Patent ID: 6892122

Claim:
A control apparatus for controlling an output of a vehicle occupant protecting device upon activation of the protecting device, characterized by comprising: a first sensor disposed in a first portion of a body of a vehicle and operable to generate an output signal corresponding to a degree of impact applied to the first portion of the body; output control means for controlling the output of the vehicle occupant protecting device such that the output is higher when a value of a parameter based on the output signal of the first sensor reaches a predetermined threshold value, than when the value of the parameter does not reach the predetermined threshold value; a second sensor disposed in a second portion of the body of the vehicle located in front of the first portion, and operable to generate an output signal corresponding to a degree of impact applied to the second portion; and output-threshold changing means for changing the predetermined threshold value depending upon whether a value of a parameter based on the output signal of the second sensor reaches a predetermined value.