Occupant protection device for a vehicle and corresponding vehicle

Abstract

Occupant protection device (3) for a vehicle (1), comprising an airbag system (30) which, for the protection of an occupant (5), includes at least a first airbag (32) whose spreading movement (AB1) in the longitudinal direction (x) of the vehicle is towards the occupant and in the vertical direction (z) of the vehicle is from bottom to top, and a second airbag (36) whose spreading movement (AB2) in the longitudinal direction (x) of the vehicle is towards the occupant and in the vertical direction (z) of the vehicle is from top to bottom, at least one sensor system (22, 24, 26) which records crash-relevant and / or occupant-relevant information, and an evaluation and control unit (20) which evaluates the crash-relevant and / or occupant-relevant information and controls the airbag system (30) depending on the evaluation, characterized in thatthat the crash-relevant and / or occupant-relevant information includes first information about a steering wheel (7) and second information about a deployment space of the first airbag (32), wherein the evaluation and control unit (20) derives from the first information a first status information indicating a stowed state of the steering wheel (7), or a second status information indicating a normal state of the steering wheel (7), and wherein the evaluation and control unit (20) derives from the second information a third status information indicating an object (OB) present in the deployment space of the first airbag (32), or a fourth status information indicating a free deployment space of the first airbag (32).

Description

[0001] The invention is based on an occupant protection device for a vehicle according to the preamble of independent patent claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a vehicle with such an occupant protection device.

[0002] State-of-the-art vehicles are known in which an airbag is usually mounted in the steering wheel to protect the driver. This type of airbag is also known as a "steering wheel airbag". In the event of a crash, the steering wheel airbag is deployed and is designed to prevent the driver from hitting their head on the steering wheel. The airbag rests on the steering wheel and moves towards the driver. Strong acceleration occurs, particularly in the area immediately next to the steering wheel, when deployed. Items or objects resting on it can then be dangerously thrown around the interior. Similar airbag systems exist for the front passenger, where the airbag deploys from the dashboard. However, there are already solutions for the front passenger airbag which are mounted on the roof frame of the vehicle and, when deployed, unfold along the windshield, rest against the dashboard and windshield, and then move towards the front passenger.This type of airbag is also called a “roof airbag.”

[0003] In addition to reducing traffic accidents, future highly automated vehicles are intended to increase driving comfort. The driver hands over the driving task to a robot driver or a system that can make driving decisions, and can devote themselves to other activities. For example, the driver can read a book or work on a mobile device such as a cell phone, laptop, etc. in automated driving mode. In a normal working position, which the driver would like to safely adopt in automated driving mode, such objects would be located between the steering wheel airbag and the driver's head. In the event of an accident and an expanding steering wheel airbag, such objects could endanger the driver or, as a "ricochet", other passengers. To create more space for the driver, adjustable steering wheels can be used in such vehicles, for example.For example, the steering wheel can be moved to a storage position in the center of the dashboard or into a recess in the dashboard to provide more space for the driver in automated driving mode. This provides the driver with additional space directly in front of them. Accordingly, a roof airbag could be used in addition to the steering wheel airbag to protect the driver.

[0004] DE 10 2005 001 177 A1 discloses a method and device for protecting vehicle occupants, comprising a sensor responsive to a side impact event and / or a rollover event for generating a crash event signal. A first occupant protection device is inflatable to a first position located adjacent to a corresponding vehicle seat. A second occupant protection device is inflatable to a second position located in front of the corresponding vehicle seat. A control device responds to the crash event signal and immediately activates the inflation of the first occupant protection device. After a predetermined period of time has elapsed after inflation of the first occupant protection device, the control device activates inflation of the second occupant protection device. Disclosure of the invention

[0005] The occupant protection device for a vehicle with the features of independent patent claim 1 has the advantage that first information about the state of an adjustable steering wheel and second information about the deployment area of ​​an airbag are incorporated into a decision regarding the deployment of airbags of an airbag system. This allows the selection and cascading of the airbags to be deployed in the airbag system to protect the driver to be carried out depending on the steering wheel status and the presence of an object between the airbag and the driver, and can be advantageously adapted to current conditions in the interior and to the current driving situation.

