Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an actuatable restraint (14) in a vehicle (12) includes an accelerometer (10) for providing a crash acceleration signal. A velocity determiner (60) determines a crash velocity value from the crash acceleration signal. A first comparator (62) compares the determined crash velocity value against a velocity threshold value (64). A displacement determiner (70) determines a crash displacement value from the crash acceleration signal. A second comparator (72) compares the determined crash displacement value against a displacement threshold value (74). A deployment determiner (50) is coupled to and responsive to the accelerometer (10) for determining if a deployment crash event is occurring and for providing a deployment control signal when it determines that a deployment crash event is occurring.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an actuatable occupant restraint device for a vehicle (11) having first and second actuatable stages (24, 26). The apparatus includes a crash sensor (17, 19) mounted near the front of the vehicle (11) for providing a crash acceleration signal (238, 270). An average crash acceleration determiner (246, 278) determines an average crash acceleration value, and provides a signal indicative thereof. A controller (31) is operatively coupled to the actuatable stages (24, 26). The controller effects actuation of the first actuatable stage when the determined average acceleration value exceeds a first threshold value (248, 250, 254, 256). The controller (31) determines a crash severity index having a value according to a time interval from when the determined average crash acceleration value exceeds the first threshold value (248, 250, 254, 256) to when it exceeds a second threshold value (252, 258).

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling side actuatable restraint (14, 16) includes a side acceleration sensor (22, 34) mounted to a vehicle at a side location and having an axis of sensitivity (24, 36) oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to a front-to-rear axis (25) of the vehicle. The side sensor provides a discriminating crash signal when a transverse crash acceleration of the vehicle is sensed indicating a deployment crash event. A first central safing acceleration sensor (52) is mounted at a substantially central location of the vehicle (11) and having an axis of sensitivity (58) oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to the front-to-rear axis (25) of the vehicle. The first safing sensor provides a first safing crash signal when a deployment crash acceleration is sensed in the transverse direction.

Abstract: A sensor (22) senses crash acceleration and provides a crash acceleration signal indicative thereof. A processor (54) sums the crash acceleration signal with an occupant spring-mass model (56, 60) so as to provide an adjusted or "virtual" crash acceleration signal (64) more nearly representative of the actual acceleration of the vehicle occupant during a crash event. A discriminating circuit (70, 76, 80, 82, 90, 92, 84, 100, 104, 108, and 96) controls the actuatable restraining device (28) in response to the adjusted crash acceleration signal (64).