Mixed parallel and daisy chain bus architecture in a vehicle safety system

A distributed vehicle safety system comprising:

• a plurality of devices, each for performing a function associated with protection of a vehicle occupant;
• and
• bus means for conveying communication for said devices, said bus means including first and second conductors;
• a portion of said devices being daisy chain connected, with respect to each other, along one of said conductors of said bus means;
• one of said devices being connected in parallel across said first and second conductors of said bus means.

A method of providing a distributed vehicle safety system comprising:

• providing a communication bus having first and second conductors;
• connecting a first plurality of devices, which are capable of performing a function associated with protection of a vehicle occupant, in daisy-chain topology along one of the conductors of the bus;
• and
• connecting a second plurality of devices, which are capable of performing said function associated with protection of a vehicle occupant, in parallel topology between the first and second conductors of the bus.