US 12,441,241 B2
Occupant protection device and occupant protection method
Eric Aliwarga, Tokyo (JP); Kenji Fukumoto, Tokyo (JP); and Masayuki Yamazaki, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to Daicel Corporation, Osaka (JP)
Filed by DAICEL CORPORATION, Osaka (JP)
Filed on Aug. 23, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/237,118.
Application 18/237,118 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2022/002641, filed on Jan. 25, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-030999 (JP), filed on Feb. 26, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0391257 A1, Dec. 7, 2023
Int. Cl. B60Q 9/00 (2006.01); B60R 21/015 (2006.01); B60R 21/01 (2006.01)
CPC B60Q 9/008 (2013.01) [B60R 21/01552 (2014.10); B60R 2021/01034 (2013.01); B60R 2021/01286 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
12. An occupant protection device, comprising:
a first sensor mounted on a vehicle and configured to output vehicle information including information indicating a traveling state of the vehicle and a situation around the vehicle;
a second sensor mounted on the vehicle and configured to output occupant information indicating a seating state of an occupant in the vehicle;
a first stimulus applicator and a second stimulus applicator worn by the occupant and configured to apply a stimulus to the occupant during operation; and
a controller configured to control the first and second stimulus applicators, wherein the controller,
predicts, based on the vehicle information acquired from the first sensor, an impact to be received by the vehicle,
determines, based on the occupant information acquired from the second sensor, a first stimulus application content necessary for correcting a posture of the occupant to a posture prepared for the impact on the vehicle, when the impact on the vehicle is predicted,
activates the first stimulus applicator in accordance with the determined first stimulus application content and thus corrects the posture of the occupant prior to a timing when the vehicle receives the impact,
further determines, based on the occupant information acquired from the second sensor, a second stimulus application content necessary for correcting the posture of the occupant, and
activates the second stimulus applicator, at a different timing from the first stimulus applicator, in accordance with the determined second stimulus application content.