Motor vehicle door lock status system and related method

• US 10,113,338 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2017
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Bernwanger, Jr., George Anthony, Linden, Howard Paul Tsvi, Gupta, Pawan, Ricks, John Thomas, Patel, Rajesh K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trieu, Van
• Application Number:
  US15/678,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20170350167A1
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/02 electric constitutive elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/10 actuating a signalling device
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/22 Functions related to actuation of locks from the passenger compartment of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/00 Power-actuated vehicle locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/74 by sensing the state of the actuator

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.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring 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 carried on a driver'"'"'s door of said motor vehicle, the door lock status of said multiple doors of said motor vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, including mounting said indicator at a position on said driver'"'"'s door adjacent a belt line of said motor vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, including mounting said indicator on said driver'"'"'s door adjacent a door lock actuator.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said indicator is a light source and said method includes illuminating said light source to indicate the door lock status of said multiple doors of said motor vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4, including extinguishing said light source after a predetermined period of time following any change in door lock status.

6. The method of claim 1, including providing a door open signal by illuminating said light source in a first color.

7. The method of claim 6, including providing an all doors locked signal by illuminating said light source in a second color.

8. The method of claim 1, including providing a failure of all doors to lock signal.

9. The method of claim 1, including providing a failure of all doors to lock signal by flashing a light source and then extinguishing said light source.

10. The method of claim 1, including indicating the door lock status of said multiple doors of said motor vehicle by illuminating at least one light source provided on a driver'"'"'s door of said motor vehicle.