VEHICLE DOOR LATCH SYSTEM AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A method of operating an electric door latch mechanism of a vehicle having a front passenger door and a back passenger door, the mechanism movable between a latched position in which the back passenger door is secured and an unlatched position in which the back passenger door is openable, a back open switch associated with the back passenger door, a front lock switch associated with the front passenger door, a back lock switch associated with the back passenger door, an override switch associated with the front passenger door, and a controller in communication with the switches and the mechanism, said method comprising:
- receiving a door unlock signal from at least one of the front lock switch and the back lock switch;
receiving an enabled signal from the override switch;
assigning the unlocked state to the back open switch in response to receiving the unlock signal from the front lock switch;
assigning the unlocked state to the back open switch in response to receiving the unlock signal from the back lock switch and receiving an enabled signal from the lock state override switch;
moving the electric door latch mechanism to the unlatched position in response to receiving an open request from the back open switch if the back open switch is assigned the unlocked state.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A door latch system for a vehicle having a front door and a back door includes electric latch mechanisms associated with each door. Open switches are associated with each door to request opening of the doors. Lock switches are associated with each door to request locking and unlocking of the doors. An override switch is associated with the front passenger door and configured to send at least one of an override signal and an enabled signal. A controller prevents unlocking of the doors using the lock switches associated with the back doors unless the back door is open.
20 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A method of operating an electric door latch mechanism of a vehicle having a front passenger door and a back passenger door, the mechanism movable between a latched position in which the back passenger door is secured and an unlatched position in which the back passenger door is openable, a back open switch associated with the back passenger door, a front lock switch associated with the front passenger door, a back lock switch associated with the back passenger door, an override switch associated with the front passenger door, and a controller in communication with the switches and the mechanism, said method comprising:
-
receiving a door unlock signal from at least one of the front lock switch and the back lock switch; receiving an enabled signal from the override switch; assigning the unlocked state to the back open switch in response to receiving the unlock signal from the front lock switch; assigning the unlocked state to the back open switch in response to receiving the unlock signal from the back lock switch and receiving an enabled signal from the lock state override switch; moving the electric door latch mechanism to the unlatched position in response to receiving an open request from the back open switch if the back open switch is assigned the unlocked state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A door latch system for a vehicle having a front passenger door and a back passenger door, said system comprising:
-
a front electric door latch mechanism associated with the front passenger door and a back electric door latch mechanism associated with the back passenger door, wherein each of said mechanisms is movable between a latched position in which the respective passenger door is securely closed and an unlatched position in which the respective passenger door is openable; a front open switch associated with the front passenger door and a back open switch associated with the back passenger door wherein each open switch is configured to send a door open signal; a front lock switch associated with the front passenger door and a back lock switch associated with the back passenger door wherein each lock switch is configured to send at least one of a door lock signal and a door unlock signal; an override switch associated with the front passenger door and configured to send at least one of an override signal and an enabled signal; and a controller in communication with said mechanisms and said switches, said controller configured to assign an unlocked state to each of the open switches in response to receiving the door unlock signal from said front lock switch; said controller configured to assign an unlocked state to each of the open switches in response to receiving the door unlock signal from said back lock switch and the enabled signal from said override switch; said controller configured to move said front electric door latch mechanism to the unlatched position in response to receiving the door open signal from the front door open switch if the front open switch is assigned the unlocked state; and said controller configured to move said back electric door latch mechanism to the unlatched position in response to receiving the door open signal from the back door open switch if said back open switch is assigned the unlocked state. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A vehicle, comprising:
-
a front passenger door; a back passenger door; a front electric door latch mechanism associated with said front passenger door and a back electric door latch mechanism associated with said back passenger door wherein each of said mechanisms is movable between a latched position in which said respective passenger door is securely closed and an unlatched position in which said respective passenger door is openable; a front open switch associated with said front passenger door and a back open switch associated with said back passenger door wherein each open switch is configured to send a door open signal; a front lock switch associated with said front passenger door and a back lock switch associated with said back passenger door wherein each lock switch is configured to send at least one of a door lock signal and a door unlock signal; an override switch associated with said front passenger door and configured to send at least one of an override signal and an enabled signal; and a controller in communication with said mechanisms and said switches, said controller configured to assign an unlocked state to each of the open switches in response to receiving the door unlock signal from said front lock switch; said controller configured to assign an unlocked state to each of the open switches in response to receiving the door unlock signal from said back lock switch and the enabled signal from said override switch; said controller configured to move said front electric door latch mechanism to the unlatched position in response to receiving the door open signal from said front door open switch if the front open switch is assigned the unlocked state; and said controller configured to move said back electric door latch mechanism to the unlatched position in response to receiving the door open signal from said back door open switch if said back open switch is assigned the unlocked state. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification