Power release double-locking latch
First Claim
1. A door lock system for an automotive door, comprising:
- a latch, including a ratchet (18) biased to a latched position and moveable to a released position, a pawl (20) biased to engage the ratchet in the latched position;
a controller (210);
an electromechanical exterior latch release mechanism (220) for actuating the pawl to release the ratchet;
an interior latch release mechanism (230) for actuating the pawl to release the ratchet;
an electromechanical interior locking assembly (240), electrically connected to the controller, for selectively decoupling the interior latch release mechanism from the pawl;
a pressure sensitive switch (216) actuatable by an outside door handle (214) of the automotive door and electrically connected to the controller;
wherein said controller is programmed to disable the pressure sensitive switch in response to a predetermined “
lock”
signal and enable the pressure sensitive switch in response to a pre-determined “
unlock”
signal, in which case the controller energizes the exterior latch release mechanism to release the ratchet in the event the pressure sensitive switch is actuated.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power-release door lock system for an automotive door having a latch, including a ratchet (18) and pawl (20), and an electro-mechanical exterior latch release mechanism (220) for actuating the pawl to release the ratchet. The system includes a controller (210) and a pressure sensitive switch (216) mounted to an outside door handle (214) of the automotive door and electrically connected to the controller. The controller is programmed to disable the pressure sensitive switch in response to a predetermined “lock” signal and enable the pressure sensitive switch in response to a pre-determined “unlock” signal, in which case the controller energizes the exterior latch release mechanism to release the ratchet in the event the pressure sensitive switch is actuated. The system eliminates the need for an exterior lock assembly and its attendant inside lock button or rod.
58 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A door lock system for an automotive door, comprising:
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a latch, including a ratchet (18) biased to a latched position and moveable to a released position, a pawl (20) biased to engage the ratchet in the latched position; a controller (210); an electromechanical exterior latch release mechanism (220) for actuating the pawl to release the ratchet; an interior latch release mechanism (230) for actuating the pawl to release the ratchet; an electromechanical interior locking assembly (240), electrically connected to the controller, for selectively decoupling the interior latch release mechanism from the pawl; a pressure sensitive switch (216) actuatable by an outside door handle (214) of the automotive door and electrically connected to the controller; wherein said controller is programmed to disable the pressure sensitive switch in response to a predetermined “
lock”
signal and enable the pressure sensitive switch in response to a pre-determined “
unlock”
signal, in which case the controller energizes the exterior latch release mechanism to release the ratchet in the event the pressure sensitive switch is actuated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A latch, comprising:
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a housing; a ratchet (18), pivotally mounted to the housing, the ratchet being biased to a latched position and moveable to a released position; a pawl (20) pivotally mounted to the housing and biased to engage the ratchet in the latched position; a first gear (34), pivotally mounted in the housing, for actuating the pawl to release the ratchet; a first motor assembly (30) mounted in the housing for selectively driving the first gear (34); an arm (200) rigidly connected to or integral with the first gear (34); and a cable (200) connected to the arm for manually actuating the pawl, wherein the arm freewheels when the first gear (34) is actuated by the first motor assembly (30). - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A latch for an automotive door, comprising:
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a latch housing having a first and a second surface, the first surface having a channel adapted to receive a striker; a latch cover adapted to cooperate with the latch housing to form an interior cavity; a ratchet and pawl, each of the ratchet and pawl pivotally mounted to the first surface and a portion of the pawl extending into the interior cavity, the ratchet and pawl cooperatively operable to move between a latched position to hold the striker in the channel, and a released position to permit the striker to exit the channel, the ratchet and pawl being biased towards the latched position; an exterior latch release mechanism, mounted to the lower housing within the cavity, comprising a first means for actuating the pawl to release the ratchet and a first electromechanical means for selectively actuating the first pawl-actuating means without a manually operable lever; an interior latch release and locking assembly, mounted to the latch cover within the cavity, comprising a second means for actuating the pawl to release the ratchet, means for connecting an inside release handle to the second pawl-actuating means, and a second electromechanical means for selectively coupling or de-coupling the second pawl-actuating means from the handle-connecting means, the interior latch release and locking assembly being selectively operable to move between an unlocked state, wherein the handle-connecting means is kinematically coupled to the second pawl-actuating means, and a locked state, wherein the handle-connecting means is decoupled from the second pawl-actuating means; and means comprising an arm on the pawl for driving the second electro-mechanical means into the unlocked state from the locked state, whenever the pawl is actuated to release the ratchet. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A latch for an automotive door, comprising:
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a latch housing having a channel adapted to receive a striker; a ratchet and pawl, each of the ratchet and pawl pivotally mounted to the housing, the ratchet and pawl cooperatively operable to move between a latched position to hold the striker in the channel, and a released position to permit the striker to exit the channel, the ratchet and pawl being biased towards the latched position; an exterior latch release mechanism including a first gear for actuating the pawl to release the ratchet and a first electromechanical assembly for selectively driving the first gear to release the ratchet without a manually operable lever; an interior latch release and locking assembly including an inside release lever, an auxiliary inside release lever for actuating the pawl to release the ratchet, and a second electromechanical assembly for selectively coupling or de-coupling the auxiliary inside release lever with the inside release lever, said second electromechanical assembly including a motor, a second gear operatively coupled to the motor, and a door lock link rotatably connected at a first thereof end to the second gear and moveable between a first position where a second end of the link couples the auxiliary inside release lever with the inside release lever and a second position where the second end of the link does not couple the auxiliary inside release lever with the inside release lever; and an arm on the pawl for driving the second electro-mechanical means into the unlocked state from the locked state, whenever the pawl is actuated to release the ratchet. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification