Patent ID: 8412415

Claim:
An impact detection arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising: a pressure sensor and at least one elongate pressure body connected to the pressure sensor via a connecting line, the at least one elongate pressure body being disposed in an impact region of a side door of the motor vehicle and extending diagonally across said region, the pressure sensor being operative to generate a signal to trigger a vehicle occupant protection device, a Y branching element in the connecting line between the at least one pressure body and the pressure sensor, the Y branching element having an output connected to the pressure sensor, a first input connected to the pressure body and a second input configured to communicate with a pressure volume between an inside door panel and an outside door panel of the side door, a valve configured to communicate with the at least one pressure body or the connecting line, the valve being operative to open at and above a predefined pressure to prevent an inward deformation of the inside door panel in a way that could prevent deployment of the vehicle occupant protection device.