[0042] In summary, the main design concept of this invention lies in using a diagnostic mechanism for secondary judgment in passenger airbag control to comprehensively ensure that the control logic for triggering the passenger airbag via a soft switch better meets safety requirements. Specifically, after vehicle startup, the system detects the seatbelt locking signal and passenger seat pressure, logically determines the passenger seat status, and thereby decides the control mode of the passenger airbag soft switch set in the central control interface, as well as the actual function of the airbag and curtain airbag. This invention saves on overall vehicle costs while meeting functional safety requirements and significantly reducing driving risks.

[0043] In this invention, when directional terms are mentioned, they are relative concepts based on the embodiments. Furthermore, "at least one" refers to one or more, and "more than one" refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent the existence of A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone. A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" and similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, and c can represent: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a and b and c, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0044] The above description of the structure, features, and effects of the present invention is based on the embodiments shown in the figures. However, the above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that the technical features involved in the above embodiments and their preferred methods can be reasonably combined and matched by those skilled in the art to form a variety of equivalent solutions without departing from or changing the design concept and technical effects of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the scope of implementation shown in the figures. Any changes made in accordance with the concept of the present invention, or modifications to equivalent embodiments, that do not exceed the spirit covered by the specification and figures, should be within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method of soft switching control of a passenger airbag, characterized by, The method comprises the following steps: S1, detecting the locking state of the passenger seat belt after the vehicle is started; S2, if it is determined that the passenger seat belt is locked, automatically activating the soft switch of the passenger airbag and curtain, and prohibiting the soft switch from being closed until the passenger seat belt is unlocked; S3, if it is determined that the passenger seat belt is unlocked, detecting the seat pressure signal of the passenger seat, and determining the current state of the passenger seat according to the seat pressure signal; S4, determining the control mode of the soft switch according to the current state of the passenger seat.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: In the state that the passenger seat belt is not locked, the current state of the passenger seat is determined according to the seat pressure signal of the passenger seat, and it is determined whether the passenger seat is in the child seat installation state or in the empty state.

3. The passenger airbag soft switch control method according to claim 2, characterized by, The determination of the control mode of the soft switch comprises: If the current state of the passenger seat is the child seat installation state, the soft switch is prohibited from being opened, and the explosion function of the passenger airbag and curtain is forcibly disabled.

4. The passenger airbag soft switch control method of claim 2, wherein The determination of the control mode of the soft switch further comprises: If the current state of the passenger seat is the empty state, the opening and closing function of the soft switch is released.

5. The method of claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein: The control method further comprises: After it is determined that the passenger seat belt is unlocked, the current vehicle speed and gear are obtained; Based on the current vehicle speed or gear, it is determined whether to skip the detection step of the seat pressure signal of the passenger seat; After it is determined to skip the pressure detection step, the opening and closing function of the soft switch is directly released.

6. The passenger airbag soft switch control method of claim 5, wherein The determination of whether to skip the detection step of the seat pressure signal of the passenger seat based on the current vehicle speed or gear comprises: When the gear is P or R, or when the current vehicle speed is not higher than a preset vehicle speed threshold, the pressure detection step is temporarily skipped.

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