External air bag for vehicle

Abstract

According to the present invention, an external airbag system for a vehicle is introduced, characterized by: a detection sensor for detecting an obstacle moving at the rear or side of a vehicle; an airbag cushion provided on a rear frame on which a vehicle door is mounted, which deploys when the vehicle door is open and extends in the left and right directions of the vehicle upon deployment; and a control unit that controls the airbag cushion to deploy when an obstacle is detected by the detection sensor.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an external airbag for a vehicle that deploys to the outside of the vehicle. Background Technology

[0003] Automobiles are equipped with various safety devices to protect drivers and passengers in preparation for sudden emergencies, and a representative safety device is the airbag system, which directly protects the driver and passengers seated in the vehicle.

[0004] Airbag systems are internal airbag devices in which airbag gas deploys inside the vehicle; while they can protect occupants inside the vehicle, they have the drawback of providing no protection whatsoever to one's own vehicle, the other vehicle involved in a collision, or external personnel. To address this problem, external airbag systems have been proposed in the past, in which an airbag cushion deploys across the front of the vehicle upon impact.

[0005] Conventional external airbags were developed to prepare for frontal or side collisions while the vehicle is in motion, but they had a problem in that they could not prepare for obstacles, such as motorcycles moving from the rear to the side when the vehicle door is opened.

[0007] The matters described above as background technology are intended only to enhance understanding of the background of the present invention and should not be construed as an acknowledgment that they constitute prior art already known to those skilled in the art. Prior art literature

[0009] KR 10-1198842 B1 The problem to be solved

[0010] The present invention is proposed to solve these problems and aims to prevent collisions caused by the opening of the vehicle door with obstacles moving sideways from the rear of the vehicle by installing an airbag that deploys from the pillar on the door side of the vehicle toward the outside of the vehicle. means of solving the problem

[0012] An external airbag system for a vehicle according to the present invention comprises: a detection sensor for detecting an obstacle moving at the rear or side of the vehicle; an airbag cushion provided on a rear frame on which the vehicle door is mounted, which deploys when the vehicle door is open and extends in the left and right directions of the vehicle upon deployment; and

[0013] A control unit is included that controls the airbag cushion to deploy when an obstacle is detected by a detection sensor.

[0014] It may further include an inflator that is connected to the airbag cushion and injects gas into the interior of the airbag cushion to deploy the airbag cushion.

[0015] The control unit detects the opening angle of the vehicle door and can deploy the airbag cushion if the door is opened beyond a preset opening angle and an obstacle is detected by the detection sensor.

[0016] The control unit can deploy the airbag cushion when the detection sensor detects that an obstacle is moving from the rear to the side of the vehicle and the vehicle door is opened.

[0017] The control unit can deploy the airbag cushion when it detects that an obstacle detected by the detection sensor is moving from the rear of the vehicle to the side, and when it detects that the relative distance between the obstacle and the door is within a preset braking distance.

[0018] It may further include a housing in which an airbag cushion is stored; and a mounting part that is combined with the housing and mounted on a rear frame on which a door is mounted on a vehicle.

[0019] The housing includes a cover covering the outer side, and the cover is provided with a tear seam so that when the airbag cushion deploys, the tear seam is cut and the airbag cushion can deploy.

[0020] The airbag cushion may include a first support member that is mounted inside the rear frame and deploys inside the rear frame, and an extension member that extends from the first support member to the outside of the vehicle.

[0021] It may further include a tether that supports the extension, with one end connected to the extension and the other end connected to the rear frame where the vehicle door is mounted.

[0022] The first support member extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and the extension member can be bent from the first support member and extended to the outside of the vehicle.

[0023] It may further include a sewn portion in which the portions bent outwardly between the first support portion and the extension portion are sewn to overlap each other.

[0024] The airbag cushion may further include a second support member that protrudes from the first support member toward the interior of the vehicle to contact the rear frame and supports the extension member. Effects of the invention

[0026] The vehicle airbag according to the present invention has the effect of preventing collision between the obstacle, the passenger, and the door by deploying the airbag cushion when it detects that the door is open and that an obstacle is moving from the rear of the vehicle toward the side where the door is open.

