Patent ID: 6213510
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
An occupant restraint apparatus for use on a vehicle, comprising:an impact energy absorbing mechanism for preventing a seat belt from being paid out to restrain an occupant in an emergency and allowing the seat belt to be paid out when a load in excess of a preset load is applied to said seat belt;length detecting means for detecting a paid-out length of said seat belt when said impact energy absorbing mechanism is operated;paid-out speed calculating means for calculating a paid-out speed of said seat belt from the paid-out length detected by said length detecting means;vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a speed of the vehicle with respect to a ground surface on which said vehicle runs; andoccupant acceleration calculating means for calculating an acceleration of said occupant with respect to said ground surface based on the calculated paid-out speed and the detected speed of the vehicle.