PASSENGER PROTECTION FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A device for protecting a person standing in a motor vehicle comprises numerous airbags installed in a motor vehicle, a scanner for determining where there is empty space adjacent to the person, and a control unit that is configured to only deploy those airbags that inflate into the empty space that has been determined.

Claims

1. A device for protecting a person standing in a motor vehicle, the device comprising: a plurality of airbags installed in the motor vehicle; a scanner configured to determine where empty space exists adjacent to the person; and a control unit configured to only deploy one or more airbags of the plurality of airbags that inflate in the empty space that has been determined.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of airbags are configured to inflate vertically.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of airbags are located in a region above the person and configured to inflate downward when deployed.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of airbags are configured in a horizontal arrangement.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein one airbag of the plurality of airbags inflated in an empty space is configured to occupy approximately a same amount of space as a person.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to deploy the one or more airbags in response to a horizontal acceleration acting on the motor vehicle exceeding a predetermined threshold value.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to deploy an airbag in response to the motor vehicle being about to execute a predetermined driving maneuver.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of airbags are connected to one another.

9. A motor vehicle, comprising: the device according to claim 1.

10. A method for protecting a person standing in a motor vehicle, the method comprising: scanning, with a scanner, an interior of the motor vehicle; determining an empty space adjacent to the person; determining at least one airbag of a plurality of airbags in the motor vehicle to inflate in the determined empty space; and deploying, by a control unit, the at least one airbag.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: inflating the at least one airbag vertically.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: inflating the at least one airbag downward from a region located above the person.

13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: arranging the plurality of airbags in a horizontal arrangement.

14. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: deploying the at least one airbag such that it occupies approximately a same amount of space as a person.

15. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: determining that a horizontal acceleration acting on the motor vehicle exceeds a predetermined threshold value; and responsively deploying the at least one airbag.

16. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: determining that the motor vehicle is about to execute a predetermined driving maneuver; and responsively deploying the at least one airbag.

17. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: connecting the plurality of airbags to each other.

Description

[0019] The invention shall now be described more precisely in reference to the drawings. Therein:

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a system;

[0021] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary arrangement of airbags; and

[0022] FIG. 3 shows a flow chart for the method.

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a motor vehicle 100 that has an interior 105, in which a device 110 is installed in the motor vehicle 100. The motor vehicle 100 is designed to transport one or more standing individuals 115. Other individuals 115, not shown, can also be transported while sitting or lying down. The motor vehicle 100 can be a vehicle for public transportation, in particular, e.g., a city bus or a train on rails.

[0024] The device 110 is designed to protect the standing individuals 115 from injury. The device 110 comprises a control unit 120 for this, which is connected to at least one scanner 125 for scanning the interior 105, and numerous airbags 130. There may also be an interface 135, which can be connected to another device on board the motor vehicle 100. A signal can be received via the interface 135, which indicates an existing or immediately impending acceleration of the motor vehicle 100. If the acceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the at least one individual 115 can be actively protected by the device 110.

[0025] An airbag 130 is designed to be installed in a predetermined location in the motor vehicle 100, and comprises a bag or cushion, which is initially compressed into a compact form. If the airbag is deployed, a gas generator is triggered, which normally functions pyrotechnically. The gas generator quickly inflates the airbag, and the airbag is designed such that it inflates in a predetermined manner, and in a predetermined direction. The inflated airbag can aid in preventing a person 115 from colliding with another other object in the interior by coming between that person 115 and the object. In one embodiment, the airbag contains a valve, which allows the airbag to deflate in a controlled manner when the person 115 is pressed against the airbag.

[0026] It is proposed that only those airbags 130 are deployed to actively protect the individual 115 that can inflate in an empty space adjacent to a person 115. Airbags 130 that are partially or entirely located above a person 115 should not be deployed. For this reason there are preferably numerous airbags 130, which can be organized in a predefined arrangement 145. The airbags 130 are also preferably designed to deploy vertically. In the embodiment shown here, the arrangement 145 is located above the people 115, and can be integrated in the ceiling of the motor vehicle 100, for example, such that the airbags 130 to inflate downward.

[0027] The horizontal dimensions of an inflated airbag 130 can be similar to that of a person 115. The arrangement 145 shown here comprises enough airbags 130 to completely fill a predetermined part of the interior 105 where individuals 115 can stand while the motor vehicle 100 is underway. By way of example, it is assumed that an inflated airbag 130 is basically cylindrical. The illustration therefore shows an inflated airbag 130 in this form. Other shapes of an airbag 130 are also conceivable.