[0027] In addition, the airbag cushion has the effect of protecting the driver of the two-wheeled vehicle if the obstacle is a two-wheeled vehicle. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0029] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an external airbag for a vehicle in a deployed state according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an external airbag for a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an external airbag for a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a vehicle exterior airbag in a deployed state according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating an obstacle moving laterally from the rear of a vehicle. FIGS. 6 and 7 are drawings illustrating various embodiments of an external airbag for a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0030] Specific structural or functional descriptions of the embodiments of the present invention disclosed in this specification or application are merely illustrative for the purpose of explaining embodiments according to the present invention, and embodiments according to the present invention may be implemented in various forms and should not be interpreted as being limited to the embodiments described in this specification or application.

[0031] Since embodiments according to the present invention may be subject to various modifications and may take various forms, specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in this specification or application. However, this is not intended to limit embodiments according to the concept of the present invention to specific disclosed forms, and it should be understood that it includes all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions that fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0032] Terms such as "first" and / or "second" may be used to describe various components, but said components should not be limited by said terms. For the sole purpose of distinguishing one component from another, for example, without departing from the scope of rights according to the concept of the present invention, the first component may be named the second component, and similarly, the second component may be named the first component.

[0033] When it is stated that one component is "connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that while it may be directly connected or connected to that other component, there may also be other components in between. Conversely, when it is stated that one component is "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components in between. Other expressions describing the relationship between components, such as "between" and "exactly between," or "adjacent to" and "directly adjacent to," should be interpreted in the same way.

[0034] The terms used herein are used merely to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this specification, terms such as “comprising” or “having” are intended to specify the existence of the implemented features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof, and should be understood as not precluding the existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0035] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as generally understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant technology, and should not be interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined in this specification.

[0036] The present invention will be described in detail below by explaining preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the attached drawings. Identical reference numerals in each drawing indicate identical components.

[0037] A control unit (20) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be implemented through a non-volatile memory (not shown) configured to store data relating to an algorithm configured to control the operation of various components of a vehicle or software instructions for reproducing said algorithm, and a processor (not shown) configured to perform the operation described below using the data stored in said memory. Here, the memory and the processor may be implemented as separate chips. Alternatively, the memory and the processor may be implemented as a single chip integrated with each other. The processor may take the form of one or more processors.

[0038] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an external airbag for a vehicle in a deployed state according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an external airbag for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an external airbag for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an external airbag for a vehicle in a deployed state according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, we will examine a preferred embodiment of an external airbag system for a vehicle according to the present invention.

[0040] An external airbag system for a vehicle according to the present invention comprises: a detection sensor (10) for detecting an obstacle moving in the rear or side of the vehicle; an airbag cushion (100) provided on a rear frame on which the vehicle door is mounted, which deploys when the vehicle door is open and extends in the left and right directions of the vehicle when deployed; and a control unit (20) for controlling the deployment of the airbag cushion (100) when an obstacle is detected by the detection sensor (10).

[0041] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the detection sensor (10) can detect an obstacle moving from the rear to the side of the vehicle. The detection sensor (10) may be an ultrasonic sensor, a radar sensor, or a camera sensor provided outside or inside the vehicle, and the radar sensor or camera sensor can detect the obstacle moving from the rear to the side of the vehicle and detect the speed of the obstacle's movement, and the ultrasonic sensor can detect the location of the approaching obstacle.

[0042] The airbag cushion (100) can be mounted on the rear frame of the frame where the vehicle door is mounted, and can be deployed only when the door is open.

[0043] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the airbag cushion (100) can be deployed laterally from the rear frame of the door and can protect a passenger getting off or the door of the vehicle by coming into contact with an obstacle moving from the rear to the side of the vehicle.

[0044] Generally, the rear frame of the door can be the B-pillar or C-pillar of the vehicle frame, and the airbag cushion (100) can be mounted on the B-pillar or C-pillar.

[0045] The control unit (20) is connected to the detection sensor (10) and can deploy the airbag cushion (100) when the detection sensor (10) detects that an obstacle is moving from the rear or rear side of the vehicle to the side of the vehicle and the vehicle door is open.

[0046] Obstacles can generally be two-wheeled vehicles or bicycles traveling to the side of the vehicle when the door is opened after the vehicle has stopped.

[0047] Through this, when the vehicle stops and a passenger opens the door to exit, the airbag cushion (100) deploys to prevent collision between an obstacle moving to the side of the vehicle and the exiting passenger or the open door, thereby protecting the passenger or preventing damage to the door.

[0048] In addition, if the obstacle moving to the side of the vehicle is a motorcycle, it is effective in preventing injury to the motorcycle rider as well.

[0049] It may further include an inflator (110) that is connected to the airbag cushion and injects gas into the interior of the airbag cushion (100) to deploy the airbag cushion (100).

[0050] As shown in FIG. 3, the inflator (110) is directly connected to the airbag cushion (100) and can be mounted on the rear frame where the door of the vehicle is mounted together with the airbag cushion (100).

[0051] The control unit (20) is connected to the inflator (110) and can operate the inflator (110) when the detection sensor (10) detects the movement of an obstacle and detects that the vehicle door is open.

[0052] Through this, it operates by receiving a signal from the control unit (20) and can quickly inject gas into the airbag cushion (100).

[0053] The control unit (20) detects the opening angle of the vehicle door and can deploy the airbag cushion (100) when the door is opened beyond a preset opening angle and an obstacle is detected by the detection sensor (10).

[0054] The control unit (20) can be connected to a door opening / closing system that opens and closes the door, and when the door is opened at an angle greater than an angle at which it can come into contact with an obstacle moving to the side of the vehicle or at an angle greater than an angle at which the airbag cushion (100) can be deployed, and the detection sensor (10) detects that an obstacle is moving to the side of the vehicle where the door is opened from the rear or rear side of the vehicle, the airbag cushion (100) can be deployed.

[0055] This allows for the effect of preventing unnecessary consumption of the airbag cushion (100) by limiting the deployment of the airbag cushion (100) when the door does not collide with an obstacle when the opening angle of the door is small or when there is insufficient space for the airbag cushion (100) to deploy sufficiently.

[0056] The control unit (20) can deploy the airbag cushion (100) when the detection sensor (10) detects that an obstacle is moving from the rear to the side of the vehicle and the vehicle door is opened.

[0057] The control unit (20) can control the airbag cushion (100) to deploy immediately when the detection sensor (10) detects that an obstacle is moving from the rear or rear side of the vehicle to the side of the vehicle and a passenger opens the door to the side of the vehicle where the obstacle is moving.

[0058] Through this, the movement of an obstacle from the rear to the side of the vehicle is detected, and if the vehicle door is suddenly opened, the airbag cushion (100) is quickly deployed to prevent damage to the door or injury to the passenger.

[0059] FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating an obstacle moving from the rear of a vehicle to the side, and FIG. 6 and 7 are drawings illustrating various embodiments of an external airbag for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0060] The control unit (20) can deploy the airbag cushion (100) when the relative distance between the obstacle and the door is detected to be within a preset braking distance when the obstacle detected by the detection sensor (10) moves to the side from the rear of the vehicle.

[0061] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the detection sensor (10) can detect the moving position and moving speed of an obstacle, and the control unit (20) can calculate the braking distance of the obstacle based on the moving speed of the obstacle detected by the detection sensor (10), so that the obstacle is continuously detected when it enters at the same speed without braking within the braking distance, and the vehicle door is opened beyond a preset opening angle, so that the airbag cushion (100) is deployed.

[0062] Through this, when an obstacle moving sideways behind the vehicle or a driver of a two-wheeled vehicle recognizes that the vehicle door is open or is about to be opened and slows down to stop, the airbag cushion (100) is not deployed, thereby preventing unnecessary consumption of the airbag cushion (100).

