Abstract: An easily producible and easily installable ignition mechanism for restraint devices in a vehicle includes an ignition capsule, in which at least one ignition element and its contact pins are fixed. Into the ignition capsule a pedestal can be set, in which a carrier arrangement having circuit elements is arranged. Spring elements are present, by which contact is established between circuit elements and contact pins of the ignition element when the pedestal is set into the ignition capsule.

Abstract: The restraint system is composed of a central control unit, which is connected via a bus line to a plurality of data processing units each of which is intended to drive one or more restraint devices. To keep the restraint system operational if the power supply in the central control unit becomes defective, a changeover to the vehicle battery voltage as the new supply voltage is effected in the central control unit. The central control unit then signals the changeover to the new supply voltage to all the data processing units. All the data processing units thereupon adjust their circuits to the new supply-voltage level.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement with low sensitivity to faults and few components has a first resistor connected in parallel to the resistor mat and a second resistor connected in series to the parallel circuit. A controllable voltage regulator, to which a control voltage dependent on the resistance of the resistor mat is supplied, is also connected in parallel to the series circuit. The output voltage of the voltage regulator can be tapped as a voltage divider.

Abstract: A very reliable device, which can be implemented at a low cost, has a switch mechanism arranged on a fastening device which is installed on a vehicle seat and can engage with a plug element on a child seat; The switch mechanism has a stationary part attached to the fastening, device and a movable part, which is moved by the plug element into the stationary part on mutual engagement of the plug element with the fastenings device, thereby activating a switch so that occupancy of the vehicle seat by a child seat is signaled.

Abstract: Information data and energy are transmitted from a central control to control modules through a bus system in an occupant protection system including occupant protection devices such as airbags. In order to avoid overloading the protection system due to an immediate recharging of an energy storage member after that member triggers an occupant protection device, such recharging is suppressed or interrupted, preferably until a reset command signal is received by the respective control module from the central control.

Abstract: An unintended triggering of a safety device, such as an airbag in an occupant protection system, especially in motor vehicles is prevented by storing already during manufacturing of the module or modules, a blocking information in a memory location of the module or modules. The blocking information is preferably temporarily stored in place of a rated information, which is then overwritten when the module has been installed in the protection system for activating the system. In addition, the module is protected against electromagnetic and/or electrostatic disturbances at the input to the bus system.

Abstract: A watchdog circuit (WD) monitors the function of the processor (MC) in that the processor (MC) outputs a cyclically repeating test signal to the watchdog circuit (WD), and the watchdog circuit (WD) generates a reset signal (RST) for the processor (MC) if the test signal (WDS) does not appear in a time slot (S1, S2) specified by the watchdog circuit (WD). The width of the time slot (S1, S2) can be increased in the starting phase of a program sequence of the processor (MC).

Abstract: A central control unit and a plurality of data processing units are connected to a bus line and are provided to control restraint devices. The central control unit sends query signals or control signals in the form of data telegrams to all or certain individual data processing units and the data processing units send response signals back to the central control unit in response to certain query signals or control signals. To permit a reliable allocation of query signals and control signals to data processing units and reliable acquisition of monitoring data of data processing units and their restraint devices, the query signals or control signals and the response signals are data telegrams, all of which have the same frame structure, having a first region with n control bits, a second region with m information bits and a third region with p check bits.

Abstract: In the restraint system, a central control unit and a plurality of data processing units are coupled to a bus line, each of the data processing units being provided to activate one or more restraint devices. In order to keep the restraint system operational to the extent possible in the event of a short circuit, each data processing unit measures for short circuits on the bus line and starts timing if a short circuit is detected. Each data processing unit has a circuit breaker, with which the bus line can be closed or interrupted. This circuit breaker is opened if the short circuit measured is longer than a preset waiting time.

Abstract: A watchdog circuit (WD) monitors the function of the processor (MC) in that the processor (MC) outputs a cyclically repeating test signal to the watchdog circuit (WD), and the watchdog circuit (WD) generates a reset signal (RST) for the processor (MC) if the test signal (WDS) does not appear in a time slot (S1, S2) specified by the watchdog circuit (WD). The width of the time slot (S1, S2) can be increased in the starting phase of a program sequence of the processor (MC).

