Vehicle and method of controlling an airbag of a vehicle

A vehicle and a method of controlling an airbag of a vehicle enhances the efficiency in airbag deployment by predicting the possibility of collision of the vehicle in advance from a driving manipulation pattern of a driver and actively and variably adjusts a threshold value for deploying an airbag on the basis of a result of the prediction of the possibility of collision. The method of controlling an airbag of a vehicle includes determining a possibility of collision of the vehicle from a driving manipulation pattern of the vehicle, and variably adjusting a threshold value for deployment of the airbag on the basis of a result of the determination of the possibility of collision.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0164432, filed on Dec. 18, 2018 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle, and more specifically, to deployment of an airbag for protecting an occupant in a vehicle.

2. Description of the Related Art

An airbag is a device for protecting an occupant from an impact caused by a collision of a vehicle by a bag configured to inflate (deployment) in the surroundings, i.e., the passenger compartment, of the occupant quickly during the vehicle collision. The airbag is more effective when the occupant wears a seatbelt.

Deployment of the airbag is determined based on phenomena (a change in speed, an impact force, etc.) that occurs when the vehicle collides with an obstacle.

However, the airbag may not be deployed even in a situation where the airbag is supposed to be deployed, or the airbag may be deployed when the airbag is not supposed to be deployed.

SUMMARY

Therefore, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a vehicle and a method of controlling an airbag of a vehicle, capable of enhancing the efficiency in airbag deployment. The efficiency in airbag deployment is enhanced by predicting the possibility of collision of the vehicle in advance, from a driving manipulation pattern of a driver, and actively and variably adjusting a threshold value for deploying an airbag on the basis of a result of the prediction of the possibility of collision.

Additional aspects of the disclosure are set forth in part in the description, which follows, and, in part, will be understood from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosed method of controlling an airbag and use in a vehicle.

Therefore, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a method of controlling an airbag of a vehicle. The method of controlling the airbag includes determining a possibility of collision of the vehicle from a driving manipulation pattern of the vehicle and variably adjusting a threshold value for deployment of the airbag on the basis of a result of the determination of the possibility of collision.

The driving manipulation pattern of the vehicle may be a pattern of a driver manipulating the vehicle. A collision avoidance intent of the driver may be determined from the pattern of the driver manipulating the vehicle. The possibility of collision of the vehicle may be determined from a result of the determination of the collision avoidance intent.

The driving manipulation pattern of the vehicle may include a driving manipulation pattern for performing at least one of decelerating, braking, and steering of the vehicle.

The driving manipulation pattern for performing braking may include: at least one of a speed of the vehicle that is reduced by manipulation of a brake pedal; a pressure of a brake of the vehicle that is increased by manipulation of the brake pedal; and an anti-lock brake system (ABS) of the vehicle that is activated by manipulation of the brake pedal.

The driving manipulation pattern for performing decelerating may include at least one of a revolution per minute (rpm) of an engine of the vehicle that is reduced by manipulation of an accelerator pedal and an opening degree of a throttle valve of the engine of the vehicle that is reduced by manipulation of the accelerator pedal.

The driving manipulation pattern for performing steering may include at least one of a steering wheel of the vehicle that is manipulated, a heading direction of the vehicle that is changed by manipulation of the steering wheel, and a mismatch of a manipulation direction of the steering wheel and a direction of a route displayed on a map of a navigation system in the vehicle.

When a possibility of collision of the vehicle may be determined to be present, the threshold value for deployment of the airbag may be adjusted to be lowered such that a possibility of deployment of the airbag is increased.

The adjusting of the threshold value for deployment of the airbag may include a plurality of different threshold values.

It is another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a vehicle including: an airbag and an airbag driving unit configured to deploy the airbag. The vehicle further includes a controller configured to determine a possibility of collision of the vehicle from a driving manipulation pattern of the vehicle, and variably adjust a threshold value for deployment of the airbag on the basis of a result of the determination of the possibility of collision.

The driving manipulation pattern of the vehicle may be a pattern of a driver manipulating the vehicle. The controller may be configured to determine a collision avoidance intent of the driver from the pattern of the driver manipulating the vehicle. The controller may be further configured to determine the possibility of collision of the vehicle from a result of the determination of the collision avoidance intent.

The driving manipulation pattern of the vehicle may include a driving manipulation pattern for performing at least one of decelerating, braking, and steering of the vehicle.

The driving manipulation pattern for performing braking may include: at least one of a speed of the vehicle that is reduced by manipulation of a brake pedal; a pressure of a brake of the vehicle that is increased by manipulation of the brake pedal; and an anti-lock brake system (ABS) of the vehicle that is activated by manipulation of the brake pedal.

