SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECEIVING AND RECORDING A CLOSURE PANEL RELEASE REQUEST

• US 20090287379A1
• Filed: 05/19/2008
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: LANGE, Richard J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,700,267 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/14 operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/15 with means preventing the detent to return to its latching position before the bolt has moved to the unlatched position
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/66 the bolt position, i.e. the latching status
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/26 Cooperation between bolts and detents

Abstract

A system and a method are provided for receiving and recording a closure panel release request. The system comprises an input device for transmitting the closure panel release request, a closure mechanism for securing the closure panel in the closed position, and a processor that is coupled to the vehicle, the closure mechanism, and the input device. The processor is configured to receive the closure panel release request and set a condition indicating that the closure panel is released from the closed position.

Claims

1. A system for receiving and recording a closure panel release request on a vehicle having a closure panel, the system comprising:

an input device for transmitting the closure panel release request;

a closure mechanism for securing the closure panel in a closed position;

a processor coupled to the vehicle, the closure mechanism, and the input device, the processor configured to;

receive the closure panel release request; and

set a condition indicating that the closure panel is not secured in the closed position.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to release the closure panel from the closed position upon receiving the closure panel release request.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor sets the condition even if the closure panel does not move away from the closed position.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a display coupled to the processor; and

wherein the processor is further configured to communicate an alert to a user of the vehicle indicating that the closure panel is not secured in the closed position if the condition is set.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein:

the closure mechanism is configured to provide a signal to the processor when the closure panel is secured in the closed position; and

the processor is further configured to reset the condition to indicate that the closure panel is secured in the closed position upon receiving the signal.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device comprises a remote key fob that is wirelessly coupled to the processor.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device comprises a control device that is coupled to the vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device comprises a closure panel handle that is coupled to the closure panel.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the closure mechanism comprises a latch assembly for latching the closure panel in the closed position.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the latch assembly comprises:

a fork bolt that is biased to move from a primary latched position to an unlatched position;

a detent that restrains the fork bolt in the primary latched position; and

a release mechanism for moving the detent to release the fork bolt from the primary latched position.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the release mechanism comprises a motor.

12. A method for receiving and recording a closure panel unlatch request on a vehicle having a closure panel, the method comprising:

receiving the closure panel unlatch request;

setting a condition indicating that the closure panel is not latched in a closed position; and

unlatching the closure panel from the closed position.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing an alert to a user of the vehicle that the closure panel is unlatched from the closed position if the condition is set.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of releasing further comprises actuating a release mechanism on a latch assembly and moving a detent to allow a fork bolt to rotate to an unlatched position.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a signal from the latch assembly when the closure panel is latched in the closed position; and

resetting the condition to indicate that the closure panel is latched in the closed position upon receiving the signal.

16. A closure panel system for alerting a user when a closure panel of a vehicle is not latched in a closed position, the closure panel comprising:

an input device for providing a closure panel unlatch request;

a power release latch assembly for latching the closure panel in the closed position; and

a processor coupled to the vehicle, the power release latch assembly, and the input device, the processor configured to;

receive the closure panel unlatch request from the input device;

set a condition indicating that the closure panel is unlatched from the closed position; and

provide an alert to the user that the closure panel is not latched in the closed position if the condition is set.

17. The closure panel system of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to unlatch the closure panel from the closed position.

18. The closure panel system of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a signal from the power release latch assembly when the closure panel is latched in the closed position; and

reset the condition to indicate that the closure panel is latched in the closed position.

19. The closure panel system of claim 16, wherein the input device comprises a remote key fob that is wirelessly coupled to the processor.

20. The closure panel system of claim 16, wherein the power release latch assembly comprises:

a fork bolt that is biased to move from a primary latched position to an unlatched position;

a detent that holds the fork bolt in the primary latched position; and

a motor for moving the detent to release the fork bolt from the primary latched position.