Abstract: In occupant protection systems having a large number of sensors and control modules for triggering occupant protection devices, the amount of wiring is significantly increased if they are to be communicatively connected to a central unit. For this reason, bus systems have already been suggested for the control modules for triggering occupant protection devices. In order to further reduce in the wiring, sensors are at least partially integrated into a bus system with additional control modules that are allocated to these sensors. Within the context of a diagnosis process of interrogation and response, which triggers a function test of the control modules for triggering the occupant protection devices, an actual sensor value is sent to the bus system from the control modules of the sensors as a diagnosis response. This response is processed by the central unit and/or the other control modules.

Abstract: A bus system with a master station and a plurality of slave stations is described. The slave stations have a connecting switch, with the downstream slave stations having no electric contact with the master station when the connecting switch of a first slave station is opened. In this phase, the first slave station is initialized. Before closing the connecting switch, a test switch is closed, with the current flow being limited by a current limiter. It is thus possible to check on whether the downstream slave station has a short circuit.

Abstract: A device for detecting a pressure exerted on a vehicle seat, having sensors (16) mounted on at least one seat element, and a control unit (14) connected to the sensors (16) and detecting signals output by the sensors (16). It is proposed that it be at least some of the sensors (16) are disposed outside the seat region (26) that is in direct contact with the body of the passenger.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a resonant circuit and an evaluation circuit. The resonant circuit includes an acceleration-sensitive sensor which is excited to vibrate during a testing phase of the acceleration-sensitive sensor. The evaluation circuit is coupled to the resonant circuit to determine a performance reliability of the acceleration-sensitive sensor.

Abstract: The simplified signal-processing circuit arrangement for processing and evaluating signals indicative of the status of an FSR-foil pressure sensor utilized in a seat-occupancy detection device, makes use of the fact that an application-oriented, integrated circuit, present in a motor vehicle having digital open-loop and closed-loop control functions implemented in a microcontroller MCU, contains a highly precise, switchable test-voltage source. One end of a circuit containing the FSR-foil is connected to a switching output VTA of the ASIC carrying the highly precise test voltage. The other end of this circuit is connected to a port of the MCU. A measuring voltage, which is a function of the status-contingent current intensity through the FSR-foil, drops off across a reference resistor connected in series to the FSR-foil, is fed to an analog-digital converter input of the MCU, and is converted therein into a digital signal indicating the occupancy status of the FSR-foil.

Abstract: In the restraint system, in which coupled to a bus line are a central control unit and a plurality of data processing units that are provided to trigger restraint devices, a plurality of data channels that are clearly separable from each other are to be transmittable. In this context, data of high priority and high time-related urgency are transmitted with a high signal level and a high bit rate, data of lower priority and lower time-related urgency are transmitted with a low signal level and a low bit rate, data of high priority and lower time-related urgency are transmitted with a high signal level and a low bit rate, and data of a lower priority and high time-related urgency are transmitted with a low signal level and a high bit rate.

Abstract: Before digital data impulses are transmitted from a transmitter to a receiver that includes a data acquisition signal generator, at least one synchronizing impulse (syn1, . . . ) is transmitted for synchronizing the transmitter with the receiver with regard to a sync frequency that is repeatedly updated to provide a current accepted sync frequency. The at least one synchronizing impulse and the data impulses are Manchester encoded which combines timing (synchronizing) and data signals. An impulse flank change occurring centrally in an impulse width is used as a synchronization point of time. Stepping pulses occurring between two consecutive synchronization points of time are counted and the resulting count is used to determine the sync frequency in response to the occurrence of a synchronizing impulse and at a synchronization point of time. A time shift or delay occurs between data impulses and synchronization points of time.

Abstract: Arranged in a triggering circuit of an airbag system are two switching elements which enclose a firing pellet. The switching elements are driven by way of assemblies and logic elements, respectively, in such a way that two separate criteria must be fulfilled for the transfer of each switching element into its conductive state.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a sensor which detects acceleration values, and a control unit linked to the sensor. The control unit drives switching elements, which are disposed in a series circuit including at least one squib. When the switching elements are driven, the squib receives a current. This current flows at the same time through the also series-connected resistor, across which a voltage drop arises, which is analyzed by a comparator. The pulse duty factor of the current driving is modified as a function of the amperage of the current flowing through the squib.

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.