Seat belt retractor

An apparatus for use in a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

• a first seat belt retractor mounted in a first location in the vehicle, said first seat belt retractor having a first frame and a first seat belt webbing spool rotatably mounted in said first frame;
• a first actuator mounted on said first frame, said first actuator being movable between a plurality of positions in one of which said first actuator causes said first seat belt webbing spool to be locked against rotation in at least one direction in said first frame;
• first electronic accelerometer means for providing an electrical output signal indicative of vehicle deceleration, said first electronic accelerometer means being mounted to said first frame;
• a first controller mounted on said first frame for monitoring said electrical output signal from said first electronic accelerometer means and for causing said first actuator to move to said one position to lock said first seat belt webbing spool against rotation in said at least one direction upon the occurrence of a predetermined amount of vehicle deceleration;
• an actuatable inflatable vehicle occupant protection device module mounted in the vehicle and spaced from said first seat belt retractor;
• sensor means for sensing vehicle deceleration and for providing an electrical output signal indicative of vehicle deceleration, said sensor means being mounted in a second location in the vehicle spaced from said first location;
• and
• a second controller operatively coupled to said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and to said sensor means, said second controller monitoring said electrical output signal from said sensor means and actuating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device upon the occurrence of a predetermined amount of vehicle deceleration.

An apparatus for use in a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

• a first seat belt retractor mounted in a first location in the vehicle, said first seat belt retractor having a first frame and a first seat belt webbing spool rotatably mounted in said first frame;
• a first actuator mounted on said first frame, said first actuator being movable between a plurality of positions in one of which said first actuator causes said first seat belt webbing spool to be locked against rotation in at least one direction in said first frame;
• first electronic accelerometer means for providing an electrical output signal indicative of vehicle deceleration, said first accelerometer means being mounted on said first frame;
• a first controller mounted on said first frame for monitoring said electrical output signal and for causing said first actuator to move to said one position to lock said first seat belt webbing spool against rotation in said at least one direction upon the occurrence of a predetermined amount of vehicle deceleration;
• a second seat belt retractor mounted in a second location spaced from said first location, said second seat belt retractor having a second frame and a second seat belt webbing spool rotatably mounted in said second frame;
• a second actuator mounted on said second frame, said second actuator being movable between a plurality of positions in one of which said second actuator causes said second seat belt webbing spool to be locked against rotation in said at least one direction in said second frame;
• second electronic accelerometer means for providing an electrical output signal indicative of vehicle deceleration, said second electronic accelerometer means being mounted on said second frame;
• and
• a second controller mounted on said second frame for monitoring said electrical output signal and for causing said second actuator to move to said one position to lock said second seat belt webbing spool against rotation in said at least one direction upon the occurrence of a predetermined amount of vehicle deceleration.