Combination door unlock and trunk release mechanism

• US 6,518,720 B1
• Filed: 10/19/2000
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Frantz, William T
• Primary Examiner(s): Nappi, Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): San Martin, Edgardo
• Application Number:
  US09/692,734
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 318/440-489, 318/139, 318/280-289, 307/9-11, 191/2, 191/3, 191/4, 191/6, 477/99, 477/97, 340/825.31, 340/825.32, 340/540, 748/66, 748/61, 192/4.A, 192/4.C, 702/62, 702/68
• US Class Current: 318/445
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/48 by electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/06 using rotary motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/58 including time control, e.g. for controlling run-time of electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/16 Locks for luggage compartments, car boot lids or car bonnets
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00674 with switch-buttons
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/65 Central control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7006 Predetermined time interval controlled

Abstract

A mechanism by which a single switch can either unlock one or more doors or release the trunk or hatch of an automotive vehicle. The switch can be mechanically or electrically associated with a door unlock button mounted on the door the automotive vehicle. Depressing the unlock button causes the switch to become active, and the door can be unlocked if switch is active for a time T1. The trunk can be opened if the switch is held in the active position for a predetermined period of time T2, provided the car is in park and the door associated with the switch is open.

Claims

1. A combined door unlock and trunk release mechanism, comprising:

a single switch capable of unlocking one or more doors of an automotive vehicle first and then releasing a trunk release latch, wherein the one or more doors and the trunk release latch are electrically associated with the switch; and

a control module electrically associated with the one or more doors and the switch for monitoring the position of the one or more doors and the position of a gear selector of an automotive vehicle.

2. The combined door unlock and trunk release mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the switch can activate either a door unlock motor electrically associated with the switch or a trunk release motor electrically associated with the switch.

3. The combined door unlock and trunk release mechanism as defined in claim 2, wherein the switch can be electrically associated with a hatch release motor rather than a trunk release motor.

4. The combined door unlock and trunk release mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the switch is a normally open switch, wherein the switch can be mechanically or electrically associated with a door unlock button and the switch driven active when the door unlock button is depressed.

5. The combined door unlock and trunk release mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the control module includes a timer for measuring the length of time that the door unlock switch is in the active state.

6. The combined door unlock and trunk release mechanism as defined in claim 5, wherein the timer is electrically coupled to a clock memory device for comparing the actual length of switch depression time to preprogrammed length of depression time parameters for the switch.

7. The combined door unlock and trunk release mechanism as defined in claim 6, wherein the control module can send an unlock signal to the door unlock motor if the door unlock switch becomes active for a time T1.

8. The combined door unlock and trunk release mechanism as defined in claim 6, wherein the control module can send an unlock signal to the trunk release motor if the door unlock switch becomes active for a time T2.

9. The combined door unlock and trunk release mechanism as defined in claim 8, wherein the control module can send an unlock signal to the trunk release motor if the gear selector is in a non-driving gear or the door associated with the unlock switch is open.

10. The combined door unlock and trunk release mechanism as defined in claim 1, further including a door open sensor associated with the one or more doors.

11. The combined door unlock and trunk release mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the control module monitors the position of the switch.

12. A combined door unlock and trunk release mechanism, comprising:

a door unlock button for controlling the unlocking of at least one door of an automotive vehicle associated with the door unlock button and the release of a trunk release latch associated with the door unlock button; and

a control module electrically coupled to a switch associated with the door unlock button, wherein the switch can be driven active if the door unlock button is depressed, the control module including a computer readable medium containing program logic instructions for unlocking said one or more doors or said trunk release, the program logic instructions including;

instructions for monitoring whether a gear selector for the automotive vehicle is engaged in a drive or non-drive gear;

instructions for monitoring the position of the door;

instructions for monitoring the length of depression time for the door unlock button or the switch;

instructions for activating a door unlock motor associated with the door unlock button for the one or more doors; and

instructions for releasing a trunk release motor associated with the door unlock button,

wherein an unlock signal can be sent to either the door unlock motor if the switch is active or the trunk release motor if the switch is active, and if the automotive vehicle is engaged in a non-drive gear and the door associated with the switch is open.

13. The door unlock and trunk release mechanism as defined in claim 12, wherein the program logic instructions further include instructions for delaying activation of the door unlock motor or the trunk release motor.

14. The door unlock and trunk release mechanism as defined in claim 12, wherein the program logic instructions further include instructions for returning the control module to a standby state.

15. The door unlock and trunk release mechanism as defined in claim 12, wherein the door unlock button can be associated with a hatch release mechanism or hatch release motor rather than a trunk release and trunk release motor.

16. A method for unlocking one or more doors and releasing a trunk release mechanism of an automotive vehicle using a single switch, comprising the steps of:

providing a single switch capable of unlocking at least one door of an automotive vehicle and releasing a trunk release latch of the automotive vehicle, wherein the door and the trunk release latch are associated with the switch and the switch can be driven active by engaging an associated door unlock button;

monitoring the position of a gear selector switch and the position of the door electrically associated with the switch; and

providing an unlock signal to the door unlock motor associated with the switch or to a trunk release motor electrically associated with the switch in response to a control signal from an electronic control module.

17. The method as defined in claim 16, further including the step of monitoring the length of time that the switch is held in the active state.

18. The method as defined in claim 17, further including the step of sending a door unlock signal to a door unlock motor associated with the switch when the switch is held active for a time T1.

19. The method as defined in claim 17, further including the step of sending a trunk release signal to the trunk release motor if the switch is held in the active state for a time T2, and if the door associated with the switch is open or the gear selector switch of the automotive vehicle is not engaged in a drive gear.

20. The method as defined in claim 16, wherein the door unlock switch can be associated with a hatch release mechanism or hatch release motor rather than a trunk release mechanism and trunk release motor.