Abstract: A device for sensing a side impact in a motor vehicle, the side impact sensing being performed with a deformation sensor element which is attached on a sensor bottom plate, which is in turn mounted on a side part reinforcing element with riveted connections. A temperature sensor which is also present on the sensor bottom plate detects the ambient temperature in the side part and the deformation sensor delivers a static output signal to ascertain whether the riveted connections still have a predetermined mechanical strength. If the temperature measured by the temperature sensor exceeds room temperature, the static output signal of the deformation sensor is checked with the predetermined threshold value, and if it falls below this threshold value, a defect is detected.

Abstract: A system for detecting the occupancy status of a seat is described. One embodiment comprises at least one transmitter of a high-frequency electromagnetic signal and at least one receiver that receives the electromagnetic signal. The receiver determines the intensity of the received signal compared to at least one threshold value, which indicates whether an occupant or part of an occupant is located between a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna. In a specific embodiment, a single transmitter and a plurality of receivers are used to determine information about the occupancy status and the position of the occupant within the seat, and the information is output to a triggering system for use in the deployment of an occupant restraint system.

Abstract: So that, given a desired deactivation of an airbag, a triggering cannot take place under any circumstances, firing device (ZV) of the airbag is bypassed using an electrically controllable switch (KS). This switch (KS) short-circuits the electric circuit of the firing device (ZV) during the deactivation time.

Abstract: In order to clearly distinguish between a short adult and a child sitting in a booster seat, for example, on the passenger seat of a vehicle, a video sensor system (4) detects the head height of the person sitting in the passenger seat (1). A footwell sensor (5, 6) recognizes whether a person is touching the floor in front of the passenger seat (1) with one foot or both feet. An analyzer unit (7) classifies the person sitting in the passenger seat (1) as a child for whom it causes a passenger air bag (3) present to be deactivated if the video sensor system (4) registers a head height that is less than a predefined threshold (SH) and, at the same time, the footwell sensor (5,6) detects no foot contact with the floor in front of the passenger seat (1).

Abstract: A method for activating a passenger safety application in a vehicle involves a rotational acceleration sensor device which is used to obtain a measurement of the rotational acceleration &agr;x of the vehicle, e.g., about an axis of rotation x parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The results of this measurement are analyzed by a computing unit for evaluating the vehicle situation with respect to its surrounding. Activation of a suitable safety application is performed in the event that the analysis indicates that a rollover event of the vehicle is imminent.

Abstract: A method is used to largely suppress the offset of a rotation rate sensor in that a given rotation rate is only subjected to integration if it exceeds a lower rotation rate threshold and lies below an upper rotation rate threshold. The thresholds are predefined as a function of an offset of the rotation rate sensor in question, and integration of the rotation rate is aborted after a predefined reset time and restarted.

Abstract: In order that the circuit arrangement ensures a high availability of the protective functions of all necessary passenger protection devices, it comprises multiple double-layer capacitors (C1, C2, C3, C4) connected in series and an electrolytic capacitor (EL), which obtains its charge from the double-layer capacitors (C1, C2, C3, C4), which have a higher capacitance but a lower nominal voltage than the electrolytic capacitor (EL). The electrolytic capacitor (EL) exclusively supplies the triggering voltage (UZ) necessary for the trigger power modules (ZE1, . . . , ZEn) of the protective devices.

Abstract: A method of deciding with a high reliability whether an impact with the front side of a vehicle has been caused by a pedestrian is described. Two decision criteria are formed, and only if both decision criteria are met is it decided an impact with a pedestrian has occurred. The first decision criterion is determined by the fact that the pressures or deformations measured by a sensor on the bumper and a sensor in the area of the front edge of the engine hood are compared with reference quantities typical of impact with a pedestrian. The second decision criterion is determined by the fact that the changes in velocity and/or acceleration of the vehicle caused by an impact are determined, and then the changes in velocity and/or acceleration are compared with reference quantities which are typical of impact with a pedestrian.

Abstract: The firing apparatus for a gas generator of a restraint device in a vehicle has a firing chamber (1) filled with a pyrotechnic material (2). A semiconductor chip (6), in which in addition to a firing resistor (9) at least one circuit activating the latter is integrated, is arranged outside the firing chamber (1) in such a way that the thermal energy generated by the firing resistor (9) during a firing operation is transferred to the pyrotechnic material (2) in the firing chamber (1).