[0006] Embodiments of the present invention provide an occupant protection device for a vehicle, having an airbag system which, for protecting an occupant, comprises at least a first airbag whose expansion movement runs in the vehicle longitudinal direction towards the occupant and in the vehicle vertical direction from bottom to top, and a second airbag whose expansion movement runs in the vehicle longitudinal direction towards the occupant and in the vehicle vertical direction from top to bottom, at least one sensor system which detects crash-relevant and / or occupant-relevant information, and an evaluation and control unit which evaluates the crash-relevant and / or occupant-relevant information and controls the airbag system depending on the evaluation.Here, the crash-relevant and / or occupant-relevant information comprises first information about a steering wheel and second information about a deployment area of ​​the first airbag, wherein the evaluation and control unit derives from the first information a first item of status information indicating a storage state of the steering wheel or a second item of status information indicating a normal state of the steering wheel, and wherein the evaluation and control unit derives from the second information a third item of status information indicating an object present in the deployment area of ​​the first airbag or a fourth item of status information indicating a free deployment area of ​​the first airbag.

[0007] In addition, a vehicle with an interior, such an occupant protection device and an adjustable steering wheel is proposed, which can be moved into a storage position or into a normal position.

[0008] In this case, the evaluation and control unit can be understood to be an electrical device, such as a control unit, in particular an airbag control unit, which processes or evaluates detected sensor signals. The evaluation and control unit can have at least one interface, which can be embodied in hardware and / or software. In a hardware embodiment, the interfaces can, for example, be part of a so-called system ASIC, which contains a wide variety of functions of the evaluation and control unit. However, it is also possible for the interfaces to be separate integrated circuits or to consist at least partially of discrete components. In a software embodiment, the interfaces can be software modules, which are present, for example, on a microcontroller alongside other software modules.Also advantageous is a computer program product with program code stored on a machine-readable medium such as a semiconductor memory, a hard disk memory or an optical memory and used to carry out the evaluation when the program is executed by the evaluation and control unit.

[0009] In this context, a sensor system is understood to be a structural unit comprising at least one sensor element that directly or indirectly detects a physical quantity or a change in a physical quantity and preferably converts it into an electrical sensor signal. This can be done, for example, by transmitting and / or receiving sound and / or electromagnetic waves and / or by using a magnetic field or changing a magnetic field.

[0010] Also possible are cameras or optical sensor elements, which, for example, comprise a photographic plate and / or a fluorescent surface and / or a semiconductor, which detect the impact or the intensity, wavelength, frequency, angle, etc. of the received wave, such as infrared sensor elements. An acoustic sensor element is also conceivable, such as an ultrasonic sensor element and / or a high-frequency sensor element and / or a radar sensor element and / or a sensor element that reacts to a magnetic field, such as a Hall sensor element and / or a magnetoresistive sensor element and / or an inductive sensor element, which registers the change in a magnetic field, for example, via the voltage generated by magnetic induction.

[0011] The measures and further developments listed in the dependent claims enable advantageous improvements to the occupant protection device for a vehicle specified in independent patent claim 1 and to the vehicle specified in independent patent claim 11.

[0012] It is particularly advantageous that a steering wheel sensor system can capture the initial information about the steering wheel and output it to the evaluation and control unit. Such a steering wheel sensor system can, for example, include a position sensor that detects the current position of the steering wheel in a stowed position or in a normal position.

[0013] In an advantageous embodiment of the occupant protection device, an interior sensor system can capture the first information about the steering wheel and / or the second information about the deployment area of ​​the first airbag and / or the occupant-relevant information and output it to the evaluation and control unit. Such an interior sensor system can advantageously comprise at least one camera that captures or records the interior of the vehicle. The evaluation and control unit uses an image analysis function to detect, for example, the current position of the steering wheel and / or an object within the deployment area of ​​the first airbag and / or occupants in the interior from the images captured by the camera.

[0014] In a further advantageous embodiment of the occupant protection device, a crash sensor system can capture crash-relevant information and output it to the evaluation and control unit. Such a crash sensor system comprises, for example, a predictive sensor unit that monitors the vehicle's surroundings and / or an impact sensor system. By evaluating the crash-relevant information captured by the crash sensor system, the evaluation and control unit detects an impending or ongoing crash and activates the airbags of the occupant protection device to protect the driver. Of course, the occupant protection device can also include additional airbags to protect the other occupants. In addition to the airbags, the occupant protection device can also include other suitable restraint devices for the occupants, such as belt tensioners, etc.

