Occupant protection arrangement for a vehicle

Abstract

Occupant protection arrangement for a vehicle, comprising at least one vehicle-side occupant protection device (11) and an airbag system (15) wearable on the body of a vehicle occupant (3), wherein the occupant protection device (11) is associated with a vehicle control unit (18) which triggers the vehicle-side occupant protection device (11) in the event of a vehicle crash, i.e., in the event of a sufficiently probable anticipated vehicle collision, characterized in that the vehicle control unit (18) can be brought into signal communication with the wearable airbag system (15), and that the vehicle control unit (18) has a coordination module (19) by means of which the triggering and the modes of operation of the occupant protection device (11) and the wearable airbag system (15) can be coordinated with each other in the event of a crash.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an occupant protection arrangement for a vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] In two-track motor vehicles, three-point seat belts are typically used to protect the occupants during braking maneuvers and collisions. The restraint effect of the belt ensures that the occupant is connected to the vehicle's deceleration at an early stage during hard braking or a collision. The seat belt thus plays a crucial role in protecting the occupant from serious injuries. Furthermore, the operation of an occupant restraint system in a motor vehicle may include the active deployment of protective devices based on sensor signals in the event of a crash. These protective devices may, in particular, be integrated airbags.

[0003] Wearable airbag systems are increasingly being used to protect people at risk of falling during their everyday activities. These systems, especially for seniors, can be worn, for example, as a belt. If a fall is detected by sensors, such as accelerometers, the airbags automatically deploy above the hips, providing protection against impact.

[0004] In vehicles, an occupant protection system typically comprises multiple occupant protection devices, particularly airbags, which can be positioned for deployment in the event of a collision. For example, a vehicle driver is assigned at least one airbag, a so-called driver's airbag, which is located in the steering wheel hub and deploys between the steering wheel and the driver when a triggering condition is met.

[0005] Several solutions are already known to provide the best possible protection for a vehicle occupant in an accident. For example, US patent 2011 / 0227378 A1 discloses a safety seat for a vehicle designed to move a vehicle occupant into a designated position in anticipation of or during a crash.

[0006] A protective device of this type is known from DE 10 2018 115 193 A1. A portable airbag is known from DE 94 18 721 U1. A device for protecting a pedestrian is known from DE 101 17 083 A1. DE 10 2018 118 129 A1 relates to an occupant protection system for a motor vehicle, a corresponding operating procedure, and a corresponding motor vehicle. The occupant protection system comprises an active restraint system, a detection device for recording the position of a vehicle occupant, and a corresponding data processing device.The data processing device is designed to simulate, for at least one accident scenario, the movement of the vehicle occupant relative to the active restraint system and the activation of the active restraint system using a predefined simulation model, starting from the recorded position of the vehicle occupant, and to determine a activation strategy for the active restraint system depending on a result of the simulation for improved protection of the vehicle occupant.

[0007] Furthermore, WO 2016 / 169871 A1 and DE 102 57 963 A1 each describe methods in which the position of a vehicle occupant is determined and an airbag is activated accordingly. For example, if the vehicle occupant is positioned in such a way that airbag deployment would cause injury, the airbag is prevented from deploying in a crash. Alternatively, airbag deployment may be prevented based on a detected head position if the risk of injury to the occupant in that position is deemed too high.

[0008] The object of the invention is to provide an occupant protection arrangement for a vehicle that enables optimal protection for the vehicle occupant in the event of a crash.

[0009] The problem is solved by the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0010] The invention relates to an occupant protection arrangement for a vehicle, comprising at least one vehicle-side occupant protection device, in particular a vehicle airbag system, and a wearable airbag system for the vehicle occupant. A vehicle control unit is associated with the vehicle-side occupant protection device. This control unit can trigger the vehicle-side occupant protection device in the event of a vehicle crash, i.e., in the case of a sufficiently probable anticipated vehicle collision. According to the characterizing part of claim 1, the vehicle control unit can be connected to the wearable airbag system via a signal. The vehicle control unit includes a coordination module by means of which the triggering and / or the operating modes of the occupant protection device and the wearable airbag system can be coordinated in the event of a crash.

