Vehicle passenger restraining system

A vehicle passenger restraining system comprising:

• a plurality of passenger restraining devices configured to restrain a passenger inside a passenger compartment of a vehicle;
• an upper deformation detecting device disposed in a generally central upper end section of a first lateral side of the passenger compartment, the upper deformation detecting device being configured to selectively output a first signal indicative of a first load input from a first direction and a second signal that is different from the first signal and is indicative of a second load input from a second direction that is different from the first direction in response to detection of the first and second load inputs, respectively;
• a lower deformation detecting device disposed in a generally central lower end section of the first lateral side of the passenger compartment, the lower deformation detecting device being configured to output at least a third signal that is different from the first and second signals and is indicative of a third load input from a third direction that is different from the first and second directions in response to detection of the third load input;
• and
• a passenger restraining device operating unit configured to determine a load input characteristic based on the first, second and third signals, and to operate at least one of the passenger restraining devices in accordance with the load input characteristic,
• the upper deformation detecting device including a switch section having a plurality of operating directions including at least the first and second directions, and a signal output section configured to output the first signal when the switch section is operated in the first direction and the second signal when the switch section is operated in the second direction, and
• the switch section of the upper deformation detecting device being oriented with respect to the vehicle generally along the vertical direction of the vehicle so that the upper deformation detecting device is configured to output the first signal when a top load input acting generally downward from a top of the vehicle causes the switch section to be depressed in the first direction and to output the second signal when a side load input acting generally inward in a widthwise direction of the vehicle causes the switch section to be pushed from a side in the second direction.

A vehicle passenger restraining system comprising:

• a plurality of passenger restraining devices configured to restrain a passenger inside a passenger compartment of a vehicle;
• an upper deformation detecting device disposed in a generally central upper end section of a first lateral side of the passenger compartment, the upper deformation detecting device being configured to selectively output a first signal indicative of a first load input from a first direction and a second signal that is different from the first signal and is indicative of a second load input from a second direction that is different from the first direction in response to detection of the first and second load inputs, respectively, the upper deformation detecting device including a switch section having a plurality of operating directions including at least the first and second directions, and a signal output section configured to output at least one of the first and second signals depending on a direction in which the switch section is operated;
• a lower deformation detecting device disposed in a generally central lower end section of the first lateral side of the passenger compartment, the lower deformation detecting device being configured to output at least a third signal that is different from the first and second signals and is indicative of a third load input from a third direction that is different from the first and second directions in response to detection of the third load input;
• a passenger restraining device operating unit configured to determine a load input characteristic based on the first, second and third signals, and to operate at least one of the passenger restraining devices in accordance with the load input characteristic;
• a vehicle cabin structure defining the passenger compartment, the vehicle cabin structure having an upper mounting portion to which the upper deformation detecting device is coupled and a lower mounting portion to which the lower deformation detecting device is coupled, the upper mounting portion having a structural rigidity that is lower than a structural rigidity of a peripheral area of the upper mounting portion, and the lower mounting portion having a structural rigidity that is higher than a structural rigidity of a peripheral area of the lower mounting portion,
• the upper mounting portion of the vehicle cabin structure including a cabin inside wall and a cabin outside wall extending substantially in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the upper deformation detecting device being disposed between the cabin inside wall and the cabin outside wall with the switch section thereof being oriented with respect to the vehicle generally in an upward direction,
• the vehicle cabin structure further having a body structure and a door member coupled to a door receiving opening formed on the first lateral side of the passenger compartment to selectively close and open the door receiving opening, the door member including the upper mounting portion and the lower mounting portion of the vehicle cabin structure, and
• the body structure having a downwardly protruding part disposed in an upward position of the switch section when the door member is closed, the downwardly protruding part being configured to depress the switch section when a top load causes the central upper end section of the first lateral side of the passenger compartment to deform.

A vehicle passenger restraining system comprising:

• a plurality of passenger restraining devices configured to restrain a passenger inside a passenger compartment of a vehicle;
• an upper deformation detecting device disposed in a generally central upper end section of a first lateral side of the passenger compartment, the upper deformation detecting device being configured to selectively output a first signal indicative of a first load input from a first direction and a second signal that is different from the first signal and is indicative of a second load input from a second direction that is different from the first direction in response to detection of the first and second load inputs, respectively, the upper deformation detecting device including a switch section having a plurality of operating directions including at least the first and second directions, and a signal output section configured to output at least one of the first and second signals depending on a direction in which the switch section is operated;
• a lower deformation detecting device disposed in a generally central lower end section of the first lateral side of the passenger compartment, the lower deformation detecting device being configured to output at least a third signal that is different from the first and second signals and is indicative of a third load input from a third direction that is different from the first and second directions in response to detection of the third load input;
• a passenger restraining device operating unit configured to determine a load input characteristic based on the first, second and third signals, and to operate at least one of the passenger restraining devices in accordance with the load input characteristic;
• a vehicle cabin structure defining the passenger compartment, the vehicle cabin structure having an upper mounting portion to which the upper deformation detecting device is coupled and a lower mounting portion to which the lower deformation detecting device is coupled, the upper mounting portion having a structural rigidity that is lower than a structural rigidity of a peripheral area of the upper mounting portion, and the lower mounting portion having a structural rigidity that is higher than a structural rigidity of a peripheral area of the lower mounting portion,
• the upper mounting portion of the vehicle cabin structure including a cabin inside wall and a cabin outside wall extending substantially in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the upper deformation detecting device being disposed between the cabin inside wall and the cabin outside wall with the switch section thereof being oriented with respect to the vehicle generally in an upward direction,
• the vehicle cabin structure further having a body structure and a door member coupled to a door receiving opening formed on the first lateral side of the passenger compartment to selectively close and open the door receiving opening, the door member including the upper mounting portion and the lower mounting portion of the vehicle cabin structure;
• and
• a body side welt coupled to the body structure having a welt protruding part disposed in an lateral inner position with respect to the switch section of the upper deformation detecting device, the welt protruding part being configured to push the switch section in a sideways direction when a side load causes an upper portion of the door member to deform.

A vehicle passenger restraining method, comprising:

• detecting load inputs from at least one switch which has a base part fixed relative to a passenger compartment of the vehicle and a movable part movably mounted to the base part to move in a first direction in response to contact by a first portion of the passenger compartment when deformation of the first portion occurs in the first direction and to move in a second direction that is different from the first direction in response to contact by a second portion of the passenger compartment when deformation of the second portion occurs in the second direction;
• selectively outputting a first signal indicative of a first load input from the first direction and a second signal that is different from the first signal and is indicative of a second load input from the second direction in response to detection of the first and second load inputs, respectively, to an upper part of a first lateral side of the passenger compartment by the switch;
• outputting at least a third signal that is different from the first and second signals and is indicative of a third load input from a third direction that is different from the first and second directions in response to detection of the third load input to a lower part of the first lateral side of the passenger compartment of the vehicle;
• determining a load input characteristic based on at least one of the first, second and third signals;
• and
• operating at least one of a plurality of passenger restraining devices in accordance with the load input characteristic.

A vehicle passenger restraining system, comprising:

• passenger restraining means for restraining a passenger in a passenger compartment of a vehicle;
• upper deformation detecting means for selectively outputting a first signal indicative of a first load input from a first direction and a second signal that is different from the first signal and is indicative of a second load input from a second direction that is different from the first direction in response to detection of the first and second load inputs, respectively, to an upper part of a first lateral side of the passenger compartment of the vehicle;
• lower deformation detecting means for outputting at least a third signal that is different from the first and second signals and is indicative of a third load input from a third direction that is different from the first and second directions in response to detection of the third load input to a lower part of the first lateral side of the passenger compartment of the vehicle,
• the upper deformation detecting means including sensing means for sensing deformation of the passenger compartment in response to movement of a movable part of a switch of the sensing means relative to a base part of the switch of the sensing means in the first direction to output the first signal in response to contact by a first portion of the passenger compartment when deformation of the first portion occurs in the first direction and in response to movement of the movable part in the second direction to output the second signal in response to contact by a second portion of the passenger compartment when deformation of the second portion occurs in the second direction;
• load input characteristic determining means for determining a load input characteristic based on the first, second and third signals;
• and
• passenger restraining operating means for operating the passenger restraining means in accordance with the load input characteristic.

A vehicle comprising:

• a vehicle body structure forming a passenger compartment;
• a plurality of passenger restraining devices coupled to the vehicle body structure, and configured to restrain a passenger inside the passenger compartment;
• an upper deformation detecting device disposed in a generally central upper end section of a first lateral side of the passenger compartment of the vehicle body structure, the upper deformation detecting device being configured to selectively output at a first signal indicative of a first load input from a first direction and a second signal that is different from the first signal and is indicative of a second load input from a second direction that is different from the first direction in response to detection of the first and second load inputs, respectively;
• a lower deformation detecting device disposed in a generally central lower end section of the first lateral side of the passenger compartment of the vehicle body structure, the lower deformation detecting device being configured to output at least a third signal that is different from the first and second signals and is indicative of a third load input from a third direction upon that is different from the first and second directions in response to detection of the third load input,
• the upper deformation detecting device including a sensor with a switch having a base part fixed relative to the passenger compartment and a movable part movably mounted to the base part to move in the first direction to output the first signal in response to contact by a first portion of the passenger compartment when deformation of the first portion occurs in the first direction and to move in the second direction to output the second signal in response to contact by a second portion of the passenger compartment when deformation of the second portion occurs in the second direction;
• and
• a passenger restraining device operating unit configured to determine a load input characteristic based on the first, second and third signals, and to operate at least one of the passenger restraining devices in accordance with the load input characteristic.