KR-102962804-B1 - APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING STEERING COLUM FOR WORKING TOGETHER AIRBAG SYSTEM

KR102962804B1KR 102962804 B1KR102962804 B1KR 102962804B1KR-102962804-B1

Abstract

An airbag-linked steering column control device and method are disclosed. An airbag-linked steering column control device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises at least one imaging unit for acquiring an image of the interior of a vehicle, a collision prediction unit for predicting a collision risk of the vehicle, an active tele unit mounted on one side of a steering column supporting a steering wheel, and a control unit that analyzes the image of the interior of the vehicle acquired through the imaging unit to detect information on the seating state of a passenger, determines an operating amount of the active tele unit based on the passenger seating state information and the collision prediction information of the collision prediction unit, and adjusts the length of the steering column by operating the active tele unit according to the determined operating amount.

Inventors

박해권
윤문형
김병수
박준성
권재준

Assignees

현대모비스 주식회사

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20210203

Claims (11)

At least one camera unit for acquiring images of the vehicle interior; A collision prediction unit that predicts the collision risk of the above vehicle; An active tele section mounted on one side of a steering column that supports a steering wheel; and It includes a control unit that detects passenger seating status information by analyzing an image of the vehicle interior obtained through the above-mentioned camera unit, determines the operating amount of the active tele unit based on the passenger seating status information and the collision prediction information of the above-mentioned collision prediction unit, and adjusts the length of the steering column by operating the active tele unit according to the determined operating amount. The above control unit is, When collision prediction information is received from the collision prediction unit, the operating amount determining unit includes comparing the distance between the passenger and the steering wheel estimated through the image inside the vehicle with a preset reference distance, and determining the operating amount for the insertion or withdrawal of the active tele unit based on the comparison result. The above control unit is, When collision prediction information is received from the collision prediction unit, and the distance between the estimated passenger and the steering wheel is less than the reference distance, an operating amount for engaging the active tele unit is determined, and The above-mentioned operating amount determining unit is, An airbag-linked steering column control device characterized by determining an operating amount for withdrawing the active tele section when the distance between the estimated passenger and the steering wheel exceeds the reference distance.
In paragraph 1, The above control unit is, An image analysis unit that analyzes an image of the interior of the vehicle to detect the passenger and the steering wheel, and estimates the distance between the passenger and the steering wheel; and An airbag-linked steering column control device characterized by further including a tele motion control unit that adjusts the length of the steering column by retracting or withdrawing the active tele unit according to the above operating amount.
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In paragraph 1, The above-mentioned operating amount determining unit is, An airbag-linked steering column control device characterized by calculating the difference between the estimated distance between the passenger and the steering wheel and the reference distance, and determining the distance compensation value set according to the difference value as the operating amount.
In paragraph 1, It further includes a collision detection unit that detects a collision of the above vehicle, An airbag-linked steering column control device characterized in that when a collision is detected by the collision detection unit, the control unit controls the deployment of the airbag installed in the vehicle.
A step in which a control unit analyzes an image of the vehicle interior acquired through a shooting unit to detect information on the passenger's seating status; When a collision risk of the above vehicle is detected, the control unit determines the amount of operation of the active tele unit based on the passenger's seating status information; and The above control unit includes a step of adjusting the length of the steering column by operating the active tele unit according to the determined operating amount, and In the step of determining the operating amount of the above active telepart, The control unit compares the distance between the passenger and the steering wheel with a preset reference distance and determines the amount of operation for the insertion or withdrawal of the active tele unit based on the comparison result. An airbag-linked steering column control method characterized in that the control unit determines an operating amount for retracting the active tele unit when the distance between the passenger and the steering wheel is less than the reference distance, and determines an operating amount for withdrawing the active tele unit when the distance between the passenger and the steering wheel exceeds the reference distance.
In paragraph 6, In the step of detecting the seating status information of the above-mentioned passenger, An airbag-linked steering column control method characterized by the above-described control unit analyzing the vehicle interior image to detect the passenger and the steering wheel, and detecting the passenger's seating state information including the distance between the passenger and the steering wheel.
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In paragraph 6, In the step of determining the operating amount of the above active telepart, An airbag-linked steering column control method characterized by the above-described control unit calculating the difference value between the distance between the passenger and the steering wheel and the reference distance, and determining the distance compensation value set according to the difference value as the operating amount.
In paragraph 6, After the step of adjusting the length of the steering column, An airbag-linked steering column control method characterized by further including the step of the control unit controlling the deployment of an airbag installed in the vehicle when a collision of the vehicle is detected.

