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.

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.

An on-vehicle flash flood safety system is disclosed to install a water level sensor between front tires, underneath of vehicle which checks the water level on road. When the water level is found above a predetermined mark, an extendible-retractable shaft is extended which contains a water flow sensor and SONAR device to find the depth and speed of flash flood water. This data is sent to a Control, Display, and Alert Unit which calculates if it is dangerous to enter into such water. If found dangerous, the system gives an audio-visual alarm. System also collects location using GPS and sends location, water, and speed of water data to a computer server to be stored and distributed to other vehicles. By means of the aforesaid performance, on-vehicle flash flood alarm System informs the driver of the motor vehicle to not proceed if there is danger of the vehicle getting swept away.

A processing system, such as for an automobile, includes multiple processor cores, including an application core and a safety core, and a fault detection circuit in communication with the processor cores. The fault detection circuit includes a progress register for storing progress data of an application executed on the application core. The safety core, which executes a fault detection program, reads the progress data from the progress register, and generates an output based on the progress data and an expected behavior of the application. The safety core writes the output to a status register of the fault detection circuit. The fault detection circuit includes a controller that reads the status register and generates a fault signal when the output indicates there is a fault in the execution of the application. In response, the application core either recovers from the fault or runs in a safe mode.

An airbag electronic control unit for a vehicle includes a main controller unit (MCU) for, in response to detecting a vehicle event, actuating at least one protection device in the vehicle. A battery is provided for receiving power from the vehicle to power the MCU such that power to the MCU is continuous.

A processing system, such as for an automobile, includes multiple processor cores, including an application core and a safety core, and a fault detection circuit in communication with the processor cores. The fault detection circuit includes a progress register for storing progress data of an application executed on the application core. The safety core, which executes a fault detection program, reads the progress data from the progress register, and generates an output based on the progress data and an expected behavior of the application. The safety core writes the output to a status register of the fault detection circuit. The fault detection circuit includes a controller that reads the status register and generates a fault signal when the output indicates there is a fault in the execution of the application. In response, the application core either recovers from the fault or runs in a safe mode.

A control unit for a restraint system in a vehicle, including an evaluation and control unit and at least one external ignition circuit interface to which a squib for activating the restraint system is connected via a go-line and a return line, the evaluation and control unit cyclically ascertaining, by measuring, an instantaneous ohmic loop resistance of the corresponding ignition circuit and comparing this with at least one stored threshold value. The evaluation and control unit determines an instantaneous temperature in the vehicle interior, close to the time for the measured value detection for ascertaining the ignition circuit loop resistance, the evaluation and control unit carrying out a temperature compensation of the ascertained ignition circuit loop resistance for the go-line and return line of the connected ignition circuit based on the instantaneous temperature in the vehicle interior, the go-line and return line being situated outside the control unit.

An airbag control device includes an emergency detection unit, an inflator activation unit configured to activate an inflator of an airbag device based on an emergency detection signal of the emergency detection unit, an environmental load detection unit configured to detect an environmental load of the airbag device, an integration unit configured to integrate the environmental load detected by the detection unit, and a countermeasure activation unit configured to perform at least one of issuing an alert and disabling the inflator activation unit when an environmental load integrated value of the integration unit reaches a predetermined value.

A method for protecting at least one occupant of a motor vehicle, including a) monitoring at least one electronic system of the motor vehicle, and b) outputting a signal for adapting at least one parameter which predefines a state of a particular reversible restraint system for the at least one occupant in response to a system error detected in the monitoring according to step a).