Keyless vehicle door latch system with powered backup unlock feature

• US 10,526,821 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2017
• Issued: 01/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Krishnan, Venkatesh, Puscas, Livianu Dorin
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Alex C
• Application Number:
  US15/800,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20180051493A1
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/245 where the antenna reception area plays a role
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/403 Power supply in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/56 Control of actuators
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/80 characterised by the power supply; Emergency power operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/82 using batteries other than the vehicle main battery
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/86 using capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00634 Power supply for the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A keyless door latch system for doors of motor vehicles includes a backup electrical power supply to unlock the door latch in the event the primary power supply fails, thereby eliminating the need for a lock cylinder. The latch system includes a user input device having first and second user input features. The door latch system is configured to supply electrical power from the primary electrical power supply to unlock the latch upon actuation of the first user input feature, and to supply electrical power from the backup electrical power supply to unlock the latch upon actuation of the second user input feature. The user input device may comprise a wireless portable device that generates first and second wireless signals upon actuation of the first and second user input features, respectively.

Claims

1. A keyless door latch system for doors of motor vehicles, the keyless door latch system comprising:

a door latch including a powered lock defining locked and unlocked conditions whereby the latch does not release when the powered lock is locked;

a first electrical power supply;

an electronic controller operably connected to the powered lock;

a backup device including a second electrical power supply configured to be operably connected to the powered lock;

a user input device configured to communicate with the electronic controller and with the backup device, the user input device including first and second user input features, and wherein the door latch system is configured to cause the electronic controller to unlock the powered lock utilizing electrical power from the first electrical power supply if a user actuates the first user input feature, and wherein the door latch system is configured to cause the backup device to unlock the powered lock utilizing electrical power from the second electrical power supply if a user actuates the second user input feature, whereby a lock cylinder is not required to unlock the door latch in the event the door latch cannot be unlocked utilizing power from the first electrical power supply.

2. The keyless door latch system of claim 1, including:

a movable exterior door handle that is mechanically connected to the latch such that movement of the exterior door handle unlatches the latch if the powered lock is unlocked.

3. The keyless door latch system of claim 1, wherein:

the user input device comprises a wireless communication device that transmits wireless signals to the electronic controller and to the backup device.

4. The keyless door latch system of claim 1, wherein:

the user input device comprises a portable hand held transmitter that transmits wireless signals to the electronic controller and to the backup device.

5. The keyless door latch system of claim 4, wherein:

the first user input feature comprises a first switch, and the second user input feature comprises a second switch.

6. The keyless door latch system of claim 5, wherein:

the user input device includes first and second portable electrical power supplies, and wherein the second portable electrical power supply is configured to provide power to enable transmitting a wireless signal to the backup device to unlock the powered lock upon actuation of the second switch even if the first portable electrical power supply fails.

7. The keyless door latch system of claim 1, wherein:

the first electrical power supply comprises a battery that is configured to be operably connected to an electrical system of a motor vehicle;

the second electrical power supply comprises at least one of a capacitor and a rechargeable battery.

8. The keyless door latch system of claim 1, wherein:

the electronic controller is configured to determine if the second electrical power supply is storing sufficient electrical energy to operate the powered lock, and wherein the electronic controller generates a signal if the second electrical power supply is not storing sufficient electrical energy.

9. A vehicle door comprising:

a movable handle that is mechanically connected to a latch having an electrically powered lock;

first and second electrical power supplies;

a wireless remote fob having user inputs that selectively cause electrical power to be supplied to the lock from the first or second electrical power supplies, whereby the latch can be unlocked utilizing power from a selected one of the first and second electrical power supplies.

10. The vehicle door of claim 9, wherein:

the wireless remote fob includes first and second user inputs, and wherein the wireless remote fob generates a first wireless signal upon actuation of the first user input; and

including;

a first receiver configured to receive the first wireless signal, and wherein the first receiver is configured to cause the first electrical power supply to supply electrical power to the electrically powered lock such that the electrically powered lock is unlocked.

11. The vehicle door of claim 10, wherein:

the wireless remote fob generates a second wireless signal upon actuation of the second user input; and

including;

a second receiver configured to receive the second wireless signal, and wherein the second receiver is configured to cause the second electrical power supply to supply electrical power to the electrically powered lock such that the electrically powered lock is unlocked.

12. The vehicle door of claim 11, wherein:

the first and second user inputs comprise first and second pushbuttons.

13. The vehicle door of claim 12, wherein:

the wireless remote fob is configured to receive first and second batteries, respectively, that supply power to generate the first and second wireless signals, respectively.

14. The vehicle door of claim 9, wherein:

the first electrical power supply comprises a main vehicle battery;

the second electrical power supply comprises a backup power supply having sufficient electrical power to actuate the electrically powered lock even if the main vehicle battery fails.

15. A vehicle door including a door structure and a keyless door latch system, the keyless door latch system comprising:

a door latch;

a powered lock that selectively prevents unlatching of the door latch when the powered lock is in a locked state;

first and second electrical power supplies;

a user input device having first and second user input features; and

wherein;

the door latch system is configured to supply electrical power from the first electrical power supply to the powered lock to unlock the powered lock upon actuation of the first user input feature, and wherein the system is configured to supply electrical power from the second electrical power supply to unlock the powered lock upon actuation of the second user input feature.

16. The vehicle door of claim 15, wherein:

the user input device comprises a wireless portable device that is configured to generate a first wireless signal upon actuation of the first user input feature, and to generate a second wireless signal upon actuation of the second user input feature; and

including;

first and second receivers operably connected to the first and second electrical power supplies, respectively, and wherein the first and second receivers are configured to receive the first and second wireless signals, respectively, to unlock the powered lock.

17. The vehicle door of claim 16, wherein:

the wireless portable user input device includes a first battery that is operably connected to the first user input feature, and a second battery that is operably connected to the second user input feature.