[0011] The present invention aims to coordinate the deployment of vehicle airbags in a vehicle cabin with the deployment of any airbags worn by vehicle occupants when needed, thereby ensuring the protective effects of the respective airbag systems for the vehicle occupants or achieving a combined protective effect. Specifically, the current presence of deployable airbags worn on the body, along with their function and positioning, is to be known to a vehicle system in advance, or this information is to be provided to the vehicle system. Based on this information, the deployment and, if applicable, the function of airbags worn on the body of a vehicle occupant can be controlled or adjusted by the vehicle system.

[0012] The invention consists in the fact that the vehicle's airbag system and the airbag system worn by a vehicle occupant can be advantageously coordinated with each other in the event of a crash. This means that the airbag deployments and – where adjustable – the deployment directions of vehicle airbags are carried out taking into account the airbag worn by the vehicle occupant.

[0013] As a first step, the presence of a deployable, body-worn airbag, including its operating principle and positioning, is to be known to a vehicle system. The body-worn airbag systems can, for example, exchange data with a vehicle system via their own electronic control units, such as WLAN, Bluetooth, or NFC. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a vehicle user can make the data interfaces of the electronic control units of their deployed body-worn airbag systems available to vehicle systems.

[0014] In a further step of the invention, the triggering or, if applicable, the mode of action of an airbag worn on the body of a vehicle occupant is to be controllable or adjustable by a vehicle system. Ideally, this should allow the effects of existing airbag systems (vehicle airbags and body-worn airbags) to be coordinated with each other, resulting in the best possible protective effects for vehicle occupants. For example, the triggering times of vehicle occupant protection devices, such as a vehicle airbag, can be coordinated with the airbags worn by vehicle occupants for sufficiently likely anticipated collisions or accidents.For example, in a specific accident scenario, vehicle airbags and body-worn airbags can be advantageously deployed with a time delay, thus improving the level of protection for vehicle occupants. If necessary, the deployment directions for individual airbags can also be specified, provided they are configurable. Furthermore, a vehicle system can automatically deploy or deactivate the respective airbag systems or individual airbags depending on the detected accident scenario.

[0015] In a further embodiment of the invention, the user profile can be used to specify the types of vehicle airbags and worn activatable protective devices (in particular, worn airbags) in combination for specific types of vehicle collisions. For example, a database can contain information on how the airbags worn by the vehicle user, as well as the vehicle airbags themselves, are to be deployed for specific types of accidents (e.g., side impact or frontal impact at certain effective speeds) and the resulting accelerations for the vehicle user during the impact, with (optionally adjustable) deployment directions and triggering times.

[0016] In a further embodiment of the invention, a database can, for example, store information on which vehicle settings should be selected for each of the vehicle occupant's worn airbag systems to ensure the best possible protection. Thus, during a journey, depending on the airbag systems worn by a vehicle occupant, seat or steering wheel settings can be adjusted to maintain the combined protective effect of the available safety devices. If necessary, motion analyses can be performed in advance for individual vehicle occupants to investigate particularly protective settings for the worn airbag systems in possible accident scenarios and to define optimal settings for potential crashes. This process can optionally be supported by artificial intelligence (AI).For example, it can be determined that certain vehicle settings must be adjusted in specific detected crash scenarios when certain airbags are used. A data processing system can be used for possible future accident scenarios and / or for a current (anticipated) crash to simulate the accident sequence using a predefined simulation model, depending on various factors. - Vehicle airbags with and without the inclusion of worn airbags; - Positions and body postures of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle cabin; - available data on the accident; - any known physical limitations of the vehicle user; - possibly known movement patterns of the vehicle user.

[0017] In this way, optimized triggering strategies for worn airbags and / or vehicle airbags are to be determined based on the results of the simulations, leading to improved protection of the vehicle occupant.

[0018] Various vehicle sensors can be used to monitor whether a potential accident situation involving the vehicle is detected. For example, the vehicle's surroundings can be monitored using cameras, radar sensors, and similar devices. Braking interventions can also be monitored, and signals from electronic stability control systems can be analyzed to infer potential accident situations. Furthermore, car-to-car communication can be used to detect a potential collision with another vehicle. Car-to-X communication is also possible, for example, with appropriately designed infrastructure, provided that suitable intelligence for evaluating and monitoring traffic outside of vehicles is implemented. Finally, interior monitoring is also possible, particularly to track the driver's position within the vehicle.

[0019] In this invention, the airbags worn on the body can be integrated, for example, into exoskeletons, orthopaedic devices such as prostheses or orthoses, smart clothing, backpacks, bags, belts, etc.

[0020] The essential aspects of the invention are highlighted in detail below: The vehicle control unit can include a detection module that detects the presence of a ready-to-use, portable airbag system. The detection module can also detect the operation and positioning of the portable airbag system within the vehicle interior. Based on this data, the coordination module can control the occupant protection device and / or the portable airbag system.

[0021] In a technical implementation, the portable airbag system can include an electronic control unit. This unit can be connected to the vehicle's control unit's sensor module for data exchange, preferably via a wireless signal connection. The following measure is advantageous with regard to data security: A release element, operable by the vehicle occupant, can be assigned to the data interface of the portable airbag system's electronic control unit. Activating this element enables data exchange between the portable airbag system and the vehicle's control unit. In the event of a crash, the vehicle's control unit can then control or adjust the deployment and / or operation of the portable airbag system.

[0022] The vehicle control unit can also include an evaluation module that uses vehicle data to determine a likely accident scenario in the event of a crash. Based on this determined accident scenario, the vehicle control unit's coordination module can then activate the occupant protection system and / or the portable airbag system. This allows both the vehicle's occupant protection system and the portable airbag system to be triggered with a time delay and / or their deployment directions to be adjusted.

[0023] In one specific implementation variant, a user profile database can be assigned to the vehicle control unit. This database can contain user-specific usage patterns for the occupant protection system and the portable airbag system, particularly in conjunction with specific vehicle crash types. The user profile database is linked to the coordination module via a signal. Based on a usage pattern read from the user profile database, the coordination module can then activate the occupant protection system and / or the portable airbag system.

[0024] Furthermore, the functionality of the vehicle control unit's coordination module can be extended as follows: The coordination module can be linked to a vehicle seat adjustment device and / or a steering wheel adjustment device. During normal driving or in the event of a crash, the coordination module can use data from the portable airbag system, acquired by the detection module, to control the adjustment devices and make seat / steering wheel adjustments. This can enhance the protective effect of existing safety devices.

[0025] Furthermore, an analysis module can be assigned to the vehicle control unit. This module allows for a motion analysis of the vehicle occupant before the journey begins. This enables the examination of health-protective settings of the portable airbag system for possible accident scenarios and the definition of optimal settings for potential crashes.

[0026] The occupant protection system can be implemented as a self-learning system in which crash scenarios can be simulated. These simulations can take into account the occupant protection device (with or without the portable airbag system), the occupant's position / posture, available crash data, any known physical limitations of the occupant, and / or known motion models of the occupant. Based on the simulation results, an optimized deployment strategy for the occupant protection device and the portable airbag system can be determined.

[0027] An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying figure, from which the functionality of the occupant protection arrangement can be seen.

[0028] The figure shows a schematic representation of a vehicle interior 1 with a driver 3 secured to the vehicle seat 7 by a safety belt assembly 5. The safety belt assembly 5 comprises a three-point safety belt consisting of a lap belt section and a shoulder belt section. The vehicle seat 7 is adjustable longitudinally via a seat adjustment device 9. The seat adjustment device 9 also allows for adjustment of the backrest angle of the vehicle seat 7.

[0029] The vehicle depicted in the figure features an airbag system 11 integrated into the steering wheel 10 as a vehicle-side occupant protection device. In the event of a crash, the steering wheel airbag system 11 is triggered by an electronic vehicle control unit 18. Furthermore, the position of the steering wheel 10 can be adjusted vertically and longitudinally by means of a steering wheel adjustment device 13.

