Control system for a vehicle door latch
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A control system for a vehicle door latch having a claw that releasably retains a latch bolt, the control system comprising:
- a first sensor that generates an output corresponding to a door release lever operation;
a second sensor that generates an output corresponding to release of the claw from a fully latched position; and
a controller coupled to the latch and the release actuator to form a closed loop, wherein the controller monitors the outputs of at least one of the first and second sensors to detect a latch malfunction.
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Abstract
A vehicle door latch control system detects latch malfunctions via a closed loop system that includes a first switch that is triggered by operation of a door handle and a second switch that indicates whether a latch is in a fully latched position. A controller monitors the operating states of the first and second switches and interprets these operating states to determine door and latch operation as well as detect a latch malfunction.
70 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A control system for a vehicle door latch having a claw that releasably retains a latch bolt, the control system comprising:
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a first sensor that generates an output corresponding to a door release lever operation;
a second sensor that generates an output corresponding to release of the claw from a fully latched position; and
a controller coupled to the latch and the release actuator to form a closed loop, wherein the controller monitors the outputs of at least one of the first and second sensors to detect a latch malfunction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A control system for a vehicle door latch, comprising:
- a latch having
a release lever switch having a state corresponding to a door release lever operation, a locking mechanism movable between a locked and an unlocked state, a locking actuator operable to move the locking mechanism between the locked and unlocked state, a pawl operably coupled to the locking mechanism and the outside locking mechanism, a claw that releasably retains a latch bolt and is operably coupled to the pawl, and a door ajar switch that generates an output corresponding to release of the claw from a fully latched position;
a release actuator operably coupled to the pawl to lift the pawl to release the claw from the fully latched position; and
a controller coupled to the latch and the release actuator to form a closed loop, wherein the controller monitors the outputs of the release lever switch and the door ajar switch to detect an operating state of the latch and control operation of the release actuator. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
- a latch having
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22. A method of controlling a vehicle door latch having a claw that releasably retains a latch bolt during a fully latched position, the control system comprising:
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monitoring a first sensor corresponding to an operation state of a door release lever;
monitoring a second sensor corresponding to release of the claw from a fully latched position;
interpreting the first and second operating states to detect a latch malfunction; and
controlling a release actuator that releases the claw from the fully latched position based on the interpreting step. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification