Closure lock status display system and related method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9487140-B2
Application number	US-201514608234-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2015
Priority date	Jan 29, 2015
Publication date	Nov 8, 2016
Grant date	Nov 8, 2016

Abstract

A doorlock status display system is provided for a motor vehicle. That system includes a door module and a lock status display module. The door module includes a controller, a doorlock and a doorlock status sensor for each door of the motor vehicle. The lock status display module includes a lock status controller, a first indicator for door unlocked status, a second indicator for all doors locked status and a third indicator for all doors locked and closed status.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A door lock status display system for a motor vehicle, comprising:
a door module including a controller, a door lock and a door status sensor for each door of the motor vehicle; and
a lock status display module including a lock status controller, a first indicator for door unlocked status, a second indicator for all doors locked status and a third indicator for all doors locked and closed status.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said door status sensor includes a door lock sensor and a door position sensor.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein said first indicator includes a first light source, said second indicator includes a second light source and said third indicator includes a third light source.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein said first indicator illuminates in a first color, said second indicator illuminates in a second color and said third indicator illuminates in a third color.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein said first color is green, said second color is orange and said third color is red.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein said first indicator includes a first illuminated icon, said second indicator includes a second illuminated icon and said third indicator incudes a third illuminated icon.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein said first, second and third icons are illuminated in a different color.

8. A system of claim 6 , wherein said first, second, and third icons are displayed by one unit and appear in the same location.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein said first icon is illuminated in green, said second icon is illuminated in orange and said third icon is illuminated in red.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein said first icon depicts an unlocked padlock and said second and third icons depict a locked padlock.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein said lock status display module is located on a door of the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein said lock status display module is located on a body panel of the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein said lock status display module is located on an applique of the vehicle.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein said lock status display module is located on a door handle of the vehicle.

15. The system of claim 1 , further including additional door modules for each door of said motor vehicle wherein each such additional door module includes a controller, a door lock and a door status sensor.

16. The system of claim 14 , further including a liftgate/trunk lid/hatch module for a liftgate/trunk lid/hatch of the motor vehicle, said liftgate/trunk lid/hatch module including a controller, a liftgate/trunk lid/hatch lock and a liftgate/trunk lid/hatch status sensor.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein said liftgate/trunk lid/hatch status sensor includes a liftgate/trunk lid/hatch lock sensor and a liftgate/trunk lid/hatch position sensor.

18. A method of displaying the lock status of a motor vehicle, comprising:
determining, by sensor, closure status of each closure of the motor vehicle;
providing, by computing device, a first indication when at least one of said closures is unlocked;
providing, by a computing device, a second indication when all of said closures are locked but at least one of said closures is not properly closed; and
providing, by computing device, a third indication when all of said closures are locked and closed.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc
• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Linden Howard Paul
• Jergess Rafic
• Radjewski Christopher Matthew
• Hazebrouck Laura Viviana
• Ricks John Thomas

Classifications

• E05B41/00

  Locks with visible indication as to whether the lock is locked or unlocked {(indicator lights E05B17/10)} · CPC title

• E05B77/48

  by electrical means · CPC title

• E05B81/72 Primary

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

• B60R25/34

  of conditions of vehicle components, e.g. of windows, door locks or gear selectors · CPC title

• E05B17/226

  Displays on locks, e.g. LED or LCD screens (on handles E05B1/0084; on keys E05B19/0088) · CPC title