Abstract: A passenger protection device in a motor vehicle includes at least one airbag, at least one gas generator for filling the airbag, an airbag control device for activating the airbag, means for acquiring the deployment speed of the airbag, and means for regulating the filling quantity of the airbag, taking into account its deployment speed. In order for the passenger protection device to implement a controlled filling of the airbag dependent on its deployment speed, at least one flow-off valve is provided that is situated between the gas generator and the airbag. In addition, controllable actuating means are provided for the sealing of the flow-off valve.

Abstract: A method for controlling a braking system of a vehicle is described, in which the braking system has at least a first control unit for controlling a first braking force on at least one wheel brake of a wheel of the vehicle, and an accumulator for receiving a pressurized medium, the method including generating the first braking force by at least one of a first hydraulic component and a first pneumatic component, filling the accumulator with the medium independently of the at least one of the first hydraulic component and the first pneumatic components via a relative movement between at least one wheel and a vehicle body, and generating a second braking force at predefinable times on the at least one wheel brake as a function of the filling of the accumulator.

Abstract: An occupant-protection system for vehicles, including: at least one sensor, which detects the surrounding area of the vehicle and generates sensor signals therefrom; an evaluation device, which analyzes the sensor signals, detects an approaching hazardous situation in advance according to an algorithm for the early detection of a hazardous situation and generates a trigger signal in this case; a seat-adjustment device having at least one actuator for adjusting a seat, the seat-adjustment device having a first speed for a comfort adjustment of the seat and a second, higher speed for the seating adjustment of the seat in response to triggering by the trigger signal. Also provided is a method for activating an occupant-protection system for vehicles.

Abstract: A safety apparatus for a motor vehicle, comprising: a plurality of occupant protection devices and sensors associated with them; a processing device that checks whether the occupant protection devices and/or associated sensors are in operation and/or properly functional, and ascertains status information therefrom; and an output device that, in consideration of all the status information, communicates the operating status possessed by each individual occupant protection device and/or sensor. Also described is a method for communicating the status of a safety apparatus of a motor vehicle.

Abstract: A method and a device which, when a pneumatic and/or hydraulic or electromechanical braking system of a vehicle is controlled, make it possible to set a second braking force on at least one wheel brake of one wheel in a defined manner in addition to the defined setting of a first braking force. The first braking force is generated by a first control unit using first hydraulic and/or pneumatic components, whereas the second braking force is generated at predefinable times as a function of the filling of an accumulator with a pressurized medium. The accumulator is a device separated from the first hydraulic and/or pneumatic components which is preferably mounted in the proximity of the wheel brakes and which is filled via a relative movement between at least one wheel and the vehicle body. It is therefore conceivable that, with the aid of a working cylinder attached to a wheel, the accumulator is filled with volume of a medium by utilizing the relative movement between wheel and body.