Automotive electric door lock system

• US 5,713,613 A
• Filed: 05/13/1996
• Issued: 02/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation (Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Ohi Seisakusho Co., Ltd. (Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Honma, Mikio, Kobayashi, Fumio, Shimada, Junichi, Shigematsu, Kouichi
• Primary Examiner(s): JAYNE, DARNELL M
• Application Number:
  US08/647,264
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.62, 292/201, 292/216, 292/DIG. 23, 292/336.3
• US Class Current: 292/201
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/48 by electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/14 operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/66 the bolt position, i.e. the latching status
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/36 Locks for passenger or like doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/02 Lock casings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/23 Vehicle door latches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1047 Closure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor

Abstract

An automotive electric door lock system comprises a door lock which includes a latch plate latchedly engageable with a striker secured to the vehicle and a locking plate which is pivotable between an engaging position wherein the locking plate engages the latch plate and a releasing position wherein the locking plate releases the latch plate. An electric actuator is employed for moving the locking plate from the engaging position to the releasing position when energized. A power supply device energizes the electric actuator when a door handle is manipulated. A control device is used for instantly stopping the electric power supply to the electric actuator when the locking plate arrives at the releasing position.

Claims

1. An automotive electric door lock system comprising:

a door lock including a latch plate latchedly engageable with a striker secured to a vehicle and a locking plate pivotable between an engaging position, where the locking plate engages said latch plate, and a releasing position, where the locking plate releases said latch plate;

an electric actuator which moves said locking plate from said engaging position to said releasing position when energized;

power means for energizing said electric actuator when a door handle is manipulated;

a neutral position detecting switch which issues a first signal when said locking plate assumes said engaging position;

an operative position detecting switch which issues a second signal when said locking plate assumes said releasing position;

a half-latch position detecting switch which issues a third signal when said latch plate is at least half-latched to said striker; and

a control device which controls said power means to deenergize said electric actuator when receiving said first signal and said second signal in consecutive order to thereby keep said locking plate at said releasing position as long as said third signal is issued to indicate that said latch plate is at least half-latched to said striker.

2. An automotive electric door lock system as claimed in claim 1, in which said first signal is issued when said neutral position detecting switch is turned from an OFF condition to an ON condition and in which said second signal is issued when said operative position detecting switch is turned from an OFF condition to an ON condition.

3. An automotive electric door lock system as claimed in claim 2, in which said control device controls, said power means to energize the electric actuator to run in a reversed direction when said half-latch detecting switch no longer issues said third signal under a condition where said neutral position detecting switch and said operative position detecting switch keep OFF and ON conditions respectively.

4. An automotive electric door lock system as claimed in claim 3, in which said control device controls said power means to stop the power supply to said electric actuator when receiving an OFF signal from said operative position detecting switch followed by an ON signal from said neutral position detecting switch.

5. An automotive electric door lock system as claimed in claim 4, in which said electric actuator includes:

a reversible electric motor;

a worm mounted to an output shaft of said motor;

a worm gear meshed with said worm, said worm gear having a projection;

a pivotable operation lever whose position is directly detected by said neutral and operative position detecting switches, said operation lever being formed with an engaging groove to which said projection of said worm gear engages so that rotation of said worm gear in one and other directions induces pivoting movement of said operation lever; and

a cancel lever connected to said operation lever to move therewith, said cancel lever having a portion engaged with a projection formed on the locking plate of said door lock.

6. An automotive door lock system comprising:

a door lock having a latch mechanism which includes a latch plate engageable with a striker and a locking plate engageable With said latch plate and movable between an engaging position and a releasing position;

an electric drive means operably connected to said locking plate, said electric drive means being capable of canceling a latching operation of said latch mechanism upon receiving a cancel signal representative of manipulation of a door handle;

a neutral position detecting switch associated with said electric drive means, said switch being capable of detecting a neutral position which corresponds to said engaging position of said locking plate;

an operative position detecting switch associated with said electric drive means, said operative position detecting switch being capable of detecting an operative position which corresponds to said releasing position of said locking plate; and

a control device for controlling said electric drive means in such a manner that

under a door closed condition, when said neutral position detecting switch detects said neutral position and said door handle is manipulated, said electric drive means is energized to cancel the latching operation of said latch mechanism until said operative position detecting switch detects said operative position, at which time, said electric drive means is deenergized and said locking plate is maintained at said releasing position as long as the door is not opened to a door open condition, and

subsequently, when the door is opened to the door open condition and said latch plate is no longer engaged with said striker, said electric drive means is energized to rotate in a reversed direction until said neutral position detecting switch detects said neutral position, at which time, said electric drive means is deenergized.

7. An automotive electric door lock system comprising:

a door lock including a latch plate latchedly engageable with a striker secured to a vehicle and a locking plate pivotable between an engaging position, where the locking plate engages said latch plate, and a releasing position, where the locking plate releases said latch plate;

an electric actuator for moving said locking plate from said engaging position to said releasing position when energized;

power means for energizing said electric actuator when a door handle is manipulated;

a neutral position detecting switch which issues a first signal when said locking plate assumes said engaging position;

an operative position detecting switch which issues a second signal when said locking plate assumes said releasing position;

a half-latch position detecting switch which issues a third signal when said latch plate is at least partially latched to said striker; and

a control device which controls said power means to deenergize said electric actuator when receiving said first signal and said second signal in consecutive order to thereby keep said locking plate at said releasing position so long as said third signal is issued.

8. An automotive electric door lock system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said latch plate has three positions including fully-latched, half-latched, and unlatched, and wherein said half-latch position detecting switch issues the third signal when said latch plate is fully-latched or half-latched, but not when said latch plate is unlatched.

9. An automotive electric door lock system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said control device controls said power means to energize said electric actuator to rotate in an opposite direction to return said locking plate to said engaging position when said third signal is no longer issued after said control device receives said first signal and said second signal in consecutive order.