LOCK CONTROL DEVICE, LOCK CONTROL METHOD, AND LOCK CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20140230499A1
• Filed: 02/12/2014
• Published: 08/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: OGINO, Akira, TOKORO, Masaya
• Application Number:
  US14/178,868
• Publication Number:
  US 20140230499A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/267
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 43/005 Timer devices controlling electrically operated locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/00 Power-actuated vehicle locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/01 Comfort closing, i.e. the locking action for a wing is combined with actuation of other vehicle functions, e.g. locking the doors and closing the windows simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/76 Detection of handle operation; Detection of a user approaching a handle; Electrical switching actions performed by door handles
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/34 for fuel inlet covers essentially flush with the vehicle surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7006 Predetermined time interval controlled

Abstract

A lock control device controls a lid lock that locks a lid of a vehicle, the lid being opened when energy is replenished in the vehicle. The lock control device includes a time measurement part that measures elapsed time from a point when a door lock of the vehicle is switched from an unlocked state to a locked state when the vehicle is stopped, and a lid control part, which maintains the lid lock in an unlocked state until the elapsed time reaches determination time, and switches the lid lock to a locked state once the elapsed time reaches the determination time, when the door lock is switched from the unlocked state to the locked state when the vehicle is stopped.

Claims

1. A lock control device that controls a lid lock that locks a lid of a vehicle, the lid being opened when energy is replenished in the vehicle, the lock control device comprising:

a time measurement part that measures elapsed time from a point when a door lock of the vehicle is switched from an unlocked state to a locked state when the vehicle is stopped; and

a lid control part, which maintains the lid lock in an unlocked state until the elapsed time reaches determination time, and switches the lid lock to a locked state when the elapsed time reaches the determination time, in a case where the door lock is switched from the unlocked state to the locked state when the vehicle is stopped.

2. The lock control device according to claim 1, wherein

the lid control part stores actual time from a point when the door lock is switched to the locked state, to a point when the lid is opened, and changes the determination time based on the actual time, in a case where the lid is opened before the elapsed time reaches the determination time.

3. The lock control device according to claim 1, further comprising

a door lock control part that switches the door lock to the locked state, when an operation of a central door locking switch for switching all of the door locks into the locked state is detected, an operation of a wireless door lock switch for switching the door lock into the locked state using wireless communication is detected, or a contact by a user to a door lock sensor provided on the door is detected.

4. The lock control device according to claim 1, wherein,

the lid exposes a charging port to which a connector of a charging plug is connected when the lid is open, and covers the charging port when the lid is closed.

5. A lock control method for controlling a lid lock of a lid of a vehicle, the lid being opened when energy is replenished in the vehicle, the lock control method comprising:

measuring elapsed time from a point when a door lock of the vehicle is switched to a locked state, in a case where the door lock is switched from an unlocked state to the locked state when the vehicle is stopped;

maintaining the lid lock in an unlocked state until the elapsed time reaches given determination time; and

switching the lid lock to a locked state when the elapsed time reaches the given determination time.

6. The lock control method according to claim 5, further comprising

changing the determination time based on actual time that is from a point when the door lock is switched to the locked state, to a point when the lid is opened, in a case where the lid is opened before the elapsed time reaches the determination time.

7. The lock control method according to claim 5, further comprising

switching the door lock to the locked state, when an operation of a central door locking switch for switching all of the door locks into the locked state is detected, an operation of a wireless door lock switch for switching the door lock into the locked state using wireless communication is detected, or a contact by a user to a door lock sensor provided on the door is detected.

8. The lock control method according to claim 5, wherein,

the lid exposes a charging port to which a connector of a charging plug is connected when the lid is open, and covers the charging port when the lid is closed.

9. A lock control system comprising:

a lid lock that switches a lid of a vehicle, which is opened for refilling energy to the vehicle, to a locked state in which the lid is unable to be opened, and to an unlocked state in which the lid is able to be opened;

a door lock control part that switches a door of the vehicle to a locked state in which the door is unable to be opened and closed, and to an unlocked state in which the door is able to be opened and closed; and

a lid control part that is structured so as to measure elapsed time from a point when the door is switched by the door lock control part from the unlocked state to the locked state, control the lid lock so that the lid lock is in the unlocked state until the elapsed time reaches given determination time, and perform control to switch the lid lock to the locked state when the elapsed time reaches the given determination time.