METHOD FOR PREVENTING NON-DEPRESSION OF AIRBAGS BY SHORT CIRCUITING OF OTHER AIRBAGS

The invention relates to a method for operating a safety-critical control device for vehicles, in particular for an airbag control device. The control device has an energy reserve and receives signals from sensors and/or other systems. It has a first and a second operating state. The energy consumption of the safety-critical control device is higher in magnitude in the first operating state than in the second operating state. The method comprises detecting a safety-critical event as a function of the signals from the sensors and/or the other systems, followed by switching to the second operating state in the event of a safety-critical event, performing the safety-critical function of the safety-critical control device in the second operating state. The particular feature is that the supply of the safety-critical control device is provided from the energy reserve when the safety-critical control device is in the second operating state, whereby the solution reduces or avoids the potentially safety-critical ground potential shift.