Electronic device
First Claim
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1. A device for controlling motor vehicle safety devices comprising:
- a plurality of sensors mounted on the motor vehicle and adapted to transmit output signals indicative of an acceleration of the motor vehicle;
a control unit coupled to the sensors and to the safety devices, the control unit evaluating the signals transmitted by at least one of the sensors and controlling actuation of the safety devices as a function of the evaluated signals;
a serial data transmission line coupling each of the sensors to each of the other sensors and to the control unit;
the serial data transmission line providing bidirectional communication of signals among the sensors, and between each of the sensors and the control unit;
each of the sensors receiving all of the signals transmitted over the serial data transmission line by each of the other sensors and by the control unit;
each of the sensors processing the signals received from each of the other sensors;
each of the sensors processing the signals received from the control unit; and
each of the sensors determining when to transmit a respective signal over the serial data transmission line as a function of the signals received and processed from each of the other sensors and of the signals received and processed from the control unit.
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Abstract
An apparatus for controlling motor vehicle safety devices has a plurality of sensors, each coupled to a control unit. The control unit in turn activates inertial restraining devices based on the output signals generated by the sensors.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A device for controlling motor vehicle safety devices comprising:
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a plurality of sensors mounted on the motor vehicle and adapted to transmit output signals indicative of an acceleration of the motor vehicle; a control unit coupled to the sensors and to the safety devices, the control unit evaluating the signals transmitted by at least one of the sensors and controlling actuation of the safety devices as a function of the evaluated signals; a serial data transmission line coupling each of the sensors to each of the other sensors and to the control unit; the serial data transmission line providing bidirectional communication of signals among the sensors, and between each of the sensors and the control unit; each of the sensors receiving all of the signals transmitted over the serial data transmission line by each of the other sensors and by the control unit; each of the sensors processing the signals received from each of the other sensors; each of the sensors processing the signals received from the control unit; and each of the sensors determining when to transmit a respective signal over the serial data transmission line as a function of the signals received and processed from each of the other sensors and of the signals received and processed from the control unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for controlling motor vehicle safety devices as a function of output signals indicative of an acceleration of the motor vehicle transmitted by a plurality of sensors mounted on the motor vehicle, wherein each of the sensors is coupled to each of the other sensors and to a control unit through a serial data transmission line providing bidirectional communication of signals among the sensors, and between each of the sensors and the control unit, and wherein the control unit controls actuation of the safety devices as a function of the signals transmitted by the sensors, the method comprising the following steps:
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detecting the number of operable sensors and the type of each operable sensor through the serial data transmission line; assigning an ordinal number to each operable sensor, thus forming a ranking sequence for the sensors, wherein the ranking sequence determines the order in which the control unit communicates with each of the sensors through the serial data transmission line; transmitting all of the signals from each of the sensors and from the control unit over the serial data transmission line; receiving, in each of the sensors, all of the signals transmitted from each of the other sensors; receiving, in each of the sensors, all of the signals transmitted from the control unit; processing, in each of the sensors, the signals transmitted from each of the other sensors; processing, in each of the sensors, the signals transmitted from the control unit; and determining when to transmit a respective signal from each of the sensors over the serial data transmission line as a function of the signals received and processed from each of the other sensors and of the signals received and processed from the control unit. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification