Bidirectional acceleration sensor e.g. for use as trigger sensor in motor vehicle airbag occupant safety system

摘要

A bidirectional acceleration sensor includes two collinear movable bodies of inertia (24,26;52,54), two switches each one of which is assigned to one of the movable bodies, and a retaining device (30,46,48,50) which holds the inertia bodies under pre-tension in a quiescent position. With a retardation of the housing with a component in the direction of mobility of one of the inertia bodies, this inertia body actuates its associated switch, and with retardation of the housing with a component in the direction of mobility of the other inertia body, this other inertia body actuates its associated switch. The inertia bodies (52,54) specifically contain a magnetisable material, and the retaining device (46,48,50) contains a magnet (50).