Programmable ignition-controlled door lock

• US 6,188,941 B1
• Filed: 04/03/1998
• Issued: 02/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hwang, Shih-Ming
• Original Assignee: Hwang, Shih-Ming
• Inventors: Hwang, Shih-Ming
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US09/054,435
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/30, 701/45, 701/35, 701/49, 340/438, 307/10.1, 307/10.3, 307/10.6
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/54 Automatic securing or unlocking of bolts triggered by certain vehicle parameters, e.g. exceeding a speed threshold triggered by vehicle collision E05B77/12

Abstract

An automatic door lock for a vehicle is arranged to lock the door of the vehicle following starting of the vehicle and performance by the driver of another action, such as stepping on the brake pedal of the vehicle in preparation for placement of the vehicle in gear, thereby ensuring that automatic door locking will occur even after the driver exits and re-enters the vehicle after starting it to permit the vehicle to warm up before driving away. The controller may also be programmed to lock the vehicle doors immediately following turning of the ignition, in situations where the brake pedal would not necessarily be pressed prior to placing the vehicle in gear, such as in the case of a manual transmission.

Claims

1. Apparatus for automatically locking a vehicle door, comprising:

a door locking mechanism; and

a controller including first detection means for detecting a first user input and second detection means for detecting a second user input;

wherein said controller is arranged to cause said door locking mechanism to lock the vehicle door whenever detection of said first user input is followed by detection of said second user input.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first detection means detects turning of a key in the vehicle ignition.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second detection means detects pressing of a brake pedal.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further comprising means for programming said controller to either lock said vehicle door automatically in response to turning of the key in the ignition, or in response to turning of the key in the ignition followed by pressing of the brake pedal.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising means for programming said controller to either lock said vehicle door automatically in response to turning of the key in the ignition, or in response to turning of the key in the ignition followed by detection of the second user input.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for programming said controller to either lock said vehicle door automatically in response to detection of the first user input, or in response to detection of the first user input followed by detection of the second user input.

7. A method of automatically locking a vehicle door, comprising the steps of:

detecting a first user input to a controller;

detecting a second user input to the controller; and

causing a door locking mechanism to lock the vehicle door whenever detection of said first user input is followed by detection of said second user input.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said step of detecting the first user input comprises the step of detecting turning of a key in an ignition of the vehicle.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said step of detecting the second user input comprises the step of detecting pressing of a brake pedal.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising the step of programming said controller to either lock said vehicle door automatically in response to turning of the key in the ignition, or in response to turning of the key in the ignition followed by pressing of the brake pedal.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising the step of programming said controller to either lock said vehicle door automatically in response to turning of the key in the ignition, or in response to turning of the key in the ignition followed by detection of the second user input.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising the step of programming said controller to either lock said vehicle door automatically in response to detection of said first user input, or in response to detection of said first user input followed by detection of said second user input.