Patent ID: 7840323

Claim:
A collision recognition device for a vehicle, comprising a pressure sensor with a first electrode and a second electrode, both having first and second ends, said second end of the first electrode being connected to a first terminal of a first resistor, said second end of the second electrode being connected to a first terminal of a second resistor, wherein, during use, a first voltage V 1 is applied to said first end of the first electrode, a second voltage V 2 is applied to a second terminal of said first resistor so that a voltage difference between said first terminal of the first resistor and said second terminal of said first resistor fauns a first status voltage indicative of circuit integrity, and that a first signal voltage V 3 at said second end of said second electrode is indicative of whether said first and second electrodes are in contact; a fourth voltage V 4 is applied to said first end of the second electrode and a fifth voltage V 5 is applied to a second terminal of said second resistor so that a voltage difference between said first terminal of said second resistor and said second terminal of said second resistor farms a second status voltage indicative of circuit integrity.