Patent ID: 6018693
Filing Date: 2000-01-25
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A vehicle occupant restraint system comprising:restraint means actuatable for restraining a vehicle occupant, said restraint means having a plurality of function levels;sensor means for sensing the occupant and providing a signal indicative thereof;determination means for determining position and velocity of the occupant relative to a vehicle reference location, in response to the signal;actuation control means for controlling actuation of said restraint means;level control means, responsive to the determined occupant position, for controlling said restraint means to be at a first one of said function levels when the occupant is positioned on one side of a boundary located at a predetermined distance from the vehicle reference location and for controlling said restraint means to be at a second one of said function levels when the occupant is positioned on the other side of the boundary; andadjustment means for repositioning the boundary relative to the vehicle reference location responsive to the determined occupant velocity.