Patent ID: 7059444
Filing Date: 2006-06-13
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. A seat belt device comprising: a first obstacle detection portion that detects an obstacle located within a predetermined distance from a vehicle in an area surrounding the vehicle; a second obstacle detection portion that detects the obstacle located at a longer distance from the vehicle than the predetermined distance, wherein the first obstacle detection portion and the second obstacle detection portion are different sensors having different obstacle detection ranges; a collision prediction portion that predicts a probability of a collision of the vehicle with the obstacle, based on a detection signal from the first obstacle detection portion or the second obstacle detection portion; a pretensioner device that sets multiple levels of tension for a seat belt; a sudden braking detection portion that includes an occupant movement detection portion that detects that an occupant of the vehicle has plunged forward, and a vehicle condition detection portion that detects that the vehicle has suddenly tilted forward to detect a state of sudden braking of the vehicle; and a pretensioner control portion that (1) controls, either when the obstacle is detected by the second obstacle detection portion or when the sudden braking detection portion detects a sudden braking of the vehicle, an operation of the pretensioner device such that the seat belt is retracted at a first tension prior to the collision, and (2) controls the operation of the pretensioner device such that the seat belt is retracted at a second tension prior to the collision when the obstacle is detected by the first obstacle detection portion.