Abstract: In a process for protecting motor vehicle occupants, the acceleration of the motor vehicle is determined and safety means which protect the motor vehicle occupant are activated when a specified limiting acceleration value is exceeded. To optimally release the safety means, the sitting position of the motor vehicle occupant and/or the relative velocity of the occupant with respect to the passenger cabin of the motor vehicle are determined by position sensor using measuring techniques. The safety means are activated when the sitting position of the occupant deviates from a nominal position and/or the relative velocity of the occupant exceeds a specified limiting value.

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.

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.