Abstract: A passenger protection device in a motor vehicle includes at least one airbag, at least one gas generator for filling the airbag, an airbag control device for activating the airbag, means for acquiring the deployment speed of the airbag, and means for regulating the filling quantity of the airbag, taking into account its deployment speed. In order for the passenger protection device to implement a controlled filling of the airbag dependent on its deployment speed, at least one flow-off valve is provided that is situated between the gas generator and the airbag. In addition, controllable actuating means are provided for the sealing of the flow-off valve.

Abstract: A safety apparatus for a motor vehicle, comprising: a plurality of occupant protection devices and sensors associated with them; a processing device that checks whether the occupant protection devices and/or associated sensors are in operation and/or properly functional, and ascertains status information therefrom; and an output device that, in consideration of all the status information, communicates the operating status possessed by each individual occupant protection device and/or sensor. Also described is a method for communicating the status of a safety apparatus of a motor vehicle.

Abstract: A method is used to largely suppress the offset of a rotation rate sensor in that a given rotation rate is only subjected to integration if it exceeds a lower rotation rate threshold and lies below an upper rotation rate threshold. The thresholds are predefined as a function of an offset of the rotation rate sensor in question, and integration of the rotation rate is aborted after a predefined reset time and restarted.

Abstract: A device is proposed for ascertaining distance and transmitting data in a motor vehicle. It has a transmitting arrangement for generating and emitting a radar signal. A receiving arrangement receives a radar signal. It is characterized in that switchover arrangements are provided which cause the transmitting and/or receiving arrangement to operate either in a radar operating mode for detecting the distance and/or speed of a further object, or in a data-exchange operating mode for the exchange of data with a transceiver. Specific functions are enabled in dependence on the data exchange.

Abstract: So that an arrangement may decide to trigger a safety device in as error-free and reliable a manner as possible, provision is made for a first arrangement, which derives a first decision criterion for triggering a safety device from the measured turning rate at least about the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and/or from the measured accelerations at least in the direction of the transverse axis and the vertical axis of the vehicle. In addition, a second arrangement is present, which, independent of the first arrangement, derives a second decision criterion. A circuit arrangement then generates a triggering signal for the safety device, when both decision criteria are satisfied at the same time.

Abstract: A method and/or a device for forming a robust and reliable deployment criterion for a restraint system in a motor vehicle is formed with the help of a fuzzy classifier which receives at least two input quantities. The first input quantity is an operating time which begins when the measured acceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold; and a second input quantity takes into account the change in vehicle speed determined from the measured acceleration.

Abstract: A restraint system is disclosed which with high reliability trips one or more restraint devices, if in a collision there is the risk of injury to vehicle occupants. This restraint system is equipped with at least one seat position senor (SPS1, SPS2, . . . , SPSm), with which a change in the seat position of at least one vehicle occupant can be ascertained, and a control unit (SE) forms a first criterion for tripping one or more restraint devices (R1, R2, . . . , Rk) if the rate of change of the seat position exceeds a predeterminable threshold. The control unit (SE) forms a second criterion for tripping one or more restraint devices (R1, R2, . . . , Rk) if one or more precrash sensors (PCS1, PCS2, . . . , PCSn) signal an incipient collision. The control unit (SE) does not cause the tripping of one or more restraint devices (R1, R2, . . . , Rk) unless both tripping criteria are satisfied and also a braking datum (BI), advantageously generated by a brake light switch, is present.

Abstract: A device for locking and unlocking a door of a motor vehicle. The device includes a transmitting unit located on the motor vehicle and at least one transponder with an access authorization code assigned to a user. To allow flexible adjustment to different situations, the information exchanged between the transmitting unit and transponder contains not only an access authorization code but also a driving authorization code. In addition to the transponder, at least one additional storage device is provided in or on the vehicle for storing the driving authorization.

Abstract: To assure that the safety device is triggered at the right time in the event of a lateral collision of the vehicle with a curb, a first comparing device (1) compares a rotation rate (.omega.x) measured relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, or a variable derived from this rotation rate, with a rotation rate threshold value. A second comparing device (2) compares an acceleration (ay), measured in the direction of the transverse axis of the vehicle, with a lateral acceleration threshold value. If both threshold comparing device (1, 2) simultaneously signal that their threshold values are being exceeded, a trigger signal (as1) for the safety device is output.

Abstract: This invention relates to an anatomical model, particularly a dummy, for simulating the effect of an accident on the human body. The model is provided with a skeleton. In the area of the thorax, the skeleton is formed by a plurality of spring rib members that simulate human ribs. Each of the spring rib members is equipped with sensor device which senses a force that affects each individual spring rib member.