Motor vehicle door lock status system and related method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9850690-B2
Application number	US-201615052411-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 24, 2016
Priority date	Feb 24, 2016
Publication date	Dec 26, 2017
Grant date	Dec 26, 2017

Abstract

A motor vehicle door lock status system is provided. That system includes a door lock actuator, a door lock status indicator for indicating lock status of the multiple motor vehicle doors, and a controller. The controller is connected to the door lock actuator and the door lock status indicator. Further, the controller is configured to provide a door open signal, an all doors closed and locked signal and a failure to lock signal. A related method of indicating door lock status of a motor vehicle is also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A motor vehicle door lock status system, comprising:
a door lock actuator;
a door lock status indicator indicating lock status of multiple motor vehicle doors; and
a controller (a) connected to said door lock actuator and said door lock status indicator and (b) configured to provide a door open signal, an all doors closed and locked signal and a failure to lock signal.

2. The motor vehicle door lock status system of claim 1 , wherein said door lock status indicator is a bi-color light emitting diode.

3. The motor vehicle door lock status system of claim 1 , wherein said door lock status indicator is a first light emitting diode of a first color and a second light emitting diode of a second color.

4. The motor vehicle door lock status system of claim 1 , wherein said door lock status indicator is a plurality of icons that are illuminated to indicate the lock status of said multiple motor vehicle doors.

5. The motor vehicle door lock status system of claim 1 , wherein said door lock status indicator is carried on a driver's door of a motor vehicle.

6. The motor vehicle door lock status system of claim 5 , wherein said door lock status indicator is carried on said driver's door adjacent to a belt line of said motor vehicle.

7. The motor vehicle door lock status system of claim 1 , further including a first door lock regulator for a first motor vehicle door and a second door lock regulator for a second motor vehicle door.

8. The motor vehicle door lock status system of claim 7 , wherein said controller is configured to include a first data input connected to said first door lock regulator and a second data input connected to said second door lock regulator.

9. The motor vehicle door lock status system of claim 8 , further including a third door lock regulator connected to a third motor vehicle door and a fourth door lock regulator connected to a fourth motor vehicle door.

10. The motor vehicle door lock status system of claim 9 , wherein said controller is configured to include a third data input connected to said third door lock regulator and a fourth data input connected to said fourth door lock regulator.

11. A method of indicating door lock status of a motor vehicle, comprising:
monitoring, by controller, the door lock status of multiple doors of said motor vehicle; and
indicating, by indicator, the door lock status of said multiple doors of said motor vehicle wherein said indication is selected from a group of a signals consisting of (a) a door open signal, (b) an all doors closed and locked signal and (c) a failure of all doors to lock signal.

12. The method of claim 11 , including providing said door open signal by illuminating a light source of a first color.

13. The method of claim 12 , including providing said all doors closed and locked signal by illuminating a light source of a second color.

14. The method of claim 13 , including providing said failure of all doors to lock signal by flashing a light source and then extinguishing said light source.

15. The method of claim 14 , including indicating the door lock status of said multiple doors of said motor vehicle by means of at least one light source provided on a driver's door of said motor vehicle.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Bernwanger Jr George Anthony
• Linden Howard Paul Tsvi
• Gupta Pawan
• Ricks John Thomas
• Patel Rajesh K

Classifications

• E05B81/74

  by sensing the state of the actuator · CPC title

• B60R25/10

  actuating a signalling device · CPC title

• E05B81/00 Primary

  Power-actuated vehicle locks · CPC title

• E05B81/72 Primary

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

• B60R16/02 Primary

  electric {constitutive elements} · CPC title