[0028] To determine which airbags 130 are above an empty space 140, the interior 105 can be scanned by at least one scanner 125. A scanner 125 preferably functions in a contactless manner, and can comprise, e.g., a camera, a 3D camera, a LIDAR sensor, or a radar sensor. Various scanners 125 can be installed in different locations in the interior 105, in order to obtain a three dimensional model of the interior, showing the locations of the individuals 115 therein. It is then possible to determine which airbags 130 are located above empty space 140 on the basis of the model.

[0029] Alternatively, each airbag 130 can have a dedicated scanner 120, which then scans the portion of the interior 105 lying below its airbag 130. The scanner 125 can comprise a distance meter, directed vertically downward. If the distance that is measured corresponds to the distance between the floor of the interior 105 and the airbag 130, then the airbag 130 must be over empty space 140. The distance meter can have a relatively simple construction and function with ultrasound or optically. An airbag 130 can also have numerous distance meters for scanning the space that would be filled by the inflated airbag 130 as completely as possible.

[0030] The airbags 130 located above empty space in FIG. 1 are indicated by unshaded circles, and the airbags 130 that are at least partially above an individual 115 are indicated by circles that are shaded in. If the individuals 115 are to be protected for some reason, the unshaded airbags 130 can be deployed, such that they inflate between individuals 115 or between an individual 115 and the walls of the interior 105. In another embodiment, only those airbags 130 that are in the space toward which a person 115 would be accelerated can be deployed.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows exemplary arrangements 145 of airbags 130 from above. FIG. 2a shows a honeycomb arrangement 145, in which the airbags 130 have a horizontal hexagonal shape when they are not inflated, and can fit together without gaps. This embodiment enables a particularly high horizontal packing density of the airbags 130.

[0032] FIG. 2b shows a matrix-shaped arrangement 145. By way of example, the airbags 130 have a circular cross section in this embodiment. There may be unused space between the airbags 130 in this arrangement, although this may also simplify the determination of which airbags 130 are to be deployed, due to the matrix-shaped arrangement.

[0033] FIG. 2c shows an offset matrix-shaped arrangement 145, which combines the advantages of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b.

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a flow chart for a method 300 for protecting standing individuals 115 on board a motor vehicle 100. A driving situation for the motor vehicle 100 can be determined in a first step 305. The driving situation can be a movement of the motor vehicle 100 in relation to a surface, in particular a predetermined road surface. If the motor vehicle 100 threatens to leave the road surface, it may experience a strong acceleration. The driving situation can also comprise an impending or existing collision of the motor vehicle 100 with another object. The driving situation can also comprise an impending or executed driving maneuver, which may involve a strong longitudinal and/or lateral acceleration of the motor vehicle 100.

[0035] It can be determined in a second step 310 whether an acceleration that is stronger than a predetermined acceleration is acting on the motor vehicle 100, or such an acceleration is impending. The speed of the motor vehicle 100 can be used to determine the extent of the acceleration. A higher speed can result in a greater acceleration acting on an individual 115 on board the motor vehicle 100.

[0036] The interior 105 of the motor vehicle 100 can be scanned in a third step 315. Empty space 140 in the interior 105 can be determined on the basis of the scanning in a fourth step 320, in which an empty space 140 contains no individuals 115. Which airbags 130 are to be deployed into the empty space 140 can be determined in a fifth step 325. It should be noted that one or more of the steps 315-325 can also be carried out prior to the third step 315.

[0037] If it is determined in the third step 315 that an excessive acceleration is to be expected, certain airbags 130 can be deployed in the fifth step 325. This deployment can take place immediately, or the time at which they are deployed can depend on an anticipated acceleration or selected on the basis of a determined driving situation.

REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0038] 100 motor vehicle [0039] 105 interior [0040] 110 device [0041] 115 person [0042] 120 control unit [0043] 125 scanner [0044] 130 airbag [0045] 135 interface [0046] 140 empty space [0047] 145 arrangement [0048] 300 method [0049] 305 determining the driving situation [0050] 310 impending or occurring acceleration? [0051] 315 scanning of interior [0052] 320 determining empty space [0053] 325 determining which airbags are assigned thereto [0054] 330 deploying specific airbags