US Patent 11180106 Occupant protection device

An occupant protection device for a vehicle includes a collision predictor, a main airbag, an occupant state detecting device, a sub-airbag, and a deployment controller. The collision predictor is configured to predict a collision of the vehicle. The main airbag is configured to deploy toward an occupant from a front of the vehicle when the collision predictor predicts a collision of the vehicle. The occupant state detecting device is configured to detect a position of an arm of the occupant. The sub-airbag is configured to deploy toward the arm of the occupant and to swiftly deflate after deployment. The deployment controller is configured to, when the collision predictor predicts a collision of the vehicle, cause the sub-airbag to deploy toward the arm of the occupant detected by the occupant state detecting device and cause the main airbag to deploy after deflation of the sub-airbag.