Patent Description:
In recent years, pedestrian protecting airbag devices have been developed to protect pedestrians outside a vehicle, as airbag devices that differ from devices that restrain occupants inside the vehicle. Primarily, pedestrian protecting airbag devices are configured to expand and deploy an airbag cushion at a position where there is a possibility that the body of the pedestrian would contact, such as a windshield or the like, when a sensor installed in the front portion of the vehicle detects contact with a pedestrian.

Pedestrian protecting airbag devices are required to quickly cover an area of a vehicle that pedestrians may come into contact with as a protective area. For example, in the protective bag device for pedestrians and the like, disclosed in Patent Document <NUM>, two gas generators <NUM> are used to deploy the airbag <NUM> as evenly as possible, and each gas generator <NUM> is inserted into gas guide members <NUM>, allowing for the gas to be evenly supplied to a wide range of the airbag <NUM> through the gas guide members <NUM>.

Patent Document <NUM>: <CIT> Patent document <CIT> discloses the features of the preamble of claim <NUM>.

However, objects to be protected by pedestrian protecting airbag devices include not only pedestrians walking but also cyclists riding bicycles. Since cyclists come into contact with vehicles together with their bicycles at a high speed, airbag cushions with a wider range and higher internal pressure than those for pedestrians are required for cyclists. As described above, current pedestrian protecting airbag devices are desired to have a structure capable of more efficiently protecting pedestrians, including cyclists, having different conditions.

In light of this manner of problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a pedestrian protecting airbag device capable of more efficiently protecting pedestrians and the like under different conditions.

In order to solve the problems as described above, a typical configuration of the pedestrian protecting airbag device according to the present invention is defined by claim <NUM>.

In the airbag cushion with the configuration described above, the first deployment part and the second deployment part are expanded and deployed independently of each other. This configuration enables increasing the internal pressures of each of the first deployment part and the second deployment part, and, for example, the expansion and deployment of the first deployment part and the second deployment part can be controlled separately. Therefore, the above configuration enables more efficient protection of pedestrians and the like under different conditions.

The first deployment part is arranged in the vicinity of the front end inside the second deployment part. As a result, for example, the internal pressure of the first deployment part can be used to quickly lift the front hood, and then the second deployment part can be quickly expanded and deployed to an area that pedestrians can readily come into contact with.

The first deployment part may be expanded and deployed from one side to the other side of the pair of A pillars. The first deployment part of this configuration enables, for example, quickly lifting the front hood and quickly covering areas that pedestrians are likely to come into contact with.

The first deployment part is provided in a state of being contained in the second deployment part. With this configuration as well, it is possible to achieve an airbag cushion in which the first deployment part and the second deployment part can be expanded and deployed independently of each other.

The first deployment part may be provided in contact with the outer surface of the second deployment part. With this configuration which is not part of the present invention it is possible to achieve an airbag cushion in which the first deployment part and the second deployment part can be expanded and deployed independently of each other.

The overlap part of the second deployment part may be formed of a non-expanding portion. With this configuration which is not part of the present invention it is possible to achieve an airbag cushion in which the first deployment part and the second deployment part can be expanded and deployed independently of each other.

The first deployment part may complete expansion and deployment earlier than the second deployment part. The first deployment part having this configuration also makes it possible, for example, to quickly lift the front hood or quickly cover an area that pedestrians are likely to come into contact with.

The pedestrian protecting airbag device further includes a sensor installed at a prescribed location of the vehicle to detect an impact, and a controller for controlling activation of the first inflator and the second inflator according to the impact detected by the sensor, and the controller may activate only the first inflator when the impact detected by the sensor is less than a prescribed value.

With this configuration, for example, when the impact is weak, it is determined that the object to be protected is a pedestrian, and only the first deployment part is expanded and deployed to provide protection, and when the impact is strong, it is determined that the object to be protected is a cyclist, and the second deployment part is expanded and deployed for protection, allowing for protecting the object to be protected according to the situation.

The above airbag cushion may have one or a plurality of vent holes provided in the first deployment part for discharging gas from the first deployment part. According to this configuration, the first deployment part can be controlled such that the pressure thereof does not become excessive.

The one or a plurality of vent holes may include a vent hole provided at a location on the first deployment part adjacent to the second deployment part to release gas from the first deployment part to the inside of the second deployment part.

According to the above configuration, when the internal pressure of the first deployment part increases, the surplus gas is supplied from the first deployment part to the second deployment part, thereby enabling faster expansion and deployment of the second deployment part.

The one or a plurality of vent holes may include a vent hole for releasing gas from the first deployment part to the outside. With this configuration as well, the first deployment part can be controlled such that the pressure thereof does not become excessive.

The one or a plurality of vent holes may be opened when the internal pressure of the first deployment part reaches or exceeds a prescribed value. For example, it is possible to open the vent hole by connecting a prescribed tether to the vent hole, preventing the vent hole from opening when the tether is pulled, and cutting away the tether when the internal pressure reaches a prescribed value. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the discharge of gas from the vent hole and rapidly expand the first deployment part, while controlling the first deployment part such that the pressure thereof does not become excessive.

The present invention can provide a pedestrian protecting airbag device which can protect a pedestrian and the like with different conditions more efficiently.

Preferred Embodiments according to the present invention will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Dimensions, materials, other specific numerical values, and the like indicated in the Embodiments are merely examples for ease of understanding of the invention and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise noted. Note that in the present specification and drawings, elements having essentially identical functions and configurations are labeled with identical symbols in order to omit redundant descriptions along with an illustration of elements not directly related to the present invention.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an outline of a pedestrian protecting airbag device <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM> of the present invention. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating the vehicle before the pedestrian protecting airbag device <NUM> is activated. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating the vehicle when the pedestrian protecting airbag device <NUM> is activated. Regarding <FIG> and other figures, a vehicle front-rear direction is illustrated by the symbols F (Front) and B (Back), a vehicle width direction of the vehicle by the symbols L (Left) and R (Right), and a vehicle up-down direction by the symbols U (Up) and D (Down).

As illustrated in <FIG>, the pedestrian protecting airbag device <NUM> is installed under the front hood <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM>. The pedestrian protecting airbag device <NUM> includes a sensor for detecting an impact at a location, such as the inner portion near the front bumper <NUM>, which is likely to come into contact with the legs of a pedestrian. When the sensor detects contact with a pedestrian, an activation signal is sent to the inflator (first inflator 112a and the second inflator 112b in <FIG>), which is a gas generator, via the controller. As illustrated in <FIG>, the airbag cushion <NUM> is expanded and deployed from below the front hood <NUM> toward the windshield <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the pedestrian protecting airbag device <NUM> includes a housing <NUM>, in which an airbag cushion <NUM> is stowed. The housing <NUM> is a long box-like container made mainly of resin, and stows the airbag cushion <NUM> (see <FIG>), the inflators (first inflator 112a and second inflator 112b), and the like. The housing <NUM> is mounted on the underside of the front hood <NUM> via a special bracket or the like, with the longitudinal direction thereof facing the vehicle width direction.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the airbag cushion <NUM> in this embodiment expands and deploys along the windshield <NUM> to stop pedestrians that are about to contact the windshield <NUM>. In addition, the airbag cushion <NUM> lifts and slightly raises the front hood <NUM>. This action has the effect of softening the impact on pedestrians who come into contact with the front hood <NUM>.

<FIG> is an example of an enlarged view of the pedestrian protecting airbag device of <FIG> from above. The airbag cushion <NUM> is bag shaped and formed by overlapping and sewing; alternatively, multiple base cloths (configuring the surface thereof) are adhered and overlapped or formed by spinning and weaving using an OPW (one-piece woven), or the like.

In the present Embodiment, a plurality of inflators are provided, as the first inflator 112a and the second inflator 112b. These first inflators 112a and the like are arranged on the front end side of the airbag cushion <NUM> along the vehicle width direction. The first inflator 112a is secured to the inside of the housing <NUM> using a stud bolt (not shown), and is actuated by an impact detection signal sent from a prescribed sensor so as to supply gas to the airbag cushion <NUM>. The airbag cushion <NUM> begins to be expanded by the gas from the first inflator 112a and the like, which expands and deploys toward the windshield <NUM> after the expansion pressure splits the housing <NUM>.

