Abstract: A belt lock (8) for receiving an attachment element (2) of a safety belt (1) has an insertion opening (10) for the attachment element (2). In the belt lock (8), a connection element (20) is provided, which penetrates a locking opening (3) on the attachment element (2). The connection element (20) is disposed on a flat spring-type carrier (17), via which an insertion movement (24) of the connection element (20) into the locking opening (3) of the attachment element (2) takes place, when the attachment element operates a locking lever (12) by its insertion movement. The insertion movement (24) of the connection element (20) is monitored via a magnetic circuit containing a magnetic field-sensing sensor (31). A component (11, 20) of the belt lock (8) that fixes the attachment element (2) of the safety belt (1) is associated with a measuring element (20), with which a force operating on the belt lock can be determined via the magnetic circuit (16, 31).

Abstract: A device and a method, respectively, are proposed to detect side collisions, in which a temperature sensor is located in a motor-vehicle side section. In case of a side collision, the temperature sensor measures the short-term adiabatic temperature increase and a control device detects a side collision as a function of the measured temperature increase and the temperature gradient. A triggering decision is made by plausibility testing using an acceleration sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing electromagnetic radiation with local resolution for image-producing sensors that can be economically produced and installed is decribed. This is achieved, in that a micromechanically producible optical imaging system is provided.

Abstract: A device and a method, respectively, are proposed to detect side collisions, in which a temperature sensor is located in a motor-vehicle side section. In case of a side collision, the temperature sensor measures the short-term adiabatic temperature increase and a control device detects a side collision as a function of the measured temperature increase and the temperature gradient. A triggering decision is made by plausibility testing using an acceleration sensor.

Abstract: A belt lock (8) for receiving an attachment element (2) of a safety belt (1) has an insertion opening (10) for the attachment element (2). In the belt lock (8), a connection element (20) is provided, which penetrates a locking opening (3) on the attachment element (2). The connection element (20) is disposed on a flat spring-type carrier (17), via which an insertion movement (24) of the connection element (20) into the locking opening (3) of the attachment element (2) takes place, when the attachment element operates a locking lever (12) by its insertion movement. The insertion movement (24) of the connection element (20) is monitored via a magnetic circuit containing a magnetic field-sensing sensor (31). A component (11, 20) of the belt lock (8) that fixes the attachment element (2) of the safety belt (1) is associated with a measuring element (20), with which a force operating on the belt lock can be determined via the magnetic circuit (16, 31).

Abstract: An arrangement for detecting physical measurement variables, in particular force, torque, stress and/or acceleration, at a wheel bearing in a motor vehicle is proposed. This arrangement has a radial bearing (14, 15), a rotatable component (13, 24) interconnected with the radial bearing (14, 15), a sensing device (30) with which at least one physical measurement variable capable of being transferred from the rotatable component (13, 24) to the radial bearing (14, 15) can be detected, and a further device (16) interconnected with the radial bearing (14, 15) with which the rotational speed of the rotatable component (13, 24) can be influenced.

Abstract: An arrangement that can be implemented with a simple circuit includes a measuring resistance that can either be connected in addition to a load or connected in place of the load. Furthermore, elements are provided that record the change in resistance resulting from the connection of the measuring resistance and signal when the change in resistance differs from a predefined value.

Abstract: Presented is a sensor system for the detection of thermal radiation, with a substrate (15) and several sensor elements (10) on the substrate (15), in which case at least one self-test device (53) is provided in order to generate heat which can be used for the heating of one or more sensor elements (10). The sensor elements (10) can be heated according to a typical time pattern during the self-testing process. Also presented is an advantageous process for the manufacture of the sensor system as well as an advantageous configuration of the total system, including signal processing.

Abstract: A sensor is proposed that has a measuring diaphragm (2), with at least one resistor measurement bridge (7, 8); a deflection of the measuring diaphragm (2) causes mistuning of the respective measurement bridge (7, 8), and the resultant change in the bridge diagonal voltage can be evaluated. The sensor (1) has one resistor measurement bridge (7, 8) on each half (3, 4) of the measuring diaphragm (2), and in each of the resistor measurement bridges (7, 8), two opposed bridge branches (R1, R4) are changed in their resistance values (&Dgr;R) by radial compressive offset, and the respectively other bridge branches (R2, R3) are altered in their resistances by radial or tangential elongation.

Abstract: In an arrangement that can be implemented with a simple circuit, the load is connected in parallel to an additional resistor. The primary-side input resistance of the transformer is measured, and when the input resistance differs from a predefined value, a load malfunction is signaled.