Abstract: A method for detecting rollover occurrences in a motor vehicle and activating appropriate restraining devices, the rate of rotation of the vehicle about at least one axis of rotation, in particular its longitudinal axis and/or its transverse axis, being measured with the aid of at least one rotation-rate sensor, and evaluated. The translational acceleration of the vehicle is considered in evaluating the rotation-rate sensor signal, in order to prevent malfunctions of the rotation-rate sensor caused by extreme translational accelerations from erroneously triggering restraining devices for a rollover event.

Abstract: A sensor device for detecting mechanical deformation of a component, in particular in the automotive field, has a deformation device, which has a deformable polysilicon part that undergoes a change in electric resistance in deformation; and an electric line arrangement for analog transmission of the change in resistance data of the polysilicon part from the deformation device to a central unit.

Abstract: A device for protecting a pedestrian from bone fractures in the event of a fall, including an airbag, an impact sensor, a cold gas generator, an igniting agent, a processor, an energy store, a charging circuit for recharging the device, and electronic and/or electrical components, which may be predominantly located on a flexible printed-circuit board. Accelerations in both the horizontal and the vertical directions may be measured by the impact sensor, which may include, for example, an acceleration sensor.

Abstract: A method and a device for deploying a restraint system, which avoids false deployments at the least possible expense by using an acceleration sensor arrangement that includes two sensitivity axes oriented in different directions. An acceleration measured with respect to one of the two sensitivity axes is used for a plausibility check of a deployment decision, which is determined from an acceleration measured with respect to the other sensitivity axis. A trigger signal is only generated if a deployment decision signal and a plausibility signal are present at the inputs of an AND logic circuit at the same time.

Abstract: An airbag that can be removed from its receiving shaft in the vehicle and reinserted again without any special tools is described.

Abstract: The arrangement is to allow timely rollover recognition in the event of tipping over an embankment. For this purpose, the arrangement determines a predictive value of the yaw rate of the vehicle after a fictitious impact of the wheels on one longitudinal side of the vehicle against the ground from a yaw rate prevailing prior to the fictitious impact, the momentum of the vehicle in the direction of its vertical axis, and the angular momentum of the center of gravity of the vehicle prior to the fictitious impact. In addition, using the currently measured angle of inclination of the vehicle, it determines a critical yaw rate of the vehicle about its longitudinal axis instantaneously measured by the arrangement, which would be required to cause the vehicle to roll over. A conclusion is drawn about an imminent rollover if the predictive value of the yaw rate exceeds the critical yaw rate.

Abstract: The system is intended to have the ability to differentiate between various characteristic driving maneuvers (K1, K2, K3), so that a special triggering algorithm of restraint devices can be initiated for each class of driving maneuvers.

Abstract: Data bus for constraint devices, which connects a control unit to the constraint devices, which are connected to the data bus via transformers. The data is then transmitted over the data bus using frequency shift keying signals. The constraint devices are each provided in removable seats. Upon activation of the constraint devices, a deployment signal is sent to the constraint devices over a power supply line.

Abstract: A protective motorcycle suit has at least one airbag, power being supplied and data communication with the motorcycle being carried out via a wireless connection. To allow power to be transferred, coils are provided in the seat areas of the protective motorcycle suit, and radio stations in the microwave range are provided to allow data transmission.

Abstract: A device for sensing a side impact in a motor vehicle, the side impact sensing being performed with a deformation sensor element which is attached on a sensor bottom plate, which is in turn mounted on a side part reinforcing element with riveted connections. A temperature sensor which is also present on the sensor bottom plate detects the ambient temperature in the side part and the deformation sensor delivers a static output signal to ascertain whether the riveted connections still have a predetermined mechanical strength. If the temperature measured by the temperature sensor exceeds room temperature, the static output signal of the deformation sensor is checked with the predetermined threshold value, and if it falls below this threshold value, a defect is detected.

Abstract: So that an arrangement may decide to trigger a safety device in as error-free and reliable a manner as possible, provision is made for a first arrangement, which derives a first decision criterion for triggering a safety device from the measured turning rate at least about the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and/or from the measured accelerations at least in the direction of the transverse axis and the vertical axis of the vehicle. In addition, a second arrangement is present, which, independent of the first arrangement, derives a second decision criterion. A circuit arrangement then generates a triggering signal for the safety device, when both decision criteria are satisfied at the same time.