Customer coaching method for location of E-latch backup handles

• US 10,273,725 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2014
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Van Wiemeersch, John Robert, Kleve, Robert Bruce, Brombach, Ronald Patrick, Patel, Rajesh K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lugo, Carlos
• Application Number:
  US14/276,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20150330113A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,813 Days
• Field of Search: 2923363
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/26 specially adapted for child safety
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/48 by electrical means
• 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 81/14 operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/82 using batteries other than the vehicle main battery
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/90 Manual override in case of power failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/57 Operators with knobs or handles

Abstract

A powered door latch system for vehicles includes a controller configured to receive data concerning vehicle operating conditions. The door latch system also includes at least one electrically powered door latch having a powered actuator that can be actuated by the controller to unlatch the electrically powered latch. An emergency release is mechanically connected to the electrically powered latch to mechanically release the latch. The system also includes a user communication device such as a display screen that is operably connected to the controller. The user communication device provides a user with information concerning the location and/or operation of the emergency release if a predefined operating condition such as a loss of electrical power has occurred.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a body;

a door movably mounted to the body;

a controller configured to receive data concerning vehicle operating conditions;

an interior handle on the door;

an electrical unlatch switch on the interior handle;

at least one electrically powered door latch having a powered actuator that can be actuated by the controller to unlatch the electrically powered latch, wherein the electrically powered latch can also be unlatched mechanically without actuation of the powered actuator;

an emergency release that is movably mounted to an inside of the vehicle door at a location that is spaced apart from the interior handle, wherein the emergency release is mechanically connected to the electrically powered latch such that movement of the emergency release mechanically releases the latch without actuation of the powered actuator; and

a user communication device that is operably connected to the controller, wherein the user communication device comprises a display screen that provides text explaining the location of the emergency release; and

wherein;

the controller is configured to cause the powered actuator to unlatch the electrically powered latch when the electrical unlatch switch is actuated, and wherein the controller causes the user communication device to provide a user with information concerning the location of the emergency release if the controller determines that a predefined operating condition has occurred.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the controller causes the user communication device to provide a user with information concerning the location of the emergency release if a vehicle mileage is below a predefined mileage.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the predefined operating condition comprises a malfunction of the electrically powered door latch.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the controller causes the user communication device to provide a user with information concerning the location of the emergency release upon detection of an infrequently used passive key fob.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the controller causes the user communication device to provide a user with information concerning the location of the emergency release upon detecting a break in communication between the controller and the electrically powered latch.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

multiple actuations of the electrical unlatch switch are required to unlatch the electrically powered latch; and

the display screen provides information concerning the number of multiple actuations of the unlatch switch that are required to unlatch the electrically powered latch.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the vehicle shifts to a back-up power mode and utilizes an emergency power supply capable of actuating the powered actuator if a main electrical power supply of the vehicle fails;

the vehicle includes an exterior unlatch switch;

the electrically powered latch can be latched by actuating the exterior unlatch switch for at least a required predefined period of time; and

wherein;

the user communication device is configured to provide a user with information concerning the required predefined period of time if the system has shifted to the back-up power mode.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, including:

a transmitter configured to cause a portable phone to provide information concerning the location and/or operation of the emergency release.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein:

the transmitter is configured to send a text message to the portable phone concerning the location of the emergency release.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the user communication device comprises a speaker that is configured to generate an audio signal to a user.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein;

the display screen provides the text after the speaker provides an audio signal prompting a user to look at the display screen.

12. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein:

the speaker provides audio information concerning the location and/or operation of the emergency release.

13. The vehicle of claim 12;

wherein;

the vehicle includes a child lock feature and a transmitter that is configured to wirelessly communicate with one or more portable phones and wherein the controller is configured such that if it does not detect a portable phone in the vehicle that it has previously communicated with and if communication with the electrically powered latch has been interrupted, the controller causes the user communication device to provide audio information concerning at least one of;

a) the location and/or operation of the emergency release; and

b) the status of the child lock feature.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein:

the audio information is provided in at least two languages.

15. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one electrically powered latch comprises four electrically powered latches configured to selectively retain left and right front and rear doors in closed positions.

16. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the door includes a pocket located below the interior handle; and

the emergency release comprises a lever that is rotatably mounted to the door inside the pocket.

17. A vehicle comprising:

a body;

a door movably mounted to the body;

the door having an inner side having a door handle having an electrical unlatch switch, the door including a pocket located below the door handle;

a controller configured to receive data concerning vehicle operating conditions;

at least one electrically powered door latch having a powered actuator that can be actuated by the controller to unlatch the electrically powered latch upon actuation of the electrical unlatch switch;

an emergency release movably mounted to the door inside the pocket, wherein the emergency release is mechanically connected to the electrically powered latch to mechanically release the latch upon movement of the emergency release;

a user communication device that is operably connected to the controller, wherein the user communication device comprises a display screen that provides text explaining the location of the emergency release; and

wherein;

the controller causes the user communication device to provide a user with information concerning the location and/or operation of the emergency release if the controller determines that a predefined operating condition has occurred;

an unlatch switch that can be actuated by a user; and

wherein;

the electrically powered door latch comprises a rear door latch having a child lock feature, and wherein a predefined plurality of actuations of the unlatch switch are required to unlatch the electrically powered door latch if the child lock feature has been deactivated due to a failure in the system; and

the user communication device is configured to notify a user that the child lock feature has been deactivated and to provide a user with information concerning the required predefined plurality of actuations.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, including:

a child lock activation input device that can be actuated by a driver of the vehicle located in a driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle; and

;

the user communication device indicates that the child lock feature has been deactivated when a vehicle ignition key-on cycle is initiated unless the failure causing deactivation of the child lock feature has been resolved.

19. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein:

the failure in the system comprises at least one of a loss of data transfer and a loss of electrical power.

20. The vehicle of claim 17, including:

a transmitter configured to cause a portable phone to provide information concerning the predefined plurality of actions.

21. The vehicle of claim 20, including:

a back-up electrical power supply operably connected to the transmitter, and wherein;

the transmitter is configured to utilize power from the back-up electrical power supply to transmit information to a portable phone whereby the portable phone provides information concerning the location of the emergency release and/or the predefined plurality of actions and/or information concerning deactivation of the child lock feature.

22. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein:

the transmitter transmits the information in the form of a text message.

23. A method of providing a user of a vehicle having a powered door latch with information concerning a movable mechanical emergency release on a door in a door pocket, comprising:

causing a controller to determine if a predefined malfunction preventing powered unlatching has occurred;

wherein the controller causes a screen inside the vehicle to display text explaining the location of the emergency release in the door pocket if a predefined malfunction has occurred.