Patent ID: 7543474

Claim:
Impact sensor system comprising at least one foil type switching element having a plurality of active areas with predetermined activation threshold forces, at least one of said active areas being configured as a linear potentiometer, said foil-type switching element comprising at least a first carrier foil and a second carrier foil arranged at a certain distance by at least one first spacer, wherein said at least one first spacer comprises a plurality of recesses defining at least a first part of said active areas, wherein in each active area of said first part, at least two electrode structures are arranged between said first and second carrier foils in such way that in response to a force acting on the active area of the switching element, the first and second carrier foils are pressed together against the reaction force of the elastic carrier foils and that, above the predetermined activation threshold force of the active area, an electrical contact is established between the at least two electrode structures, and wherein said foil-type switching element is configured such that the activation threshold force of a first group of said plurality of active areas is different from an activation threshold force of a second group of said plurality of active areas.