Abstract: A protective device for a vehicle is described which is deactivatable by a switch, the state of the switch being analyzable by a processor in a control unit and by an independent hardware path. The independent hardware path has at least one logic module which makes the setting of delay times highly flexible.

Abstract: A control unit for a restraint system fires all connected pyrotechnic firing elements. The control unit receives for that purpose, via an interface, a software element that configures all the firing circuits and the triggering algorithm for firing all the firing circuits, and that emulates for a safety module sensor values such that the safety module enables all the firing circuits.

Abstract: A control unit for a restraint system fires all connected pyrotechnic firing elements. The control unit receives for that purpose, via an interface, a software element that configures all the firing circuits and the triggering algorithm for firing all the firing circuits, and that emulates for a safety module sensor values such that the safety module enables all the firing circuits.

Abstract: A protective device for a vehicle is described which is deactivatable by a switch, the state of the switch being analyzable by a processor in a control unit and by an independent hardware path. The independent hardware path has at least one logic module which makes the setting of delay times highly flexible.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for synchronizing at least one computer, having at least one monitoring circuit associated with this computer. The synchronization takes place through at least one transmitted signal (WDS) in the form of a double pulse from the computer (&mgr;C) to the peripheral components (PIC1, PIC2), which contain the monitoring circuits. To that end, shortly after the computer (&mgr;C) is started up at system start or after an HW reset, the signal (WDS) is sent to the at least one peripheral component (PIC1, PIC2). After this, the upper and lower limit of the signal sequence (WDS) to be regularly transmitted by the computer for the monitoring circuit are tested and therefore the function of the monitoring circuits is tested. As with the synchronization, the testing takes place with a reaction of the monitoring circuits by means of at least one acknowledgement signal (IRS1, IRS2, R).

Abstract: A drive circuit for an AC ignition circuit, which has at least one capacitor and at least one trigger element, which is used to deploy a restraint system in a motor vehicle, has a bridge circuit with four electronically controllable switches, of which two switches are connected in series between a supply voltage and ground, and the ignition circuit forms a bridge shunt between both pairs of switches connected in parallel. If a fault occurs in the bridge circuit, the individual switches are triggered so that charging and discharging of the capacitor in the ignition circuit is guaranteed in spite of the fault.

Abstract: The ohmic resistance of a firing element connected in series to a capacitance is measured by charging the capacitance with a measured current for a specifiable charging time, by recording a first firing circuit voltage which drops at the firing circuit at the end of the charging operation and by recording a second firing circuit voltage after the measured current is disconnected and by determining the resistance of the firing element from the two firing circuit voltages and the measured current. An exact measurement of the resistance of the firing element regardless of capacitance fluctuations is made possible in that the charging time for the capacitance of the firing circuit is rated in such a way that the second firing circuit voltage corresponds to a setpoint value.