Door lock control apparatus for a vehicle

• US 6,002,341 A
• Filed: 11/26/1997
• Issued: 12/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Hatano, Rikuo, Ohta, Takayuki, Oka, Toshimitsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US08/979,183
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.31, 340/825.34, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 307/10.1, 307/10.2, 70/256, 70/72, 70/278, 180/257
• US Class Current: 340/5.62
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 5/00 Handles completely let into the surface of the wing E05B85/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/48 by electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/78 as part of a hands-free locking or unlocking operation
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00761 with data transmission performed by connected means, e.g. mechanical contacts, plugs, connectors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 13/005 Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the human body

Abstract

A vehicle door lock control apparatus includes a remote control unit that provides instructions to effect a lock condition or an unlock condition of a door look mechanism, a door handle switch which detects the operating condition of a door handle, a door lock control unit that effects the lock condition or the unlock condition of the door lock mechanism in response to signals produced by the door handle switch or the remote control unit, and a contact electrode connected to the door lock control unit for detecting operation of the door handle through contact by a user. The remote control unit has an electrode that establishes a capacitance combination between the remote control unit and the door lock control unit.

Claims

1. A door lock control apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a remote control unit for providing instruction to effect a lock condition or an unlock condition of a door lock mechanism;

a door handle switch for detecting an operating condition of a door handle;

a door lock control unit for effecting the lock condition or the unlock condition of the door lock mechanism in response to said door handle switch or said remote control unit; and

a contact electrode electrically connected to said door lock control unit for detecting an operation of the door handle through contact by a user, said remote control unit having an electrode for establishing a capacitance combination between said remote control unit and said contact electrode through the user.

2. A door lock control apparatus for a vehicle as set forth in claim 1, including means for outputting an identification request signal which is transmitted to said remote control unit when said door handle switch detects that the door handle has been operated.

3. A door lock control apparatus for a vehicle as set forth in claim 2, wherein when said remote control unit receives the identification request signal and said remote control unit generates a particular identification code which is transmitted to said door lock control unit.

4. A door lock control apparatus for a vehicle as set forth in claim 3, wherein said door lock control unit generates an unlock control signal when said particular identification code corresponds to an original identification code.

5. A door lock control apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a remote control unit for providing instruction to effect a lock condition or an unlock condition of a door look mechanism;

a door handle switch for detecting an operating condition of a door handle;

a door lock control unit for effecting the lock condition or the unlock condition of the door lock mechanism in response to said door handle switch or said remote control unit;

means electrically connected to the door lock control unit for detecting operation of the door handle through contact by a user; and

means for establishing a capacitance combination between said remote control unit and said means for detecting operation through the user.

6. A door lock control apparatus for a vehicle as set forth in claim 5, including means for outputting an identification request signal which is transmitted to said remote control unit when said door handle switch detects that the door handle has been operated.

7. A door lock control apparatus for a vehicle as set forth in claim 6, wherein when said remote control unit receives the identification request signal and said remote control unit generates a particular identification code which is transmitted to said door lock control unit.

8. A door lock control apparatus for a vehicle as set forth in claim 7, wherein said door lock control unit generates an unlock control signal when said particular identification code corresponds to an original identification code.

9. A door lock control apparatus for a vehicle as set forth in claim 7, wherein said means for detecting operation of the door handle through contact by a user includes a contact electrode provided on the door handle.

10. A door lock control apparatus for a vehicle as set forth in claim 5, wherein said means for establishing a capacitance combination includes an electrode provided on said remote control unit.

11. A door lock control apparatus for a vehicle as set forth in claim 5, including an ignition switch for outputting a signal indicative of a condition of an ignition switch, a door switch for outputting a signal indicating whether a door is in an open condition or a closed condition, and a key cylinder switch for outputting a signal indicating whether a key is located in a key cylinder.

12. A door lock control apparatus for a vehicle as set forth in claim 5, wherein the remote control unit includes a lock switch and an unlock switch, wherein said means for establishing a capacitance combination includes an electrode provided on said remote control unit.