Daimler Chrysler Ag

Jani Skedelj

Hans Spies

G&uuml;nter Fendt

Manfred Herz

Wolfgang Peter

Norbert M&uuml;ller

J&ouml;rg Flerlage

The invention relates to a method for operating an occupant safety device and a control unit for performing the method. To limit the power supplied to a triggering means from a storage element, the electrical power supplied after operating each triggering means is measured and after a definable power limiting value has been reached the power supplied to the triggering means is interrupted. The known methods based on the voltage at the storage element being the measure of the power supplied prove to be highly prone to error because these depend firstly on the charged state of the storage element and secondly very much on the conductor resistance so that incorrect control action can result. By integrating a variable that is proportional to the square of the current flowing through the triggering means to an integral value and comparing this rather than the voltage with the power limiting value, a simple way of simply and accurately determining the supply of power in the triggering circuit of occupant safety devices is possible irrespective of the conductor resistance.

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Grossnoebach, Germany

Jani Skedelj