Occupant-protection system for a motor vehicle, comprising a child's seat

0001The invention relates to an occupant protection system with a A child seat for a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim Claim 1 is a derarter occupant protection system From EP-A-0819566. The protection of the occupants of motor vehicles is also protected Children, especially small children, is of great importance to. There were developed children's seats on the passenger seat Rearward to the direction of travel, So that a child sitting in the child 's seat can be found in the Proximity of the vehicle driving the vehicle or the father, But in particular during a collision of the vehicle Protected by the backrest of the child seat itself Is. One problem that is encountered with such child seats, Is that an airbag in front of the passenger seat does not May be triggered if the child seat on the passenger seat Is located. A triggering of the airbag could be for the Child constitute an additional risk of injury.

0002To solve this problem, in the generic US Pat 5,468,014, which is largely taken from the enclosed FIG Is proposed to determine by means of a sensor whether Or a child seat on a latching detent device And when the locking device is locked, the Triggering of the airbag assigned to the passenger seat. According to FIG. 4, on a passenger seat 2 in FIG Rear region of its seat cushion 4 detent means 6 for receiving child's seat 8 Mounting components 10. It is to be understood that The detent devices 6 are rigidly connected to the frame of the passenger seat 2 and the mounting members 10 are rigid With a base of the safety seat Child seat 8. In the detent means 6 Are not shown in the aforementioned US Pat. No. 5,468,014 Sensors arranged via lines 12 with a control unit 14 (Electronic Control Unit) are connected via the An airbag unit 16 is activated, which in the region before The passenger seat 2 in the dash panel 18 of the motor vehicle Is accommodated. The not shown, in the detent devices 6 can be used, for example, as The control unit 14 can be designed as a control unit Impulses generated by them react and trigger the Airbag unit 16. Furthermore, the sensors Can be designed in such a way that, when the latching is not perfect Of the fastening components 10 with the detent means 6 emit a signal indicating a warning in the control panel Triggers

0003Another way to get a signal for airbag shut-off , Consists of transmitting and receiving mats in the passenger seat And in the child seat 8 a transponder Which is based on a send signal with an answer signal Which then passes from the receiving mat to the Control unit 14 and a blocking of the airbag Triggers

0004The invention is based on the object of providing a generic, In the occupant protection system Training provides a particularly high level of security against Malfunctions.

0005This object is achieved with the features of the main claim.

0006In the occupant protection system according to the invention, the Switch state of the switch the effectiveness of electrical Functional element, via which, in turn, the functionality of the Zondkreis Can be influenced such that the airbag can be closed at Open switch via the then effective electrical functional element Can not be triggered.

0007The subclaims are based on advantageous embodiments And further developments of the occupant protection system according to the invention .

0008The invention is described in the following by means of schematic drawings For example, and with further details.

0009They represent:<dl tsize="12"><dt>FIG</dt><dd>4 is a block circuit diagram of a device according to the invention occupant protection system,</dd><dt>FIGS. 2 and 3</dt><dd>Two different positions of one Switch, and</dd><dt>FIG</dt><dd>A principle arrangement of a known occupant protection system, Which has already been explained above has been.</dd></dl>

0010According to FIG. 1, a control device 14 is connected via a line 20 with A squib 22, which is arranged in the airbag unit 16 According to FIG. The squib 22 is connected via a Series circuit consisting of two switches 26 and 28 with the control unit 14. Parallel to the switches 26 and 28 Resistors 30 and 32. The described circuit forms An ignition circuit 40 for igniting the squib 22. The control unit 14 connects to signals located at its inputs 34 The ignition circuit 40 with a voltage source (not shown) For example an ignition capacitor. The signals are, for example, Of delay sensors and in the control unit Is evaluated.

0011The switches 26 and 28, which are arranged within the detent means 6 Of FIG. 4 are opened by means of tappets 36 and 38, Which are of the type shown at the child seat 8 (FIG. 4) Fastening components 10 when they are inserted into the detent devices 6 are actuated.

0012The function of the described arrangement is as follows: In the illustrated state, in which the switches 26 and 28 Are closed, the child seat 8 is not on the passenger seat 2, ie the fastening components 10 protrude Not into the detent means 6. The illustrated circuit Then functions in a manner known per se as one Conventional circuit for triggering an airbag, ie, when connecting Of the squib 22 with a corresponding, not shown For example, in the control unit 14, the squib 22 becomes so much power Characterized in that pyrotechnic material for inflating the Not shown.

0013When the child seat 8 is attached to the passenger seat 2, ie The fastening components 10 are inserted into the detent devices 6 The plungers 36 and 38 are actuated so that Open the switches 26 and 28 and open the series circuit from the Resistors 30 and 32 becomes effective. This increases The resistance, via which the squib 22 with the ignition energy source Which feeds the squib to the squib 22 Power is no longer sufficient for their ignition. It Is thus a high degree of security against false alarms In the child seat 8 attached to the passenger seat 2. The resistance shown in FIG The ignition circuit can be operated in a manner known per se from the control unit 14 are constantly detected for diagnostic purposes, so that from the Control unit 14 can be diagnosed To which only one of the switches 26 and 28 is closed. This Can be used for an error message displayed to the driver As it indicates a dangerous state The child 's seat 8 is insufficiently fitted to the passenger seat 2 is attached.

0014With the illustrated circuit, thus, in addition to a connection Of the deployment of the airbag also a diagnosis of the Perfect attachment of the child seat.

0015Parallel to the switches 26 and 28, the As bridging resistors with in the illustrated example In each case resistors 30 and 32, which are represented by approximately 1 kΩ be; The components 30 and 32 could also have inductors Or capacitances, of which the outputs of the control device 14 can be detected with the Position of the switches 26 and 28.

0016For the multiple redundant circuits described with reference to FIG Functional safety of the system is a simple, But nevertheless long-term and functional training The switches 26 and 28 and their co-operation with the mounting members 10 is advantageous.

0017FIGS. 2 and 3 show two different switching states of one Particularly advantageous configuration of the switches.

0018Referring to FIG. 2, each of the switches has a reed contact 42 On which a permanent magnet 44 is displaceably arranged. The permanent magnet 44 is urged against a stop by a spring 46 48 are elastically prestressed. In the region of the stop 48, Position of the permanent magnet 44 is the reed contact 42 closed. An actuating part 50, which is connected to the fastening component 10 (FIG. 1), is inserted during insertion Of a fastening component 10 (FIG. 4 or FIG. 1) Into the associated catch device 6 (FIG. 1) from the position According to FIG. 2, into the position of FIG. 3 and displaces it The permanent magnet 44 against the force of the spring 46 To the left so that the reed contact 42 opens.

0019The arrangement of FIGS. 2 and 3 can, for example, be arranged within A rotary latch arranged within the detent means 6 and locking the child seat. The invention is particularly suitable for use with modern ones Children's seats, as they are called "Isofix-Kindersitz" Which are easy to handle and By means of appropriate mechanical connections Passenger seat or ratchet devices attached to the vehicle Can be locked. It will be appreciated that the actuating part 50 Also directly by the fastening component 10 And that switches other than reed contacts operate Switch can be used.

0020Advantageously, the arrangement of FIGS. 2 and 3 is such that, That the permanent magnet 44 is only then moved into the position according to FIG In which the reed contact 42 is opened when a reed contact 42 is opened Locking device for mechanically locking the fastening component 10 is locked in the latching device 6, For example a rotary latch, a locking pin, etc. The actuating part 50 is therefore advantageously provided by a locking member . It goes without saying that the detent device In this case advantageously constructed in such a way Is that it can only be locked when a fastening component Is located in the detent and not simple Can be moved into a locking position by manipulation.

0021The invention can be used wherever triggering Of an airbag should be reliably prevented when a Triggered by triggering in the vehicle becomes. One or more fastenings can be provided be.