[0015] In a further advantageous embodiment of the occupant protection device, when an impending crash is detected, the evaluation and control unit can check the status information of the steering wheel and the status information of the deployment area of ​​the first airbag. Depending on the checked status information, the evaluation and control unit can decide with what strength the respective airbag is activated via corresponding triggering units to protect a driver and whether only the first airbag or only the second airbag or first the second airbag and then the first airbag is activated. For example, the evaluation and control unit can only activate the first airbag to protect the driver if the second status information and the fourth status information are correct, i.e. if the steering wheel is in the normal position and there is no object in the deployment area of ​​the first airbag.Furthermore, to protect the driver, the evaluation and control unit can only activate the second airbag if the first status information and the third status information or fourth status information are correct, i.e., if the steering wheel is in its stowed position and the second airbag can deploy its full protective effect without interference from the steering wheel. Furthermore, to protect the driver, the evaluation and control unit can only activate the second airbag, or first the second airbag and then the first airbag, if the second status information and the third status information are correct, i.e., if the steering wheel is in the normal position and an object is within the deployment area of ​​the first airbag.While the protective effect of the second airbag is not as effective as that of the first airbag when the steering wheel is in the normal position, the object in the deployment area of ​​the first airbag is pushed onto the driver's lap by the second airbag's expansion, rather than being shot at the driver's head by the first airbag's expansion. This advantageously prevents endangering the driver or other occupants.

[0016] In a further advantageous embodiment of the occupant protection device, the evaluation and control unit can evaluate the second information about the expansion space of the first airbag in order to classify an object detected in the expansion space of the first airbag with regard to its hazard potential. For example, the evaluation and control unit can activate only the second airbag or first the second airbag and then the first airbag if the second status information and the third status information are correct and the detected object is classified as "dangerous." Dangerous objects can be understood to mean, for example, heavy and / or hard objects such as a mobile phone or a laptop, etc. Furthermore, the evaluation and control unit can only activate the first airbag if the second status information and the third status information are correct and the detected object is classified as "non-dangerous."Non-hazardous objects can be understood as light and / or soft objects, such as a thin newspaper or a magazine, etc. Furthermore, the evaluation and control unit can activate only the second airbag or first the second airbag and then the first airbag if the second status information and the third status information are correct and the detected object is classified as “moderately dangerous” and other people are detected in the interior. Furthermore, the evaluation and control unit can only activate the first airbag if the second status information and the third status information are correct and the detected object is classified as “moderately dangerous” and no other people are detected in the interior. “Moderately dangerous” objects can be understood as objects, such as a light book or a paper cup containing liquid, etc., which cannot cause serious injuries.This means that if the driver is alone in the vehicle, the risk of injury from the object is accepted, as in return, they receive the protection of the first airbag, which is optimized for driving with the steering wheel. If there are other passengers in the vehicle, everyone is at risk of being hit by the object, so activating the second airbag minimizes this risk for all occupants of the vehicle. However, the driver may then have less protection, as they cannot use an airbag optimized for steering wheel use.

[0017] In an advantageous embodiment of the vehicle, the steering wheel is arranged in the stowed position when an automated driving function is being executed and in the normal position during normal operation. The first airbag can preferably be designed as a steering wheel airbag and arranged in an impact absorber of the steering wheel. The second airbag can preferably be designed as a roof airbag and arranged in the area of ​​a roof frame.

[0018] Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail in the following description. In the drawings, identical reference numerals designate components or elements that perform identical or similar functions. Short description of the drawings Fig. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an occupant protection device for a vehicle. Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of a front area of ​​a vehicle interior with the occupant protection device for a vehicle from Fig. 1 in a first trigger situation. Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of the hazard potential of the Fig. 2 illustrated first triggering situation with an object arranged in the expansion space of a first airbag. Fig. 4 shows a schematic representation of a front area of ​​a vehicle interior with the occupant protection device for a vehicle from Fig. 1 in a second trigger situation. Fig. 5 shows a schematic representation of a front area of ​​a vehicle interior with the occupant protection device for a vehicle from Fig. 1 in a third trigger situation. Fig. 6 shows a schematic representation of a front area of ​​a vehicle interior with the occupant protection device for a vehicle from Fig. 1 in a fourth trigger situation. Embodiments of the invention

[0019] As from Fig. 1 to 6, the illustrated embodiment of a vehicle 1 comprises an interior 2, a passenger protection device 3 and an adjustable steering wheel 7, which can be Fig. 4 shown storage position or in a Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 5, Fig. 6. The steering wheel 7 can be arranged in the storage position or in the normal position when an automated driving function is being executed. Preferably, the steering wheel 7 is moved to the storage position when the automated driving function is being executed in order to provide the driver 5 with more space for other activities. During normal operation, the steering wheel 7 is arranged in the normal position.

