Flexdoor status display

• US 8,120,477 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2009
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Hedrich, Karl-Franz
• Primary Examiner(s): Trieu, Van T.
• Application Number:
  US12/390,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20090211157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.1, 340/426.15, 340/426.18, 340/426.28, 340/426.29, 340/438, 180/286, 180/287, 307/10.2, 307/10.4, 292/336.3, 292/92
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 41/00 Locks with visible indication as to whether the lock is locked or unlocked indicator lights E05B17/10
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/00 Power-actuated vehicle locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/12 Inner door handles

Abstract

A method is provided for displaying a closed state of a motor vehicle door which can adopt at least two closed states depending on driving speed, in particular a motor vehicle door, that includes, but is not limited to two door leaves which open in opposite directions to one another, that also includes, but is not limited to a lock for achieving the closed states on an electromechanical basis. The method has the steps of, without limitation, detecting an actual closed state of the motor vehicle door and signaling the actual closed state of the motor vehicle door. A status display is also provided that carries out the method, a locking system with a status display is provided, and a motor vehicle door is provided with a locking system.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a closed state of a motor vehicle door that can adopt at least two closed states depending on a driving speed, the motor vehicle door comprising two door leaves that open in opposite directions to one another and a lock for achieving the at least two closed states on an electromechanical basis, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting an actual closed state of the at least two closed states of the motor vehicle door; and

signaling the actual closed state of the at least two closed states of the motor vehicle door.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the signaling is conducted with a visual display device.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the visual display device is a LED device.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the visual display device is a LCD display.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the signaling is a visual signaling with an LED device comprising one LED assigned to the closed state.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the signaling is visually directly detectable for a user on actuating at least one of the motor vehicle door or the lock.

7. A status display of a motor vehicle door, comprising:

a first visual display device assigned to a first closed state; and

a second visual display device assigned to a second closed state.

8. The status display according to claim 7, wherein the first visual display device is configured as an LED device.

9. A locking system for a motor vehicle door which can adopt at least two closed states depending on driving speed, the motor vehicle door comprising two door leaves which open in opposite directions to one another, comprising:

a lock adapted to achieve the at least two closed states on an electromechanical basis; and

a status display comprising a first visual display device assigned to a first closed state and a second visual display device assigned to a second closed state.

10. The locking system according to claim 9, wherein the lock has an actuating mechanism for opening the lock.

11. The locking system according to claim 9, wherein when a predeterminable driving speed is exceeded, the lock transfers into a state in which opening of the motor vehicle door via the actuating mechanism is not possible.

12. The locking system according to claim 9, wherein on falling below a predeterminable driving speed, the lock transfers into a state in which opening of the motor vehicle door via the actuating mechanism is possible.

13. The locking system according to claim 9, wherein a locking state is displayed on actuating the actuating mechanism.

14. A motor vehicle door that adopts at least two closed states depending on a driving speed, comprising:

at least two door leaves that open in opposite directions to one another;

a lock adapted to achieve the at least two closed states on an electromechanical basis; and

a status display comprising a first visual display device assigned to a first closed state and a second visual display device assigned to a second closed state.