METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A LOCKING SYSTEM OF A MOTOR VEHICLE AND A MOTOR VEHICLE

• US 20110248844A1
• Filed: 11/18/2009
• Published: 10/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Ledendecker, Ingo, Maier, Ruben, Deinhard, Martin, Stüber, Andreas, Elias, Björn, Haberl, Roland
• Granted Patent: US 8,217,774 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/0083 Sound emitting devices, e.g. loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/28 for anti-theft purposes, e.g. double-locking or super-locking
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/00 Power-actuated vehicle locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/64 using a proximity sensor

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling a locking system of a motor vehicle wherein, as the states of the locking system, there is an unlocked state, a locked state from which it is possible to switch to the unlocked state via at least a first operating element inside the vehicle, and a security state in which by simply activating a first operating element it is not possible to switch to the unlocked state. The aim of the invention is to propose a method that allows a person inside the motor vehicle to still leave the motor vehicle despite user activation of the security state without substantially easing the opening of the motor vehicle from the outside by an unauthorized third party. Four concepts are proposed that can all be implemented in combination to great benefit. They enable a person still inside the vehicle to leave the motor vehicle upon activation of the security state.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A method for controlling a locking system of a motor vehicle, said locking system having an unlocked state, a locked state and a safe state, wherein a switchover from the locked state into the unlocked state is enabled by operating a first control element, whereas a switchover from the safe state into the unlocked state is prevented when only the first control element is operated, the method comprising the steps of:

with an alarm system being deactivated by a user, allowing the locking system to switch only into the locked state, and

with the locking system being switched by the user from the unlocked state into the safe state,

automatically determining for a predetermined time interval a first signal indicating a presence or absence of a person inside the motor vehicle and switching the locking system into the unlocked state or the locked state, if the first signal indicates the presence of a person inside the motor vehicle, or

switching the locking system into the locked state for a predetermined time interval before switching into the safe state, and

with the locking system being in the safe state, when a second signal indicating that a person inside the motor vehicle wishes to exit the motor vehicle is detected, automatically determining a first signal indicating the presence or absence of a person inside the motor vehicle and if the first signal indicates that a person is present inside the motor vehicle, switching the locking system into the unlocked state or the locked state, or outputting inside the motor vehicle an instruction for action via optical and/or acoustical output means, and switching the locking system into the unlocked state or the locked state after the instruction for action is executed.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the second signal is generated by operating the first control element.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein a warning message selected from the group of an optical warning message, an acoustical warning message, a haptic warning message and an olfactory warning message is outputted during at least a portion of the predetermined time interval.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the warning message comprises a text message indicating that the safe state is activated or that a switch into the safe state is imminent.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein when the locking system switches into the locked state for the predetermined time interval, the first signal indicating the presence or absence of a person inside the motor vehicle is determined at a beginning of the predetermined time interval, and no warning message is outputted if the first signal indicates the absence of persons inside the motor vehicle.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein when the locking system switches into the locked state for the predetermined time interval, the locked state is maintained by operating at least one second control element during the predetermined time interval, preventing switching into the safe state.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the predetermined time interval has a duration between 20 seconds and 2 minutes.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the predetermined time interval has a duration of approximately 30 seconds.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the first control element comprises an interior handle for opening a door of the motor vehicle or a release of a seat belt from the seat belt buckle, or both.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein the second signal is automatically determined with at least one sensor arranged inside the motor vehicle.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein the second signal is generated by at least one of a seat-occupied mat, a sensor indicating insertion of a seat belt into a seat belt buckle, a camera and an ultrasonic sensor.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein if the at least one sensor is deactivated during switchover into the safe state, the at least one sensor is reactivated when the second signal is detected, and wherein the first signal is derived from a comparison of sensor data recorded at a time the at least one sensor was deactivated with sensor data recorded at a time the at least one sensor is reactivated.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein at least one sensor is associated with a passenger compartment monitoring system.

30. The method of claim 17, wherein the instruction for action is displayed on a display.

31. The method of claim 17, wherein the instruction for action includes operating at least one third control element.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein third control element is dedicated control element.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the at least one third control element comprises a keyboard or a display, or both, and the instruction for action includes inputting a symbol sequence via the keyboard or selecting menu items on the display.

34. The method of claim 17, wherein the alarm system is deactivated by the user via a fourth control element.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the fourth control element is a dedicated control element.

36. A motor vehicle comprising a locking system having an unlocked state, a locked state and a safe state, wherein a switchover from the locked state into the unlocked state is enabled by operating a first control element, whereas a switchover from the safe state into the unlocked state is prevented when only the first control element is operated, wherein the locking system is configured to:

with an alarm system being deactivated by a user, switch exclusively into the locked state, and

with the locking system being switched by the user from the unlocked state into the safe state,

automatically determine for a predetermined time interval a first signal indicating a presence or absence of a person inside the motor vehicle and switch the locking system into the unlocked state or the locked state, if the first signal indicates the presence of a person inside the motor vehicle, or

switch the locking system into the locked state for a predetermined time interval before switching into the safe state, and

with the locking system being in the safe state, when a second signal indicating that a person inside the motor vehicle wishes to exit the motor vehicle is detected, automatically determine a first signal indicating the presence or absence of a person inside the motor vehicle and if the first signal indicates that a person is present inside the motor vehicle, switch the locking system into the unlocked state or the locked state, or output inside the motor vehicle an instruction for action via optical and/or acoustical output means, and switch the locking system into the unlocked state or the locked state after the instruction for action is executed.