[0020] As from Fig. 1 to 6, the occupant protection device 3 for a vehicle 1 in the illustrated embodiment comprises an airbag system 30, at least one sensor system 22, 24, 26 which detects crash-relevant and / or occupant-relevant information, and an evaluation and control unit 20 which evaluates the crash-relevant and / or occupant-relevant information and, depending on the evaluation, controls the airbag system 30. To protect an occupant, here the driver 5, the airbag system comprises at least a first airbag 32, the expansion movement AB1 of which runs in the vehicle longitudinal direction x in the direction of the occupant and in the vehicle vertical direction z from bottom to top, and a second airbag 36, the expansion movement AB2 of which runs in the vehicle longitudinal direction x in the direction of the occupant and in the vehicle vertical direction z from top to bottom.Here, the crash-relevant and / or occupant-relevant information comprises first information about the steering wheel 7 and second information about a deployment area of ​​the first airbag 32. The evaluation and control unit 20 derives from the first information a first piece of status information indicating a stowed state of the steering wheel 7, or a second piece of status information indicating a normal state of the steering wheel 7. In addition, the evaluation and control unit 20 derives from the second information a third piece of status information indicating an object OB present in the deployment area of ​​the first airbag 32, or a fourth piece of status information indicating a free deployment area of ​​the first airbag 32.

[0021] As from Fig. 1, in the illustrated embodiment, a steering wheel sensor system 22 detects the first information about the steering wheel 7 and outputs it to the evaluation and control unit 20. In addition, an interior sensor system 24 detects the second information about the expansion space of the first airbag 32 and the occupant-relevant information and outputs it to the evaluation and control unit 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the interior sensor system 24 comprises a plurality of CCD cameras (not shown in detail), which record the interior from a plurality of perspectives. The evaluation and control unit 20 uses an image evaluation function to detect an object in the expansion space of the first airbag 32 and / or occupants in the interior 2 in the recorded images. The evaluation and control unit 20 evaluates the occupant-relevant information from the interior sensor system 24 in order to detect other occupants in the interior 2 in addition to the driver 5.In addition, the evaluation and control unit 20 can also evaluate the recorded images to determine the current position or state of the steering wheel 7. Furthermore, a crash sensor system 26 detects the crash-relevant information and outputs it to the evaluation and control unit 20. In addition to the illustrated airbag system 30 for protecting the driver 5, the occupant protection device 3 can also include other airbag systems (not shown) for protecting a front passenger and occupants in the rear area of ​​the vehicle interior 2.

[0022] As from Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 6, the first airbag 32 in the illustrated embodiment is designed as a steering wheel airbag and is arranged in an unspecified impact absorber of the steering wheel 7. As can be seen from Fig. 4, Fig. As can be further seen in Figure 5, the second airbag 32 in the illustrated embodiment is designed as a roof airbag and is arranged in the region of a roof frame which is not further designated.

[0023] As from Fig. 2 to 6, the steering wheel 7 can be moved in the direction shown in Fig. 4, in order to create more space for the driver 5. In this situation, the evaluation and control unit 20, in the event of a detected crash, activates only the second airbag 36 or roof airbag via a corresponding second triggering unit 38 to protect the driver 5. A passenger (not shown in detail) can generally be well protected by an associated roof airbag. As can be seen from Fig. 4, the driver has the same space available as a front passenger when the steering wheel 7 is in the stowed position, and can be protected with the same means as the front passenger. However, a roof airbag only provides its full protective effect when the steering wheel 7 is not in the way. A blanket activation or firing of the roof airbag is therefore not advisable. The first airbag 32 designed as a steering wheel airbag cannot therefore be dispensed with. The exclusive use of the first airbag 32 designed as a steering wheel airbag is not sensible in a vehicle 3 with an automated driving function, since the driver 5 could hold an object OB in his hand when activating or firing the first airbag 32 via a corresponding first triggering unit 34, which is then shot through the air, as can be seen from Fig. 3. Flying objects 5 can also endanger other passengers in the interior. By using the second airbag 36, which is designed as a roof airbag, the object OB is pressed onto the lap of the driver 5, as can be seen from Fig. 5. The first airbag 32, designed as a steering wheel airbag, can then be activated, as can be seen from Fig. 6 is evident.

[0024] In the illustrated embodiment, when an impending crash is detected, the evaluation and control unit 20 checks the status information of the steering wheel 7 and the status information of the expansion space of the first airbag 32 and, depending on the checked status information, decides with what strength the respective airbag 32, 34 is activated via the corresponding triggering units 34, 38 to protect the driver 5 and whether only the first airbag 32 or only the second airbag 36 or first the second airbag 34 and then the first airbag 36 is activated.

