Method and system for controlling a personal protection device of a vehicle powered by a flammable fuel gas

Abstract

Method for controlling a personal protection device of a vehicle powered by a flammable fuel gas, in particular hydrogen, in the event of an incipient or imminent collision of the vehicle with an impact object, based on measurement data from an accident sensor system of the vehicle, wherein the personal protection device comprises at least one personal protection device, wherein the vehicle is monitored for a leakage-related escape of fuel gas by means of a fuel sensor device of the vehicle, wherein the control of the personal protection device also depends on the detection of a fuel gas escape, wherein the detection of the fuel gas escape is based on a detected fuel gas concentration, and wherein, within the scope of the detection of a fuel gas escape, a spatial distribution of the fuel gas concentration relative to the personal protection device is determined.and wherein the control of the personal protection device is based on the determined spatial distribution.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for controlling a personal protection device of a vehicle powered by a flammable fuel gas in the event of an impending or imminent collision of the vehicle with an impact object, based on measurement data from the vehicle's accident sensors, wherein the personal protection device comprises at least one personal protection element. The invention further relates to a system configured for carrying out such a method.

[0002] Vehicles powered by a flammable fuel gas, particularly hydrogen, are already known. In such a vehicle, the fuel gas is typically stored in gaseous form in a fuel tank and used to propel the vehicle. The vehicle can have a conventional combustion engine, in which the fuel gas is supplied to the combustion engine as fuel, for example, in the form of a processed and compressed fuel gas-air mixture via an injection device. Alternatively, the vehicle can be a fuel cell vehicle with a fuel cell system, in which case the fuel gas is converted into electrical energy in the fuel cells of the fuel cell system. This electrical energy is then supplied to the vehicle's electric motor.

[0003] Modern vehicles, especially those powered by flammable fuel gas, also feature personal protection devices with one or more personal protection devices, whereby the personal protection devices regularly include occupant and pedestrian protection devices designed to protect vehicle occupants or pedestrians and cyclists in the event of an accident.

[0004] Occupant protection systems, which typically include at least one or more occupant restraint devices, are designed to protect vehicle occupants in the event of an accident, particularly a collision with an object, with the aim of preventing injuries to the vehicle occupants or at least reducing their severity. Such a vehicle occupant protection system generally comprises several occupant restraint devices designed as airbags, which catch the occupants in the event of a collision and are typically inflated explosively with a fluid, known as airbag gas.Such an airbag inflates within a short timeframe of 10 ms to 50 ms due to the inflowing airbag gas, creating a cushion between an occupant and parts of the vehicle interior. This cushion protects the occupant from impact with hard interior components such as the steering wheel or side window, absorbing and delaying any collision-induced movement of the occupant. Another known occupant restraint device in a vehicle is a seat belt with a pretensioner.

[0005] Pedestrian protection systems, which typically include at least one pedestrian protection device, are designed to protect pedestrians or cyclists in the event of a collision between a vehicle and the pedestrian or cyclist, with the aim of preventing injuries or at least reducing their severity. Examples of such pedestrian protection devices include an active hood that raises or pops up upon impact and a pedestrian airbag that deploys, for example, through the windshield upon collision.

[0006] The activation of the corresponding personal protective device or equipment is generally based on measurement data from the vehicle's crash sensors, which typically include inertial and contact sensors. More modern vehicles also often feature environmental sensors, comprising one or more sensors to monitor the area around the vehicle and detect objects within that area. It is already known to use these environmental sensors within a collision or impact early warning system, a so-called pre-crash system, to improve the safety of the vehicle's occupants.Based on measurement data from environmental sensors, for example, a time is estimated at which a collision is unavoidable, whereby this time lies in a so-called pre-crash phase before the actual collision time, and based on this, an early control, especially before the actual collision, of, for example, an occupant restraint device of the vehicle takes place.

[0007] The activation of personal protective equipment is predominantly pyrotechnic. For example, irreversible seatbelt pretensioners are usually ignited pyrotechnically, and airbags typically feature hot gas or cold gas generators. In the case of hot gas generators, a pyrotechnic ignition causes the combustion of solid propellant tablets to generate airbag gas, while in the case of cold gas generators, a pyrotechnic ignition ruptures a rupture disc, allowing the release of airbag gas stored in a tank under high pressure. Active hoods are also regularly raised by pyrotechnically driven actuators.

