Electronic system for activating a vehicle rider protection apparatus

An electronic system for activating a vehicle rider protection apparatus, comprising:

• an acceleration sensor detecting the acceleration of a vehicle and producing an acceleration signal indicative of the detected acceleration;
• a digital signal processor detecting collision of the vehicle based on the acceleration signal and producing a first detection signal in response to the detection of collision;
• a first analog signal processor detecting vehicle collision of a first magnitude based on the acceleration signal and producing a second detection signal in response to the detection of collision;
• a second analog signal processor detecting vehicle collision of a second magnitude based on the acceleration signal and producing a third detection signal in response to the detection of collision, the vehicle collision of the second magnitude being different from the vehicle collision of the first magnitude;
• and
• an activation circuit producing a trigger signal to activate the vehicle rider protection apparatus based on the first, second and third detection signals.

A method for activating a vehicle rider protection apparatus, comprising the steps of:

• sensing acceleration of a vehicle,
• digitally processing the sensed acceleration to produce a first detection signal in response to a vehicle impact,
• analog processing the sensed acceleration to produce a second detection signal in response to a vehicle impact,
• producing a third detection signal indicative of a smaller vehicle impact than a vehicle impact which causes production of said first and second detection signals, and
• triggering the vehicle protection apparatus when the third detection signal is produced and either one of the first and second detection signals are produced.

A method for activating a vehicle rider protection apparatus, comprising the steps of:

• sensing acceleration of a vehicle;
• digitally processing the sensed acceleration to produce a first detection signal in response to a vehicle impact;
• analog processing the sensed acceleration to produce a second detection signal in response to a vehicle impact and a third detection signal indicative of a smaller vehicle impact than a vehicle impact which causes production of the first and second detection signals;
• mechanically detecting a vehicle impact;
• and
• triggering the vehicle protection apparatus in response to the mechanical detection of a vehicle impact and the first, second and third detection signals.