Electronic device for safeguarding occupants of a vehicle and method for testing the same
First Claim
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1. A method for testing an electronic device having a first acceleration-sensitive sensor arrangement that generates a first acceleration signal and a second acceleration-sensitive sensor arrangement that generates a second acceleration signal, comprising the steps of:
- a) determining whether at least one of the first and second acceleration signals exceeds a preselected minimum absolute acceleration value;
b) if the minimum absolute acceleration value is exceeded by at least one of the first and second acceleration signals, sampling the first and second acceleration signals for a preselected number of sampling periods within a predetermined time interval to generate a plurality of first sample values from the first acceleration signal and a plurality of second sample values from the second acceleration signal;
c) applying a first compensation factor to each of the plurality of first sample values and a second compensation factor to each of the plurality of second sample values;
d) summing the compensated first sample values to generate a first evaluation signal and summing the compensated second sample values to generate a second evaluation signal;
e) determining a difference between the first evaluation signal and the second evaluation signal; and
f) determining whether the difference between the first and second evaluation signals exceeds a specified threshold value.
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Abstract
An electronic device, in particular a system for safeguarding vehicle occupants, comprises at least two acceleration-sensitive sensors arrangements. To test the readiness for operation of the sensor arrangements, output signals from the sensor arrangements are compared. Output signals, which occur as the result of accelerations arising during normal operation of the vehicle, are also drawn upon when the comparison is made.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for testing an electronic device having a first acceleration-sensitive sensor arrangement that generates a first acceleration signal and a second acceleration-sensitive sensor arrangement that generates a second acceleration signal, comprising the steps of:
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a) determining whether at least one of the first and second acceleration signals exceeds a preselected minimum absolute acceleration value; b) if the minimum absolute acceleration value is exceeded by at least one of the first and second acceleration signals, sampling the first and second acceleration signals for a preselected number of sampling periods within a predetermined time interval to generate a plurality of first sample values from the first acceleration signal and a plurality of second sample values from the second acceleration signal; c) applying a first compensation factor to each of the plurality of first sample values and a second compensation factor to each of the plurality of second sample values; d) summing the compensated first sample values to generate a first evaluation signal and summing the compensated second sample values to generate a second evaluation signal; e) determining a difference between the first evaluation signal and the second evaluation signal; and f) determining whether the difference between the first and second evaluation signals exceeds a specified threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. In an electronic device having an acceleration-sensitive sensor arrangement for generating acceleration signals, a method for testing the electronic device comprising the steps of:
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a) specifying a minimum absolute acceleration value; b) detecting an output signal from the acceleration-sensitive sensor arrangement; c) testing whether the output signal from the acceleration-sensitive sensor arrangement exceeds the minimum absolute acceleration value; d) if the minimum absolute acceleration value is exceeded by the output signal, sampling the output signal for a selected number of sampling periods within a time interval of predetermined duration to generate a plurality of sample values; e) applying a compensation factor to each of the plurality of sample values; f) summing the compensated sample values to generate a first evaluation signal; and g) determining an operating state of the electronic device as a function of the first evaluation signal. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. An electronic device for vehicle operation safety, comprising:
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a first acceleration-sensitive sensor for generating a first acceleration signal; a second acceleration-sensitive sensor for generating a second acceleration signal; a detection circuit coupled to the first and second sensors for detecting the first and second acceleration signals; a timing circuit coupled to the first and second sensors for sampling the first and second acceleration signals for a preselected number of sampling periods within a predetermined time interval to generate a plurality of first sample values from the first sensor and a plurality of second sample values from the second sensor; a compensation circuit coupled to the timing circuit for applying a first compensation factor to the plurality of first sample values and applying a second compensation factor to the plurality of second sample values; a summing circuit coupled to the compensation circuit for summing the compensated first sample values to generate a first evaluation signal and summing the compensated second values to generate a second evaluation signal; and a comparator coupled to the summing circuit for determining an operating state of the electronic device as a function of a difference between the first evaluation signal and the second evaluation signal and for providing a signal based thereon. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification