Abstract: A method of operating a sensor system includes the steps of determining whether any of a plurality of sensors are malfunctioning in response to a physical stimulus on a vehicle, determining whether an outcome of the first step is plausible based upon expected physical stimuli, and determining whether to execute a decision, such as deploy a vehicle occupant restraint, or fail the sensor if it is producing signals beyond expected physical limits. The decision is executed if it is plausible and not executed if it is not plausible.

Abstract: The method and system of this invention discriminates between a lateral collision and a static non-collision event by measuring lateral velocity of the vehicle and adjusting a threshold value causing occupant restraint system actuation according to the measured lateral velocity. The threshold value is decreased in response to an increase in lateral velocity and increased or maintained at a higher value when lateral velocity is minimal to prevent actuation caused by a non-crash event such as a door slam.

Abstract: A crash detection system (22) includes a controller (26) that communicates with a plurality of sensors (28, 30, 32). The controller uses a difference between a sensor velocity value and a threshold to discriminate between a roll-over and at least one other type of crash or impact event. If a difference between a sensor velocity and the threshold exceeds the threshold, the controller subtracts that difference from an acceleration influence of a roll-over algorithm to avoid processing sensor data as if a roll-over were happening when, in fact, the event is a different type of crash or impact.

Abstract: A crash detection system (22) includes a controller (26) that communicates with a plurality of sensors (28, 30, 32). The controller uses a difference between a sensor velocity value and a threshold to discriminate between a roll-over and at least one other type of crash or impact event. If a difference between a sensor velocity and the threshold exceeds the threshold, the controller subtracts that difference from an acceleration influence of a roll-over algorithm to avoid processing sensor data as if a roll-over were happening when, in fact, the event is a different type of crash or impact.