METHOD OF CONTROLLING A VEHICLE DOOR LOCK SYSTEM

• US 20160355128A1
• Filed: 06/03/2015
• Published: 12/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Konchan, Jeffrey L., Biondo, William A., Proefke, David T., Arabia, Frank J. Jr., Utter, Thomas E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,707,889 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2025/1016 Remote signals alerting owner or authorities, e.g. radio signals
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 45/00 Alarm locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/28 for anti-theft purposes, e.g. double-locking or super-locking
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/70 the wing position
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/72 the lock status, i.e. locked or unlocked condition
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/76 Detection of handle operation; Detection of a user approaching a handle; Electrical switching actions performed by door handles

Abstract

A method of controlling a vehicle includes sensing movement of an interior door handle of the vehicle with a sensing device, such as a door lock switch. A position of a door of the vehicle is sensed with a door position sensor, after movement of the interior door handle is sensed, to determine if the door remains in an unopened position after movement of the interior door handle is sensed, or if the door moves into an opened position after movement of the interior door handle is sensed. When movement of the interior door handle is sensed and the door remains in the unopened position after movement of the interior door handle, instructions are provided with an audio or video device related to the proper procedure for unlocking and opening the door.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a vehicle, the method comprising:

sensing movement of an interior door handle of the vehicle with a sensing device;

sensing a position of a door of the vehicle with a door position sensor after movement of the interior door handle is sensed, to determine if the door remains in an unopened position after movement of the interior door handle is sensed, or if the door moves into an opened position after movement of the interior door handle is sensed; and

providing instructions with an audio or video device related to the proper procedure for unlocking and opening the door, when movement of the interior door handle is sensed and the door remains in the unopened position after movement of the interior door handle.

2. The method set forth in claim 1 further comprising sensing a current status of a door lock system with a lock switch to determine if the door lock system is disposed in a locked state or if the door lock system is disposed in an unlocked state.

3. The method set forth in claim 2 further comprising resetting a value of an opening attempt counter equal to zero when the door lock system is disposed in the locked state.

4. The method set forth in claim 1 further comprising starting an opening timer to measure a time period when movement of the interior door handle is sensed.

5. The method set forth in claim 4 further comprising comparing the measured time period to a maximum delay time, with a vehicle lock controller, when the door remains in the unopened position after movement of the interior door handle is sensed, to determine if the measured time period is equal to or greater than the maximum delay time, or if the measured time period is less than the maximum delay time.

6. The method set forth in claim 5 wherein providing instructions with the audio or video device is further defined as providing instructions with the audio or video device when the measured time period is equal to or greater than the maximum time delay.

7. The method set forth in claim 1 further comprising incrementing a value of an opening attempt counter by one for each occurrence of a sensed movement of the interior door handle.

8. The method set forth in claim 7 further comprising comparing the value of the opening attempt counter to a first counter value, with a vehicle lock controller, to determine if the value of the opening attempt counter is equal to or greater than the first counter value, or if the value of the opening attempt counter is less than the first counter value.

9. The method set forth in claim 8 further comprising automatically contacting a service provider, with an onboard communication device of the vehicle, to request assistance in opening or unlocking the door of the vehicle, when the value of the opening attempt counter is equal to or greater than the first counter value.

10. The method set forth in claim 2 wherein sensing the current status of the door lock system includes sensing a state of a double door lock feature of the door lock system to determine if the double door lock feature is disposed in an active state, or if the double door lock feature is disposed in an inactive state.

11. The method set forth in claim 10 further comprising activating an alarm system of the vehicle to signal an alert when the double door lock system is disposed in the active state.

12. The method set forth in claim 10 further comprising comparing the value of the opening attempt counter to a second counter value, with the vehicle lock controller, to determine if the value of the opening attempt counter is equal to or greater than the second counter value, or if the value of the opening attempt counter is less than the second counter value.

13. The method set forth in claim 12 further comprising activating an alarm system of the vehicle to signal an alert when the double door lock system is disposed in the inactive state, and the value of the opening attempt counter is equal to or greater than the second counter value.

14. A method of controlling a door lock system of a vehicle, the method comprising:

sensing a current status of the door lock system with a lock switch to determine if the door lock system is disposed in a locked state or if the door lock system is disposed in an unlocked state;

sensing movement of an interior door handle of the door with a sensing device;

starting an opening timer to measure a time period after movement of the interior door handle is sensed;

sensing a position of the door of the vehicle with a door position sensor after movement of the interior door handle is sensed, to determine if the door remains in an unopened position after movement of the interior door handle is sensed, or if the door moves into an opened position after movement of the interior door handle is sensed;

comparing the measured time period to a maximum delay time, with a vehicle lock controller, when the door remains in the unopened position after movement of the interior door handle is sensed, to determine if the measured time period is equal to or greater than the maximum delay time, or if the measured time period is less than the maximum delay time; and

providing instructions with an audio or video device related to the proper procedure for unlocking and opening the door, when movement of the interior door handle is sensed, the door remains in the unopened position after movement of the interior door handle, and the measured time period is equal to or greater than the maximum delay time.

15. The method set forth in claim 14 further comprising incrementing a value of an opening attempt counter by one for each occurrence of a sensed movement of the interior door handle.

16. The method set forth in claim 15 further comprising automatically contacting a service provider, with an onboard communication device of the vehicle, to request assistance in opening or unlocking the door of the vehicle, when the value of the opening attempt counter is equal to or greater than a first counter value.

17. The method set forth in claim 16 further comprising moving the door lock system from the locked state to the unlocked state, with the vehicle lock controller, in response to a signal remotely sent from the service provider.

18. The method set forth in claim 16 wherein sensing the current status of the door lock system includes sensing a state of a double door lock feature of the door lock system to determine if the double door lock feature is disposed in an active state, or if the double door lock feature is disposed in an inactive state.

19. The method set forth in claim 18 further comprising activating an alarm system of the vehicle to signal an alert when the double door lock system is disposed in the active state.

20. The method set forth in claim 18 further comprising activating an alarm system of the vehicle to signal an alert when the double door lock system is disposed in the inactive state, and the value of the opening attempt counter is equal to or greater than a second counter value.