Abstract: A device for triggering at least one external protection function for a motor vehicle for the protection of external road users in particular need of protection, in particular for the protection of pedestrians, includes a control unit for evaluating sensor data from a first sensor system for sensing collision objects and for outputting a first trigger signal for the at least one external protection function, as well as an auxiliary control unit for evaluating sensor data from a second sensor system for sensing collision objects and for directly outputting a second trigger signal for the at least one external protection function if a collision object was detected, the auxiliary control unit being adapted such that the control unit is bypassed when the second trigger signal is output.

Abstract: A method for controlling at least one occupant protection device for a vehicle in the case of a collision, including determining input data which represent an ignition time of an airbag of the vehicle, an angular frequency of the collision, an available displacement path of a vehicle occupant relative to the vehicle, a mass of the vehicle occupant of the vehicle, a distance of the vehicle occupant from the airbag, and an inflation time duration of the airbag; ascertaining a restraint force using the input data. The restraint force represents a force that can be provided by the at least one occupant protection device and that is suitable to minimize an occupant energy of the vehicle occupant up until the end of the collision; and providing a control signal for controlling the at least one occupant protection device, the control signal being produced using the restraint force.

Abstract: A device for triggering at least one external protection function for a motor vehicle for the protection of external road users in particular need of protection, in particular for the protection of pedestrians, includes a control unit for evaluating sensor data from a first sensor system for sensing collision objects and for outputting a first trigger signal for the at least one external protection function, as well as an auxiliary control unit for evaluating sensor data from a second sensor system for sensing collision objects and for directly outputting a second trigger signal for the at least one external protection function if a collision object was detected, the auxiliary control unit being adapted such that the control unit is bypassed when the second trigger signal is output.

Abstract: A method of determining an accident time parameter for evaluating an accident situation of a motor vehicle, including a) determining at least two of the following values: (i) a current value of a measured acceleration, (ii) a first integral of the measured acceleration, or (iii) a second integral of the measured acceleration, and b) determining an accident time parameter from the at least two values determined in step a).

Abstract: A method for controlling at least one occupant protection device for a vehicle in the case of a collision, including determining input data which represent an ignition time of an airbag of the vehicle, an angular frequency of the collision, an available displacement path of a vehicle occupant relative to the vehicle, a mass of the vehicle occupant of the vehicle, a distance of the vehicle occupant from the airbag, and an inflation time duration of the airbag; ascertaining a restraint force using the input data. The restraint force represents a force that can be provided by the at least one occupant protection device and that is suitable to minimize an occupant energy of the vehicle occupant up until the end of the collision; and providing a control signal for controlling the at least one occupant protection device, the control signal being produced using the restraint force.

Abstract: A method for controlling an occupant protection system of a vehicle includes reading in at least one vehicle acceleration value representing an acceleration of the vehicle and at least one model parameter of an occupant model by which a vehicle occupant is represented by at least two, in particular three, mass points. The vehicle acceleration value and the model parameter are processed in order to determine at least one motion parameter relating to the two, in particular three, mass points. Using the motion parameter, a control signal for controlling the occupant protection system is produced.

Abstract: A method for identifying the type and/or the severity of a collision of a vehicle of a first mass with a collision object of a second mass in an early phase to trigger safety measures, including: detecting surroundings data of the vehicle; identifying the collision object from the surroundings data; extracting a reference feature, not lying in a direct collision area, of the collision object; repeated successive ascertainment of an instantaneous speed of the vehicle and determining a change of the speed of the vehicle; repeated successive determination of an instantaneous relative speed between the vehicle and the reference feature and determining a change of the speed of the collision object; estimating a mass ratio, effective during the collision, between the mass of the vehicle and the mass of the collision object from the ascertained changes of the speeds of the vehicle and of the collision object.

Abstract: A method for providing a piece of occupant information for a safety unit for a vehicle includes reading in image data representing an occupant of the vehicle via an interface to an image recording unit of the vehicle, reading in plausibility check data representing a person via an interface to a mobile device, a step of determining occupant data characterizing the occupant using the image data and the plausibility check data, and a step of providing the occupant data to an interface to the safety unit for the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for activating a passenger protection device of a vehicle. A relative velocity value, which represents a relative velocity between the vehicle and an object, and at least one correction value are read in. In a further step, a velocity reduction value, which represents a decrease of a velocity of the vehicle when the vehicle collides with the object, is ascertained using the relative velocity value and the correction value. Finally, an activation signal for activating the passenger protection device is generated using the velocity reduction value.

Abstract: A pre-collision system for an occupant protection system of a vehicle, includes a predictive sensor system, a vehicle seat, a restraint system, and an evaluation and control unit that evaluates output signals of the predictive sensor system and activates a belt tensioning function of the restraint system if the evaluation of the output signals indicates an imminent collision, where the belt tensioning function generates a tensile force in the belt, which presses a corresponding occupant into the vehicle seat, with a resulting kinetic energy of the occupant that releases a pre-trigger mechanism, which is integrated into a mounting of the vehicle seat, and that enables a blocked degree of freedom of the vehicle seat so that the entire vehicle seat tilts about a defined tilt axis in the direction of an expected impact force.

Abstract: A method for actuating restraint means for a vehicle, the method having the following steps: detecting, at a first instant, at least one first value that represents an acceleration; ascertaining a value that represents a force acting on the vehicle from the detected at least one first value that is representative of an acceleration; actuating the restraint means as a function of the ascertained value and/or a value that is derived from the ascertained value.

Abstract: A method for setting an activation signal for activating at least one safety device of a vehicle. The method includes reading in a driving mode signal. In this case, the driving mode signal represents an item of information as to whether a manual driving mode or an at least partially automatic driving mode of the vehicle is set. The method also includes adapting at least one parameter of the activation signal while using the driving mode signal, to set the activation signal.

Abstract: A method for providing a piece of occupant information for a safety unit for a vehicle includes reading in image data representing an occupant of the vehicle via an interface to an image recording unit of the vehicle, reading in plausibility check data representing a person via an interface to a mobile device, a step of determining occupant data characterizing the occupant using the image data and the plausibility check data, and a step of providing the occupant data to an interface to the safety unit for the vehicle.

Abstract: A method of determining an accident time parameter for evaluating an accident situation of a motor vehicle, including a) determining at least two of the following values: (i) a current value of a measured acceleration, (ii) a first integral of the measured acceleration, or (iii) a second integral of the measured acceleration, and b) determining an accident time parameter from the at least two values determined in step a).

Abstract: A method for controlling a personal protection device for a vehicle. The method includes a step of determining a set of control variants for controlling the personal protection device, from a plurality of possible control variants for controlling the personal protection device, using an inaccurate situational value and at least one inaccuracy value, the inaccurate situational value representing a value ascertained using a sensor of the vehicle, and the inaccuracy value defining an inaccuracy of the inaccurate situational value; and a step of selecting a control variant assigned to the inaccurate situational value, from the plurality of possible control variants, as a control variant selected for controlling the personal protection device, if each control variant of the set of control variants is assigned a safety class, which satisfies a safety criterion necessary for controlling the personal protection device.

Abstract: A method for checking the plausibility of a control decision for a safety device of a vehicle includes detecting a regulatorily standardized feature of a collision object using a surroundings sensor system, such as a video camera, and enabling the control decision as a function of the detected feature, such as a vehicle license plate, trademark, or emblem.

Abstract: A method for actuating restraint means for a vehicle, the method having the following steps: detecting, at a first instant, at least one first value that represents an acceleration; ascertaining a value that represents a force acting on the vehicle from the detected at least one first value that is representative of an acceleration; actuating the restraint means as a function of the ascertained value and/or a value that is derived from the ascertained value.

Abstract: A method for controlling an occupant protection system of a vehicle includes reading in at least one vehicle acceleration value representing an acceleration of the vehicle and at least one model parameter of an occupant model by which a vehicle occupant is represented by at least two, in particular three, mass points. The vehicle acceleration value and the model parameter are processed in order to determine at least one motion parameter relating to the two, in particular three, mass points. Using the motion parameter, a control signal for controlling the occupant protection system is produced.

Abstract: In a method for activating a personal protection device for a motorcycle, which personal protection device has at least one airbag that is capable of being deployed in a region facing away from a driver of the motorcycle, in front of a front fork and/or in front of a front windshield and/or in front of a front headlight of the motorcycle, a collision signal is read in that represents a collision or an impending collision of the motorcycle, and subsequently an activation signal is provided, using the collision signal, in order to activate the personal protection device and deploy the at least one airbag.

Abstract: A method for activating a passenger protection device of a vehicle. A relative velocity value, which represents a relative velocity between the vehicle and an object, and at least one correction value are read in. In a further step, a velocity reduction value, which represents a decrease of a velocity of the vehicle when the vehicle collides with the object, is ascertained using the relative velocity value and the correction value. Finally, an activation signal for activating the passenger protection device is generated using the velocity reduction value.