Patent ID: 6270115
Filing Date: 2001-08-07
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
An air bag suppression system for a vehicle having a seat movable forward and rearward within said vehicle and having a predetermined seat position within said vehicle, said system comprising:a seat position detector generating a position signal representative of a position of said seat relative to said vehicle;a supplemental inflatable restraint system having an air bag inflatable in at least a first low inflation stage and a second high inflation stage;a collision sensor generating a collision signal representative of at least a low severity and a high severity collision event of said vehicle;a controller connected to said collision sensor and said seat position detector and receiving said collision signal and said position signal, said controller being connected to said supplemental restraint system and sending a signal to initiate either of said first low and said second high inflation stages, wherein said controller selectively initiates at least one of said first and second inflation stages in response to said collision signal when said seat position signal indicates said seat is positioned rearward of said predetermined position, and when said seat position signal indicates said seat is positioned forward of said predetermined position said controller prohibits initiation of said high inflation stage and selectively initiates said low inflation stage in response to said collision signal.