Patent ID: 7706946

Claim:
A safety system for occupants of a vehicle, comprising: a side crash sensor including at least one of an acceleration sensor and a pressure sensor, the side crash sensor configured to sense a side crash; a detector to detect a lateral velocity of the vehicle, control of restraining devices of the safety system being influenced by the detected lateral velocity; and a function module to generate a pattern, the pattern being compared to expected data in determining severity of the side crash; wherein a float angle of the vehicle is ascertained from measured values of the vehicle-dynamics quantity, the float angle being taken into account in the control of the safety system, wherein the safety system is controlled as a function of the side-crash sensing and the detected lateral velocity, the safety system having a response that is varied based on a determined severity of the side crash, and wherein in response to a high measured value of the side-crash sensing and a low measured value of the lateral velocity, a triggering algorithm of the safety system is parameterized in a direction of a higher triggering sensitivity.