[0025] How Fig. As can be seen further in Figure 4, the second airbag 36, designed as a roof airbag, is triggered when the steering wheel is retracted into the storage position or is not in the normal position for manual driving. Fig. As can be further seen in Figure 2, the first airbag 32, designed as a steering wheel airbag, is triggered during normal driving and the steering wheel 7 is extended. However, the first airbag 32, designed as a steering wheel airbag, is not triggered when the steering wheel 7 is extended and the driver 5 holds an object OB between the first airbag 32 and his head. As can be seen from Fig. As can be seen further in Figure 5, the second airbag 36, designed as a roof airbag, is then deployed instead, in order to press the object OB detected in the deployment area of ​​the first airbag 32 onto the lap of the driver 5. Although the protective effect is not as good as when the first airbag 32, designed as a steering wheel airbag, is deployed, the object OB is not shot at the driver's head. As can be seen from Fig. As can be further seen in Figure 6, in the illustrated embodiment, after the second airbag 36 is deployed, the first airbag 32 is also deployed in order to further improve the protective effect for the driver 5.

[0026] In a further embodiment of the occupant protection device 3 (not shown), the evaluation and control unit 20 classifies an object OB detected in the expansion space of the first airbag 32 with regard to its hazard potential based on the second information about the expansion space of the first airbag 32. The object is grouped into different groups, such as "dangerous" and "non-dangerous." In particular, hard and / or heavy objects, such as laptops or mobile phones, are classified as "dangerous." In particular, light and / or soft objects, such as thin newspapers, are classified as "non-dangerous." If classified as "dangerous," only the second airbag 36 designed as a roof airbag is used, or first the second airbag 36 designed as a roof airbag and then the first airbag 32 designed as a steering wheel airbag is used.If classified as "safe," only the first airbag 32, designed as a steering wheel airbag, is used, since the protection for the driver 5 provided by the optimized first airbag 32, designed as a steering wheel airbag, is generally better than the protection provided by the second airbag 36, designed as a roof airbag, which is optimized for the absence of the steering wheel 7. In addition, the presence of other occupants can be taken into account when activating the airbags 32, 36.

[0027] If there is a high risk that the other occupants will be endangered by the flying object, then only the second airbag 36 designed as a roof airbag or first the second airbag 36 designed as a roof airbag and then the first airbag 32 designed as a steering wheel airbag is activated. This can be taken into account in particular when classifying the objects OB and sorting them into groups. In addition to the classification into "dangerous" and "non-dangerous", the object OB can be classified as "moderately dangerous" if the driver cannot be seriously injured by the object and the object is, for example, a light book or a paper cup containing liquid. If there are other occupants in the vehicle interior 2, then all persons are at risk of being hit by the object OB.This means that in the case of an object classified as "medium danger", only the first airbag 32 designed as a steering wheel airbag is activated if the driver 5 is alone in the vehicle interior 2, thus accepting the risk of minor injury to the driver 5. In return, the driver 5 has the protection of the first airbag 32 designed as a steering wheel airbag, which is optimized for driving with a steering wheel. However, if there are other occupants in the vehicle interior 2, then only the second airbag 36 designed as a roof airbag, or first the second airbag 36 designed as a roof airbag and then the first airbag 32 designed as a steering wheel airbag, is activated in order to press the object OB classified as "medium danger" onto the lap of the driver 5 and thus minimize the danger posed by the object OB to all occupants of the vehicle interior 2.

[0028] In addition, the evaluation and control unit 20 can adjust the strength of the first airbag 32, designed as a steering wheel airbag, and the second airbag 36, designed as a roof airbag. This can be achieved, for example, by controlling outlet valves of the corresponding airbag 32, 36 and / or by multi-stage ignition and / or by adjusting the valves of a cold gas generator (not shown). This makes it possible to find a compromise between "protecting the driver or passengers from objects" and "protecting the driver with an optimized airbag." In addition, the second airbag 36 can be optimized to push away objects OB detected in the expansion space of the first airbag 32 when the first airbag 32 is subsequently deployed for the optimized protection of the driver 5. This has the advantage that the airbags 32, 36 can be better coordinated with one another.

