Abstract: The invention relates to a method for inspecting the mechanical fastening of a component including an electrical conductor to a base body including an electric conductor. According to the method, the electric conductors for mechanically connecting the component to the base body such that an electric connection between the component and the base body is formed when a rigid mechanical connection is established, such that the resistance between the conductors is measured and a resistance value which lies below a predetermined value attests the existence of a rigid mechanical connection.

Abstract: In a circuit arrangement having a linear variable differential transformer as a displacement sensor or force sensor, having a selection circuit which is connected to the primary coil of the transformer and which provides an output current for triggering the primary coil, and having an analysis circuit which is connected to the secondary coils of the transformer and which provides a message signal, a control circuit used for triggering the selection circuit and the analysis circuit and for processing the measurement signal provided by the analysis circuit is connected to the primary coil in order to calculate the temperature of the circuit arrangement, and is configured such that it determines the temperature-dependent ohmic resistance of the primary coil and calculates from it the temperature and corrects accordingly the measurement signal provided by the analysis circuit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a passenger protection system which is provided with a safing switch (20). If only one ignition stage (2) of a passenger protection airbag which can be ignited in two stages is ignited by a control device (6), the safing switch being closed, a circuit module (16) output (46) that is parallel to the safing switch is switched to a signal mode corresponding to the closed safing switch. In this way, the second ignition stage (4) can then be ignited by the control device (6) even when the safing switch is no longer closed.

Abstract: A method, and a system suitable for carrying out the method, transmit data on a data line between a central control unit and at least one data processing unit interface of at least one decentralized data processing unit. During the transmission, in order to request data packets, the central control unit periodically outputs synchronization pulses over the data line to the data processing unit interface, whereupon the decentralized data processing unit transmits data packets to the central control unit. According to the invention, the decentralized data processing unit generates, after the synchronization pulse but before the transmission of a first data packet, an electrical discharge pulse, whereby counteracting an electrical charging of the data processing unit interface by the synchronization pulse.

Abstract: In a circuit arrangement having a linear variable differential transformer as a displacement sensor or force sensor, having a selection circuit which is connected to the primary coil of the transformer and which provides an output current for triggering the primary coil, and having an analysis circuit which is connected to the secondary coils of the transformer and which provides a message signal, a control circuit used for triggering the selection circuit and the analysis circuit and for processing the measurement signal provided by the analysis circuit is connected to the primary coil in order to calculate the temperature of the circuit arrangement, and is configured such that it determines the temperature-dependent ohmic resistance of the primary coil and calculates from it the temperature and corrects accordingly the measurement signal provided by the analysis circuit.

Abstract: According to the invention, impact sensors are repeatedly interrogated during a polling mode and have to actively reply by emitting current pulses. If a sensor does not reply it is selectively addressed and can at that point signal a desired message. The master unit has full communications control over the bus so that data collisions can be avoided and very rapid transmission of the sensor signal is achieved. The master unit can change the communication priorities at any time.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection system for a motor vehicle includes a firing circuit, a control unit, a lockable latching device, and a sensor device. The firing circuit includes a firing cap for an airbag unit. The control unit activates the firing cap. The lockable latching device attaches a child seat. The sensor device has a switch and an electrical element connected in parallel to one another. The switch is open when the latching device is locked to prevent the firing cap from being activated. Preferably, the electrical element is a resistor. The control unit can determine an electrical resistance of the firing circuit. This is very useful when the vehicle occupant protection system includes a series of switches, each with a respective resistor connected in parallel to said second switch, because by judging the overall resistance the control unit can determine if all of the switches have been activated. The switch can include a Reed contact.

Abstract: To improve the protection against short circuits, a method for transmitting data and a data transmission system including switching over the line polarity of a two-wire bus, after a line short circuit has been detected, such that data transmission can still be continued. In addition, a line potential check is performed and, in dependence thereon, a decision is made as to whether or not an overloaded driver remains permanently switched off.

Abstract: A vehicle weight classification system recognizes the various factors that influence system performance. Some of the factors are compensated for using analog signal processing circuitry or techniques. Other factors are compensated for using digital signal processing techniques. The unique combination of analog and digital approaches, rather than pure analog or pure digital, provides an effective solution at addressing the various factors that influence signals and system performance in a vehicle weight classification system while keeping the cost and complexity of the system within acceptable limits.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for controlling the data transmission between two modules which are present in a motor vehicle and are connected to one another via a communications interface and a communications bus. The transmitting module defines the data to be transmitted in the form of code words in dependence on sensor signals generated by a first sensor and a second, redundant sensor, the sensor signal of one of the two sensors being applied directly to the communications interface of the module and serving for checking and/or changing part of the code word applied to the communications interface for the purpose of transmission.

Abstract: The invention relates to a passenger protection system which is provided with a safing switch (20). If only one ignition stage (2) of a passenger protection airbag which can be ignited in two stages is ignited by a control device (6), the safing switch being closed, a circuit module (16) output (46) that is parallel to the safing switch is switched to a signal mode corresponding to the closed safing switch. In this way, the second ignition stage (4) can then be ignited by the control device (6) even when the safing switch is no longer closed.

Abstract: The resistance value and the leakage current of a load can be measured simultaneously. A load current is fed, mirrored by electrical power supplies (1, 3, 36), into a resistance measuring circuit (13, 30) and a leakage current measuring circuit (14 to 16). This permits rapid, precise measurement of a plurality of loads by a single measuring circuit connected via one multiplexer. The firing transistors can be distributed among different ASICs or provided jointly for a plurality of firing caps.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection system for a motor vehicle includes a firing circuit, a control unit, a lockable latching device, and a sensor device. The firing circuit includes a firing cap for an airbag unit. The control unit activates the firing cap. The lockable latching device attaches a child seat. The sensor device has a switch and an electrical element connected in parallel to one another. The switch is open when the latching device is locked to prevent the firing cap from being activated. Preferably, the electrical element is a resistor. The control unit can determine an electrical resistance of the firing circuit. This is very useful when the vehicle occupant protection system includes a series of switches, each with a respective resistor connected in parallel to said second switch, because by judging the overall resistance the control unit can determine if all of the switches have been activated. The switch can include a Reed contact.

Abstract: A configuration for triggering a restraining device has firing elements that are optically fired by an associated triggering device. In addition, an optical check signal can be transmitted to the firing element by the triggering device. An evaluation circuit evaluates light signals that have been transmitted to the triggering device. As a function of an evaluated, received light signal, a disable signal, by which emission of a firing signal is prevented, is generated by the evaluation circuit.

Abstract: A reset circuit for deactivating a circuit configuration, which is fed by a supply voltage, in the case of an undervoltage supply. In this case, active components 1,2 (FIG. 1); or 3,2 (FIG. 3) are provided and their forward paths are connected in series between the supply voltage Uv and ground reference potential. The active components are fed directly or indirectly by a current mirror circuit 9 from a respective current source 10, 11. A reset signal Ureset (active=low signal) being present at the junction point 5 of the active components, where the junction point 5 is connected to ground reference potential via a resistor Rdown.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection device having a firing cap for activating the vehicle occupant protection device is controlled with a control device. An energy source provides a supply voltage for the firing cap. A switching transistor connects the firing cap to the energy source. A controlled path of the switching transistor, the energy source, and the firing cap are connected in series with respect to one another. An actuation or control circuit is connected upstream of a control terminal of the switching transistor and controls the switching transistor in such a way that a resistance of the controlled path in the switched-on state of the transistor is kept constant, a signal which is present at the control terminal at that time is evaluated, an energy which is converted in the switching transistor is determined from the signal at the control terminal and, when a predefined energy limiting value is reached, the switching transistor is switched off.

Abstract: A demodulator of an evaluating unit for a device for detecting objects derives a useful signal from a supplied input signal with the aid of a carrier signal. The demodulator further derives a test signal with the aid of a modulated carrier signal. An evaluator detects as a function of the useful signal whether an object is being detected and, as a function of the test signal the functionality of the device.

Abstract: To improve the protection against short circuits, a method for transmitting data and a data transmission system including switching over the line polarity of a two-wire bus, after a line short circuit has been detected, such that data transmission can still be continued. In addition, a line potential check is performed and, in dependence thereon, a decision is made as to whether or not an overloaded driver remains permanently switched off.

Abstract: A passenger protection device of an automobile is triggered when a testable acceleration switch supplies a switch signal and an electrically controlled switching device is actuated by a control circuit depending on a collision. Actuation of the switching device is prevented on a triggering circuit side by a blocking device so that the passenger protection device is not triggered as a result of faulty control switching during testing of the acceleration switch.

Abstract: The resistance value and the leakage current of a load can be measured simultaneously. A load current is fed, mirrored by electrical power supplies (1, 3, 36), into a resistance measuring circuit (13, 30) and a leakage current measuring circuit (14 to 16). This permits rapid, precise measurement of a plurality of loads by a single measuring circuit connected via one multiplexer. The firing transistors can be distributed among different ASICs or provided jointly for a plurality of firing caps.