The driving manipulation pattern for performing decelerating may include at least one of a revolution per minute (rpm) of an engine of the vehicle that is reduced by manipulation of an accelerator pedal and an opening degree of a throttle valve of the engine of the vehicle that is reduced by manipulation of the accelerator pedal.

The driving manipulation pattern of the vehicle may include manipulating a steering wheel of the vehicle.

The driving manipulation pattern for performing steering may include at least one of a steering wheel of the vehicle that is manipulated, a heading direction of the vehicle that is changed by manipulation of the steering wheel, and a mismatch of a manipulation direction of the steering wheel and a direction of a route displayed on a map of a navigation system in the vehicle.

The adjusting of the threshold value for deployment of the airbag may include a plurality of different threshold values.

It is another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a method of controlling an airbag of a vehicle. The method for controlling the airbag includes determining a collision avoidance intent of a driver from a driving manipulation pattern of the vehicle. The method for controlling the airbag further includes determining a possibility of collision of the vehicle from a result of the determination of the collision avoidance intent of the driver. The method for controlling the airbag also includes variably adjusting a threshold value for deployment of the airbag on the basis of a result of the determination of the possibility of collision. In response to a possibility of collision that is determined to be present, the threshold value for deployment of the airbag is adjusted to be lowered such that a possibility of deployment of the airbag is increased.

The driving manipulation pattern of the vehicle may include a driving manipulation pattern for performing at least one of decelerating, braking, and steering of the vehicle.

It is another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a vehicle including: an airbag and an airbag driving unit configured to deploy the airbag. The vehicle further includes a controller configured to determine a collision avoidance intent of a driver from a driving manipulation pattern of the vehicle, determine a possibility of collision of the vehicle from a result of the determination of the collision avoidance intent of the driver, and variably adjust a threshold value for deployment of the airbag on the basis of a result of the determination of the possibility of collision. In response to a possibility of collision determined to be present, the threshold value for deployment of the airbag is adjusted to be lowered such that a possibility of deployment of the airbag is increased.

The driving manipulation pattern of the vehicle may include a driving manipulation pattern for performing at least one of decelerating, braking, and steering of the vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1is a view illustrating an airbag control system of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 1, a controller102, i.e., an electronic control unit (ECU) is provided to control an airbag deployment operation as a whole. The controller102includes a driver intent determination logic112and a collision prediction determination logic114. The controller102actively and variably adjusts a threshold value for deploying an airbag132and transmits the adjusted threshold value to an airbag driving unit152. The controller102refers to at least one of the driver intent determination logic112and the collision prediction determination logic114to actively and variably adjust the threshold value for deploying the airbag132. The airbag driving unit152deploys the airbag132when a magnitude of a control signal for deployment of the airbag132exceeds a threshold value.

In a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the threshold value for deploying the airbag132is variably adjusted according to the current state of the vehicle and the deployment of the airbag132may be efficiently determined. In other words, when the deployment of the airbag132is needed, the possibility of the airbag132being deployed is increased (a threshold value is adjusted to be lowered) so that the airbag132may be deployed efficiently.

In the controller102, the driver intent determination logic112is provided to determine a possibility of collision of the vehicle before an actual collision of the vehicle occurs. To this end, while the driver is driving the vehicle, the driver intent determination logic112determines a collision avoidance intent of the driver from a driving manipulation pattern that is applied to the vehicle to avoid a vehicle collision when the vehicle is expected to collide with a nearby obstacle (another vehicle or structure).

The driver intent determination logic112receives detection signals from an accelerator pedal sensor122, a brake pedal sensor124, a steering angle sensor126, and a navigation system128to determine the collision avoidance intent of the driver. The accelerator pedal sensor122detects the amount of manipulation of an accelerator pedal by the driver and transmits a detection signal to the driver intent determination logic112of the controller102. The brake pedal sensor124detects the amount of manipulation of a brake pedal by the driver and transmits a detection signal to the driver intent determination logic112of the controller102. The steering angle sensor126detects the amount of manipulation of a steering wheel by the driver and transmits a detection signal to the driver intent determination logic112of the controller102. The navigation system128transmits information related to the current position of the vehicle on a map to the driver intent determination logic112of the controller102.

When the vehicle is expected to collide with an obstacle while the driver is driving the vehicle, the driver releases his/her foot from the accelerator pedal and manipulates the brake pedal to generate a braking force to avoid the collision. In addition, the driver may change the direction of the vehicle by manipulating the steering wheel.

