Automatic power door lock system

• US 4,709,776 A
• Filed: 07/07/1986
• Issued: 12/01/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Metz, Marcus C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Love, John J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ferriter, Karin L.
• Application Number:
  US06/882,568
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 180/281, 70/264, 307/10 R, 307/10 LS
• US Class Current: 180/281
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/48 by electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/65 Central control

Abstract

Circuits are provided that automatically lock electric power door locks of a motor vehicle at a predetermined speed.

Also, the system includes circuits for automatically relocking the electric power door locks if the doors come open or ajar. Provisions are made to inhibit the dome light switch which turns on the dome light from actuating the automatic door lock system and automatically locking the doors since the door jamb switch and the dome light switch are usually connected in the same circuit to turn on the dome light.

Claims

1. An automatic power door lock system for automatically locking door locks of a motor vehicle after a door is opened or becomes ajar while the ignition of the vehicle is on and after the vehicle reaches a predetermined speed, said system comprising:

(a) speed sensor means connected to a distance sensor of the vehicle for providing to the system a pulse signal indicative of the speed of the vehicle so that the system will know when the vehicle reaches the predetermined speed;

(b) door jamb switch means mechanically connected to the door of the vehicle for providing an electrical signal to the system indicative of the door being opened;

(c) a door ajar switch mechanically connected to the door and having a switch contact connected between an electrical signal source and said door jamb switch means for providing an electrical signal to the system indicative of the door being in an ajar position; and

(d) a drive means connected to the door lock for driving the lock to a lock position; and

(e) bi-stable latch means interconnected to said speed sensor means, said door jamb switch means and said drive means responsive to the electrical signal from said door jamb switch means indicating the door being opened or ajar and to the speed of the vehicle pulse signal from said speed sensor means, for providing an electrical signal to said drive means to cause said drive means to drive the door lock to a lock position when the vehicle reaches the predetermined speed.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said door jamb switch means includes a door jamb switch mounted in a door jamb of the vehicle having a switch contact interconnected to the electrical signal source, said switch contact of said door ajar switch and a time delay circuit means, said time delay circuit means providing a path that delays for a predetermined time period, the electrical signal that is transferred between said door jamb switch means and said bi-stable latch means when said switch contact of said door ajar switch or said door jamb switch closes to provide a path for the electrical signal from the electrical source.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said door jamb switch means includes means for said door jamb switch to operate a vehicle dome light independent of a headlamp switch having a switch contact for operating the dome light.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said bi-stable latch means includes:

(a) a mono-stable multivibrator circuit connected to said drive means for providing a pulse of a chosen duration sued by said drive means for driving the door lock to the lock position; and

(b) an electronic switch means interconnected between said speed sensor means and said drive means for switching on said mono-stable multivibrator circuit in response to receive of the pulse signal indication from said speed sensor means and the door being opened or ajar electrical signal indication from said door jamb switch means.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said drive means includes:

(a) an electrical reversible drive motor for driving the door locks to a lock or an unlock position;

(b) a mechanical switch connected to the electrical voltage source and said drive motor for manual application of electrical voltage signals to said drive motor so as to permit said drive motor to be driven manually;

(c) a relay having a relay contact connected between said mechanical switch and said drive motor in a manner so as to permit said drive motor to be driven in response to the pulse signal from said mono-stable multivibrator, and;

(d) another pulse delay circuit means disposed between said relay and said mono-stable mutivibrator that provides a path that delays for a predetermined duration the pulse signal from said mono-stable multivibrator said another delay circuit also including circuit for inverting the pulse signal to a suitable polarity for activating said relay, said another pulse delay circuit means also providing a reset signal to said bistable latch means for resetting said latch means to an initial state, wherein the initial state renders said latch means to be responsive to another electrical signal from said jamb switch means.