Abstract: The arrangement includes a transformer whose primary winding and secondary winding are in separate pot cores which can rotate in opposite directions about the axis of rotation of the steering wheel. To prevent these transformers from transferring energy to the squib which could deploy the air bag when a short-circuit to lines carrying on-board voltage occurs on its primary side, only one of the two pot cores is designed as a closed ring and the other pot core is made of one or more ring segments.

Abstract: An arrangement for activating a deployment mechanism of a restraint system includes a transfer unit whose secondary side is connected to the deployment mechanism. In order to prevent improper deployments of the restraint system, upstream from the deployment mechanism there is an electrical energy accumulator which is fed by a charging current delivered via the transfer unit. In addition, on the secondary side there is connected to the transfer unit a control circuit which, in reaction to a trigger signal that, in a situation requiring deployment of the restraint system, is delivered from the transfer unit, switches the electrical energy accumulator though to the deployment mechanism.

Abstract: An arrangement allowing a definite and reliable determination of a load resistance connected to the secondary side of a transformer includes devices, which measure exclusively the inductance of the transformer on the primary side and signal a load malfunction in the case of deviation from a predefined value.

Abstract: An arrangement for contactless transmission of signals, e.g., between at least one circuit unit installed on the vehicle body and at least one circuit unit in a vehicle seat mounted displaceably on rails is described. This arrangement is free of wear and guarantees interference-free signal transmission. This arrangement consists of at least one repeating coil whose primary winding and secondary winding are in separate pot-type cores, one of which is mounted on a stationary vehicle part (body) and the other is mounted on the movable vehicle part (vehicle seat). Both pot-type cores are designed as rails sliding along one another and having sections such that together they form a closed circuit for the magnetic flux between the primary winding and the secondary winding.

Abstract: The transfer unit which brings about the signal connection between an airbag installed in a steering wheel and a circuit arranged outside the steering wheel possesses a primary and a secondary winding which are located in separate annular dished cores which are mounted rotatably with respect to one another about the steering wheel axis. To ensure that the transfer unit transfers airbag measurement signals with minimal falsification, one of its two dished cores is equipped with a U-shaped cross section, and the other dished core projects into the latter, so that the magnetic flux intersects the air gaps remaining between the two dished cores preferably in a direction radial to the rotation axis.

Abstract: A synchronous rectifier, to which the primary-side input voltage of the transformer and a control voltage with the same frequency as the input voltage is applied, is connected to the primary side of the transformer. The phase of the control voltage can be switched between 0.degree. and 90.degree., so that the output voltage of the synchronous rectifier corresponds exclusively to the voltage drop component at the ohmic input resistance of the transformer at 0.degree., and exclusively to the voltage drop component at the inductive input resistance of the transformer at 90.degree.. Since both the ohmic and the inductive input resistances are dependent on the resistance of the load connected to the secondary side (e.g., the squib of an air bag), both voltage components can be used to obtain reliable information on the status of the load resistance.

Abstract: In order that a signal can be transmitted without contact from a stationary vehicle part to a rotationally mounted vehicle part, in the case of axial displacement between the parts, provision is made for a rotary transformer having pot-type cores for primary and secondary windings which have L-shaped profiles. These pot-type cores are mounted coaxially inside each other such that one or a plurality of air gaps existing between them run parallel to the rotational axis and are intersected by the magnetic flux radially with respect to the rotational axis. One of the surfaces of the two pot-type cores bordering on the air gaps is provided with a bevel, which tends to decrease the width of the air gap when an axial displacement lengthens the path of the magnetic flux. One of the pot-type cores may include a plurality of ring segments.

Abstract: A method and a device for measuring the angle of a rotatable body, in particular a body rotatable by more than 360.degree., are described. In this case this rotatable body cooperates with at least two further rotatable bodies, for example gear wheels, whose angular positions are determined with the aid of two sensors. The angular position of the rotatable body is determined from the angular positions detected in this way. So that unequivocal statements can be made, it is necessary for all three rotatable bodies or gear wheels to have defined predetermined numbers of teeth. The method and the device can be used, for example, for determining the steering angle of a motor vehicle.

Abstract: The apparatus for determining rotational position of a rotatable element without contacting it includes a sensor device having two Hall or AMR sensor elements for sensing a magnetic field of magnetic field strength (B) generated by or influenced by the rotational position of the rotatable element and for producing output signals according to the magnetic field and thus the rotational position of the rotatable element. In order to easily detect the absolute rotational position of the rotatable element, the sensor device is constructed and positioned with respect to the rotatable element so that in every rotational position the field lines from the rotatable element extend at right angles to the sensor structures defined by the direction of an alternating current in the sensor elements.

Abstract: In a force sensor, a resonator is mounted by means of a dielectric layer on a bending element. Deformation of the bending element changes the resonant frequency of the resonator.