Patent ID: 8862312

Claim:
A device for controlling a person protection system of a motor vehicle, comprising: a sensor system that detects an object colliding with the motor vehicle, the sensor system comprising: a hose arrangeable along a width of a body section of the motor vehicle; a pressure sensor operatively arranged to close-off at least one end of the hose, wherein a pressure change is caused in an interior of the hose due to deformation of the hose by an impact of the object with the motor vehicle, the pressure change being detectable and processable as a pressure signal of the pressure sensor; an evaluating unit operatively coupled with the pressure sensor and receiving the pressure signal; wherein the evaluating unit is operatively configured to detect vibrations originating from the motor vehicle and coupled into the hose during a driving operation, said vibrations resulting in pressure fluctuations in the interior of the hose that are lower than a pressure fluctuation caused by an impacting object; and wherein the evaluating unit is operatively configured to evaluate the vibrations for a predefined time period in order to diagnose damage to at least one of the hose and to a connection of the hose to the pressure sensor.