Patent ID: 6254124
Filing Date: 2001-07-03
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A method of operating a vehicle occupant restraint system which comprises a gas bag having a deflated condition and an inflated condition and a multiple stage gas generator having a plurality of individually ignitable propellant charges, said method comprising the steps of:sensing a vehicle crash;igniting at least one of said propellant charges and not igniting any remaining propellant charge;inflating the gas bag;restraining the vehicle occupant with the inflated gas bag;after restraining the vehicle occupant with the inflated gas bag, sensing the position of the vehicle occupant; andigniting any remaining non-ignited propellant charge when the vehicle occupant is located spaced apart from the gas bag so that the gas bag has no restraining effect on the vehicle occupant due to ignition of any remaining propellant charge.