Universal global latch system

• US 8,746,755 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2009
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Papanikolaou, Kosta, Krishnan, Venky
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, MARK A
• Application Number:
  US12/402,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20100235057A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,916 Days
• Field of Search: 292/201, 292/216, 292/DIG.23, 292/92, 292/DIG.65
• US Class Current: 292/201
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/26 specially adapted for child safety
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/28 for anti-theft purposes, e.g. double-locking or super-locking
• 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 83/36 Locks for passenger or like doors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1047 Closure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1078 Closure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor

Abstract

A latch system for a door of a vehicle including a latch assembly having a catch and a pawl, an actuatable inside handle, and an actuator engaged with the pawl and being configured to be activated by actuation of the inside handle. The catch is configured to be moved to an open position by activating the actuator to thereby move the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position. The catch is also configured to be moved to the open position after actuation of the inside handle or a toggle lever to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position to when the vehicle does not have power.

Claims

1. A latch system for a door of a vehicle, said latch system comprising:

a latch assembly for maintaining the door in a closed location, the latch assembly including a catch and a pawl, the pawl being movable between engaged and disengaged positions the catch having a closed position wherein the catch is configured to grasp a portion of the vehicle to maintain the door in the closed location and an open position wherein the catch is configured to release the portion of the vehicle to allow the door to move to an open location, the pawl being configured to maintain the catch in the closed position when the pawl is in the engaged position, the pawl being configured to permit movement of the catch to its open position;

an actuatable inside handle not mechanically connected to the pawl by movable mechanical linkage capable of moving the pawl to its disengaged position;

an actuator engaged with the latch assembly, the actuator being configured to be activated by actuation of the inside handle;

an inside release switch activated by actuation of the inside handle, the inside release switch sending a signal to the actuator to move the pawl;

a door module electronically connected between the inside release switch and the actuator, the door module selectively activating the actuator;

an emergency release lever being movable between an on position and an off position, the emergency release lever being configured to be engaged with the latch assembly;

wherein the catch is configured to be moved to the open position after actuation of the inside handle by activating the actuator to thereby move the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position when the vehicle has power;

wherein the catch is configured to be moved to the open position by moving the emergency release lever to the on position to thereby move the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position when the vehicle has power and when the vehicle does not have power; and

wherein the door module only activates the actuator to move the pawl after the inside handle has been actuated twice within a predetermined time period.

2. The latch system for a door of a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the latch assembly has a locked condition wherein the pawl is prevented from releasing the catch; and

if the latch assembly is in the locked condition, the actuator prevents actuation of the inside handle from actuating the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position.

3. The latch system for a door of a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, further including:

a key unlatch cylinder configured to be accessible from an exterior of the vehicle, the key unlatch cylinder being configured to be actuated after engagement with a key, the key unlatch cylinder being engaged with the pawl; and

wherein the catch is configured to be moved to the open position after actuation of the key unlock cylinder to thereby move the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position.

4. The latch system for a door of a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the actuator is configured to be able to maintain the pawl in a stationary position whereby the pawl maintains the catch in the closed position.

5. The latch system for a door of a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, further including:

an actuatable outside handle;

wherein the latch assembly has a locked condition wherein the pawl is prevented from releasing the catch; and

wherein the catch is configured to be moved to the open position after actuation of the outside handle by activating the actuator to thereby move the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position when the vehicle has power and when the latch assembly is in the locked condition.