In addition, the revolution per minute (rpm) of the engine may be rapidly lowered as the driver releases his/her foot from the accelerator pedal and manipulates the brake pedal to generate a braking force to avoid a collision. In addition, an anti-lock brake system (ABS) may also be operated due to a sudden operation of the brake pedal by the driver.

In most cases, such a driving manipulation of the vehicle according to a collision avoidance intent of the driver starts before the vehicle collides with an obstacle. The controller102of the vehicle according to the embodiment of the present disclosure predicts a possibility of collision in advance through the driver intent determination logic112before an actual collision occurs, and actively and variably adjusts the threshold value for deploying the airbag132on the basis of a result of the prediction of the possibility of collision.

In the controller102, the collision prediction determination logic114is provided to determine the possibility of collision of the vehicle in advance before an actual collision of the vehicle occurs. To this end, the collision prediction determination logic114determines whether a vehicle collision occurs from a signal provided from a nearby sensor142.

The collision prediction determination logic114uses a detection signal of the nearby sensor142to determine whether a collision of the vehicle occurs. The nearby sensor142is a term collectively referring to an active sensor and a camera. In this embodiment, the active sensor refers to a laser sensor, a radar, an infrared sensor, or the like.

The collision prediction determination logic114detects a surrounding of the vehicle through the nearby sensor142and determines the possibility of collision between the vehicle and a nearby obstacle on the basis of a result of the detection. Since the collision prediction determination logic114detects the distance, the relative speed, and the direction of the vehicle with respect to the object, the collision prediction determination logic114may determine not only the possibility of collision between the vehicle and the obstacle but also the time and distance to collision with the obstacle through the result of the detection of the nearby sensor142.

The controller102of the vehicle according to the embodiment of the present disclosure determines the possibility of collision of the vehicle on the basis of results of the determinations of the driver intent determination logic112and the collision prediction determination logic114. The controller102actively and variably adjusts the threshold value for deploying the airbag on the basis of a result of the determination of the possibility of collision.

FIGS. 2-7are views showing examples of a driving manipulation of a vehicle according to a collision avoidance intent of a driver. The driver intent determination logic112predicts a possibility of collision of the vehicle on the basis of the driver's vehicle driving manipulation patterns as shown inFIGS. 2-7.

FIG. 2is a view showing a change in the speed of the vehicle according to a collision avoidance intent of a driver. When the vehicle is expected to collide with a nearby obstacle (another vehicle or structure) while the driver is driving the vehicle, the driver may release his/her foot from the accelerator pedal and manipulate the brake pedal to avoid a vehicle collision. At this time, the speed of the vehicle rapidly decreases immediately before a time point of 0 seconds as shown inFIG. 2. The time point of 0 seconds shown inFIG. 2may be an expected point of time of collision time point or an actual point of time of collision. The driver intent determination logic112may determine the collision avoidance intent of the driver from such a rapid speed reduction of the vehicle.

FIG. 3is a view showing a change in the steering angle of the vehicle according to a collision avoidance intent of a driver. When the vehicle is expected to collide with a nearby obstacle (such as another vehicle or structure) while the driver is driving the vehicle, the driver may attempt to change the direction of the vehicle by suddenly turning the steering wheel to avoid collision of the vehicle. At this time, the steering angle of the steering wheel detected through the steering angle sensor126rapidly changes to the right (or left) immediately before a collision and then changes to the left (or right) again as shown inFIG. 3. A steering angle of 0 degrees represents that the steering wheel is in a centered position (straight), and a steering angle of minus (−) represents that the driver manipulates the steering wheel to the right. The time point of 0 seconds shown inFIG. 3may be an expected point of time of collision or an actual point of time of collision. The driver intent determination logic112may determine the collision avoidance intent of the driver from the sudden manipulation of the steering wheel.

FIG. 4is a view showing a change in the stepping force of a brake pedal of the vehicle according to a collision avoidance intent of a driver. When the vehicle is expected to collide with a nearby obstacle (such as another vehicle or structure) while the driver is driving the vehicle, the driver may release his/her foot from the accelerator pedal and manipulate the brake pedal to avoid a vehicle collision. At this time, the driver suddenly manipulates the brake pedal for rapid deceleration and stoppage, and the driver's stepping force on the brake pedal rapidly increases immediately before a time point of 0 seconds as shown inFIG. 4. The time point of 0 seconds shown inFIG. 4may be an expected point of time of collision or an actual point of time of collision. The driver intent determination logic112may determine the collision avoidance intent of the driver from the sudden increase in the stepping force of the brake pedal.

