A seat belt system for protecting an occupant of a vehicle, the system having seat belt webbing connected to a seat belt retractor that includes (a) a frame; (b) a spool with the seat belt webbing wound around, wherein the spool is rotatably mounted to the frame and configured to rotate in a webbing extraction direction and a webbing retraction direction; (c) an energy absorbing device for absorbing energy when the spool is rotated in the webbing extraction direction after an emergency event has occurred; and (d) a mechanism for selectively cancelling the operation of the energy absorbing device by preventing motion of the spool in the webbing extraction direction.

A seat belt system for protecting an occupant of a vehicle, the system having seat belt webbing connected to a seat belt retractor that includes (a) a frame; (b) a spool with the seat belt webbing wound around, wherein the spool is rotatably mounted to the frame and configured to rotate in a webbing extraction direction and a webbing retraction direction; (c) an energy absorbing device for absorbing energy when the spool is rotated in the webbing extraction direction after an emergency event has occurred; and (d) a mechanism for selectively cancelling the operation of the energy absorbing device by preventing motion of the spool in the webbing extraction direction.

A system for determining seatbelt routing. The system includes a seatbelt retractor, a guide loop, a seatbelt latchplate, a seatbelt buckle, a seatbelt buckle sensor, a first RFID tag, RFID reader, and a control module. The seatbelt retractor stores a length of seatbelt webbing. The guide loop changes a routing direction of the seatbelt webbing. The seatbelt latchplate is engaged with the seatbelt webbing. The seatbelt buckle is secured to the motor vehicle and engages the latchplate. The seatbelt buckle sensor for detects the presence of the latchplate in the seatbelt buckle. The first RFID tag is attached to the seatbelt webbing of the seatbelt. The RFID reader detects the presence of the first RFID tag. The control module determines the seatbelt routing based on whether the seatbelt is buckled and the detection of the first RFID tag by the RFID reader.

A system for determining seatbelt routing. The system includes a seatbelt retractor, a guide loop, a seatbelt latchplate, a seatbelt buckle, a seatbelt buckle sensor, a first RFID tag, RFID reader, and a control module. The seatbelt retractor stores a length of seatbelt webbing. The guide loop changes a routing direction of the seatbelt webbing. The seatbelt latchplate is engaged with the seatbelt webbing. The seatbelt buckle is secured to the motor vehicle and engages the latchplate. The seatbelt buckle sensor for detects the presence of the latchplate in the seatbelt buckle. The first RFID tag is attached to the seatbelt webbing of the seatbelt. The RFID reader detects the presence of the first RFID tag. The control module determines the seatbelt routing based on whether the seatbelt is buckled and the detection of the first RFID tag by the RFID reader.

A seat belt system for protecting an occupant of a vehicle, the system having seat belt webbing connected to a seat belt retractor that includes (a) a frame; (b) a spool with the seat belt webbing wound around, wherein the spool is rotatably mounted to the frame and configured to rotate in a webbing extraction direction and a webbing retraction direction; (c) an energy absorbing device for absorbing energy when the spool is rotated in the webbing extraction direction after an emergency event has occurred; and (d) a mechanism for selectively cancelling the operation of the energy absorbing device by preventing motion of the spool in the webbing extraction direction.

A seat belt system for protecting an occupant of a vehicle, the system having seat belt webbing connected to a seat belt retractor that includes (a) a frame; (b) a spool with the seat belt webbing wound around, wherein the spool is rotatably mounted to the frame and configured to rotate in a webbing extraction direction and a webbing retraction direction; (c) an energy absorbing device for absorbing energy when the spool is rotated in the webbing extraction direction after an emergency event has occurred; and (d) a mechanism for selectively cancelling the operation of the energy absorbing device by preventing motion of the spool in the webbing extraction direction.