Abstract: An occupant protection system has a component in question reduced in size and cost. The occupant protection system includes: a rollover airbag device provided in a vehicle interior; a battery configured to supply power to the rollover airbag device; a controller configured to determine a rollover of a vehicle and, if a rollover of the vehicle is determined, activate the rollover airbag device using power supplied from the battery; and a backup power source configured to charge power to be used if the battery fails. The controller determines a collision of the vehicle and examines the battery for any failure and, if a collision of the vehicle is determined and the battery is examined to have a failure, activates the rollover airbag device using the power charged in the backup power source.

Abstract: An occupant protection system has a component in question reduced in size and cost. The occupant protection system includes: a rollover airbag device provided in a vehicle interior; a battery configured to supply power to the rollover airbag device; a controller configured to determine a rollover of a vehicle and, if a rollover of the vehicle is determined, activate the rollover airbag device using power supplied from the battery; and a backup power source configured to charge power to be used if the battery fails. The controller determines a collision of the vehicle and examines the battery for any failure and, if a collision of the vehicle is determined and the battery is examined to have a failure, activates the rollover airbag device using the power charged in the backup power source.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting occupants when a vehicle having an openable and closeable roof overturns, which apparatus includes an occupant rollover protection member that supports a vehicle frame when the vehicle overturns, and first buffering members that buffer the occupants. A first buffering member control unit controls the deployment of the first buffering members on the basis of information from a vehicle state detection mechanism that detects the behavior of the vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting occupants when a vehicle having an openable and closeable roof overturns, which apparatus includes an occupant rollover protection member that supports a vehicle frame when the vehicle overturns, and first buffering members that buffer the occupants. A first buffering member control unit controls the deployment of the first buffering members on the basis of information from a vehicle state detection mechanism that detects the behavior of the vehicle.

Abstract: A sensor module mounted on a vehicle body includes a base plate, a sensor and a signal processing unit. The sensor includes a plurality of piezoelectric films for detecting an external force applied to the vehicle body. The signal processing unit is connected to the sensor for processing sensor signals output from the sensor. The sensor and the signal processing unit are attached to the base plate.

Abstract: A passenger protection system for a vehicle having a door opening to which a door is attached. The system has an airbag attached in a folded form along an upper edge of the door opening, wherein when being expanded, the airbag is deployed along an inner side surface of an interior of the vehicle in a drawn curtain form; a contact detecting device for detecting a contact action of a passenger in the vehicle with the contact detecting device; and a control device for determining whether a passenger is close to the inner side surface based on a result of detection of the contact detecting device, and prohibiting deployment of the airbag while determining that a passenger is close to the inner side surface. The contact detecting device may have an elongated form in a length direction of the vehicle and consist of divided portions separated in a vertical direction.

Abstract: A collision detection sensor for a vehicle of the present invention includes a single piezoelectric film which is flat, plural pairs of electrodes which sandwich the piezoelectric film and measure voltages between the electrodes, and spaces provided between the plural pairs of electrodes.

Abstract: A sensor module mounted on a vehicle body includes a base plate, a sensor and a signal processing unit. The sensor includes a plurality of piezoelectric films for detecting an external force applied to the vehicle body. The signal processing unit is connected to the sensor for processing sensor signals output from the sensor. The sensor and the signal processing unit are attached to the base plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting occupants when a vehicle having an openable and closeable roof overturns, which apparatus includes an occupant rollover protection member that supports a vehicle frame when the vehicle overturns, and first buffering members that buffer the occupants. A first buffering member control unit controls the deployment of the first buffering members on the basis of information from a vehicle state detection mechanism that detects the behavior of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle collision detection device includes a plurality of sensors for detecting at least one parameter selected from an acceleration that acts upon the vehicle body and a deformation induced in the vehicle body by the acceleration, and then wirelessly generating an output signal, and a controller for assessing collisions on the basis of the output signal received from the sensors. Each sensor includes a distinguished value memory part for storing a characteristic distinguished value for each of the sensors, a transmitter for transmitting the distinguished value together with the output signal to the controller, and a power generator for producing electric power by an external force and feeding the power to the transmitter.

Abstract: A passenger protection system for a vehicle having a door opening to which a door is attached. The system has an airbag attached in a folded form along an upper edge of the door opening, wherein when being expanded, the airbag is deployed along an inner side surface of an interior of the vehicle in a drawn curtain form; a contact detecting device for detecting a contact action of a passenger in the vehicle with the contact detecting device; and a control device for determining whether a passenger is close to the inner side surface based on a result of detection of the contact detecting device, and prohibiting deployment of the airbag while determining that a passenger is close to the inner side surface. The contact detecting device may have an elongated form in a length direction of the vehicle and consist of divided portions separated in a vertical direction.

Abstract: A collision detection sensor for a vehicle of the present invention includes a single piezoelectric film which is flat, plural pairs of electrodes which sandwich the piezoelectric film and measure voltages between the electrodes, and spaces provided between the plural pairs of electrodes.

Abstract: A system for detecting an angle of inclination of a vehicle, comprises: a first detecting mechanism which continuously detects an angle of inclination of the vehicle with respect to a direction of the force of gravity; a second detecting mechanism which continuously detects an amount of change in angle of inclination of the vehicle by integrating a sensed angular speed of the vehicle; and a calculator which calculates an angle of inclination of the vehicle based on the sum of a first output from said first detecting mechanism and a second output from said second detecting mechanism.

Abstract: A process for determining lateral overturning of a vehicle involves establishing a threshold value line S separating a lateral overturning region farther from an origin and a lateral non-overturning region closer to the origin on a two-dimensional map made using a rolling angle &thgr; and a rolling angular speed &ohgr; of the vehicle. When a hysteresis line for actual rolling angles and actual rolling angular speeds of the vehicle traverses the threshold value line from the lateral non-overturning region to the lateral overturning region, it is determined that there is a possibility of lateral overturning of the vehicle, and correspondingly an occupant protecting system may be deployed. Also, to assure accuracy, a lateral acceleration sensor for detecting a lateral acceleration for establishing the threshold value line S is disposed on a center plane of a vehicle body.

Abstract: A process for determining lateral overturning of a vehicle in which a threshold value line is established separating a lateral overturning region farther from an origin and a lateral non-overturning region closer to the origin on a two-dimensional map made using a rolling angle &thgr; and a rolling angular speed &ohgr; of the vehicle as parameters. When a hysteresis line for actual rolling angles and actual rolling angular speeds of the vehicle traverses the threshold value line from the lateral non-overturning region to the lateral overturning region, it is determined that there is a possibility of lateral overturning of the vehicle.

Abstract: A process for determining the lateral overturning of a vehicle, comprises the steps of: establishing a threshold value line on a two-dimensional map made using a rolling angle and a rolling angular speed of the vehicle as parameters; plotting a hysteresis line for an actual rolling angle and an actual rolling angular speed on the two-dimensional map; and determining that there is a possibility that the vehicle is overturning laterally or sideways when the hysteresis line traverses the threshold value line from a side nearer to an origin of the map to a side farther from the origin. The threshold value line is changed depending on at least one of a lateral acceleration of the vehicle, a lateral speed of the vehicle, a direction of change in steering angle of the vehicle, and a rolling angular acceleration of the vehicle.

Abstract: A process for determining the lateral overturning of a vehicle, comprises the steps of: establishing a threshold value line on a two-dimensional map made using a rolling angle and a rolling angular speed of the vehicle as parameters; plotting a hysteresis line for an actual rolling angle and an actual rolling angular speed on the two-dimensional map; and determining that there is a possibility that the vehicle is overturning laterally or sideways when the hysteresis line traverses the threshold value line from a side nearer to an origin of the map to a side farther from the origin. The threshold value line is changed depending on at least one of a lateral acceleration of the vehicle, a lateral speed of the vehicle, a direction of change in steering angle of the vehicle, and a rolling angular acceleration of the vehicle.

Abstract: A process for determining lateral overturning of a vehicle involves establishing a threshold value line S separating a lateral overturning region farther from an origin and a lateral non-overturning region closer to the origin on a two-dimensional map made using a rolling angle &thgr; and a rolling angular speed &ohgr; of the vehicle. When a hysteresis line for actual rolling angles and actual rolling angular speeds of the vehicle traverses the threshold value line from the lateral non-overturning region to the lateral overturning region, it is determined that there is a possibility of lateral overturning of the vehicle, and correspondingly an occupant protecting system may be deployed. Also, to assure accuracy, a lateral acceleration sensor for detecting a lateral acceleration for establishing the threshold value line S is disposed on a center plane of a vehicle body.

Abstract: A process for determining lateral overturning of a vehicle in which a threshold value line is established separating a lateral overturning region farther from an origin and a lateral non-overturning region closer to the origin on a two-dimensional map made using a rolling angle &thgr; and a rolling angular speed &ohgr; of the vehicle as parameters. When a hysteresis line for actual rolling angles and actual rolling angular speeds of the vehicle traverses the threshold value line from the lateral non-overturning region to the lateral overturning region, it is determined that there is a possibility of lateral overturning of the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention allows accurate determination as to if deformation of a vehicle side part has occurred or not as a result of a side impact even though the used data consists of outputs of acceleration sensors for detecting accelerations given as combinations of deformation of a vehicle side part and a travel of the vehicle body.