System and Method for Controlling Vehicle Door and Closure Locks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016376818-A1
Application number	US-201514751717-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 26, 2015
Priority date	Jun 26, 2015
Publication date	Dec 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system and method for controlling vehicle locks is provided that enable control of both a vehicle door lock and a vehicle closure lock using a single multipurpose switch. The system includes a vehicle door lock, a vehicle closure lock, a momentary, multi-purpose switch, and a control module. The control module receives an input signal generated by actuation of the switch and determines an elapsed time between the actuation and release of the switch. The module generates a closure lock control signal if the elapsed time meets a predetermined requirement relative to a predetermined time. The closure lock control signal unlocks the closure lock. The module also generates a door lock control signal responsive to the input signal if one or more predetermined conditions are met. The door lock control signal switches the state of the door lock between locked and unlocked states.

First claim

1 . A system for controlling vehicle locks, comprising:
a vehicle door lock; a vehicle closure lock; a momentary, multi-purpose switch and, a control module configured to
receive an input signal generated by an actuation of said switch;
determine, in response to the input signal, an elapsed time between the actuation of the switch and a release of the switch;
generate a closure lock control signal if the elapsed time meets a predetermined requirement relative to a predetermined time, the closure lock control signal configured to change a closure lock state of said closure lock from a closure locked state to a closure unlocked state; and,
generate a door lock control signal responsive to said input signal if one or more predetermined conditions are met, said door lock control signal configured to change a door lock state of said door lock from one of a door locked state and a door unlocked state to the other of the door locked state and the door unlocked state.

2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more predetermined conditions comprises a first predetermined condition that the difference in time does not meet the predetermined requirement.

3 . The system of claim 2 wherein the one or more predetermined conditions comprise a second predetermined condition that the door lock state of said door lock is the unlocked door state.

4 . The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more predetermined conditions comprises a first predetermined condition that the door lock state of the door lock is in the door locked state.

5 . The system of claim 1 wherein the predetermined requirement is that the elapsed time is greater than the predetermined time.

6 . The system of claim 1 wherein the momentary switch comprises a single pole, single throw switch.

7 . The system of claim 6 wherein the momentary switch comprises a pushbutton switch.

8 . The system of claim 1 wherein the switch includes an indicator of the door lock state of the door lock.

9 . The system of claim 8 wherein the indicator indicates the closure lock state of the closure lock.

10 . The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle closure lock comprises a vehicle rear closure lock.

11 . A method for controlling a vehicle door lock and a vehicle closure lock, comprising the steps of:
receiving an input signal generated by an actuation of a momentary, multi-purpose switch; determining, in response to the input signal, an elapsed time between the actuation of the switch and a release of the switch; generating a closure lock control signal if the elapsed time meets a predetermined requirement relative to a predetermined time, the closure lock control signal configured to change a closure lock state of a vehicle closure lock from a closure locked state to a closure unlocked state; and, generating a door lock control signal responsive to said input signal if one or more predetermined conditions are met, said door lock control signal configured to change a door lock state of a vehicle door lock from one of a door locked state and a door unlocked state to the other of the door locked state and the door unlocked state.

12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the one or more predetermined conditions comprises a first predetermined condition that the difference in time does not meet the predetermined requirement.

13 . The method of claim 12 wherein the one or more predetermined conditions comprise a second predetermined condition that the door lock state of said door lock is the unlocked door state.

14 . The method of claim 11 wherein the one or more predetermined conditions comprises a first predetermined condition that the door lock state of the door lock is in the door locked state.

15 . The method of claim 11 wherein the predetermined requirement is that the elapsed time is greater than the predetermined time.

16 . The method of claim 11 wherein the momentary switch comprises a single pole, single throw switch.

17 . The method of claim 16 wherein the momentary switch comprises a pushbutton switch.

18 . The method of claim 11 wherein the switch includes an indicator of the door lock state of the door lock.

19 . The method of claim 18 wherein the indicator indicates the closure lock state of the closure lock.

20 . The method of claim 11 wherein the vehicle closure lock comprises a vehicle rear closure lock.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Lazarini Marcelo V
• Otto William

Classifications

• E05B77/48 Primary

  by electrical means · CPC title

• B60R25/24

  using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user · CPC title

• E05B81/54 Primary

  Electrical circuits (for locking several wings simultaneously E05B77/48) · CPC title

• B60R16/023

  for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems · CPC title