[0063] It may further include a housing (120) in which an airbag cushion (100) is housed; and a mounting part (130) which is coupled with the housing (120) and mounted on a rear frame on which a door is mounted on a vehicle.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 2, the airbag cushion (100) is folded or rolled and stored inside the housing (120), and after being connected to the inflator (110), the mounting part (130) and the housing (120) are combined and can be mounted on the rear frame where the vehicle door is mounted.

[0065] This allows it to be mounted on the B-pillar or C-pillar of the vehicle, and prevents contamination or damage to the airbag cushion (100) due to external foreign matter.

[0066] The housing (120) includes a cover (121) that covers the outer side, and the cover (121) is provided with a tear seam so that when the airbag cushion (100) is deployed, the tear seam is cut and the airbag cushion (100) can be deployed.

[0067] The housing (120) is mounted inside the rear frame, and a cover (121) covering the outside of the housing (120) may be provided, and a teershim extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle is formed in the cover (121), so that when the airbag cushion (100) is deployed, the teershim is cut and folded or rolled so that the airbag cushion (100) stored inside the housing (120) can be quickly deployed to the outside of the vehicle without a separate opening device.

[0068] The airbag cushion (100) may include a first support member (100a) that is mounted inside the rear frame and deploys inside the rear frame, and an extension member (100b) that extends from the first support member (100a) to the outside of the vehicle.

[0069] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the airbag cushion (100) may be formed with a first support member (100a) deployed inside the housing (120) and an extension member (100b) extended from the first support member (100a) to the outside of the vehicle, the first support member (100a) is expanded by gas in the internal space of the housing (120), and the extension member (100b) may be deployed in a direction to the outside of the vehicle in communication with the first support member (100a).

[0070] Through this, the first support member (100a) is positioned on the inner side of the housing, thereby supporting the extension member (100b) located on the outer side of the housing (120) so that it does not shake, and thus the supporting force of the extension member (100b) can be improved, and the extension member (100b) can extend to the outside of the vehicle and come into contact with an obstacle moving to the side of the vehicle.

[0071] It may further include a tether (140) that supports the extension (100b), with one end connected to the extension (100b) and the other end connected to the rear frame where the vehicle door is mounted.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 6, the tether (140) has one end connected to one side of the extension part and the other end can be coupled to the rear frame or housing (120) of the vehicle, so that the tether (140) can support the extension part (100b).

[0073] Through this, when an obstacle or a driver of a two-wheeled vehicle loads the extension (100b), the tether (140) supports the extension (100b), thereby preventing the extension (100b) from moving toward the front of the vehicle.

[0074] The first support member (100a) extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and the extension member (100b) can be bent from the first support member (100a) and extended to the outside of the vehicle.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 4, the first support member (100a) extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and the extension member (100b) can be bent from the first support member (100a) and extended to the outside of the vehicle.

[0076] Through this, the airbag cushion (100) can be mounted on the rear frame so as not to be exposed to the outside of the vehicle, and the first support member (100a) and the extension member (100b) are connected in a direction that intersects each other, thereby having the effect of improving the support strength of the first support member (100a).

[0077] It may further include a sewn portion (150) in which the portions bent outwardly between the first support portion (100a) and the extension portion (100b) are sewn to overlap each other.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 7, a sewing part (150) may be provided to sew one side of each of the first support part (100a) and the extension part (100b) at the outer part of the vehicle at the location where the first support part (100a) is bent to the extension part (100b).

[0079] The sewing part (150) supports the extension part (100b) from bending forward when it comes into contact with an obstacle, thereby reducing the impact transmitted to the vehicle door or passenger getting off when the obstacle and the extension part (100b) are loaded.

[0080] The airbag cushion further includes a second support member (100c) that protrudes from a first support member (100a) toward the interior of the vehicle to contact the rear frame and supports an extension member (100b).

[0081] As shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, the second support member (100c) may be formed to protrude toward the interior of the vehicle from the inner end of the extension member (100b) or the front of the first support member (100a).