6. A method of controlling a location of a door of a vehicle comprising:

providing a latch assembly for maintaining the door in a closed location, the latch assembly including a catch and a pawl, the catch having a closed position wherein the catch is configured to grasp a portion of the vehicle to maintain the door in the closed location and an open position wherein the catch is configured to release the portion of the vehicle to allow the door to move to an open location, the pawl being configured to maintain the catch in the closed position;

providing an actuatable inside handle, with the actuatable inside handle not being mechanically connected to the pawl by linkage capable of causing the pawl to move;

providing an actuator;

engaging the actuator with the latch assembly;

providing an emergency release lever being movable between an on position and an off position, the emergency release lever being configured to be engaged with the latch assembly;

moving the catch to the open position by actuating the inside handle by activating the actuator to thereby move the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position, wherein the actuator moves the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position only if the inside handle has been actuated at least two times within a predetermined time period when the vehicle has power; and

moving the clutch to the open position by moving the emergency release lever to the on position and thereby move the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position when the vehicle has power and when the vehicle does not have power.

7. The method of controlling a location of a door of a vehicle as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

the latch assembly has a locked condition wherein the pawl is prevented from releasing the catch; and

if the latch assembly is in the locked condition, the actuator prevents actuation of the inside handle from actuating the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position.

8. The method of controlling a location of a door of a vehicle as claimed in claim 6, further including:

providing a key unlatch cylinder configured to be accessible from an exterior of the vehicle, the key unlatch cylinder being configured to be actuated after engagement with a key, the key unlatch cylinder being engaged with the pawl; and

wherein the catch is configured to be moved to the open position after actuation of the key unlock cylinder to thereby move the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position.

9. The method of controlling a location of a door of a vehicle as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

the actuator is configured to be able to maintain the pawl in a stationary position whereby the pawl maintains the catch in the closed position.

10. The method of controlling a location of a door of a vehicle as claimed in claim 6, further including:

providing an actuatable outside handle;

wherein the latch assembly has a locked condition wherein the pawl is prevented from releasing the catch; and

wherein the catch is configured to be moved to the open position after actuation of the outside handle by activating the actuator to thereby move the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position when the vehicle has power and when the latch assembly is in the locked condition.

11. The method of controlling a location of a door of a vehicle as claimed in claim 6, further including:

activating an inside release switch by actuation of the inside handle; and

sending a signal from the inside release switch to the actuator to move the pawl.

12. The method of controlling a location of a door of a vehicle as claimed in claim 11, further including:

electronically connecting a door module between the inside release switch and the actuator; and

selectively activating the actuator with the door module.

13. The method of controlling a location of a door of a vehicle as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

the door module only activates the actuator to move the pawl after the inside handle has been actuated twice within a predetermined time period.

14. A latch system for a door of a vehicle, said latch system comprising:

a latch assembly for maintaining the door in a closed location, the latch assembly including a catch and a pawl, the catch having a closed position wherein the catch is configured to grasp a portion of the vehicle to maintain the door in the closed location and an open position wherein the catch is configured to release the portion of the vehicle to allow the door to move to an open location, the pawl being configured to maintain the catch in the closed position, the latch assembly having a locked condition wherein the pawl is prevented from releasing the catch;

an actuatable inside handle not mechanically connected to the pawl;

an actuatable outside handle not mechanically connected to the pawl;

an actuator engaged with the latch assembly, the actuator being configured to be activated by actuation of the inside handle and actuation of the outside handle;

an emergency release lever being movable between an on position and an off position, the emergency release lever configured to be engaged with the latch assembly;

wherein the catch is configured to be moved to the open position after actuation of the inside handle by activating the actuator to thereby move the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position when the vehicle has power;

wherein the catch is configured to be moved to the open position by moving the emergency release lever to the on position to thereby move the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position when the vehicle has power and when the vehicle does not have power;

if the latch assembly is in the locked condition, the actuator prevents actuation of the inside handle from actuating the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position; and

wherein the catch is configured to be moved to the open position after actuation of the outside handle by activating the actuator to thereby move the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position when the vehicle has power and when the latch assembly is in the locked condition;

an inside release switch activated by actuation of the inside handle, the inside release switch sending a signal to the actuator to move the pawl;

a door module electronically connected between the inside release switch and the actuator, the door module selectively activating the actuator, wherein the door module only activates the actuator to move the pawl after the inside handle has been actuated twice within a predetermined time period.