Method for actuating a reversible passenger protection system in a motor vehicle

1. A method for actuating a reversible vehicle occupant protection system in a motor vehicle having a sensor system to sense a driving state and a reversible vehicle occupant protection system which can be triggered before a collision, the method comprising:

monitoring the driving state including a state of emergency braking, a state of understeering, and a state of oversteering;

activating said reversible vehicle occupant protection system if said state of emergency braking, and/or said state of understeering, and/or said state of oversteering is/are activated;

determining a direction from which a maximum hazard is expected based on the state of emergency braking, and/or the state of understeering, and/or the state of oversteering; and

actuating the reversible vehicle occupant protection system such that the protective effect is provided in accordance with the direction of maximum hazard.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a speed of said motor vehicle; and

triggering said reversible vehicle occupant protection system if the speed of the motor vehicle is at or above a minimum speed.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein monitoring the state of emergency braking comprises monitoring a first control signal generated by a brake boosting system which brings about an intervention into a brake system of said motor vehicle in predefined critical situations.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein monitoring the state of emergency braking further comprises monitoring a second control signal generated by a brake light switch of said motor vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the states of understeering and oversteering are determined by evaluating the difference between an angle which describes a change in the actual direction of travel, and the steering angle (α L ).

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the angle which describes the change in the actual direction of travel is determined from the wheel speed (V R ), the lateral acceleration (A y ), and the wheel base.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the angle which describes the change in the actual direction of travel is determined from the wheel speed (V R ), the yaw rate (V G ), and the wheel base.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the angle which describes the change in the actual direction of travel is the Ackermann angle.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the state of oversteering is determined by evaluating an altitude angle.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the altitude angle is determined from the wheel speed (V R ), the yaw rate (V G ), and the lateral acceleration (A y ).

11. The method of claim 5 , wherein evaluating the difference between an angle which describes a change in the actual direction of travel, and the steering angle (α L ) is a threshold value interrogation.

12. The method of claim 5 , wherein evaluating the difference between an angle which describes a change in the actual direction of travel, and the steering angle (α L ) is carried out using previous values of said difference.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reversible vehicle occupant protection system comprises an electric seat adjustment device and/or an electric adjustment device for orifices in the motor vehicle and/or a reversible seatbelt pretensioner and/or an electrically adjustable impact protection device.

14. A system, comprising:

a first device to generate a first signal related to a state of oversteering of a motor vehicle; and

an occupant protection device responsive to said first signal.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein said first device generates said first signal based a speed of said motor vehicle, a yaw rate of said motor vehicle, and a lateral acceleration of said motor vehicle.

16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising a second device to generate a second signal related to said speed of said motor vehicle, a third device to generate a third signal related to said yaw rate of said motor vehicle, and a fourth device to generate a fourth signal related to said lateral acceleration of said motor vehicle.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein said first device generates said first signal based on an altitude angle of said motor vehicle.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein said occupant protection device comprises an electric seat adjustment device and/or an electric adjustment device for orifices in the motor vehicle and/or a reversible seatbelt pretensioner and/or an electrically adjustable impact protection device.

19. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a second device to generate a second signal related to a state of understeering of said motor vehicle, wherein said occupant protection device is responsive to said second signal.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein said second device generates said second signal based on a speed of said motor vehicle, a steering angle of said motor vehicle, and a yaw rate of said motor vehicle.

21. The system of claim 20 , further comprising a third device to generate a third signal related to said speed of said motor vehicle, a fourth device to generate a fourth signal related to said steering angle of said motor vehicle, and a fifth device to generate a fifth signal related to said yaw rate of said motor vehicle.

22. The system of claim 19 , wherein said second device generates said second signal based on a speed of said motor vehicle, a steering angle of said motor vehicle, and a lateral acceleration of said motor vehicle.

23. The system of claim 22 , further comprising a third device to generate a third signal related to said speed of said motor vehicle, a fourth device to generate a fourth signal related to said steering angle of said motor vehicle, and a fifth device to generate a fifth signal related to said lateral acceleration of said motor vehicle.

24. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a second device to generate a second signal related to a state of emergency braking, wherein said occupant protection device is responsive to said second signal.

25. The system of claim 24 , further comprising a third device to generate a third signal related to a state of a braking light, wherein said occupant protection device is responsive to said third signal.

26. A system, comprising:

a first device to generate a first signal related to a state of understeering of a motor vehicle; and

an occupant protection device responsive to said first signal.

27. The system of claim 26 , wherein said first device generates said first signal based on a speed of said motor vehicle, a steering angle of said motor vehicle, and a yaw rate of said motor vehicle.

28. The system of claim 27 , further comprising a second device to generate a second signal related to said speed of said motor vehicle, a third device to generate a third signal related to said steering angle of said motor vehicle, and a fourth device to generate a fourth signal related to said yaw rate of said motor vehicle.

29. The system of claim 26 , wherein said first device generates said first signal based on a speed of said motor vehicle, a steering angle of said motor vehicle, and a lateral acceleration of said motor vehicle.

30. The system of claim 29 , further comprising a second device to generate a second signal related to said speed of said motor vehicle, a third device to generate a third signal related to said steering angle of said motor vehicle, and a fourth device to generate a fourth signal related to said lateral acceleration of said motor vehicle.

31. A method comprising:

monitoring a state of oversteering and/or a state of understeering of a motor vehicle; and

activating a protection system based on said state of oversteering and/or said state of understeering.

32. The method of claim 31 , further comprising:

monitoring a state of emergency braking of said motor vehicle; and

activating said protection system based on said state of emergency braking.