[0030] As further shown in the figure, the driver 3 wears an airbag system 15 in the hip area, which protects the driver 3 from injury in the event of a fall during everyday activities. The airbag system 15 includes a hip-protecting airbag in the form of a belt. The airbag can be activated by means of an electronic control unit 17, provided that this unit detects a fall of the vehicle occupant during an activity outside the vehicle (for example, via an accelerometer).

[0031] The core of the invention lies in the fact that, in the event of a crash, the triggering and / or the operation of the steering wheel airbag system 11 and the portable airbag system 15 can be coordinated. In particular, the steering wheel airbag system 11 and the portable airbag system 15 can be triggered with a time delay and / or their deployment directions can be adjusted. Such coordinated interaction between the steering wheel airbag system 11 and the portable airbag system 15 provides the driver 3 with optimal protection in the event of a crash.

[0032] To achieve the coordinated interaction of the portable airbag system 15 and the steering wheel airbag system 11 in the event of a crash, the electronic vehicle control unit 18 comprises the following software modules: a coordination module 19, a detection module 21, an evaluation module 23, and a user profile database 25. Based on the data read by the detection module 21, the evaluation module 23, and the user profile database 25, the coordination module 19 controls the steering wheel airbag system 11 and / or the portable airbag system 15. It should be emphasized that the program modules indicated in the figure do not represent an actual software architecture, but merely illustrate the functionality of the electronic vehicle control unit 18.

[0033] In the figure, the detection module 21 is in signal communication with the electronic control unit 17 of the portable airbag system 15. The detection module 21 detects the presence of a ready-to-use, portable airbag system 15, along with its operating mode and its position in the vehicle interior 1. Based on the data acquired by the detection module 21, the coordination module 19 controls the steering wheel airbag system 11 and the portable airbag system 15.

[0034] The signal connection between the vehicle control unit 18 and the electronic control unit 17 of the portable airbag system 15 is wireless. For data security purposes, the electronic control unit 17 of the portable airbag system 15 has a release element 27 that can be actuated by the vehicle occupant 3. By actuating this element, the vehicle occupant 3 can enable or disable data exchange between the portable airbag system 15 and the vehicle control unit 18.

[0035] In the diagram, crash sensors 30 are assigned to evaluation module 23, which supply the evaluation module 23 with vehicle data in the event of a crash. Based on this vehicle data, a probable accident scenario Sn is determined in the evaluation module 23. The determined probable accident scenario Sn is then sent to the coordination module 19. Based on the determined accident scenario Sn, this module controls the steering wheel airbag system 11 and / or the portable airbag system 15.

[0036] As further illustrated in the figure, a number of user profiles Nn are listed in the user profile database 25. For each of these user profiles Nn, a specific usage type Vn of the steering wheel airbag 11 and the portable airbag system 15 is stored in database 25. At the start of the journey, the driver 3 can identify themselves via an input unit 29, thereby uploading the corresponding user profile Nn from database 25. Accordingly, the usage type Vn corresponding to the uploaded user profile Nn is read into the coordination module 19. Based on the read usage type Vn, the coordination module 19 controls the two airbag systems 11 and 15.

[0037] The coordination module 19 is also in signal communication with the vehicle seat adjustment device 9 and with the steering wheel adjustment device 13. In normal driving operation or in the event of a crash, the coordination module 19 can, based on the data of the portable airbag system 15 acquired by the detection module 23, make a vehicle seat adjustment and / or a steering wheel adjustment in order to increase the protective effect of existing protective devices. Reference symbol list 1 Vehicle interior 3 drivers 5 Seat belt system 7 vehicle seats 9 Vehicle seat adjustment device 10 Steering wheel 11 Steering wheel airbag system 13 Steering wheel adjustment device 15 portable airbag system 17 Electronic control unit of the portable airbag system 15 18 electronic vehicle control units 19 Coordination module 21 Data collection module 23 Evaluation module 25 User profile database 27 Input unit 29 Input unit 30 crash sensors Vn Usage type Nn User profile Sn accident scenario

