UNIVERSAL GLOBAL LATCH SYSTEM

• US 20160138306A1
• Filed: 01/20/2016
• Published: 05/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Krishnan, Venkatesh, Papanikolaou, Kosta
• Granted Patent: US 10,316,553 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/0004 Lock assembling or manufacturing making locksmith's goods of sheet metal B21D53/38; assembling in general B23P21/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/26 specially adapted for child safety
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/28 for anti-theft purposes, e.g. double-locking or super-locking
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/06 using rotary motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/14 operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/58 including time control, e.g. for controlling run-time of electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/90 Manual override in case of power failure
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/36 Locks for passenger or like doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 3/124 with latch under compression force between its pivot and the striker E05C3/122, E05C3/14, E05C3/16 and E05B65/0852 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 3/14 with operating handle or equivalent member rigid with the latch E05C3/122 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A powered latch system for a door of a vehicle including a latch assembly, actuatable inside and outside handles, a powered actuator and a door controller that causes the powered actuator to unlatch the latch assembly upon actuation of the inside and outside door handles. The latch assembly may be mechanically unlatched by a user within a vehicle interior even if the powered actuator does not actuate due to a loss of electrical power or other failure. The controller can be programmed to unlatch the latch assembly according to various criteria as required to meet the specific requirements of different markets.

Claims

1. A vehicle door comprising:

a latch having a catch and a powered actuator operably connected to a pawl that releasably retains the catch in a closed position that prevents opening of the door;

an inside handle that actuates a release switch, wherein actuation of the release switch causes actuation of the powered actuator and movement of the pawl releasing the catch only if the release switch is actuated twice within a predetermined time period.

2. The vehicle door of claim 1, wherein:

the powered actuator comprises a linear actuator.

3. The vehicle door of claim 1, wherein:

the predetermined time period is 5 seconds.

4. The vehicle door of claim 1, wherein:

the inside handle comprises an inside rear door handle.

5. The vehicle door of claim 1, including:

an inside emergency lever mechanically connected to the pawl whereby movement of the inside emergency lever moves the pawl to release the catch.

6. The vehicle door of claim 1, wherein:

the pawl rotates.

7. The vehicle door of claim 1, wherein:

the pawl is biased in a first direction, and the powered actuator overcomes the bias and moves the pawl in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.

8. The vehicle door of claim 1, wherein:

the pawl includes a prong;

the powered actuator engages the prong when the powered actuator is actuated to thereby move the pawl.