Temic Telefunken Microelectronic Gmbh

Derrick Zechmair

Hans Spies

Peter Hora

Gunter Fendt

Guido Wetzel

The invention concerns a method for the automatic recognition and correction of an invalid data set stored in a programmable circuit memory which is part of a group of at least three identical stored data sets, wherein the data sets of the group are compared to each other, and in the event that one data set of the group does not agree with the remaining data sets of the group same is recognized as being invalid and the remaining agreeing data sets are recognized as being valid, and the invalid data set is corrected through replacement with a valid data set. The invention is also directed to a system adapted to carry out this method.

Method for automatic recognition and correction of an invalid data set

A trigger circuit for occupant protection systems in motor vehicles comprises a control unit which will effect the triggering of a means of restraint such as an airbag, depending on sensor signals generated by one or more external sensor units. To achieve a degree of triggering certainty, data interrogation must take place in very short time intervals. A safe transmission of data between the control unit and the sensor units will be ensured if, in accordance with this invention, the information units to be transmitted will each be encoded by means of a PWM signal with a certain period duration. The control unit will check the period duration of the PWM signal received, and, in the event of this actual period duration not matching the specified nominal value, it will not accept the relevant unit of information.

Growing community of inventors

Schrobenhausen, Germany

Derrick Zechmair