Claims

[1] Occupant protection arrangement for a vehicle comprising at least one vehicle-side occupant protection device (11) and an airbag system (15) wearable on the body of a vehicle occupant (3), wherein the occupant protection device (11) is associated with a vehicle control unit (18) which, in the event of a vehicle crash, i.e., in the event of a vehicle collision that is at least sufficiently likely to occur, triggers the vehicle-side occupant protection device (11), characterized by , that the vehicle control unit (18) can be brought into signal communication with the portable airbag system (15), and that the vehicle control unit (18) has a coordination module (19) by means of which, in the event of a crash, the activations and the modes of operation of the occupant protection device (11) and the portable airbag system (15) can be coordinated with each other. [2] Occupant protection arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by, that the vehicle control unit (18) has a detection module (21) that detects the presence of the ready-to-use portable airbag system (15), together with its mode of operation and its positioning in the vehicle interior (1), and that the coordination module (19) controls the occupant protection device (11) and / or the portable airbag system (15) on the basis of the data detected by the detection module (21). [3] Occupant protection arrangement according to claim 2, characterized by, that the portable airbag system (15) has an electronic control unit (17) which can be wirelessly connected to the detection module (21) of the vehicle control unit (18) for data exchange, and that a release element (27) which can be actuated by the vehicle occupant (3) is assigned to a data interface of the electronic control unit (17) of the portable airbag system (15), and that when actuated, data exchange between the portable airbag system (15) and the vehicle control unit (18) can be enabled, and / or that in the event of a crash, the vehicle control unit (18) controls the triggering and operation of the portable airbag system (15). [4] Occupant protection arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the operation of the vehicle-side occupant protection device (11) and the portable airbag system (15) can be coordinated with regard to an optimal protective effect for the vehicle occupant (3) by means of the vehicle control unit (18), and / or that the activation times of the occupant protection device (11) and the portable airbag system (15) can be coordinated with each other in the event of a crash by means of the vehicle control unit (18). [5] Occupant protection arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the vehicle control unit (18) has an evaluation module (23) which determines a probable accident scenario (Sn) based on vehicle data in the event of a crash, and that the coordination module (19) of the vehicle control unit (18) controls the occupant protection device (11) and / or the portable airbag system (15) on the basis of the determined accident scenario (Sn). [6] Occupant protection arrangement according to claim 5, characterized by, that the coordination module (19) of the vehicle control unit (18) selectively triggers the occupant protection device (11) and / or the portable airbag system (15) with a time delay and / or adjusts their deployment directions. [7] Occupant protection arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the vehicle control unit (18) is assigned a user profile database (25), and that user-specific usage types (Vn) of the occupant protection device (11) and the portable airbag system (15) can be stored in the user profile database (25), in conjunction with certain vehicle crash types, and that the coordination module (19) controls the occupant protection device (11) and / or the occupant airbag system (15) on the basis of a usage type (Vn) read from the user profile database (25). [8] Occupant protection arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the coordination module (19) of the vehicle control unit (18) makes vehicle settings in normal driving operation or in the event of a crash, based on the data of the portable airbag system (15) acquired by the detection module (23), in order to increase the protective effect of existing protective devices. [9] Occupant protection arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the vehicle control unit (18) is assigned an analysis module by means of which a motion analysis of the vehicle occupant (3) can be carried out before the start of the journey in order to investigate health-protecting settings of the portable airbag system (15) for possible accident scenarios and to define optimal settings for potential crash cases. [10] Occupant protection arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the occupant protection system is a self-learning system in which crash scenarios can be simulated in a simulation process, depending on - an occupant protection device (11) with or without the inclusion of the portable airbag system (15); - Position and posture of the vehicle occupant (3); - available data on the crash; - any known physical limitations of the vehicle occupant (3); and / or - known motion models of the vehicle occupant; and that, depending on the simulation result, an optimized triggering strategy of the occupant protection device (11) and the portable airbag system (15) can be determined.

Images