A pedestrian protecting device for vehicle comprises: a protection device which protects a protection target upon colliding with a vehicle; a measurement device which measures an image of the protection target and a distance from the vehicle to the protection target; and a control device which operates the protection device in a different manner depending on a size of the protection target.

A vehicle occupant restraint device comprises a control unit and a group of at least two matched airbags (20, 24; 22, 26) for the protection of a vehicle occupant (10; 16) on a particular vehicle seat (12; 16). The control unit is arranged and the airbags (20, 24; 22, 26) are disposed and designed so that, in a collision case, the control unit differentiates between a first situation in which the vehicle occupant (10; 16) is located in a standard distance area relative to a first airbag (20; 22) and a second situation in which the vehicle occupant (10; 16) is located in a rear area which is further distant from the first airbag (20; 22) than the standard distance area. When the first situation is given, the control unit activates the first airbag (20; 22) only. In contrast, when the second situation is given, the control unit activates the first airbag (20; 22) and additionally at least a second airbag (24; 26) of the group, with the first airbag (20; 22) backing the second airbag (24; 26).

A vehicle occupant protection control device includes: a seat state detector configured to detect directions of first and second seats inside a vehicle; and a vehicle occupant protection controller configured to open at least one of a first bag body that is opened on a first side in a width direction of the first seat and a second bag body that is opened on a second side diagonal to the first side in a width direction of the second seat in a state in which the first seat faces the second seat when the seat state detector detects that the first seat faces the second seat and an impact on the vehicle is detected or predicted. A first vehicle occupant sitting on the first seat is pressed on the second side in accordance with the opening of the first bag body or a second vehicle occupant sitting on the second seat is pressed on the first side in accordance with the opening of the second bag body.

A system includes a sensor, a controller, and a seatbelt retractor. The controller is programmed to receive a signal from the sensor indicating detection of a vehicle front oblique impact. The seatbelt retractor includes a load limiting mechanism selectively releasable from a high load mode to a low load mode. The controller is programmed to release the load limiting mechanism from the high load mode to the low load mode at a predetermined time in response to a signal from the sensor indicating a vehicle front oblique impact.

An occupant airbag system for use in a vehicle with a retractable steering wheel includes a first airbag assembly located in the retractable steering wheel. The first airbag assembly is configured to deploy a first airbag cushion between an occupant and a rigid structure of the vehicle. The occupant airbag system also includes a second airbag assembly configured to deploy a second airbag cushion between the occupant and the rigid structure of the vehicle. The occupant airbag system also includes an airbag control module configured to suppress deployment of the first airbag cushion and to enable deployment of the second airbag cushion when the retractable steering wheel is in a retracted position.

An occupant constraint system may include a belt marker on a seat belt in a passenger compartment of the vehicle for restraining a passenger during a collision. The occupant constraint system may include a camera system for producing marker position data that is indicative of a position of the marker, and a physical characteristic estimator that is uses the marker position data to produce a physical characteristic estimate of a physical characteristic estimate of the passenger. The occupant constraint system may include a passenger related system having a passenger function and the passenger related system may control the passenger function based at least in part on the physical characteristic estimate.

A passenger protection unit for a vehicle can comprise an adjustable steering apparatus configured to be lockable at least in a first position and a second position, an instrument panel, an airbag module comprising at least an airbag, a crash control unit, and a retracting mechanism configured to initiate a movement of the steering apparatus in a retracting direction, wherein the crash control unit is configured to release movement of the steering apparatus at least in the retracting direction upon detecting a crash risk or an upcoming crash, wherein the crash control unit is further configured to activate the retracting mechanism, and wherein the crash control unit is further configured to deploy the airbag upon an upcoming crash.

An occupant protection device includes an airbag which is deployed and inflated with an amount of protrusion from a storage position to a rear side in an inflation completed state in a large protrusion amount mode and a small protrusion amount mode, and the airbag includes a bag body and a tether. The tether is connected to a length adjustment unit. The bag body has a tubular inflation portion curved in a substantially U shape from the storage position toward the tether connection portion. A shape of the bag body in the large protrusion amount mode is defined such that the tether connection portion is further moved rearward with respect to the inlet port on the inner peripheral surface side, as compared with the case of the small protrusion amount mode.

A seatback for a seating assembly in a vehicle comprises: a vertical midline; and a guide for seatbelt webbing having a first position and a second position; wherein, the second position is closer to the vertical midline than the first position. The seatback further includes a frame and trim at least partially covering the frame. The guide can be operably coupled to the frame. The guide can be disposed at least partially above the trim. The seatback can further include an actuator with a piston to move the guide. The piston can be operably connected to the guide below the trim having a first position and a second position. When the piston is in the first position, the guide is in the first position. When the piston is in the second position, the guide is in the second position. The actuator can be a controller controlled pyrotechnic actuator.

A method for controlling an occupant protection system of a vehicle includes reading in at least one vehicle acceleration value representing an acceleration of the vehicle and at least one model parameter of an occupant model by which a vehicle occupant is represented by at least two, in particular three, mass points. The vehicle acceleration value and the model parameter are processed in order to determine at least one motion parameter relating to the two, in particular three, mass points. Using the motion parameter, a control signal for controlling the occupant protection system is produced.