Patent ID: 7318607

Claim:
An adaptive restraint system for an automobile having a seat for an occupant, the system comprising: a crash sensor for detecting a potential crash event; an occupant sensor for estimating a relative size of the occupant; a seat belt for restraining the occupant in the seat; a retractor having a spindle receiving the webbing of the seat belt, the retractor further including a first force limiting element connected to the spindle; a belt anchorage pretensioner operatively connected to the seat belt for providing pretensioning of the seat belt; a retractor pretensioner operatively connected to the seat belt for providing pretensioning of the seat belt, the retractor pretensioner connected to the spindle of the retractor via a second force limiting element; and a controller receiving signals from the crash sensor and the occupant sensor, the controller operable in at least two modes including, a first mode wherein the controller effects activation of both the belt anchorage pretensioner and the retractor pretensioner when the occupant is estimated to be above a predetermined size, and a second mode wherein the controller effects activation of only the belt anchorage pretensioner when the occupant is estimated to be at or below the predetermined size.