Claims

[1] Occupant protection device (3) for a vehicle (1), with an airbag system (30) which, for protecting an occupant (5), comprises at least one first airbag (32), the expansion movement (AB1) of which runs in the vehicle longitudinal direction (x) towards the occupant and in the vehicle vertical direction (z) from bottom to top, and a second airbag (36), the expansion movement (AB2) of which runs in the vehicle longitudinal direction (x) towards the occupant and in the vehicle vertical direction (z) from top to bottom, at least one sensor system (22, 24, 26) which detects crash-relevant and / or occupant-relevant information, and an evaluation and control unit (20) which evaluates the crash-relevant and / or occupant-relevant information and controls the airbag system (30) depending on the evaluation, characterized byin that the crash-relevant and / or occupant-relevant information comprises first information about a steering wheel (7) and second information about a spread area of ​​the first airbag (32), wherein the evaluation and control unit (20) derives from the first information a first item of status information which indicates a storage state of the steering wheel (7), or a second item of status information which indicates a normal state of the steering wheel (7), and wherein the evaluation and control unit (20) derives from the second information a third item of status information which indicates an object (OB) present in the spread area of ​​the first airbag (32), or a fourth item of status information which indicates a free spread area of ​​the first airbag (32). [2] Occupant protection device (3) according to claim 1, characterized by that a steering wheel sensor (22) detects the first information about the steering wheel (7) and outputs it to the evaluation and control unit (20). [3] Occupant protection device (3) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that an interior sensor system (24) detects the first information about the steering wheel (7) and / or the second information about the expansion space of the first airbag (32) and / or the occupant-relevant information and outputs it to the evaluation and control unit (20). [4] Occupant protection device (3) according to claim 3, characterized by that the evaluation and control unit (20) evaluates the occupant-relevant information of the interior sensor system (24) with regard to occupants (5) present in the interior (2). [5] Occupant protection device (3) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that a crash sensor system (26) detects the crash-relevant information and outputs it to the evaluation and control unit (20). [6] Occupant protection device (3) according to claim 5, characterized bythat the evaluation and control unit (20) checks the status information of the steering wheel (7) and the status information of the expansion space of the first airbag (32) when an impending crash is detected, wherein the evaluation and control unit (20) decides, depending on the checked status information, with which strength the respective airbag (32, 34) is activated via corresponding triggering units (34, 38) to protect a driver (5) and whether only the first airbag (32) or only the second airbag (36) or first the second airbag (34) and then the first airbag (36) is activated. [7] Occupant protection device (3) according to claim 6, characterized bythat the evaluation and control unit (20) only activates the first airbag (32) to protect the driver (5) if the second status information and the fourth status information are correct, wherein the evaluation and control unit (20) only activates the second airbag (36) to protect the driver (5) if the first status information and the third status information or fourth status information are correct. [8] Occupant protection device (3) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized by that the evaluation and control unit (20) activates only the second airbag (36) or first the second airbag (36) and then the first airbag (32) to protect the driver (5) if the second status information and the third status information are correct. [9] Occupant protection device (3) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized bythat the evaluation and control unit (20) evaluates the second information about the expansion space of the first airbag (32) in order to classify an object (OB) detected in the expansion space of the first airbag (32) with regard to its hazard potential. [10] Occupant protection device (3) according to claim 9, characterized bythat the evaluation and control unit (20) activates only the second airbag (36) or first the second airbag (36) and then the first airbag (32) if the second status information and the third status information are correct and the detected object (OB) is classified as "dangerous", wherein the evaluation and control unit (20) activates only the first airbag (32) if the second status information and the third status information are correct and the detected object (OB) is classified as "non-dangerous", wherein the evaluation and control unit (20) activates only the second airbag (36) or first the second airbag (36) and then the first airbag (32) if the second status information and the third status information are correct and the detected object (OB) is classified as "moderately dangerous" and further persons are detected in the interior (2), and wherein the evaluation and control unit (20) activates only the first airbag (32),if the second status information and the third status information are correct and the detected object (OB) is classified as “medium dangerous” and no other persons are detected in the interior (2). [11] Vehicle (1) with an interior (2), an occupant protection device (3) and an adjustable steering wheel (7) which can be moved into a storage position or into a normal position, characterized by that the occupant protection device (3) is designed according to at least one of claims 1 to 10. [12] Vehicle (1) according to claim 11, characterized by that the steering wheel (7) is arranged in the storage position when an automated driving function is carried out and is arranged in the normal position during normal operation. [13] Vehicle (1) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized by that the first airbag (32) is designed as a steering wheel airbag and is arranged in an impact absorber of the steering wheel (7). [14] Vehicle (1) according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized by that the second airbag (32) is designed as a roof airbag and is arranged in the region of a roof frame.

Images