Rear impact occupant protection apparatus

A method for positioning a headrest of a seat in a vehicle in anticipation of a rear impact into the vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• determining the location of the head relative to the headrest,
• determining the motion required of the headrest to place the headrest in a position proximate to the head,
• producing an output signal when an object external of the vehicle is approaching the rear of the vehicle at a velocity above a design threshold velocity which is indicative of a pending rear impact between the object and the vehicle, and
• moving the headrest to the position proximate to the head upon the production of the output signal.

In a motor vehicle having a passenger compartment, said passenger compartment having (i) a seat, said seat having a movable headrest, and (ii) an occupant sitting on said seat, said occupant having a head, apparatus for positioning said headrest to an occupant desired position corresponding to a particular occupant comprising:

• (a) passive means for identifying said particular occupant without input from said particular occupant;
• (b) motor means for moving said headrest from an initial position to a desired adjusted position;
• (c) manual control means for controlling said motor means by said particular occupant to move said headrest to said adjusted position desired by said particular occupant;
• (d) means for recording and storing said desired adjusted position of said headrest of said particular occupant in association with the identification of said particular occupant;
• (e) automatic control means coupled to said passive identifying means and to said recording means for receiving a desired adjusted position for a particular occupant from said recording and storing means and controlling said motor means to move said headrest to said desired adjusted position for said particular occupant when said particular occupant subsequently occupies said seat and is identified by said passive identifying means and based on said identification, said desired adjusted position is accessed from said recording and storing means.