DOOR CLOSURE AND LATCHING CONFIRMATION SYSTEM

• US 20170030118A1
• Filed: 07/29/2015
• Published: 02/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Elie, Larry Dean, Potter, Timothy J., Novak, Robert F., Jaranson, John Wayne, Wallace, Jeff A., Azzouz, Michael M., Strumolo, Gary Steven
• Application Number:
  US14/812,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20170030118A1
• 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: E05B 81/66 the bolt position, i.e. the latching status
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/045 for bifurcated bolts
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/243 with a bifurcated bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/26 Cooperation between bolts and detents
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 5/062 specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/00 Power-operated mechanisms for wings motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/614 operated by meshing gear wheels, one of which being mounted at the wing pivot axis; operated by a motor acting directly on the wing pivot axis
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/76 responsive to devices carried by persons or objects, e.g. magnets or reflectors E05F15/77 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/763 using acoustical sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/626 Plates or brackets
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/12 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/426 against unauthorised use, e.g. keys
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

A vehicle latch confirmation system includes a door that is rotatably coupled to a vehicle body and a power assist device that is coupled between the door and the vehicle body for moving the door between open and closed positions at a hinge axis of the door. A latch mechanism includes a rotating catch configured to latch to a latch striker. A controller is coupled to the latch mechanism and is configured to receive a latch signal from the latch mechanism when the latch striker is latched in the catch. A sound source is operably coupled to the controller and configured to sound an acoustic signal in response to the latch signal being received by the controller.

Claims

1. A vehicle latch confirmation system, comprising:

a door rotatably coupled to a vehicle body;

a power assist device coupled between the door and the vehicle body and configured to move the door between open and closed positions;

a latch mechanism having a rotating catch;

a latch striker configured to engage the catch;

a controller coupled to the latch mechanism and configured to receive a latch signal from the latch mechanism when the latch striker is latched in the catch; and

a sound source coupled to the controller and configured to sound an acoustic signal in response to the latch signal being received by the controller.

2. The vehicle latch confirmation system of claim 1, wherein the latch striker is disposed on the vehicle body and the latch mechanism is disposed on the door.

3. The vehicle latch confirmation system of claim 1, wherein the latch mechanism is disposed on the vehicle body and the latch striker is disposed on the door.

4. The vehicle latch confirmation system of claim 1, wherein the power assist device is operably coupled to a hinge assembly disposed between the door and the vehicle body.

5. The vehicle latch confirmation system of claim 1, wherein the sound source includes one of an exterior speaker, an interior speaker, and a combination thereof.

6. The vehicle latch confirmation system of claim 5, wherein the acoustic signal includes a replicated latching sound.

7. The vehicle latch confirmation system of claim 6, wherein the replicated latching sound includes a digital recording of a door latching to a vehicle.

8. The vehicle latch confirmation system of claim 1, wherein the sound source is disposed on a portable electronic device configured to receive a remote signal from the controller.

9. A vehicle latch confirmation system, comprising:

a vehicle door having a latch mechanism, wherein the latch mechanism is configured to receive a latch striker in a latched condition;

a controller configured to receive a latch signal from a sensor when the latch striker is in the latched condition; and

a sound source coupled to the controller and configured to sound an acoustic signal in response to the latch signal being received by the controller.

10. The vehicle latch confirmation system of claim 9, wherein the sound source includes one of an exterior speaker, an interior speaker, and a combination thereof.

11. The vehicle latch confirmation system of claim 10, wherein the acoustic signal includes one of a replicated latching sound, a beep, and a series of beeps.

12. The vehicle latch confirmation system of claim 9, including:

a power assist device coupled to a hinge assembly disposed between the vehicle door and a vehicle body, wherein the power assist device is configured to move the door towards the vehicle body, and further wherein the latch striker is disposed on the vehicle body.

13. The vehicle latch confirmation system of claim 9, wherein the sensor is operably coupled to a rotating catch disposed on the latch mechanism and is configured to detect when the rotating catch is in one of an open position and a latched position.

14. The vehicle latch confirmation system of claim 9, including:

a user interface configured to confirm when the latch striker is in the latched condition.

15. The vehicle latch confirmation system of claim 9, wherein the sound source is disposed on a portable electronic device configured to receive a remote signal from the controller.

16. A method of confirming a latched condition of a vehicle door, comprising the steps of:

moving a vehicle door towards a closed position using a power assist device;

latching the vehicle door to a vehicle body;

outputting a signal to a controller confirming a latched condition of the vehicle door; and

audibly confirming the latched condition of the vehicle door by sounding an acoustic signal from a sound source coupled to the controller.

17. The method of claim 16 further including the step of:

visually confirming the latched condition of the vehicle door by displaying a message on a display screen of a user interface.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of latching the vehicle door to a vehicle body further includes:

latching a door striker to a latch mechanism.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of outputting a signal to a controller confirming a latched condition of the vehicle door further includes:

using a sensor to verify the latching of the latch striker to the door and sending the signal to the controller from the sensor.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the sound source includes one of an exterior speaker, an interior speaker, a speaker disposed on a portable electronic device and a combination thereof.