Abstract: A device for detecting a side impact of a vehicle an acceleration sensor provided in components of the vehicle and controlling a release of a side bag for protecting vehicle occupants, and a sensor for sensing a beginning of a plastic deformation of components provided on the components of the vehicle and reducing a release threshold for activation of the side bag.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement, attainable with simple switching means, for measuring decelerations of a vehicle that, caused by a braking operation occurring before a crash, lead to a change in the seat position of the vehicle occupants, comprises measuring the deceleration with an acceleration sensor (BS), which is designed to detect high decelerations occurring in a crash, and the presence of an amplifier (OP), which amplifies the output voltage (UO) of the sensor (BS), ascribed to low decelerations, so that the digital measurement signal (MS) derived from the amplified output voltage (UOV) by an analog/digital converter (AD) has adequately high resolution of the decelerations.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a resonant circuit and an evaluation circuit. The resonant circuit includes an acceleration-sensitive sensor which is excited to vibrate during a testing phase of the acceleration-sensitive sensor. The evaluation circuit is coupled to the resonant circuit to determine a performance reliability of the acceleration-sensitive sensor.

Abstract: The simplified signal-processing circuit arrangement for processing and evaluating signals indicative of the status of an FSR-foil pressure sensor utilized in a seat-occupancy detection device, makes use of the fact that an application-oriented, integrated circuit, present in a motor vehicle having digital open-loop and closed-loop control functions implemented in a microcontroller MCU, contains a highly precise, switchable test-voltage source. One end of a circuit containing the FSR-foil is connected to a switching output VTA of the ASIC carrying the highly precise test voltage. The other end of this circuit is connected to a port of the MCU. A measuring voltage, which is a function of the status-contingent current intensity through the FSR-foil, drops off across a reference resistor connected in series to the FSR-foil, is fed to an analog-digital converter input of the MCU, and is converted therein into a digital signal indicating the occupancy status of the FSR-foil.

Abstract: An intelligent restraint system, which generates a variable, individual tripping characteristic for each of a plurality of restraint devices depending on the type and severity of the accident and on the seat occupation, has a central gas generator (1), whose firing is tripped by a central control unit (4). The gas generator (1) is connected to the restraint devices (10-25). Electrically controllable valves (31-44) are disposed in the gas supply lines to the restraint devices (10-25). The controlling of the valves is effected from the central control unit (4) via the bus system (45).

Abstract: A restraint system is disclosed which with high reliability trips one or more restraint devices, if in a collision there is the risk of injury to vehicle occupants. This restraint system is equipped with at least one seat position senor (SPS1, SPS2, . . . , SPSm), with which a change in the seat position of at least one vehicle occupant can be ascertained, and a control unit (SE) forms a first criterion for tripping one or more restraint devices (R1, R2, . . . , Rk) if the rate of change of the seat position exceeds a predeterminable threshold. The control unit (SE) forms a second criterion for tripping one or more restraint devices (R1, R2, . . . , Rk) if one or more precrash sensors (PCS1, PCS2, . . . , PCSn) signal an incipient collision. The control unit (SE) does not cause the tripping of one or more restraint devices (R1, R2, . . . , Rk) unless both tripping criteria are satisfied and also a braking datum (BI), advantageously generated by a brake light switch, is present.

Abstract: A simple device for reliably detecting at least one type of occupancy of the passenger's seat of a motor vehicle in which the passenger-side air bag must absolutely not be activated. A manually operated switch is provided, having at least one switch position assigned to a type of occupancy for which the passenger-side air bag must not be activated; a control unit is provided which deactivates the passenger-side air bag when the switch is not in this switch position; and an arrangement is provided to prevent the vehicle from driving away after the engine has been started unless the switch has first been operated.

Abstract: In order to allow a vehicle rollover to be detected in timely fashion and with high reliability, acceleration sensors are provided which measure the accelerations of the vehicle in the direction of its yaw axis, its roll axis, and its pitch axis. In addition, at least one rotation rate sensor is provided which measures the angular velocity of the vehicle with respect to its roll axis and optionally also with respect to its pitch axis.

Abstract: A sensor arrangement for determination of at least one of a position and an acceleration of a moveable body has a housing fixedly connected with the moveable body, an inertia body accommodated in the housing, a detector arranged in the housing for detecting a horizontal displacement of the inertia body, the housing having a base plate on which the detector is arranged so that determination of a vertical displacement of the inertia body is also performed.

Abstract: A method for measuring the resistance of a load, preferably the firing pellet of an airbag, that is connected on the secondary side of a rotary transformer, in which the resistance measurement is largely unaffected by the magnetic coupling between the windings of the transformer. According to this method, the capacitor is partially discharged twice in succession. During the first partial discharge, the capacitor is discharged continuously, and during the second partial discharge, the capacitor is discharged in steps. After the two partial discharges, the residual charge voltages at the capacitor are measured and the difference between the two charge voltages is obtained. This difference is an indication of the resistance of the load connected on the secondary side of the transformer.