The first inflator 112a and the second inflator 112b are of a cylinder type in the present Embodiment. Examples of currently prevailing inflators include: types which are filled with a gas generating agent and burn the agent to generate gas; types which are filled with compressed gas and supply gas without generating heat; hybrid types which utilize both combustion gas and compressed gas; and the like. Any type of inflator can be used as the first inflator 112a and second inflator 112b.

In the present embodiment, the expansion region of the airbag cushion <NUM> into which gas flows and expands is divided into a first deployment part <NUM> and a second deployment part <NUM>. The second deployment part <NUM> forms the outline of the airbag cushion <NUM>, and the first deployment part <NUM> is expanded inside the second deployment part <NUM>. In other words, the airbag cushion <NUM> has a double structure in which the second deployment part <NUM> includes the first deployment part <NUM>.

The first deployment part <NUM> receives gas from the first inflator 112a and expands and deploys so as to cover the lower portion of the windshield <NUM> and the left and right A pillars 110a and 110b in the vehicle width direction, for receiving the body of a pedestrian over a broad area.

The second deployment part <NUM> is configured independently so that gas for the first deployment part <NUM> does not flow therethrough. The second deployment part <NUM> receives gas from the second inflator 112b, and with the first deployment part <NUM> contained therein, expands and deploys over a prescribed range of the windshield <NUM> and along the pair of A pillars 110a and 110b on both sides of the windshield <NUM> in the vehicle width direction.

The second deployment part <NUM> includes a main expansion region <NUM> that contains the first deployment part <NUM> therein and expands and deploys along the windshield <NUM>, and protruding expansion regions 124a and 124b that protrude and expand from both ends of the main expansion region <NUM> in the vehicle width direction along the A pillars 110a and 110b. Together with the first deployment part <NUM> therein, the main expansion region <NUM> receives the body of a pedestrian over a wide surface area. The protruding expansion regions 124a and 124b prevent a head of a pedestrian or the like from contacting the rigid A pillars 110a and 110b.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the airbag cushion <NUM> of <FIG> taken along line A-A. As described above, the airbag cushion <NUM> of the present Embodiment has a double structure in which the first deployment part <NUM> is contained in the second deployment part <NUM>. Since the first deployment part <NUM> and the second deployment part <NUM> are independently expanded using the first inflator 112a and the second inflator 112b, the internal pressures thereof can be maintained at a higher pressure.

The first deployment part <NUM> is arranged near the front end inside the second deployment part <NUM>. Further, as described above, the first deployment part <NUM> has a shape that expands and deploys from the A pillar 110a to the A pillar 110b. As a result, the airbag cushion <NUM> uses, for example, the internal pressure of the first deployment part <NUM> to quickly lift the front hood <NUM>, allowing for quick expansion and deployment of the second deployment part <NUM> to an area that is likely to come into contact with pedestrians.

In addition, the first deployment part <NUM> has a smaller capacity than the second deployment part <NUM>, and thus is configured to complete expansion and deployment earlier than the second deployment part <NUM>. This configuration also allows the first deployment part <NUM> to quickly lift the front hood <NUM> and quickly cover an area that is likely to come in contact with pedestrians.

The second deployment part <NUM> has an overlap part <NUM> that overlaps at least a part of the first deployment part <NUM>. In the present Embodiment, the overlap part <NUM> is formed below the first deployment part <NUM>, and a space is maintained between the overlap part <NUM> and the first deployment part <NUM> to form an area in which gas can flow. In some cases, there is no space and the panels of the first deployment part <NUM> and the second deployment part <NUM> are in contact with each other.

Refer again to <FIG>. In the pedestrian protecting airbag device <NUM>, the sensors 126a and 126b and the controller <NUM> are able to control the operation of the first inflator 112a and the second inflator 112b. For example, the controller <NUM> can activate only the first inflator 112a when the impact detected by the sensors 126a and 126b is less than a prescribed value.

With the control described above, the controller <NUM> can determine that, for example, when the impact is weak, the object to be protected is a pedestrian and the vehicle <NUM> is not moving very fast. In this case, pedestrians are less likely to collide with the windshield <NUM>. Therefore, by expanding and deploying only the first deployment part <NUM> to lift the front hood <NUM>, the controller <NUM> has the ability to mitigate the impact when a pedestrian comes into contact with only the front hood <NUM>.