Description

Apparatus and Method for Controlling Steering Column Together Airbag System The present invention relates to an airbag-linked steering column control device and method, and more specifically, to an airbag-linked steering column control device and method that minimizes passenger injury when an airbag is deployed by pre-adjusting the distance between a passenger and a steering wheel. MDPS (Motor Driven Power Steering) is a device that assists steering by reflecting the driver's will for safety, and the tilt-tele device is a device that positions the steering wheel according to the driver's will; both devices help the driver's steering convenience and ensure safety. In other words, MDPS facilitates steering by utilizing an auxiliary power source to provide a portion of the steering torque that the driver must apply to the steering wheel during vehicle steering. To achieve this, it detects the driver's steering intention through a torque sensor directly connected to the steering wheel and assists steering force by driving a motor to provide appropriate force to the steering wheel, taking into account the current vehicle speed and other factors. It reduces the driver's effort by providing a large amount of assistance during stopping or low-speed driving, while maintaining vehicle stability by providing only a small amount of assistance during high-speed driving. Meanwhile, the tilt-tele device helps improve driving convenience by adjusting the position of the steering wheel. The tilt device functions to adjust the inclination angle of the axis to which the steering wheel is attached, and the tele device functions to extend or retract the steering wheel; each device can be easily operated by manipulating the control buttons. The driver can operate the steering wheel in an optimal position by properly adjusting the tilt-tele device. Recently, airbags are installed in the steering wheel to minimize driver injury by mitigating direct contact with the steering wheel during a head-on collision. Meanwhile, as the development of autonomous vehicles accelerates, an increase in the amount of telescopic adjustment is expected to secure more interior space for the driver. For example, since the driver does not need to operate the steering wheel in autonomous driving mode, a large amount of telescopic adjustment can be applied to push the steering wheel toward the crash pad, thereby securing more interior space. However, if a collision occurs while the autonomous driving mode is activated and the steering wheel is fully tele-in, a problem arises where the driver cannot be properly protected even if the airbag equipped in the steering wheel deploys because the distance between the steering wheel and the driver is too far. FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an airbag-linked steering column control device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an illustrative diagram for explaining an active tele section according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the control unit shown in Figure 1. Figure 4 is an example diagram illustrating a conventional airbag deployment method to compensate for the distance between a passenger and an airbag. FIGS. 5 and 6 are exemplary diagrams illustrating an active tele-unit operation method for compensating the distance between a passenger and an airbag according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a control method for an airbag-linked steering column control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, an airbag-linked steering column control device and method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. In this process, the thickness of lines or the size of components depicted in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of explanation. Furthermore, the terms described below are defined considering their functions in the present invention, and these may vary depending on the intention or convention of the user or operator. Therefore, the definitions of these terms should be based on the content throughout this specification. The implementations described herein may be implemented, for example, as methods or processes, devices, software programs, data streams, or signals. Even if discussed only in the context of a single form of implementation (e.g., discussed only as a method), the implementation of the discussed features may also be implemented in other forms (e.g., devices or programs). Devices may be implemented in appropriate hardware, software, and firmware, etc. Methods may be implemented in devices such as processors, which generally refer to processing devices including, for example, computers, microprocessors, integrated circuits, or programmable logic devices. Processors also include communication devices such as computers,