Crush space crash sensor for motor vehicle occupant restraint deployment control

A satellite crash sensor for a motor vehicle occupant restraint system, the sensor comprising:

• an accelerometer for providing an acceleration signal;
• means for initiating a clock count at an initial clock value;
• means for sampling the acceleration signal and deriving a velocity value therefrom;
• means for accumulating successive ones of the velocity values in an accumulated velocity value and limiting the accumulated velocity value between a minimum limit value and a maximum limit value;
• means for incrementing the clock count in a first direction from the initial clock value when the accumulated velocity value is not equal to the minimum limit value and in an opposite direction toward the initial clock count when the accumulated velocity value is equal to the minimum limit value;
• and
• means for using the clock count as a measure of time from initiation of a possible crash event in the generation of a restraint deploy indicating signal in the satellite crash sensor.