Abstract: Occupant protection systems in a motor vehicle are activated in the event of a crash that puts the occupants of the vehicle at risk. A processor-based trigger system evaluates signals of crash sensors and actuates the occupant protection systems. Signatures that are produced by impacts on the vehicle body by means of a crash sensor system are detected and preprocessed directly on site of the crash sensor mounting areas. The crash sensor system includes a plurality of similar multifunctional peripheral crash sensors located in various areas of the vehicle body. The preprocessed signatures or variables derived therefrom are evaluated by means of a crash algorithm associated with the trigger system, in terms of kind, intensity, direction and time of the crash signatures and/or occupant risk signatures.

Abstract: Occupant protection systems in a motor vehicle are activated in the event of a crash that puts the occupants of the vehicle at risk. A processor-based trigger system evaluates signals of crash sensors and actuates the occupant protection systems. Signatures that are produced by impacts on the vehicle body by means of a crash sensor system are detected and preprocessed directly on site of the crash sensor mounting areas. The crash sensor system includes a plurality of similar multifunctional peripheral crash sensors located in various areas of the vehicle body. The preprocessed signatures or variables derived therefrom are evaluated by means of a crash algorithm associated with the trigger system, in terms of kind, intensity, direction and time of the crash signatures and/or occupant risk signatures.

Abstract: A pyrotechnical ignition system with integrated ignition circuit for an occupant restraint system for motor vehicles includes electrical components for triggering or communication functions integrated therein, a capacitor arrangement, having a flat non-conductive external surface is used as a substrate or carrier element on which the other components are directly arranged and carried. A conductor structure linking the components can be formed by insertable metal parts that are arranged in the housing and project into the holding chamber in which the capacitor arrangement and the circuit component are arranged, and make contact with contact zones on the upper side of the circuit or the capacitor arrangement.

Abstract: A passenger protection system is triggered directly at least when a second stage is reached among at least two different stages of an accident hazard an/or accident force, determined in accordance with sensor signals. Already when a first accident hazard and/or accident force stage is reached, at least an indirect trigger command is sent to individual passenger protection systems, a specified time interval is started, and, in the event of the second accident hazard and/or accident force stage not being reached within the specified time interval, a cancel command is sent to cancel the indirect trigger command. On receipt of such an indirect trigger command the passenger protection systems also start a relevant time interval, and in the event of the cancel command not being received on expiry of the relevant time interval, they automatically activate the triggering of the passenger protection systems.

Abstract: A housing for an assembly of electronic components mounted on a circuit board is predominantly made of plastic, and includes a plastic housing cover and a housing floor. Metal surfaces are provided in the housing to preferentially condense moisture from the air in the housing upon cooling, to avoid condensation on the circuit board or the electronic components. The metal surfaces may be a metal casing around an electronic component, a metallized layer deposited on an inner surface of the housing, a metal insert in the housing, a metal housing floor, or an additional metal floor plate adjacent to a plastic housing floor. A hydrophobic film enforces condensate droplet formation, and channels and drain holes drain the condensate droplets out of the housing. An encapsulating film is unnecessary on the electronic components, because condensation on these components is avoided.

Abstract: In order to secure a circuit board or the like in a housing, the board is provided with a through-hole, and the housing is provided with a mounting stud that protrudes into the housing from an outer wall thereof. A securing pin simultaneously passes through the through-hole of the board and into a hollow space or bore of the mounting stud. The securing pin is preferably conically tapered so that it exerts a wedging and spreading force radially outwardly against the inner surface of the hollow bore of the securing stud, and directly or indirectly against the inner surface of the through-hole of the board. Thereby, the board is securely fastened to the stud, and the pin is secured in the stud, by the wedging effect. An end portion of the stud may also be received in the through-hole of the board, and the pin may be integrally formed as a protrusion of a lid for the housing.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for triggering passenger protection systems in at least two different stages of an accident hazard and/or accident force, determined in accordance with sensor signals, with the passenger protection system being triggered directly at least when the second stage is reached.

Abstract: A subassembly, intended for use in motor vehicles in particular, consisting of a one-piece or multi-part housing, a plug unit with connecting pins formed integrally with the housing, and a circuit board to accommodate components, wherein the circuit board is configured and arranged in such a way that the connecting pins of the plug unit are guided directly onto or into the circuit board.

Abstract: Acceleration sensors in a vehicular safety system with at least two acceleration sensors are stimulated by an electrical or sound excitation so that one of the sensors functions as a body sound transmitter, while the other(s) receive(s) these signals and vice versa. The performance which includes a calibration check, and the coupling to the housing structure are evaluated through a signal processing circuit. The safety system including its output trigger stage, remains switched-on during testing.

