DEVICE AND METHOD FOR AVOIDING HEARING DAMAGE DURING ACTIVATION OF VEHICLE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS

摘要

A device and a method for preventing damage to hearing which may result from activation of vehicle occupant restraint systems operate using a source of sound for producing a primary sound event having a sound pressure level non-injurious to hearing. The sound pressure level is, however, sufficient to trigger the so-called acoustic reflex of the human ear which has the effect that the ear's sensitivity is reduced when exposed to high sound pressure levels and the subsequent sound event has only a fraction of the negative effects of the primary sound event on the internal ear. The primary sound event needs only be triggered sufficiently shortly in time before the secondary sound event which occurs on activation of the restraint system and features a sound pressure level injurious to hearing.