POWER RELEASE DOUBLE-LOCKING LATCH
First Claim
1. A door lock system for an automotive door, comprising:
- a latch, including a ratchet (18) biased to a latched position and moveable to a released position, a pawl (20) biased to engage the ratchet in the latched position, and an electromechanical exterior latch release mechanism (220) for actuating the pawl to release the ratchet;
a controller (210);
a pressure sensitive switch (216) mounted on, in or proximate to an outside door handle (214) of the automotive door and electrically connected to the controller;
wherein said controller is programmed to disable the pressure sensitive switch in response to a predetermined “
lock”
signal and enable the pressure sensitive switch in response to a pre-determined “
unlock”
signal, in which case the controller energizes the exterior latch release mechanism to release the ratchet in the event the pressure sensitive switch is actuated.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power-release door lock system for an automotive door having a latch, including a ratchet (18) and pawl (20), and an electro-mechanical exterior latch release mechanism (220) for actuating the pawl to release the ratchet. The system includes a controller (210) and a pressure sensitive switch (216) mounted to an outside door handle (214) of the automotive door and electrically connected to the controller. The controller is programmed to disable the pressure sensitive switch in response to a predetermined “lock” signal and enable the pressure sensitive switch in response to a pre-determined “unlock” signal, in which case the controller energizes the exterior latch release mechanism to release the ratchet in the event the pressure sensitive switch is actuated. The system eliminates the need for an exterior lock assembly and its attendant inside lock button or rod.
39 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A door lock system for an automotive door, comprising:
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a latch, including a ratchet (18) biased to a latched position and moveable to a released position, a pawl (20) biased to engage the ratchet in the latched position, and an electromechanical exterior latch release mechanism (220) for actuating the pawl to release the ratchet;
a controller (210);
a pressure sensitive switch (216) mounted on, in or proximate to an outside door handle (214) of the automotive door and electrically connected to the controller;
wherein said controller is programmed to disable the pressure sensitive switch in response to a predetermined “
lock”
signal and enable the pressure sensitive switch in response to a pre-determined “
unlock”
signal, in which case the controller energizes the exterior latch release mechanism to release the ratchet in the event the pressure sensitive switch is actuated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A latch, comprising:
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a housing;
a ratchet (18), pivotally mounted to the housing, the ratchet being biased to a latched position and moveable to a released position;
a pawl (20) pivotally mounted to the housing and biased to engage the ratchet in the latched position;
a first sector gear (34), pivotally mounted in the housing, for actuating the pawl to release the ratchet;
a first motor assembly (30) mounted in the housing for selectively driving the first sector gear (34);
an arm (200) rigidly connected to or integral with the first gear (34); and
a cable (200) connected to the arm for manually actuating, wherein the arm freewheels when the first gear (34) is actuated by the first motor assembly (30). - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A latch for an automotive door, comprising:
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a latch housing having a first and a second surface, the first surface having a channel adapted to receive a striker;
a latch cover adapted to cooperate with the upper housing to form an interior cavity;
a ratchet and pawl, each of the ratchet and pawl pivotally mounted to the first surface and a portion of the pawl extending into the interior cavity, the ratchet and pawl cooperatively operable to move between a latched position to hold the striker in the channel, and a released position to permit the striker from exiting the channel, the ratchet and pawl being biased towards the latched position;
an exterior latch release mechanism, mounted to the lower housing within the cavity, comprising a first means for actuating the pawl to release the ratchet and a first electromechanical means for selectively actuating the first pawi-actuating means;
an interior latch release and locking assembly, mounted to the lower housing within the cavity, comprising a second means for actuating the pawl to release the ratchet, means for connecting an inside release handle, and a second electromechanical means for selectively coupling or de-coupling the second pawl-actuating means from the handle-connecting means, the interior latch release and locking assembly being selectively operable to move between an unlocked state, wherein the handle-connecting means is kinematically coupled to the second pawl-actuating means, and a locked state, wherein the handle-connecting means is decoupled from the second pawl-actuating means; and
means comprising an arm on the pawl for driving the second electro-mechanical means into the unlocked state from the locked state, whenever the pawl is actuated to release the ratchet. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification