Unlocking system for automobile vehicle doors and the like

• US 20030155779A1
• Filed: 02/12/2003
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arvinmeritor Light Vehicle Systems FRA (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Original Assignee: Arvinmeritor Light Vehicle Systems FRA (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Inventors: Chonavel, Sylvain, Chu, Yi Hwa, Burkat, Frederic, De Vries, Pascal, Belmond, Jean-Marc
• Granted Patent: US 7,224,259 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 292/216
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/06 using rotary motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/14 operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/90 Manual override in case of power failure
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/01 Mechanical arrangements specially adapted for hands-free locking or unlocking handles with means for initiation of a hands-free locking or unlocking process E05B81/78
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00603 by power transmission from lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00777 by induction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1047 Closure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5973 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5978 With switch

Abstract

A system for unlocking a key cylinderless automobile vehicle door includes a portable object having an identifier and a circuit for interrogating the object. The circuit powers the object and interrogates the object when it is outside the vehicle. The interrogating circuit supplies a signal authorizing unlocking of the door as a function of the identifier. A standby power supply, which is separate from the main power supply of the vehicle, also powers the circuit and the object. As a result, the vehicle door does not require a key cylinder while still ensuring unlocking even if the main power supply of the vehicle fails.

Claims

1. A system for unlocking a key cylinderless closure, comprising:

an electric lock;

control logic that controls operation of the electric lock;

a mechanical release that can be enabled with and disabled from the electric lock;

a portable object having an object identification;

an interrogating circuit that interrogates the portable object, wherein the interrogating circuit sends a signal to the electric lock authorizing the electric lock to be unlocked based on the object identification; and

a power supply that supplies power to at least one of the portable object and the interrogating circuit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control logic supplies an unlocking signal to the electric lock during a normal operating condition to electrically release the electric lock.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the control logic supplies a coupling signal during a power supply failure condition to enable the mechanical release and allow mechanical opening of the electric lock.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the power supply allows the interrogating circuit to power the portable object remotely when interrogating the portable object.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the power supply comprises an antenna in the interrogating circuit and a coil in the portable object, wherein the antenna transmits a magnetic field that powers the coil.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable object has a first set of contacts and the interrogating circuit has a second set of contacts, wherein the first and second sets of contacts are adapted to be coupled to each other.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a standby power supply.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the interrogating circuit is powered by the standby power supply.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising standby electronic circuitry powered by the standby power supply and adapted to enable the mechanical release.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the standby electronic circuitry has a low-power mode that terminates upon reception of a signal corresponding to a sensor detecting operation of an inner lock release control or an external lock release control.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising an unlocking mechanism that is responsive to an unlocking signal originating from the control logic.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the mechanical release is enabled by the action by operation of the unlocking mechanism.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the unlocking mechanism comprises an electric motor having electric power no greater than 10 W.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising a standby power supply separate from a main power supply of the vehicle.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the unlocking mechanism is powered by the standby power supply.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the mechanical release only controls release from inside the vehicle.

17. A key cylinderless vehicle closure, comprising:

an electric lock;

control logic that controls operation of the electric lock;

a mechanical release disposed within the vehicle closure that can be enabled with and disabled from the electric lock;

an interrogating circuit that interrogates a portable object disposed outside the key cylinderless vehicle closure, wherein the interrogating circuit sends a signal to the electric lock authorizing the electric lock to be unlocked based on an object identification in the portable object; and

a power supply that supplies power to the interrogating circuit and remotely powers the portable object when the interrogating circuit interrogates the portable object.

18. The vehicle closure according to claim 17, wherein the control logic supplies an unlocking signal to the electric lock during a normal operating condition to electrically release the electric lock and also supplies a coupling signal during a vehicle power supply failure condition to enable the mechanical release.

19. The vehicle closure of claim 17, further comprising a standby power supply separate from a main power supply of the vehicle, wherein the interrogating circuit is powered by the standby power supply.

20. The vehicle closure of claim 19, further comprising standby electronic circuitry powered by the standby power supply and adapted to enable the mechanical release, wherein the standby electronic circuitry has a low-power mode that terminates upon reception of a signal corresponding to a sensor detecting operation of an inner lock release control or an external lock release control.

21. A system for unlocking a key cylinderless vehicle closure, comprising:

an electric lock;

control logic that controls operation of the electric lock, wherein the control logic supplies an unlocking signal to the electric lock during a normal operating condition to electrically release the electric lock and supplies a coupling signal during a vehicle power supply failure condition to enable the mechanical release to allow mechanical opening of the electric lock;

a mechanical release that can be enabled with and disabled from the electric lock;

a portable object having a coil and an object identification;

an interrogating circuit that interrogates the portable object, wherein the interrogating circuit sends a signal to the electric lock authorizing the electric lock to be unlocked if object identification matches a circuit identification stored in the interrogating circuit;

a power supply that supplies power to the portable object and the interrogating circuit, the power supply comprising an antenna that transmits a magnetic field to the coil in the portable object to power the coil when interrogating the portable object;

a standby power supply separate from a main power supply of the vehicle and that supplies power to the interrogating circuit.