Electronic door locking system for an automotive vehicle

• US 4,428,024 A
• Filed: 04/07/1982
• Issued: 01/24/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Mochida, Haruo, Miyamoto, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): Goldberg, Elliot A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jennings, Derek
• Application Number:
  US06/367,037
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 361/172, 307/10 R, 307/10 AT, 340/63, 340/64, 340/543, 340/825.31, 340/825.32, 70/262, 70/278, 180/289
• US Class Current: 361/172
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/0069 actuated in a predetermined sequence

Abstract

An electronic door locking system for an automotive vehicle with which vehicle doors can be locked, by depressing a proper push-button type switch representative of a predetermined door-locking octal digit, only when an ignition key is not left in the ignition keyhole. Therefore, it is possible to lock vehicle doors without leaving the ignition key in the keyhole, with the result that the vehicle can be prevented from being stolen by a thief when parked. The electronic door locking system according to present invention includes a device for detecting the presence of the ignition key left in the ignition keyhole and outputting a signal to inhibit a door-locking command signal from being applied to a door lock actuating solenoid, in addition to the conventional electronic door locking system.

Claims

1. An electronic door locking system for an automotive vehicle for locking or unlocking vehicle doors without an ignition key which comprises:

(a) a plurality of switches for outputting at least one predetermined door-locking octal coded digit and a sequence of predetermined door-unlocking octal coded digits;

(b) a octal-binary code converter connected to a plurality of said switches for converting the octal coded digits inputted from said switches into the corresponding binary coded digits;

(c) an address counter connected to said octal-binary code converter for counting up a plurality of the binary-coded signals outputted from said octal-binary code converter whenever one of said switches is depressed and outputting an address-designation signal in response to the number of signals outputted from said octal-binary code converter;

(d) a memory unit connected to said address counter for outputting a previously stored binary coded signal in response to the address-designation signal outputted from said address counter;

(e) a first comparator connected to said octal-binary code converter and said memory unit for outputting a signal when one of the binary coded door-unlocking signals outputted from said octal-binary code converter agrees with one of the binary coded door-unlocking signals outputted from said memory unit in response to the respective address-designation signal outputted from said address counter;

(f) a counter connected to said first comparator for outputting a signal when said first comparator outputs the predetermined number of binary coded signals;

(g) a first reset-set flip-flop connected to said counter for outputting a door unlocking command signal when said counter outputs the signal;

(h) a second comparator connected to said octal-binary code converter and said memory unit for outputting a signal when at least one binary coded door-locking signal outputted from said octal-binary code converter agrees with at least one binary coded door-locking signal outputted from said memory unit in response to the address-designation signal outputted from said address counter,

(i) a second reset-set flip-flop connected to said second comparator for outputting a door locking command signal when said second comparator outputs the signal; and

(j) a door lock/unlock actuating solenoid connected to said first and second reset-set flip-flops for unlocking the vehicle doors when said first reset-set flip-flop is set and locking the vehicle doors when said second reset-set flip-flop is set; and

(k) means for detecting the presence of the ignition key left in an ignition keyhole and outputting a reset signal to said second reset-set flip-flop to inhibit the door-lock command signal from being inputted from said second reset-set flip-flop to said door lock/unlock actuating solenoid;

whereby the vehicle doors cannot be locked even when at least one predetermined door-locking octal coded digit is inputted to the system via a plurality of said switches, in the case where the ignition key is left inserted in the ignition keyhole.

2. An electronic door locking system for an automotive vehicle for locking or unlocking vehicle doors without use of an ignition key as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for detecting the presence of the ignition key left in an ignition keyhole and outputting a reset signal to said second reset-set flip-flop comprises:

(a) a key sensor for detecting the presence of the ignition key left inserted in an ignition keyhole and outputting a signal corresponding thereto;

(b) two monostable multivibrators connected to said key sensor, one of which is triggered when said key sensor outputs a signal and the other of which is triggered when said key sensor outputs no signal; and

(c) a third reset-set flip-flop the set terminal of which is connected to one of said two monostable multivibrators, the reset terminal of which is connected to the other of said two monostable multivibrators, and an output terminal of which is connected to said reset terminal of said second reset-set flip-flop, said second reset-set flip-flop being reset when said third reset-set flip-flop outputs a signal, that is, when said key sensor outputs a signal,

whereby no door-locking command signal is outputted from said second reset-set flip-flop to said door lock/unlock actuating solenoid when the ignition key is in the ignition keyhole.

3. An electronic door locking system for an automotive vehicle for locking or unlocking vehicle doors without use of an ignition key as set forth in either claim 1 or 2, which further comprises:

(a) an AND gate one input terminal of which is connected to said second comparator and the other input terminal of which is connected to said third reset-set flip-flop, said AND gate outputting a signal when said second comparator outputs a signal, that is, when at least one predetermined door-locking octal coded digit is inputted to the system via a plurality of said switches and when said third reset-set flip-flop outputs a signal, that is, when said key sensor detects the presence of the ignition key left in the ignition keyhole; and

(b) an alarm device connected to an output terminal of said AND gate for producing an audible alarm in response to the signal from said AND gate,

whereby an audible alarm can be produced when the door is locked with the ignition key left in the ignition keyhole.

4. An electronic door locking system for an automotive vehicle for locking or unlocking vehicle doors without use of an ignition key as set forth in claim 3, wherein said alarm device is a buzzer.

5. An electronic door locking system for an automotive vehicle for locking or unlocking vehicle doors without use of an ignition key as set forth in claim 3, wherein said alarm device is a chime.

7. An electronic door locking system for an automotive vehicle for locking/unlocking vehicle doors without an ignition key as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises an alarm device for generating a sensible alarm when said sensing means senses the presence of an ignition key in an ignition keyhole and at least one coded number is inputted in the proper sequence for generating the lock command signal.

6. An electronic door locking system for an automotive vehicle for locking/unlocking vehicle doors without an ignition key which comprises:

(a) means for inputting a sequence of unlocking coded numbers and at least one locking coded number and outputting signals corresponding thereto;

(b) means for generating an unlock command signal in response to a sequence of unlocking coded numbers outputted from said means for inputting coded numbers;

(c) means for generating a lock command signal in response to at least one locking coded number outputted from said means for inputting coded numbers;

(d) means for unlocking the vehicle doors in response to the unlock command signal outputted from said means for generating an unlock command signal and locking the vehicle doors in response to the lock command signal outputted from said means for generating a lock command signal; and

(e) means for sensing the presence of an ignition key in an ignition keyhole and preventing the generation of the lock command signal when an igniton key is in an ignition keyhole.