Abstract: A device for controlling a passenger protection system of a motor vehicle includes at least one structure-borne noise sensor, used to receive body vibrations, and an evaluation device, used to evaluate the structure-borne noise signal. The evaluation provides information about an impact object and/or the characteristics of the impact. The evaluation device is configured to analyze the structure-borne noise signal in relation to the frequencies contained therein, wherein the frequency spectrum contained in a signal section is distributed into a plurality of frequency ranges. The current signal energy is determined for each frequency range, and the signal energy of the frequency range is a standardized. The device also comprises a passenger protection system, which can be actuated according to the information relating to the impact object and/or the characteristics of the impact.

Abstract: A device for controlling a passenger protection system of a motor vehicle includes at least one structure-borne noise sensor, used to receive body vibrations, and an evaluation device, used to evaluate the structure-borne noise signal. The evaluation provides information about an impact object and/or the characteristics of the impact. The evaluation device is configured to analyze the structure-borne noise signal in relation to the frequencies contained therein, wherein the frequency spectrum contained in a signal section is distributed into a plurality of frequency ranges. The current signal energy is determined for each frequency range, and the signal energy of the frequency range is a standardized. The device also comprises a passenger protection system, which can be actuated according to the information relating to the impact object and/or the characteristics of the impact.

Abstract: An apparatus and method test an electric circuit. During the testing of the switches connected in series with the ignition pellet, the maximum current flowing through the respective switch to be tested is limited to a value that is insufficient for igniting the ignition pellet even in the event of a leak occurring. This current limiting is preferably achieved by reducing the switch gate voltage while the switch test is being accomplished.

Abstract: A device for controlling a motor vehicle occupant protection system. Such a device has a control unit with an encoder for encoding messages and a transmitter for transmitting the encoded messages in the form of output signals. The encoded messages include a first encoded message having a first number of positions and a second encoded message having a second number of positions, the first number of positions being smaller than the second number of positions. In this case, at least one of the encoded messages may be provided with an error-correction code.