[0008] However, in a vehicle powered by a flammable fuel gas, especially hydrogen, there is a risk that the fuel gas, which is usually highly flammable and colorless and odorless, could leak and ignite, particularly through the pyrotechnic ignition of a personal protective device. Such ignition of the fuel gas could, for example, lead to a vehicle fire and / or serious or fatal injuries to vehicle occupants and people in the vicinity of the vehicle.

[0009] German patent DE 103 61 647 A1 describes a method for shutting down the fuel cell system of a hydrogen-powered vehicle, wherein the vehicle has crash sensors for detecting a crash and hydrogen sensors designed to detect hydrogen leaks. In the event of a crash or hydrogen leak, the fuel cell system is shut down, and in the case of a non-accident-related hydrogen leak, an audible and visual alarm is also issued to the driver of the vehicle.

[0010] DE 43 41 437 C1 describes a method for operating a safety system for a vehicle powered by gaseous fuel with several sensors for detecting the concentration of the gaseous fuel in the air in the vehicle, wherein, depending on a detected concentration, a warning device of the vehicle is triggered, a vehicle electrical circuit or a gas supply of the vehicle is interrupted and / or a ventilation opening of the vehicle is controlled.

[0011] DE 11 2008 001 799 B4 describes a method for operating a vehicle with a fuel cell system and an acceleration sensor as well as a sensor for detecting an operating state of the fuel cell system, wherein the occurrence of an impact of the vehicle is assessed based on the measurement signals of the acceleration sensor and the sensor for detecting an operating state of the fuel cell system, and wherein countermeasures are carried out according to the strength of the impact.

[0012] The object of the present invention is to provide a method and a system for controlling a personal protection device of a vehicle powered by a flammable fuel gas, which, in the event of an incipient or imminent collision of the vehicle with an impact object, enables reliable and demand-based control of the personal protection device and thus provides the greatest possible protection for an occupant or a person colliding with the vehicle.

[0013] The foregoing problem is solved by the entire teaching of claim 1 and dependent claim 13. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims and the following description.

[0014] In the inventive method for controlling a personal protection device of a vehicle powered by a flammable fuel gas, in particular hydrogen, in the event of an incipient or imminent collision of the vehicle with an impact object, based on measurement data from an accident sensor system of the vehicle, wherein the personal protection device comprises at least one personal protection means, the vehicle is monitored for a leakage-related escape of fuel gas by means of a fuel sensor device of the vehicle, wherein the control of the personal protection device also takes place depending on the detection of an escape of the fuel gas.

[0015] A fundamental concept of the invention is therefore based on the fact that the vehicle is monitored for leakage and that the activation of the personal protection device is also based on the detection of a fuel gas leak. Thus, in addition to the measurement data from the vehicle's accident sensors, the activation of the personal protection device also takes into account the detection of a fuel gas leak, in order to prevent, or at least reduce, the ignition of fuel gas that has leaked or is escaping, for example into the vehicle interior or the surrounding area, by a possible pyrotechnic ignition of a personal protection device.

[0016] The embodiment according to the invention therefore has the advantage that it provides a method which, in the event of an incipient or imminent collision of the vehicle powered by a flammable fuel gas with an impact object, enables reliable and demand-based control of the personal protection device and thus the greatest possible protection of an occupant or a person colliding with the vehicle.

[0017] Advantageously, the method for controlling the vehicle's personal protection device in the event of an impending or imminent collision of the vehicle with an impact object is designed in such a way that the steps according to the invention are carried out in a pre-crash phase of an unavoidable collision of the vehicle.

[0018] Advantageously, the vehicle is designed as a fuel cell vehicle with a fuel cell system, wherein the fuel gas is converted into electrical energy in the fuel cells of the fuel cell system, which is then supplied to a drive motor of the vehicle designed as an electric motor. Alternatively, the vehicle can have a drive motor designed as an internal combustion engine, wherein the fuel gas is supplied to the internal combustion engine as fuel for combustion. Advantageously, the vehicle has a fuel storage device, in particular a fuel tank, in which the fuel gas is stored. Advantageously, the fuel gas is (gaseous) hydrogen.

