Door locking system for a motor vehicle

• US 7,521,818 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2006
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Bergmann, Gerald, Baur, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson; Stephen W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parries; Dru M
• Application Number:
  US11/358,037
• Publication Number:
  US 20060138866A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.2
• US Class Current: 307/10.2
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/58 including time control, e.g. for controlling run-time of electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/62 for opening or closing of a circuit depending on electrical parameters, e.g. increase of motor current
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/72 the lock status, i.e. locked or unlocked condition
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/78 as part of a hands-free locking or unlocking operation

Abstract

A position monitoring means for detecting the locked position of a locking element is assigned to at least one locking element. Furthermore, each position monitoring means is operatively connected to a control means for checking on whether a proper locked state prevails such that the actual state and the setpoint state of the locking element are comparable so that if these states do not correspond, an acknowledgment signal can be generated. In this way, it is possible to check on whether all the doors and hatches of a vehicle are properly locked after a locking operation has been performed.

Claims

1. Door locking system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a locking element that can be operated for opening or locking via an actuator;

a control unit for triggering the actuator; and

a position monitoring element that detects a lock position of the at least one locking element, and which is assigned to at least one locking element,

wherein each position monitoring element provides an instantaneous current characteristic of the actuator to the control unit, and the control unit compares at least two phases of the instantaneous current characteristic with a least two phases of a setpoint current characteristic to identify deviations between the setpoint and instantaneous current characteristics, and the control unit generates an acknowledgment signal when deviations are identified each position monitoring element is arranged in the form of software for analyzing internal data within the controller.

3. Door locking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the position monitoring elements are arranged to ensure analysis of the instantaneous current characteristic for each actuator to be triggered.

4. Door locking system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a memory that stores the locked state of all locking elements.

5. Door locking system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a key having a memory and a display that store and display the at least one locked state.

6. Door locking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the deviations indicate an error of the at least one locking element.

7. Door locking system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the control unit compares three phases of the setpoint and instantaneous current characteristics.

8. Door locking system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the three phases include startup, running and final position phases.

9. Door locking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a type of error or defect in an operation of the at least one locking element is determined based on the deviation.

2. Door locking system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a locking element that can be operated for opening or locking via an actuator;

a control unit for triggering the actuator; and

a position monitoring element that detects a lock position of the at least one locking element, and which is assigned to at least one locking element,

wherein each position monitoring element provides an instantaneous current characteristic of the actuator to the control unit, and the control unit compares at least two phases of the instantaneous current characteristic with a least two phases of a setpoint current characteristic to identify deviations between the setpoint and instantaneous current characteristics, and the control unit generates an acknowledgment signal when deviations are identified.

10. A method for a door locking system in a motor vehicle, the method comprising the act of:

receiving an instantaneous current characteristic of an actuator of at least one locking element;

comparing at least two phases of the instantaneous current characteristic with a least two phases of a setpoint current characteristic to identify deviations between the setpoint and instantaneous current characteristics; and

generating an acknowledgement when deviations are identified.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the deviations indicate an error of the at least one locking element.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein three phases of the setpoint and instantaneous current characteristics are compared.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the three phases include startup, running and final position phases.

14. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the act of:

determining a type of error or defect in an operation of the at least one locking element based on the deviation.

15. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the acknowledgement is light signal or horn signal.

16. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the acts of:

providing the acknowledgement to a key; and

vibrating the key.