Abstract: To assure that the safety device is triggered at the right time in the event of a lateral collision of the vehicle with a curb, a first comparing device (1) compares a rotation rate (.omega.x) measured relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, or a variable derived from this rotation rate, with a rotation rate threshold value. A second comparing device (2) compares an acceleration (ay), measured in the direction of the transverse axis of the vehicle, with a lateral acceleration threshold value. If both threshold comparing device (1, 2) simultaneously signal that their threshold values are being exceeded, a trigger signal (as1) for the safety device is output.

Abstract: An electronic device, in particular a safety device, for occupants of a vehicle has a push-pull output element controlled by an astable flip-flop with outputs via decoupling elements. The astable flip-flop and the decoupling elements receive operating voltage over a switching element that switches at a given acceleration threshold.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for actuating a safety system for protecting an occupant of a motor vehicle measures the acceleration of the vehicle with a first sensor along a first axis oriented substantially parallel to the forward direction of motion of the vehicle. The acceleration of the vehicle is also measured with a second sensor along a second axis oriented at an angle relative to the first axis. The acceleration signal generated by the first sensor is evaluated by an analog processor and the acceleration signal generated by the second sensor is evaluated by a digital processor. The safety system is then actuated based upon both the analog and digital evaluations.

Abstract: A MOS field-effect transistor (T2) is provided in conjunction with transistors (T1 and T3) as polarity reversal protection in an electrical circuit arrangement (1). Polarity reversal protection of this type is realized by the drain-source path of the transistor (T2). Transistors (T1 and T3) form a comparator. If the drain-source voltage of the transistor (T2) becomes negative then the transistor (T3) switches on. This, in turn has the effect of switching off the transistor (T2) thereby providing polarity reversal protection. The electronic circuit arrangement (1) configured according to the invention can advantageously be used in an airbag system (10).

Abstract: An apparatus for tripping a system for the protection of occupants of a vehicle has a first sensor (10) for sensing the acceleration of the vehicle in its direction of forward motion and a second sensor (12) for sensing the acceleration of the vehicle in a direction transverse to its direction of forward motion. The two sensors are under the control of control means (14,16) which triggers the occupant protection system in dependence upon the signals from the first and second sensors (10,12).

Abstract: In the case of an electronic apparatus (1), a protective circuit (10) for positive and negative voltage spikes is provided, which circuit includes two diodes (12, 13). The first diode (12), polarized in the forward direction, is arranged in the positive branch of the voltage supply. The second diode (13), polarized in the reverse direction, is connected, on the one hand, to the cathode connection of the first diode (12) and, on the other hand, to the ground connection.

Abstract: In an electronic safety device for vehicle occupants including an acceleration-sensitive sensor, a control unit, and a plurality of inertial restraining devices with associated output stages, a reliable operating mode is guaranteed for the safety device by storing characteristic fault conditions, together with control strategies compensating for these fault conditions. In the event of a fault, the safety device applies the respective, assigned control strategy to activate the restraining devices.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for actuating a safety system for protecting an occupant of a motor vehicle measures the acceleration of the vehicle with a first sensor along a first axis oriented substantially parallel to the forward direction of motion of the vehicle. The acceleration of the vehicle is also measured with a second sensor along a second axis oriented at an angle relative to the first axis. The acceleration signal generated by the first sensor is evaluated by an analog processor and the acceleration signal generated by the second sensor is evaluated by a digital processor. The safety system is then actuated based upon both the analog and digital evaluations.

Abstract: An apparatus for tripping a system for the protection of occupants of a vehicle has a first sensor (10) for sensing the acceleration of the vehicle in its direction of forward motion and a second sensor (12) for sensing the acceleration of the vehicle in a direction transverse to its direction of forward motion. The two sensors are under the control of control devices (14,16) which trigger the occupant protection system in dependence upon the signals from the first and second sensors (10,12).

Abstract: In a method for controlling the release of a passenger restraint system in a vehicle, an acceleration signal is measured and integrated with respect to time to obtain a velocity signal. A release threshold value for the velocity signal is determined. If the velocity signal then falls below the release threshold value, thus indicating a vehicle collision, the passenger restraint system is released. The release threshold value is controlled depending on the type of accident situation and upon the operating parameters of the vehicle to increase the release sensitivity of the passenger restraint system. For example, the release threshold value is adjusted based on the value of the velocity signal. If the velocity signal decreases in value, then the release threshold is lowered to a more sensitive value.