A vehicle includes a rail-mounted component and a restraint monitoring system. The rail-mounted component can include one or more restraints. The restraint monitoring system includes a restraint control module, an encoder-decoder module, and a rail-mounted component control module. The rail-mounted component control module can include a restraint deployment loop and a restraint diagnostic loop. The restraint deployment loop can include a deployment signal amplifier. The restraint diagnostic loop can include a diagnostic signal amplifier. In examples that include both the deployment signal amplifier and the diagnostic signal amplifier, the deployment signal amplifier and the diagnostic signal amplifier may be wired in parallel.

An electronic controller of a restraint control system for a vehicle comprises an electronic control unit including a first serial interface. The electronic controller also comprises a communications controller including a second serial interface and a plurality of PSI5 (Peripheral Sensor Interface 5) digital communications interfaces. Each of the first and second serial interfaces are Serial Peripheral Interfaces (SPI) in direct communications with one another, and the digital communications interfaces are each configured to communicate with a remote sensor. The communications controller is configured to transmit a voltage sync pulse to each of the remote sensors via the PSI5 digital communications interfaces in response to a synchronization command received from the electronic control unit via the serial interconnection. The voltage sync pulses on each of the PSI5 interfaces may be staggered and non-overlapping to reduce EMI production and to reduce the current load of the electronic controller.

A checking device for a data preparation unit, including a preparation element for preparing sensor data for a data transmission; and a comparator for comparing the sensor data with the prepared sensor data; a fault of the data preparation unit being detected in the event that the prepared sensor data do not match the sensor data.

An electronic control unit for a restraint control module comprises a PSI5 communications interface configured to communicate with a remote sensor using a current-modulated signal with PSI5 compliance upon a two-wire interconnection. The PSI5 communications interface includes a signal driver configured to apply a signal voltage to a first signal terminal for driving current to the remote sensor via the two-wire interconnection. The PSI5 communications interface also includes a second signal terminal providing a return path for the current; and a resistor within the return path of the PSI5 communications interface. Several different alternative impedance balancing and damping circuits are provided to provide the resistor. The alternative impedance balancing and damping circuits include passive and active resistors. The impedance balancing and damping circuit may also provide current protection against damage due to fault currents. A method for operating a PSI5 communications interface of a restraint control module is also provided.

An electronic controller of a restraint control system for a vehicle comprises an electronic control unit including a first serial interface. The electronic controller also comprises a communications controller including a second serial interface and a plurality of PSI5 (Peripheral Sensor Interface 5) digital communications interfaces. Each of the first and second serial interfaces are Serial Peripheral Interfaces (SPI) in direct communications with one another, and the digital communications interfaces are each configured to communicate with a remote sensor. The communications controller is configured to transmit a voltage sync pulse to each of the remote sensors via the PSI5 digital communications interfaces in response to a synchronization command received from the electronic control unit via the serial interconnection. The voltage sync pulses on each of the PSI5 interfaces may be staggered and non-overlapping to reduce EMI production and to reduce the current load of the electronic controller.

A control unit for activating a personal protection device of a vehicle. The control unit includes a one-piece compute module, which includes a first area including a permanently wired processing structure and a second area including a programmable processing structure, the compute module being designed to carry out a processing instruction for activating the personal protection device in at least the second area.

A method to arm an airbag, the method including determining, by a system device, that an arming condition for the airbag has been met; delivering a communication to a master device from the system device to inform the master device that the arming condition has been met; snooping the communication by an expansion device; and arming the airbag by the expansion device in response to snooping the arming condition.

A pre-crash seat actuator system for moving a vehicle seat includes an occupant protection control system that determines a collision is imminent and provides a trigger signal and an enable signal. A vehicle seat controller receives the trigger signal and determines a moving the vehicle seat to a desired position to mitigate severity of a collision. In response to the trigger signal, the vehicle seat controller provides a fast mode voltage for moving the vehicle seat in a fast mode. A smart control adapter determines whether the fast mode voltage and the enable signal are both received, to provide the fast mode voltage to a vehicle seat electric drive. In another embodiment, the vehicle seat controller receives the trigger signal and a collision signal to provide fast mode voltage, and the seat is returned to an original position when a crash does not occur.

A pre-crash seat actuator system for moving a vehicle seat includes an occupant protection control system that determines a collision is imminent and provides a trigger signal and an enable signal. A vehicle seat controller receives the trigger signal and determines a moving the vehicle seat to a desired position to mitigate severity of a collision. In response to the trigger signal, the vehicle seat controller provides a fast mode voltage for moving the vehicle seat in a fast mode. A smart control adapter determines whether the fast mode voltage and the enable signal are both received, to provide the fast mode voltage to a vehicle seat electric drive. In another embodiment, the vehicle seat controller receives the trigger signal and a collision signal to provide fast mode voltage, and the seat is returned to an original position when a crash does not occur.

A pre-crash seat actuator system for moving a vehicle seat includes an occupant protection control system that determines a collision is imminent and provides a trigger signal and an enable signal. A vehicle seat controller receives the trigger signal and determines a moving the vehicle seat to a desired position to mitigate severity of a collision. In response to the trigger signal, the vehicle seat controller provides a fast mode voltage for moving the vehicle seat in a fast mode. A smart control adapter determines whether the fast mode voltage and the enable signal are both received, to provide the fast mode voltage to a vehicle seat electric drive. In another embodiment, the vehicle seat controller receives the trigger signal and a collision signal to provide fast mode voltage, and the seat is returned to an original position when a crash does not occur.