Patent ID: 7350808

Claim:
An activation control unit for an occupant protection apparatus comprising: a first sensor disposed in a predetermined location in a vehicle, the first sensor outputting a signal indicative of a deceleration acting on the vehicle; second sensors disposed farther forward than the location in which the first sensor is disposed in the vehicle, the second sensors outputting signals indicative of a deceleration acting on the vehicle; and an activation controller which determines whether to activate the occupant protection apparatus mounted in the vehicle, wherein the activation controller makes a determination to activate the occupant protection apparatus both i) when a deceleration obtained based on an output signal from the first sensor exceeds a first threshold value, and ii) when the deceleration obtained based on the output signal from the first sensor exceeds a second threshold value that is smaller than the first threshold value and a deceleration obtained based on output signals from the second sensors exceeds a third threshold value, wherein a front map is provided for the second sensors comprising the third threshold value which is plotted in a non-linear line, the third threshold value changes according to a variable so as to form a predetermined pattern.