[0019] Advantageously, the impact object is designed as another vehicle different from the vehicle, or as a stationary object such as a wall, a guardrail or a tree, or as a person such as a pedestrian or cyclist.

[0020] Within the scope of the invention, controlling the personal protection device comprises activating or triggering or preconditioning the personal protection device, in particular the at least one personal protection means; preferably, controlling the personal protection device is understood to mean activating or triggering or preconditioning the personal protection device, in particular the at least one personal protection means.

[0021] Depending on the detection of a fuel gas leak, the personal protective device is advantageously activated to an extent that also depends on the detection of a fuel gas leak. In particular, the activation of the personal protective device, which was initially determined based on measurement data from the vehicle's accident sensors or would theoretically be determined, is adjusted or adapted based on the detection of the fuel gas leak. Preferably, a set of activation variants for the personal protective device is determined from a plurality of possible activation variants.

[0022] According to the invention, the fuel gas is detected based on a detected fuel gas concentration. The personal protective device is then activated, in particular to an extent that also depends on the detected fuel gas concentration.

[0023] In a further advantageous embodiment, the detection of the fuel gas leakage is carried out by comparing the detected fuel gas concentration with a predetermined concentration limit value, whereby a leakage is detected if the detected fuel gas concentration is greater than the concentration limit value.

[0024] In contrast, a leak is not detected if the detected fuel gas concentration is less than or equal to the specified concentration limit.

[0025] According to the invention, in the context of detecting a fuel gas leak, a spatial distribution of the fuel gas concentration relative to the personal protective device, in particular relative to the at least one personal protective device, is determined, wherein the control of the personal protective device is based on the determined spatial distribution.

[0026] In a further advantageous embodiment, the activation of the personal protection device, in particular of the at least one personal protection device, is suppressed if the spatial distance between the personal protection device, in particular between the at least one personal protection device, and a location where a fuel gas concentration exceeds a predetermined concentration limit is less than a predetermined distance limit.In this case, activation of the personal protective device, in particular of at least one personal protective device, is suppressed or prevented if there is a certain or predetermined spatial proximity between a location with a certain or predetermined fuel gas concentration and the personal protective device, in particular of at least one personal protective device, since the risk of ignition of the fuel gas by activating or igniting the personal protective device, in particular of at least one personal protective device, is particularly high here.

[0027] In a further advantageous embodiment, the personal protection device comprises several personal protection devices, wherein, instead of the personal protection device whose activation is suppressed, another personal protection device is activated, the latter corresponding to the suppressed personal protection device to the greatest extent possible with regard to its protective effect. Advantageously, the other personal protection device is not activated by a pyrotechnic ignition and is therefore preferably designed as a personal protection device that cannot be activated by a pyrotechnic ignition, in particular as a reversible personal protection device.

[0028] In a further advantageous embodiment, based on the measurement data of the accident sensors, a crash severity of the incipient or imminent collision of the vehicle with the impact object is determined, wherein the control of the personal protection device, in particular of the at least one personal protection device, also takes place depending on the determined crash severity.

[0029] In a further advantageous embodiment, in which activation of the personal protection device, in particular of the at least one personal protection device, is suppressed when a spatial distance between the personal protection device, in particular between the at least one personal protection device, and a location where a fuel gas concentration exceeds a predetermined concentration limit is less than a predetermined distance limit, the determined crash severity is compared with a predetermined severity limit, wherein activation of the personal protection device, in particular of the at least one personal protection device, is suppressed only if the determined crash severity is less than the predetermined severity limit.In this way, in the event of a particularly serious collision, especially one that could result in very serious or fatal injuries, the activation of the personal protection device, in particular of at least one personal protection device, is not suppressed, even at the risk of ignition of the fuel gas, although a corresponding fuel gas concentration has been detected, in order to at least mitigate or even prevent the serious consequences of the collision by activating the personal protection device, in particular of at least one personal protection device.

