Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Dieter Neugebauer

Anton Sebastian Huber

Marten Swart

A circuit configuration for a passenger protection device, such as an airbag, includes at least first and second collision sensors having triggering thresholds individually assigned thereto, for triggering a passenger protection device if the collision sensors exceed the triggering thresholds. The first sensor supplies an output signal exceeding the triggering threshold assigned to it before the second sensor issues an output signal exceeding the triggering threshold assigned to it, in the event of a collision. One of the sensors is a clock-generating sensor setting a beginning of a time period when its output signal exceeds a threshold value assigned to it, during the collision. One of the sensors mechanically actuates a switch and supplies an essentially binary output signal, in the event of a collision. Both of the sensors are required to exceed their triggering thresholds no later than a point in time within the time period, for the protection system to be finally triggered. The other of the sensors is an electronic sensor, such as a piezoresistive or a piezoelectric sensor, supplying an analog output signal, in the event of a collision. A programmable read-only memory PROM records a collision occurrence and stores data regarding a behavior of the output signals of at least one of the sensors occurring during the time period, at least if both of the sensors had exceeded their triggering thresholds during the point in time.

Circuit configuration for the passenger protection device of a vehicle

Firing control device for triggering a passenger restraint system of a

A resistance checker portion for terminal posts of an energy storage device includes a series branch formed of an ohmic resistor at a switch connected in parallel to the energy storage device through the terminal posts. Brief closing of the noramlly open switch causes a voltage jump in the series branch which is a direct measurement of the resistance of the terminal posts. An evaluator measures the voltage jump and calculates the contact resistance of the terminal posts therefrom.

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Regenstauf, Germany

Dieter Neugebauer