FIG. 5is a view showing a change in the opening degree of a throttle valve of an engine of the vehicle according to a collision avoidance intent of a driver. When the vehicle is expected to collide with a nearby obstacle (such as another vehicle or structure) while the driver is driving the vehicle, the driver may release his/her foot from the accelerator pedal to avoid collision of the vehicle. As a result, a throttle valve of an engine is suddenly closed immediately before a time point of 0 seconds as shown inFIG. 5. The time point of 0 seconds shown inFIG. 5may be an expected point of time of collision or an actual point of time of collision. The driver intent determination logic112may determine the collision avoidance intent of the driver from the sudden closing of the throttle valve of the engine.

FIG. 6is a view showing a change in the rotational speed of an engine of the vehicle according to a collision avoidance intent of a driver. When the vehicle is expected to collide with a nearby obstacle (such as another vehicle or structure) while the driver is driving the vehicle, the driver may release his/her foot from the accelerator pedal and manipulate the brake pedal to avoid a vehicle collision. As a result, the revolutions per minute (RPM) of the engine suddenly decreases immediately before a time point of 0 seconds as shown inFIG. 6. The time point of 0 seconds shown inFIG. 6may be an expected point of time of collision or an actual point of time of collision. The driver intent determination logic112may determine the collision avoidance intent of the driver from the sudden decrease in the RPM of the engine.

FIG. 7is a view showing an operating state of an anti-lock brake system (ABS) of the vehicle according to a collision avoidance intent of a driver. When the vehicle is expected to collide with a nearby obstacle (such as another vehicle or structure) while the driver is driving the vehicle, the driver may release his/her foot from the accelerator pedal and suddenly manipulate the brake pedal to avoid a collision of the vehicle. Due to such a sudden manipulation of the brake pedal, the ABS of the vehicle is activated immediately before a time point of 0 seconds as shown inFIG. 7. The time point of 0 seconds shown inFIG. 7may be an expected point of time of collision or an actual point of time of collision. The driver intent determination logic112may determine the collision avoidance intent from the activation of the ABS.

The driving manipulation patterns of the driver that may occur when the vehicle is expected to have a collision are not limited to those patterns shown inFIGS. 2-7. The driving manipulation patterns of the driver may further include various other driving manipulation patterns. Further, in order to determine the collision avoidance pattern of the driver, all of the driving manipulation patterns shown inFIGS. 2-7may be used for the determination, or only some of the driving manipulation patterns may be selectively used if necessary.

FIG. 8is a flowchart showing a method of controlling an airbag of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the control method shown inFIG. 8, the controller102determines the possibility of collision of the vehicle on the basis of various driving manipulation patterns of the driver as described above with reference toFIGS. 2-7. The controller102actively and variably adjusts the threshold value for deploying the airbag on the basis of a result of determination of the possibility of collision.

First, the controller102determines whether the vehicle speed of the vehicle exceeds a reference vehicle speed (802). Since deployment of the airbag132is not required at a relatively slow vehicle speed, it is determined whether the vehicle speed of the vehicle exceeds the reference vehicle speed so that the airbag132is deployed only at the reference vehicle speed or greater. The reference vehicle speed is a speed at which deployment of the airbag is desired for protecting the occupant.

Further, the controller102determines whether the variation in the steering angle of the steering wheel exceeds a reference variation (804). In this step, the variation in the steering angle may represent the amount of variations in the steering angle accumulated for a predetermined time period immediately before the collision. The cumulative amount of variations in the steering angle of the steering wheel is not great in a normal driving situation other than a collision situation. However, when the driver suddenly manipulates the steering wheel to avoid a collision in a situation where a collision is expected, the cumulative amount of variations of the steering angle of the steering wheel greatly increases. Accordingly, the controller102may determine the possibility of collision of the vehicle through the cumulative amount of variations of the steering angle of the steering wheel.

In addition, the controller102determines whether the number of change times in steering direction of the steering wheel exceeds a reference number of times (806). In this embodiment, the number of change times in steering direction of the steering wheel may represent the number of change times in steering direction of the steering wheel accumulated for a predetermined time immediately before the collision. As described above with reference toFIG. 3, when the vehicle is expected to collide with a nearby obstacle (such as another vehicle or a structure) while the driver is driving the vehicle, the driver may attempt to change the direction of the vehicle by suddenly turning the steering wheel to avoid collision of the vehicle. In addition, referring again toFIG. 3, since the sudden manipulation of the steering wheel repeatedly occurs in the opposite directions, such as the right and left (or left and right), the controller102may determine the possibility of collision of the vehicle when the number of change times in steering direction of the steering wheel suddenly increases to the reference number or above for a short period of time immediately before a collision

In addition, the controller102checks whether information (shape) about a road being travelled by the vehicle matches a steering pattern of the steering wheel (808). When the vehicle normally travels along a road on the map of the navigation system128, the driver may predict the possibility of collision of the vehicle and rapidly manipulate the steering wheel and thus the vehicle may depart from the road on the map. In this case, the shape of the road on the map and the steering direction of the steering wheel may not match each other. The controller102may confirm the collision avoidance intent of the driver from the mismatch between the shape of the road on the map of the navigation128and the steering direction of the steering wheel and predict the possibility of collision of the vehicle.

