LATCH ASSEMBLY FOR LATCH OPERATION OF CLOSURE PANELS FOR VEHICLES

• US 20150361694A1
• Filed: 06/11/2015
• Published: 12/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Closures Inc (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Closures Inc (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Zeabari, John G.
• Granted Patent: US 10,047,548 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/06 using rotary motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/54 Electrical circuits for locking several wings simultaneously E05B77/48
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/64 Monitoring or sensing, e.g. by using switches or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/02 Lock casings
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/00 Constructional details common to different types of electric apparatus casings, cabinets, drawers H05K5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/00 Screening of apparatus or components against electric or magnetic fields devices for absorbing radiation from an antenna H01Q17/00

Abstract

A latch assembly is provided and has a latch housing containing latch components and is integrally coupled to an electronic control assembly having control electronics for controlling the latch components and sensors and switches external to the latch housing. The control housing includes an exterior wall defining an interior cavity for mounting the control electronics. The control housing provides a mechanical connector with an external connector including a set of double sided connectors for coupling an electrical connector to the control electronics. The double sided connectors have a first portion projecting away from the exterior wall and outside of the interior cavity and associated with the mechanical connector for connecting with an electrical system of the vehicle and a second portion projecting away from the exterior wall and into the interior cavity to connect to the control electronics.

Claims

1. A housing assembly for control electronics of a latch assembly of a vehicle, the housing assembly comprising:

an exterior wall defining an interior cavity for mounting the control electronics, the exterior wall for enclosing the control electronics and inhibiting contact between the control electronics and environmental contaminants;

the control electronics mounted in the interior cavity; and

a double sided connector mounted in the exterior wall having a first portion projecting away from the exterior wall and outside of the interior cavity and a second portion projecting away from the exterior wall and into the interior cavity, the first portion associated with a mechanical connector for connecting with an electrical system of the vehicle external to the housing assembly and the second portion electrically connected to the control electronics.

2. The housing assembly of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of conductors passing through the exterior wall and connected to the control electronics, the conductors for coupling one or more electrical latch components of the latch assembly positioned external to the interior cavity.

3. The housing assembly of claim 1, wherein the control electronics are configured to be reprogrammed to implement latch operational control functionality.

4. The housing assembly of claim 1, wherein the double sided connector comprises a plurality of pin header connectors being male.

5. The housing assembly of claim 1, wherein the double sided connector comprises a plurality of header connectors being female.

6. The housing assembly of claim 1 further comprising at least one seal for inhibiting infiltration of foreign matter penetrating from the exterior of the housing assembly.

7. The housing assembly of claim 1, wherein the control electronics include a printed circuit board electrically connected to the second portion of the double sided connector.

8. The housing assembly of claim 2, wherein the conductors are embedded in the exterior wall and follow a tortuous path through the exterior wall between the control electronics and the one or more electrical latch components.

9. The housing assembly of claim 8, wherein the one or more electrical latch components are selected from the group consisting of:

an electric motor;

a sensor; and

a switch.

10. The housing assembly of claim 2 further comprising a latch housing for housing the one or more latch components, the latch housing affixed to the exterior wall.

11. The housing assembly of claim 2, wherein the control electronics include a printed circuit board electrically connected to the second portion of the double sided connector and to the conductors.

12. The housing assembly of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of conductors passing through the exterior wall and connected to the control electronics, the conductors for coupling one or more electrical components external to a latch housing of the latch assembly and positioned externally to the interior cavity.

13. The housing assembly of claim 12, wherein the one or more electrical components are selected from the group consisting of:

a sensor and a switch.

14. The housing assembly of claim 12, wherein the control electronics include a printed circuit board electrically connected to the second portion of the double sided connector and to the conductors.

15. The housing assembly of claim 12, wherein the conductors are optically conductive.

16. The housing assembly of claim 12, wherein the exterior wall is molded and the conductors are self supporting for positioning and holding while the exterior wall is molded.

17. A latch assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a latch housing for containing a plurality of latch components;

a control housing including control electronics and mechanically coupled with the latch housing having an exterior wall defining an interior cavity for mounting the control electronics, the exterior wall for enclosing the control electronics and inhibiting contact between the control electronics and environmental contaminants;

the control electronics mounted in the interior cavity for controlling the latch components;

the control housing including a double sided connector mounted in the exterior wall having a first portion projecting away from the exterior wall and outside of the interior cavity and a second portion projecting away from the exterior wall and into the interior cavity, the first portion associated with a mechanical connector for connecting with an electrical system of the vehicle external to the housing assembly and the second portion electrically connected to the control electronics; and

a plurality of conductors embedded in and passing through the exterior wall and connected to the control electronics, the conductors for coupling one or more electrical components external to the latch housing of the latch assembly and positioned externally to the interior cavity.

18. The latch assembly of claim 17, wherein the exterior wall is molded and the conductors are self supporting for positioning and holding while the exterior wall is molded.

19. The latch assembly of claim 17, wherein the conductors are optically conductive.

20. The latch assembly of claim 17, wherein the control electronics include a printed circuit board electrically connected to the second portion of the double sided connector and to the conductors.