LOW VOLTAGE BACKUP ASSEMBLY FOR ELECTRONIC LATCH
First Claim
1. A door handle and actuation assembly for opening a door of a vehicle, comprising:
- a striker and a latch assembly including a latch biased to engage said striker to secure the vehicle door in a closed position;
a first latch actuator configured to receive an electronic signal for disengaging said latch from said striker;
a second latch actuator being redundant to said first latch actuator and a power source being available for providing an electrical signal to said second latch actuator; and
said second latch actuator including a shape memory alloy having first configuration and a second configuration being different from said first configuration when subject to an electrical current;
with said second configuration being cooperable with said latch assembly for disengaging said latch from said striker.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A door handle and actuation assembly for opening a door of a vehicle includes a striker and a latch assembly. The latch assembly includes a latch biased to engage the striker to secure the vehicle door in a closed position. A first latch actuator is configured to receive an electronic signal for disengaging the latch from the striker. A second latch actuator is redundant to the first latch actuator and a power source is available for providing an electrical signal to the second latch actuator. The second latch actuator includes a shape memory alloy having a first configuration and a second configuration that different from the first configuration when subject to an electrical current. The second configuration is cooperable with the latch assembly for disengaging the latch from the striker.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A door handle and actuation assembly for opening a door of a vehicle, comprising:
-
a striker and a latch assembly including a latch biased to engage said striker to secure the vehicle door in a closed position; a first latch actuator configured to receive an electronic signal for disengaging said latch from said striker; a second latch actuator being redundant to said first latch actuator and a power source being available for providing an electrical signal to said second latch actuator; and said second latch actuator including a shape memory alloy having first configuration and a second configuration being different from said first configuration when subject to an electrical current;
with said second configuration being cooperable with said latch assembly for disengaging said latch from said striker. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 19)
-
-
11. An electronic door handle and actuator assembly for opening a door of a vehicle when a main power source of the vehicle has failed, comprising:
-
a striker and a latch assembly including a latch biased to engage said striker to secure the vehicle door in a closed position; an electronic latch controller and a secondary power source for providing electric power to said latch controller; a signal device for providing an electronic signal to said electronic latch controller indicative of an intent to actuate said latch thereby disengaging said latch from said striker; and said actuator assembly including a first electronic latch actuator powered by the primary power source of the vehicle and a second electronic latch actuator including a shape memory alloy element capable of actuating said latch when the main power source of the vehicle has failed thereby disengaging said latch from said striker upon receiving electric power from said secondary power source. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20)
-
Specification