When an impact detected by the sensors 126a and 126b is a strong impact equal to or greater than a prescribed value, the controller <NUM> can determine that the object to be protected is a cyclist and the vehicle <NUM> has some speed. In this case, a cyclist or the like may collide with the windshield <NUM>. Therefore, the controller <NUM> can expand and deploy not only the first deployment part <NUM> but also the second deployment part <NUM> to more fully protect the cyclist and the like. At this time, even if the second deployment part <NUM> were to be damaged by a bicycle collision, since the first deployment part <NUM> exists independently, protection performance for the cyclist can be maintained. Thus, in the pedestrian protecting airbag device <NUM>, use of the controller <NUM> enables protecting the object to be protected in accordance with the various situations.

As described above, in the airbag cushion <NUM> of the present embodiment, the first deployment part <NUM> and the second deployment part <NUM> expand and deploy independently of each other. Therefore, for example, by selectively activating the first inflator 112a and the second inflator 112b, the expansion and deployment of the first deployment part <NUM> and the second deployment part <NUM> can be separately controlled, allowing for more efficient protection of pedestrians and the like under various conditions.

A modified example of the structural element described above which is not part of the present invention will be described below. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating an outline of a pedestrian protecting airbag device <NUM> which is not part of the present invention. In <FIG>, the same codes are attached to the same structural elements as described above, and a description of the aforementioned structural elements is omitted. In the following description, components having the same name as a component already described are assumed to have the same function unless otherwise specified, even if marked with a different sign.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating the pedestrian protecting airbag device <NUM> from above. In the pedestrian protecting airbag device <NUM> as well, the expansion region of the airbag cushion <NUM> into which gas flows and expands is divided into a first deployment part <NUM> and a second deployment part <NUM>. However, the airbag cushion differs in configuration from the airbag cushion <NUM> of <FIG> in that the first deployment part <NUM> and the second deployment part <NUM> are provided adjacent to each other.

The first deployment part <NUM> receives gas from the first inflator 112a, and expands and deploys so as to cover the lower portion of the windshield <NUM> from the A pillar 110a to the A pillar 110b in the vehicle width direction, thereby broadening the surface area for receiving a pedestrian.

The second deployment part <NUM> is provided independently so that gas for the first deployment part <NUM> does not flow therethrough. The second deployment part <NUM> receives gas from the second inflator 112b, is adjacent to the first deployment part <NUM>, and independently of the first deployment part <NUM> expands and deploys over a prescribed area of the windshield <NUM> and along the pair of A pillars 110a and 110b on both sides of the windshield <NUM> in the vehicle width direction. The second deployment part <NUM> includes a connecting region <NUM> that expands and deploys while being connected to the periphery of the first deployment part <NUM>, and protruding expansion regions 210a and 210b that protrude and expand from both ends of the connecting region <NUM> in the vehicle width direction along the A pillars 110a and 110b.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the airbag cushion <NUM> of <FIG> along line B-B. For the airbag cushion <NUM> of the present Embodiment, the first deployment part <NUM> expands and deploys independently of the second deployment part <NUM> while in contact with the outer surface of the second deployment part <NUM>. The first deployment part <NUM> is arranged on the vehicle front side of the second deployment part <NUM>, and the second deployment part <NUM> expands and deploys on the vehicle rear side of the first deployment part <NUM> across the A pillars 110a and 110b.

The second deployment part <NUM> has an overlap part <NUM> that overlaps at least a part of the first deployment part <NUM>. The overlap part <NUM> is provided as an area to be expanded and deployed below the first deployment part <NUM>.

The first deployment part <NUM> is arranged closer to the front side of the vehicle than the second deployment part <NUM>, and is set to have a smaller capacity than the second deployment part <NUM>, so that the first deployment part <NUM> completes expansion and deployment faster than the second deployment part <NUM>. With these configurations, the first deployment part <NUM> can quickly lift the front hood <NUM> and quickly cover areas that are likely to come into contact with pedestrians.

<FIG> is again referred to. In the pedestrian protecting airbag device <NUM> as well, the sensors 126a and 126b and the controller <NUM> can be used to control the operation of the first inflator 112a and the second inflator 112b. The pedestrian protecting airbag device <NUM> also uses the controller <NUM> or the like so that, for example, when there is a weak impact, only the first deployment part <NUM> is expanded and deployed to only lift the front hood <NUM>, and when the impact is strong, the second deployment part <NUM> is also expanded and deployed to protect a cyclist or the like, enabling protecting the object to be protected according to the situation.