Abstract: Acceleration sensors in a vehicular safety system with at least two acceleration sensors are stimulated by an electrical or sound excitation so that one of the sensors functions as a body sound transmitter, while the other(s) receive(s) these signals and vice versa. The performance which includes a calibration check, and the coupling to the housing structure are evaluated through a signal processing circuit. The safety system including its output trigger stage, remains switched-on during testing.

Abstract: A crash sensor is constructed for triggering a passive safety device, such as an air bag or a seat belt tightening device. The crash sensor is capable to distinguish between different types of impacts such as front impacts, rear impacts, side impacts, and minor impacts, for example occurring in a repair shop. For example, the air bag shall be deployed only in response to a frontal impact. The crash sensor has at leasst two acceleration sensors having sensitivity axes arranged at different angles relative to the longitudinal vehicle axis or travel direction. The output signals of the acceleration sensors are integrated in respective integrated circuits and supplied to a threshold value circuit which in turn provides the necessary signal for activating a trigger circuit.

Abstract: A passive safety device (62) is triggered for protecting vehicle passengers in the event of a collision. The output signals of a signal acceleration sensor (1) are integrated to form a signal which triggers the deployment of the safety device when a threshold value for the integrated signal is exceeded and simultaneously additional criteria are met. These conditions are met in a simple circuit with a single acceleration sensor (1), so that the entire apparatus including the safety device (62) can be installed compactly in a steering wheel of a motor vehicle. In addition to a first signal evaluation channel in which the sensor signal is integrated once, there is at least one second signal evaluation channel including two integrators (20) and (23) in which the sensor signal is integrated twice to provide a distance signal that is evaluated by a further threshold value switch (24).

Abstract: A semiconductor image sensor having a CCD-structure, includes sensor elements arranged in a linear or in a two-dimensional array suitable for a parallel or serial read-out of information. An avalanche diode is arranged between a p-layer and a high resistance n-layer on a light inlet side of the semiconductor device. The charge carriers coming from the avalanche diode are transferred to a CCD-structure in response to an electrical control signal applied to the p-layer and the n-layer of the image sensor. This construction forms an optical shutter that is controllable by pulses of short duration within the range of about 1 to 10 ns.

Abstract: A magnetic impact sensor for motor vehicles with a safety system such as an airbag or belt tensioner for an occupant restraint system, has a circuit breaker arranged in an electrical trigger circuit of the safety system for inflating the airbag or tightening the belt by closing the trigger circuit in response to an acceleration or deceleration effective beyond a prescribed time duration. For this purpose a magnet in combination with specially shaped pole pieces forms two magnetic circuits the magnetic conductances of which are influenced by the position of a ferromagnetic ball that moves in response to an impact relative to the pole pieces to thereby open or close the circuit breaker. Normally, in the absence of an impact the ball is in a first position that keeps the circuit breaker open. When an impact occurs the ball moves into a second position to close the circuit breaker and thus the trigger circuit.

Abstract: A semiconductor optical image sensor is constructed particularly as a CCD-structure having a linear or two-dimensional array configuration with parallel or serial read-out. The CCD-structure is combined with an avalanche diode structure arranged on one side of the semiconductor or in laterally spaced locations to allow an optically controllable amplification of the image signal in the image sensor by an avalanche effect.

Abstract: An impact sensor (1) for a vehicle is connected to a testing circuit. The impact sensor includes an acceleration sensor (5), an evaluating circuit (6) and a trigger circuit (7) for a passive safety device. For simply testing the operability of the impact sensor an electro-acoustic transducer (9) is arranged in a sensor housing (2). The transducer (9) emits a testing signal that is received by the acceleration sensor (5). The electrical signals which are produced by the acceleration sensor are tested by the testing circuit (10) which is part of the evaluating and trigger circuit. The testing is performed with reference to given criteria.

Abstract: An impact sensor for detecting a collision of a motor vehicle or the like has at least two acceleration detectors, and a signal evaluating circuit for each detector for evaluating the output signals of the respective acceleration detectors. The evaluated signals are passed through a logic signal interpreting circuit to provide a control signal for triggering passive safety devices such as an inflatable air bag. In order to trigger the passive safety devices as quickly as possible in response to an impact or collision, and in order to determine the angular direction of the impact, several acceleration detectors having oriented sensitivity axes are provided, whereby the sensitivity axes of separate detectors are oriented in different directions. The signal evaluation and interpretation to provide the triggering signal make sure that only determined output signals of the acceleration detectors cause the intended triggering preferably only for frontal impact collisions.

Abstract: A weapon control for a droppable weapon such as a bomb, has at least two sors for producing impact related or environment related signals for a microcomputer forming part of the weapon. The microcomputer evaluates the signals received from the sensors for producing different control signals for different situations as signified by the sensor produced signals. If the weapon has hit a hard target surface the responsive control signal detonates the weapon instantly. If the weapon got stuck in a soft target, the weapon is placed into a lurking state for a later detonation or defusing.