Motor vehicle door lock status system and related method

• US 9,850,690 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2016
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Bernwanger, Jr., George Anthony, Linden, Howard Paul Tsvi, Gupta, Pawan, Ricks, John Thomas, Patel, Rajesh K.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US15/052,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20170241170A1
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/02 electric constitutive elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/10 actuating a signalling device
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/22 Functions related to actuation of locks from the passenger compartment of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/00 Power-actuated vehicle locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/74 by sensing the state of the actuator

Abstract

A motor vehicle door lock status system is provided. That system includes a door lock actuator, a door lock status indicator for indicating lock status of the multiple motor vehicle doors, and a controller. The controller is connected to the door lock actuator and the door lock status indicator. Further, the controller is configured to provide a door open signal, an all doors closed and locked signal and a failure to lock signal. A related method of indicating door lock status of a motor vehicle is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle door lock status system, comprising:

a door lock actuator;

a door lock status indicator indicating lock status of multiple motor vehicle doors; and

a controller (a) connected to said door lock actuator and said door lock status indicator and (b) configured to provide a door open signal, an all doors closed and locked signal and a failure to lock signal.

2. The motor vehicle door lock status system of claim 1, wherein said door lock status indicator is a bi-color light emitting diode.

3. The motor vehicle door lock status system of claim 1, wherein said door lock status indicator is a first light emitting diode of a first color and a second light emitting diode of a second color.

4. The motor vehicle door lock status system of claim 1, wherein said door lock status indicator is a plurality of icons that are illuminated to indicate the lock status of said multiple motor vehicle doors.

5. The motor vehicle door lock status system of claim 1, wherein said door lock status indicator is carried on a driver'"'"'s door of a motor vehicle.

6. The motor vehicle door lock status system of claim 5, wherein said door lock status indicator is carried on said driver'"'"'s door adjacent to a belt line of said motor vehicle.

7. The motor vehicle door lock status system of claim 1, further including a first door lock regulator for a first motor vehicle door and a second door lock regulator for a second motor vehicle door.

8. The motor vehicle door lock status system of claim 7, wherein said controller is configured to include a first data input connected to said first door lock regulator and a second data input connected to said second door lock regulator.

9. The motor vehicle door lock status system of claim 8, further including a third door lock regulator connected to a third motor vehicle door and a fourth door lock regulator connected to a fourth motor vehicle door.

10. The motor vehicle door lock status system of claim 9, wherein said controller is configured to include a third data input connected to said third door lock regulator and a fourth data input connected to said fourth door lock regulator.

11. A method of indicating door lock status of a motor vehicle, comprising:

monitoring, by controller, the door lock status of multiple doors of said motor vehicle; and

indicating, by indicator, the door lock status of said multiple doors of said motor vehicle wherein said indication is selected from a group of a signals consisting of (a) a door open signal, (b) an all doors closed and locked signal and (c) a failure of all doors to lock signal.

12. The method of claim 11, including providing said door open signal by illuminating a light source of a first color.

13. The method of claim 12, including providing said all doors closed and locked signal by illuminating a light source of a second color.

14. The method of claim 13, including providing said failure of all doors to lock signal by flashing a light source and then extinguishing said light source.

15. The method of claim 14, including indicating the door lock status of said multiple doors of said motor vehicle by means of at least one light source provided on a driver'"'"'s door of said motor vehicle.