As described above, in the airbag cushion <NUM> the first deployment part <NUM> and the second deployment part <NUM> are expanded and deployed independently of each other. Therefore, for example, by selectively activating the first inflator 112a and the second inflator 112b, the expansion and deployment of the first deployment part <NUM> and the second deployment part <NUM> can be separately controlled, allowing for more efficient protection of pedestrians and the like under various conditions.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a modified example (airbag cushion <NUM>) of the airbag cushion <NUM> of <FIG>. The airbag cushion <NUM> differs from the airbag cushion <NUM> in that the overlap part <NUM> of the second deployment part <NUM> that overlaps at least a part of the first deployment part <NUM> is formed as a non-inflatable portion. In this configuration, the gas in the second deployment part <NUM> flows from the inflator 112b to the protruding expansion regions 210a and 210b (see <FIG>) so as to bypass the first deployment part <NUM>.

With the airbag cushion <NUM> as well, the first deployment part <NUM> and the second deployment part <NUM> are expanded and deployed independently of each other. Therefore, for example, by selectively operating the first inflator 112a and the second inflator 112b (see <FIG>), the expansion and deployment of the first deployment part <NUM> and the second deployment part <NUM> can be separately controlled, allowing for more efficient protection of pedestrians and the like under various conditions.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a modified example (airbag cushion <NUM>) of the airbag cushion <NUM> in <FIG>. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating the airbag cushion <NUM> according to <FIG>. The airbag cushion <NUM> differs in configuration from the airbag cushion <NUM> of <FIG> in having two vent holes 242a and 242b.

The vent holes 242a and 242b are provided at locations adjacent to the second deployment part [no code in original] in the first deployment part <NUM> and are configured to release gas from the first deployment part <NUM> to the inside of the second deployment part <NUM>.

<FIG> is a CC cross-sectional view of the airbag cushion <NUM> of <FIG> along the line C-C. The vent hole 242a can be provided, for example, in the first deployment part <NUM> at a location where gas can be supplied to the protruding expansion region 124a of the second deployment part <NUM>. By providing the vent hole 124a, when the internal pressure of the first deployment part <NUM> increases, the surplus gas is supplied from the first deployment part <NUM> toward the protruding expansion region 124a of the second deployment part <NUM> in particular. With this configuration, it is possible to control the pressure of the first deployment part <NUM> so as not to increase excessively, and to expedite the expansion and deployment of the second deployment part <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a modified example (airbag cushion <NUM>) of the airbag cushion <NUM> of <FIG>. The airbag cushion <NUM> has a vent hole <NUM> at a section of the first deployment part <NUM> that faces the outside. The vent hole <NUM> can release gas from the first deployment part <NUM> to the outside enabling controlling of the pressure of the first deployment part <NUM> so as not to increase excessively.

The number of vent holes <NUM> provided is not limited, and the number of vent holes <NUM> can be appropriately set according to the capacity of the first deployment part <NUM> and the degree of internal pressure.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a modified example (vent hole <NUM>) of the vent hole 242a of <FIG>. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating the vent hole <NUM> in a closed state. The vent hole <NUM> is implemented as a so-called active vent, and has a slit-like opening that is pulled by a tether <NUM> from the inside of the first deployment part <NUM> to maintain the closed state.

The tether <NUM> is connected to the vicinity of both edges of the vent hole <NUM> at the bifurcated leading side. The base side of the tether <NUM> is exposed externally from the airbag cushion <NUM> and connected to a tether cutter <NUM>.

The tether cutter <NUM> is a device that fastens the tether <NUM>, and when a signal is received from the controller <NUM>, an internal blade moves to cut and drop the tether <NUM>. The tether cutter <NUM> can be installed on the vehicle along with an inflator or the like.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating the vent hole <NUM> in an open state. The vent hole <NUM> is configured to be opened by the tether <NUM> being cut off by the tether cutter <NUM> when the internal pressure of the first deployment part <NUM> reaches or exceeds a prescribed value. For example, the internal pressure of the first deployment part <NUM> may be calculated by the controller <NUM> based on the time from the start of operation of the first inflator 112a (see <FIG>), or a prescribed sensor may be provided inside the first deployment part <NUM> for actual measurement. With the vent hole <NUM> having this configuration, it is possible to efficiently control the pressure in the first deployment part <NUM> so as not to increase excessively.

