Wireless-based system and method for opening a hood of a motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10060164-B2
Application number	US-201615052507-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 24, 2016
Priority date	Feb 24, 2016
Publication date	Aug 28, 2018
Grant date	Aug 28, 2018

Abstract

A wireless-based system is provided for opening the hood of a motor vehicle. That wireless-based system includes a wireless latch release actuator. Further, the wireless-based system also includes a controller. The controller is configured to release a secondary hood latch when (a) the wireless latch release actuator is activated, (b) a primary hood latch has already been released and (c) a motor vehicle wheel is stationary whereby the hood may be opened. A related hood opening method is also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A wireless-based system for opening a hood of a motor vehicle, comprising:
a wireless latch release actuator; and
a controller configured to (1) release a secondary hood latch when (a) said wireless latch release actuator is activated, (b) a primary hood latch has already been released and (c) a motor vehicle wheel is stationary whereby said hood may be opened and (2) release a motor vehicle storage compartment latch when (a) said wireless latch release actuator is activated and (b) said primary hood latch remains latched.

2. The wireless-based system of claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to include a first data input to receive data respecting lock status of said primary hood latch.

3. The wireless-based system of claim 2 , wherein said controller is configured to include a second data input to receive data respecting rotation status of said motor vehicle wheel.

4. The wireless-based system of claim 1 , wherein said storage compartment latch is a trunk latch.

5. The wireless-based system of claim 1 , wherein said storage compartment latch is a tailgate latch.

6. The wireless-based system of claim 1 , wherein said storage compartment latch is a liftgate latch.

7. The wireless-based system of claim 1 , further including a key fob wherein said wireless latch release actuator is provided on said key fob.

8. The wireless-based system of claim 1 , further including a smart phone wherein said wireless latch release actuator is provided on said smart phone.

9. A method of unlatching and opening a hood of a motor vehicle via a wireless latch release actuator, comprising:
activating said wireless latch release actuator;
unlatching, by a controller, a secondary hood latch only if a primary hood latch has already been released and a motor vehicle wheel is stationary; and
unlatching, by said controller, a motor vehicle storage compartment latch when said wireless latch release actuator is activated and said primary hood latch remains latched.

10. The method of claim 9 , including monitoring, by a first device, lock status of said primary hood latch.

11. The method of claim 10 , including monitoring, by a second device, rotation status of said motor vehicle wheel.

12. The method of claim 9 , includes monitoring a rotation status of said motor vehicle wheel.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein activating said wireless latch release actuator includes accessing said wireless latch release actuator on a key fob.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein activating said wireless latch release actuator includes accessing said wireless latch release actuator on a smart phone.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Rao Manoharprasad K
• Cuddihy Mark A
• Le Jialiang

Classifications

• G07C9/20

  involving the use of a pass · CPC title

• E05B81/56 Primary

  Control of actuators · CPC title

• E05B81/72

  the lock status, i.e. locked or unlocked condition · CPC title

• E05B83/243

  Hood clamps, i.e. individually actuated, usually yielding hooks · CPC title

• G07C9/00896

  specially adapted for particular uses · CPC title