[0030] In a further advantageous embodiment, in response to the detection of a fuel gas leak, a side window and / or a sunroof of the vehicle is at least partially, and in particular completely, opened. This allows at least partial venting or escape of any fuel gas that has leaked or is leaking into the interior or passenger compartment of the vehicle, thereby further reducing the risk of ignition of the fuel gas.

[0031] In a further advantageous embodiment, the fuel sensor device comprises several fuel sensors, which are designed in particular for measuring a fuel gas concentration, wherein the fuel sensors are arranged in and / or on the vehicle, wherein at least one fuel sensor is arranged in the interior, in particular in the passenger compartment, of the vehicle and / or in the engine compartment of the vehicle and / or on or in the area of ​​a fuel storage device, in particular a fuel tank, of the vehicle, and wherein preferably at least one fuel sensor is arranged on the vehicle, in particular on a vehicle exterior, such that the fuel sensor monitors an escape of the fuel gas, in particular a fuel gas concentration, in the vicinity of the vehicle. Advantageously, the fuel sensors are designed as hydrogen sensors, which are designed in particular for measuring a hydrogen concentration.The fuel storage device is advantageously designed as a hydrogen storage device, in particular as a hydrogen tank.

[0032] In a further advantageous embodiment, the pedestrian protection device comprises a pedestrian protection device with at least one pedestrian protection device and / or an occupant protection device with at least one pedestrian protection device, in particular a reversible or irreversible occupant restraint device. Advantageously, the at least one pedestrian protection device is configured as an active hood or a pedestrian airbag.The at least one occupant protection device is advantageously designed as an airbag, such as a driver or passenger airbag, side airbag, curtain airbag or thorax airbag, or as a belt tensioner of a safety belt, or as an adjustable restraint bar that is adjustable between a non-functional position and a restraint position in which the bar secures an occupant on a vehicle seat, and which is in particular at least partially padded with an energy-absorbing material.

[0033] In a further advantageous embodiment, the accident sensor system comprises an environmental sensor system for monitoring the vehicle's surroundings, wherein the environmental sensor system includes at least one environmental sensor, and wherein the at least one environmental sensor is configured as a camera, radar sensor, lidar sensor, ultrasonic sensor, or infrared sensor. Advantageously, the environmental sensor system comprises multiple environmental sensors, wherein the multiple environmental sensors are configured as a camera and / or a radar sensor and / or a lidar sensor and / or an ultrasonic sensor and / or an infrared sensor. Thus, the environmental sensor system can comprise multiple environmental sensors of only one of the aforementioned sensor types, for example, multiple radar sensors, or multiple environmental sensors of different aforementioned sensor types, for example, one or more radar sensors and also one or more ultrasonic sensors.

[0034] In a further advantageous embodiment, the accident sensor system alternatively or additionally comprises interior sensors for monitoring an interior space, in particular a passenger compartment, wherein the interior sensor system comprises at least one interior sensor, and wherein the at least one interior sensor is configured as an interior camera, an interior radar sensor, or a weight or pressure sensor arranged in a vehicle seat. Advantageously, the interior sensor system, or the at least one interior sensor, is configured for detecting occupants and / or objects in the interior space, in particular for detecting the position, posture, height, and / or weight of an occupant. Advantageously, the interior sensor system comprises multiple interior sensors, wherein the multiple interior sensors are configured as an interior camera, an interior radar sensor, and / or a weight or pressure sensor arranged in a vehicle seat.The interior sensor system can therefore consist of several interior sensors of only one type of sensor, for example several interior cameras, or several interior sensors of different types of sensors, for example one or more interior cameras and also one or more interior radar sensors.

[0035] Advantageously, the accident sensor system includes, as an alternative or in addition to an environment sensor system and / or an interior sensor system, an inertial sensor system and a contact sensor system, wherein the inertial sensor system has at least one acceleration sensor and / or a yaw rate sensor, and wherein the contact sensor system has at least one pressure sensor.

[0036] Furthermore, the present invention comprises a system for controlling a personal protection device of a vehicle powered by a flammable fuel gas, in particular hydrogen, in the event of an impending or imminent collision of the vehicle with an impact object, wherein the system is designed or configured to carry out the method according to the invention.

[0037] The advantages and preferred embodiments described for the method according to the invention also apply accordingly to the system according to the invention.

[0038] The system advantageously comprises an electronic control unit, preferably a control device, preferably an airbag control device, wherein in particular the electronic control unit is designed to carry out the method according to the invention.

Claims

[1] A method for controlling a personal protection device of a vehicle powered by a flammable fuel gas, in particular hydrogen, in the event of an impending or imminent collision of the vehicle with an impact object, based on measurement data from an accident sensor system of the vehicle, wherein the personal protection device comprises at least one personal protection device, wherein the vehicle is monitored for a leakage-related escape of fuel gas by means of a fuel sensor device of the vehicle, wherein the control of the personal protection device also depends on the detection of an escape of the fuel gas, wherein the detection of the escape of the fuel gas is based on a detected fuel gas concentration, wherein, in the context of the detection of an escape of the fuel gas, a spatial distribution of the fuel gas concentration relative to the personal protection device is determined,and wherein the control of the personal protection device is based on the determined spatial distribution. [2] Method according to claim 1, wherein the detection of the fuel gas leakage is carried out by comparing the detected fuel gas concentration with a predetermined concentration limit value, wherein a leakage is detected if the detected fuel gas concentration is greater than the concentration limit value. [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the spatial distribution of the fuel gas concentration is determined relative to the at least one personal protective equipment. [4] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein control of the personal protection device, in particular of the at least one personal protection device, is suppressed when a spatial distance between the personal protection device, in particular between the at least one personal protection device, and a location where a fuel gas concentration exceeds a predetermined concentration limit is less than a predetermined distance limit. [5] Method according to claim 4, wherein the personal protection device comprises several personal protection means, and wherein, instead of the personal protection means whose control is suppressed, another personal protection means is controlled which corresponds to the protective effect of the suppressed personal protection means to the greatest extent possible with regard to its protective effect. [6] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, based on the measurement data of the accident sensors, a crash severity of the incipient or imminent collision of the vehicle with the impact object is determined, and wherein the control of the personal protection device, in particular of the at least one personal protection device, also takes place depending on the determined crash severity. [7] Method according to claims 5 and 6, wherein the determined crash severity is compared with a predetermined severity limit value, and wherein the control of the personal protection device, in particular of the at least one personal protection device, is suppressed only if the determined crash severity is less than the predetermined severity limit value. [8] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, in response to the detection of a fuel gas leak, a side window and / or a sunroof of the vehicle is at least partially opened. [9] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fuel sensor device comprises several fuel sensors, which are designed in particular for measuring a fuel gas concentration, wherein the fuel sensors are arranged in and / or on the vehicle, wherein at least one fuel sensor is arranged in the interior, in particular in the passenger compartment, of the vehicle and / or in the engine compartment of the vehicle and / or on or in the area of ​​a fuel storage device, in particular a fuel tank, of the vehicle, and wherein preferably at least one fuel sensor is arranged on the vehicle, in particular on a vehicle outer skin, such that the fuel sensor monitors an escape of the fuel gas, in particular a fuel gas concentration, in an environment of the vehicle. [10] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the personal protection device comprises a pedestrian protection device with at least one personal protection device designed as a pedestrian protection device and / or an occupant protection device with at least one personal protection device designed as an occupant protection device, in particular as a reversible or irreversible occupant restraint device. [11] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the accident sensor system comprises an environment sensor system for monitoring an environment of the vehicle, wherein the environment sensor system has at least one environment sensor, and wherein the at least one environment sensor is designed as a camera or a radar sensor or a lidar sensor or an ultrasonic sensor or an infrared sensor. [12] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the accident sensor system comprises an interior sensor system for monitoring an interior space, in particular a passenger compartment, wherein the interior sensor system comprises at least one interior sensor, and wherein the at least one interior sensor is designed as an interior camera or an interior radar sensor or a weight or pressure sensor arranged in a vehicle seat. [13] System for controlling a personal protection device of a vehicle powered by a flammable fuel gas, in particular hydrogen, in the event of an incipient or imminent collision of the vehicle with an impact object, wherein the system is configured to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims.