Motorized seat belt retractor

1. A method of protecting a passenger in a vehicle from a series of collisions comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting that the vehicle is in danger of being involved in a first collision;

(b) winding up a webbing of a seat belt to restrain the passenger;

(c) absorbing the impact on the passenger of the first collision by permitting the passenger to move forward and the webbing to withdraw;

(d) winding up the webbing to restrain the passenger and return the passenger to a normal seated position;

(e) maintaining the passenger in a restrained condition;

(f) determining that the vehicle is in danger of being involved in a second collision;

(g) absorbing the impact on the passenger of the second collision by permitting the passenger to move forward and the webbing to withdraw;

(h) winding up the webbing to restrain the passenger and return the passenger to a normal seated position;

(i) maintaining the passenger in a restrained position; and

(j) releasing the restraint on the passenger.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein during the steps of absorbing the impact on the passenger include using a counter electromotive force.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein during the steps of winding up the webbing a motor is employed.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of detecting a tensile force in the webbing.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the webbing is permitted to withdraw when the tensile force exceeds a predetermined value.