The destination of the gas released from the vent hole <NUM> is the inside of the second deployment part <NUM> adjacent to the first deployment part <NUM> similar to the vent hole 242a in <FIG>, or perhaps to the outside of the airbag cushion <NUM> similar to the vent hole <NUM> in <FIG>. In addition, when a plurality of vent holes <NUM> are provided, it is possible to provide both a vent hole for releasing gas into the second deployment part <NUM> and a vent hole for releasing gas to the outside of the airbag cushion <NUM>.

An airbag cushion <NUM> having the vent hole <NUM> can function as an alternative or supplement to a piston hood lifter. A piston hood lifter is a mechanism that lifts the front hood <NUM> (see <FIG>) in an emergency to soften the impact on the contacting object.

The first deployment part <NUM> has a function of lifting the front hood <NUM> from below, as illustrated in <FIG>. By providing the vent holes <NUM>, the first deployment part <NUM> can first expand rapidly while suppressing the discharge of gas to lift the front hood <NUM>, and when the internal pressure reaches or exceeds a prescribed value, can supply the gas to the second deployment part <NUM> forming a wide area to restrain or prevent breakage by exhausting gas to the outside, suitably achieving the functions of a piston hood lifter.

Preferred examples of the present invention were described above while referring to the attached drawings. However, the embodiments described above are preferred examples of the present invention, and other embodiments can be implemented or performed by various methods. In particular, unless described otherwise in the specification of the present application, the invention is not limited to the shape, size, configurational disposition, and the like of parts illustrated in detail in the attached drawings. Furthermore, expressions and terms used in the specification of the present application are used for providing a description, and the invention is not limited thereto, unless specifically described otherwise.

Therefore, it is obvious that a person with ordinary skill in the art can conceive various changed examples or modified examples within the scope of the claims.

The present invention can be used as a pedestrian protecting airbag device having an airbag cushion that expands and deploys from below a front hood of a vehicle toward a windshield, and an inflator that supplies gas to the airbag cushion.

Claim 1:
A pedestrian protecting airbag device (<NUM>,<NUM>) comprising:
an airbag cushion (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) that expands and deploys from below a front hood (<NUM>) of a vehicle toward a windshield (<NUM>), and
a plurality of inflators (112a,112b) that supply gas to the airbag cushion (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>), wherein
the airbag cushion (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) includes:
at least a first deployment part (<NUM>,<NUM>) that expands and deploys along the bottom portion of a windshield (<NUM>), and
a second deployment part (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) provided independently from the first deployment part (<NUM>,<NUM>) such that gas does not flow therethrough which expands and deploys over a prescribed area of the windshield (<NUM>) and along a pair of A pillars (110a,110b) on both sides of the windshield (<NUM>) in the vehicle width direction;
the second deployment part (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) has an overlap part (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) that overlaps with at least a part of the first deployment part (<NUM>,<NUM>); and
the plurality of inflators (112a,112b) includes at least a first inflator (112a) that supplies gas to the first deployment part (<NUM>,<NUM>) and a second inflator (112b) that supplies gas to the second deployment part (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>),wherein
- the first deployment part (<NUM>,<NUM>) expands and deploys from one side to the other side of the pair of A pillars (110a,110b) and lifts the front hood (<NUM>) when deployed, and
- a sensor (126a,126b) installed at a prescribed location of the vehicle to detect an impact, and
- a controller (<NUM>) that controls activation of the first inflator (112a) and second inflator (112b) according to the impact detected by the sensor (126a,126b), wherein
the controller (<NUM>) activates only the first inflator (112a) when the impact detected by the sensor (126a,126b) is less than a prescribed value, wherein
- the controller (<NUM>) expand the first deployment part (<NUM>) and the second deployment part (<NUM>) when a strong impact equal to or greater than a prescribed value is detected by the sensor (126a, 126b)
characterized in that,
the first deployment part (<NUM>,<NUM>) is arranged near the front end inside the second deployment part (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) below the front hood (<NUM>),