In addition, the controller102checks whether the driver suddenly manipulates the brake of the vehicle (810). When the vehicle is expected to collide with a nearby obstacle (such as another vehicle or structure) while the driver is driving the vehicle, the driver may release his/her foot from the accelerator pedal and manipulate the brake pedal to avoid a vehicle collision. The controller102may determine the collision avoidance intent of the driver from the sudden manipulation of the brake pedal.

In addition, the controller102checks whether the pressure of the brake of the vehicle exceeds a reference pressure for a predetermined time (812). Only with the manipulation of the brake in operation810, the collision avoidance intent of the driver is not accurately determined, and thus the collision avoidance intent may be more accurately determined using a change in the pressure of the brake (the pressure of the piston) generated as the driver suddenly manipulates the brake pedal for rapid deceleration or stop.

In addition, the controller102checks whether the position of the accelerator pedal of the vehicle is less than a predetermined reference value (%) (814). The position of the accelerator pedal is determined as a ratio, from a non-operation state (0%) to a maximum acceleration state (100%), on the basis of the current position of the accelerator pedal. To this end, the accelerator pedal sensor122may be used. When the vehicle is expected to collide with an obstacle while the driver is driving the vehicle, the driver releases his/her foot from the accelerator pedal and manipulates the brake pedal to generate a braking force to avoid the collision. In this case, the position of the accelerator pedal suddenly decreases to a predetermined reference value or below, and the controller102may confirm the collision avoidance intent of the driver from the sudden change in the position of the accelerator pedal.

The controller102determines again whether the vehicle speed of the vehicle exceeds the reference vehicle speed (816). In operation802, it is checked through comparison of the vehicle speed, whether the current vehicle speed of the vehicle is a vehicle speed for deployment of the airbag. In operation816, the vehicle speed of the vehicle is compared once more to check again whether the vehicle speed of the vehicle is a vehicle speed for deployment of the airbag.

As such, the collision avoidance intent of the driver is checked through some or all operations of operation802to816as described in the above. When it is determined that the possibility of collision of the vehicle is present from the collision avoidance intent of the driver, the controller102adjusts the threshold value for deploying the airbag132to be lowered and transmits the adjusted threshold value to the airbag driving unit152(818). The presence of the possibility of collision of the vehicle refers to a situation in which the deployment of the airbag132is desired. Accordingly, by lowering the threshold value for deploying the airbag132, the possibility of the airbag132being deployed is increased, so that the safety of the occupant is improved.

When a collision signal of the collision prediction determination logic114according to a prediction of collision resulting from a signal detected through the nearby sensor142is below a predetermined threshold value (YES in operation820), the controller102determines that the vehicle has avoided a collision situation (822).

Referring toFIG. 8, the controller102checks the collision avoidance intent of the driver on the basis of various driving manipulation patterns of the driver, and determines the possibility of collision of the vehicle so that when deployment of the airbag132is desired, the possibility of the airbag being deployed is increased (the threshold value is adjusted to be lowered) so that the airbag132is effectively deployed.

The various driving manipulation patterns of the driver for determining the possibility of collision of the vehicle are not limited to those described inFIG. 8and may further include various other driving manipulation patterns. Further, in order to determine the possibility of collision of the vehicle, all the conditions shown inFIG. 8may be used, or only some of the conditions may be selectively used as necessary.

As is apparent from the above, the vehicle and the method of controlling the airbag of the vehicle can enhance the efficiency in airbag deployment by predicting a possibility of collision of the vehicle in advance from a driving manipulation pattern of a driver, and actively and variably adjusting a threshold value for deploying an airbag on the basis of a result of the prediction of the possibility of collision.

The above description of the present disclosure is for illustrative purposes, and a person having ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that other specific modifications may be easily made without departing from the technical spirit or essential features of the present disclosure. Therefore, the above embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than limitative in all aspects. The scope of the disclosure is not to be limited by the detailed description set forth above, but by the accompanying claims of the present disclosure. It should also be understood that all changes or modifications derived from the definitions and scope of the claims and their equivalents fall within the scope of the present disclosure.