[0082] When an obstacle is detected at the rear of the vehicle on the side where the vehicle door is open, the airbag cushion may be deployed, and when the extension part (100b) comes into contact with an obstacle moving from the rear toward the extension part (100b), the airbag cushion may rotate the extension part (100b) forward relative to the first support part (100a) during loading.

[0083] At this time, the second support member (100c) is formed to protrude toward the vehicle interior from the end of the extension member (100b) and can be supported on the rear frame.

[0084] This allows the rotation of the extension (100b) to be supported and has the effect of reducing the impact of obstacles.

[0086] Although specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention may be modified and changed in various ways without departing from the technical spirit of the invention as provided by the following claims. Explanation of the symbols

[0088] 10 : Detection sensor 20 : Control unit 100 : Airbag cushion 100a : First support part 100b : Extension part 100c : Second support 110 : Inflator 120 : Housing 121 : Cover 130 : Mounting part 140 : Tether 150 : Sewing part

Claims

Claim 1 An external airbag system for a vehicle comprising: a detection sensor for detecting an obstacle moving at the rear or side of the vehicle; an airbag cushion provided on a rear frame on which the vehicle door is mounted, which deploys when the vehicle door is open and extends in the left and right directions of the vehicle upon deployment; and a control unit that checks the opening angle of the vehicle door and controls the deployment of the airbag cushion when the door is open beyond a preset opening angle and an obstacle is detected by the detection sensor. Claim 2 An external airbag system of a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising an inflator connected to an airbag cushion and injecting gas into the interior of the airbag cushion to deploy the airbag cushion. Claim 3 delete Claim 4 An external airbag system of a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit deploys an airbag cushion when an obstacle is detected moving from the rear to the side of the vehicle by a detection sensor and the vehicle door is opened. Claim 5 An external airbag system of a vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that the control unit deploys an airbag cushion when the relative distance between the obstacle and the door is detected to be within a preset braking distance when the obstacle is detected to be moving laterally from the rear of the vehicle by the detection sensor. Claim 6 An external airbag system for a vehicle comprising: a detection sensor for detecting an obstacle moving in the rear or side of the vehicle; an airbag cushion provided on a rear frame on which the vehicle door is mounted, which deploys when the vehicle door is open and extends in the left and right directions of the vehicle upon deployment; a housing in which the airbag cushion is housed; a mounting part coupled with the housing and mounted on the rear frame on which the vehicle door is mounted; and a control part for controlling the deployment of the airbag cushion when an obstacle is detected by the detection sensor. Claim 7 An exterior airbag system of a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the housing includes a cover covering the outer side, and the cover is provided with a tear seam so that when the airbag cushion is deployed, the tear seam is cut and the airbag cushion is deployed. Claim 8 An external airbag system for a vehicle comprising: a detection sensor for detecting an obstacle moving in the rear or side of the vehicle; an airbag cushion provided on a rear frame on which the vehicle door is mounted, which deploys when the vehicle door is open and extends in the left and right directions of the vehicle upon deployment; and a control unit for controlling the deployment of the airbag cushion when an obstacle is detected by the detection sensor; wherein the airbag cushion includes a first support member mounted inside the rear frame and deployed inside the rear frame, and an extension member extending from the first support member to the outside of the vehicle. Claim 9 An exterior airbag system for a vehicle according to claim 8, further comprising a tether in which one end is connected to an extension and the other end is connected to a rear frame on which a vehicle door is mounted to support the extension. Claim 10 An exterior airbag system for a vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that the first support member extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and the extension member is bent from the first support member and extends to the outside of the vehicle. Claim 11 An exterior airbag system for a vehicle according to claim 10, further comprising a sewn portion in which the portions bent outwardly between the first support portion and the extension portion are sewn to overlap each other. Claim 12 An exterior airbag system of a vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that the airbag cushion further includes a second support member that protrudes from a first support member toward the interior of the vehicle to contact a rear frame and supports an extension member.

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