Abstract: A method for detecting damage to an outer shell of a vehicle. The vehicle is of a specific type with specific vehicle data. Damage can be classified into at least two groups. Damage of a first group has a greater severity of the damage than damage of a second group. An acceleration of the vehicle is ascertained and/or a rotation rate of the vehicle is ascertained. Damage of the first group is ascertained if the acceleration of the vehicle exceeds a threshold value of the acceleration and/or if the rotation rate of the vehicle exceeds a threshold value of the rotation rate. The acceleration and/or the rotation rate are compared to acceleration values and/or rotation rate values learned for the specific vehicle type. Damage of the second group is ascertained if damage is detected as a function of the comparison to the learned values.

Abstract: A method for detecting contacts on a vehicle. In the method, signals from at least two sensor are evaluated and compared to one another, wherein at least one signal strength-independent property of the signals is taken into account.

Abstract: A method for detecting damage to an outer shell of a vehicle. The vehicle is of a specific type with specific vehicle data. Damage can be classified into at least two groups. Damage of a first group has a greater severity of the damage than damage of a second group. An acceleration of the vehicle is ascertained and/or a rotation rate of the vehicle is ascertained. Damage of the first group is ascertained if the acceleration of the vehicle exceeds a threshold value of the acceleration and/or if the rotation rate of the vehicle exceeds a threshold value of the rotation rate. The acceleration and/or the rotation rate are compared to acceleration values and/or rotation rate values learned for the specific vehicle type. Damage of the second group is ascertained if damage is detected as a function of the comparison to the learned values.

Abstract: A method for ascertaining an acceleration prevailing in a vehicle. The method includes reading in a first input signal which represents a first acceleration acting transversely to the vehicle axis at a first location located on a vehicle axis in the vehicle, and a second input signal which represents a second acceleration acting transversely to the vehicle axis at a second location in the vehicle located on the vehicle axis, and an ascertainment of an output signal which represents a translational acceleration acting in the vehicle transversely to the vehicle axis at a position which differs from the first location and the second location. For this purpose, the input signals and distances along the vehicle axis between the locations and the position are used.

Abstract: A method for detecting a damage to a vehicle. The method includes a reading-in step and an evaluation step. In the reading-in step, a body sensor signal is read in via an interface to a body sensor of the vehicle, the body sensor signal representing at least one body vibration recorded in the body area. A chassis sensor signal is furthermore read in via an interface to a chassis sensor of the vehicle, which represents at least one chassis vibration recorded in the chassis area. In the evaluation step, the body sensor signal and the chassis sensor signal are evaluated to obtain an evaluation result representing the damage.

Abstract: A sensor system for a vehicle, including a first sensor that detects at least one collision-relevant physical variable and outputs at least one corresponding first sensor signal, and at least one second sensor that, independently of the first sensor, detects at least one collision-relevant physical variable and outputs at least one corresponding second sensor signal, and an evaluation and control unit that receives the at least one first sensor signal and the at least one second sensor signal and evaluates them for the collision detection. A method is also described for monitoring a sensor. The evaluation and control unit uses at least one second comparison signal that is based on the at least one second sensor signal of the at least one second sensor to monitor the first sensor.

Abstract: A method for generating a trigger signal for triggering at least one safety function of a motor vehicle includes receiving respective signals from at least two pressure tube sensors; determining a minimum size of a collision object and/or a speed of the motor vehicle from the signals received, and emitting the trigger signal for the at least one safety function in accordance with at least one of the parameters.

Abstract: A method for generating a trigger signal for triggering at least one safety function of a motor vehicle. The method includes at least the following method steps: a) receiving respective signals from at least two pressure tube sensors, b) determining at least one collision parameter from the signals received according to step a), c) outputting the trigger signal for the at least one safety function as a function of the at least one collision parameter determined in step b).

Abstract: A method for ascertaining a state value representing a condition of a surface, in particular, of a road, traveled upon by a vehicle. The vehicle includes at least one inertial sensor. The method is characterized in that the state value is increased or decreased as a function of at least one first signal acquired by the inertial sensor.

Abstract: A method for detecting a damage to a vehicle. The method includes a reading-in step and an evaluation step. In the reading-in step, a body sensor signal is read in via an interface to a body sensor of the vehicle, the body sensor signal representing at least one body vibration recorded in the body area. A chassis sensor signal is furthermore read in via an interface to a chassis sensor of the vehicle, which represents at least one chassis vibration recorded in the chassis area. In the evaluation step, the body sensor signal and the chassis sensor signal are evaluated to obtain an evaluation result representing the damage.

Abstract: A sensor system for a vehicle, including a first sensor that detects at least one collision-relevant physical variable and outputs at least one corresponding first sensor signal, and at least one second sensor that, independently of the first sensor, detects at least one collision-relevant physical variable and outputs at least one corresponding second sensor signal, and an evaluation and control unit that receives the at least one first sensor signal and the at least one second sensor signal and evaluates them for the collision detection. A method is also described for monitoring a sensor. The evaluation and control unit uses at least one second comparison signal that is based on the at least one second sensor signal of the at least one second sensor to monitor the first sensor.

Abstract: A method for generating a trigger signal for triggering at least one safety function of a motor vehicle includes receiving respective signals from at least two pressure tube sensors; determining a minimum size of a collision object and/or a speed of the motor vehicle from the signals received, and emitting the trigger signal for the at least one safety function in accordance with at least one of the parameters.

Abstract: A method for generating a trigger signal for triggering at least one safety function of a motor vehicle. The method includes at least the following method steps: a) receiving respective signals from at least two pressure tube sensors, b) determining at least one collision parameter from the signals received according to step a), c) outputting the trigger signal for the at least one safety function as a function of the at least one collision parameter determined in step b).

Abstract: In a method for ascertaining a triggering event for an airbag in a vehicle, an imminent collision is ascertained with the aid of a surroundings sensor, an error signal being generated if no signal is established in a collision sensor within a defined time window.

Abstract: A method for ascertaining a state value representing a condition of a surface, in particular, of a road, traveled upon by a vehicle. The vehicle includes at least one inertial sensor. The method is characterized in that the state value is increased or decreased as a function of at least one first signal acquired by the inertial sensor.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining a collision characteristic of a vehicle collision for triggering safety means of the vehicle. The method has a step of an ascertainment of at least one determination-relevant time segment of a sensor signal representing the vehicle collision before a triggering time for a safety means. The method also has a step of a comparison of at least two features of the sensor signal in the at least one time segment with one another in order to determine the collision characteristic.

Abstract: A device for controlling personal protection apparatus in a vehicle includes: at least one sensor unit that acquires at least one physical quantity; and evaluation and control unit which (i) produces, from the at least one acquired physical quantity, at least one signal curve that characterizes an impact, (ii) determines, as a function of an energy dissipation behavior of the vehicle, at least one temporal phase in the produced signal curve, and (iii) evaluates the at least one phase for crash classification and for a triggering decision for the personal protection apparatus. The evaluation and control unit retroactively calculates at least one feature of the energy dissipation based on a characteristic time in the signal curve that represents the end of a first temporal phase.

Abstract: In a method for ascertaining a triggering event for an airbag in a vehicle, an imminent collision is ascertained with the aid of a surroundings sensor, an error signal being generated if no signal is established in a collision sensor within a defined time window.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining a collision characteristic of a vehicle collision for triggering safety means of the vehicle. The method has a step of an ascertainment of at least one determination-relevant time segment of a sensor signal representing the vehicle collision before a triggering time for a safety means. The method also has a step of a comparison of at least two features of the sensor signal in the at least one time segment with one another in order to determine the collision characteristic.

Abstract: A device for controlling personal protection apparatus in a vehicle includes: at least one sensor unit that acquires at least one physical quantity; and evaluation and control unit which (i) produces, from the at least one acquired physical quantity, at least one signal curve that characterizes an impact, (ii) determines, as a function of an energy dissipation behavior of the vehicle, at least one temporal phase in the produced signal curve, and (iii) evaluates the at least one phase for crash classification and for a triggering decision for the personal protection apparatus. The evaluation and control unit retroactively calculates at least one feature of the energy dissipation based on a characteristic time in the signal curve that represents the end of a first temporal phase.