MATCHED FILTER FOR VEHICLE CRASH DISCRIMINATION

A matched filter (14) for vehicle crash discrimination system (10) utilizes at least one set of n scaling factors stored in a memory (24) to combine (22) with a set of n time sequenced acceleration data samples. The values of the n scaling factors are selected to effect a desired vehicle crash discrimination strategy. The matched filter optimizes system design flexibility and reconfigurability by allowing different strategies to be implemented simply by selecting the appropriate scaling factors stored in the memory.