EP0879931B1 - Locking device for a motor vehicle boot - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a locking device for a motor vehicle trunk.

The invention relates more particularly to a device for lock for a motor vehicle comprising a central electronics which controls the locking and unlocking of at least one part of the doors of the vehicle, of the type in which a door of trunk has a lock which can be controlled by a motorized actuator enters a closed state, in which it retains the sash in a closed position, and an open state in which it authorizes the passage of the opening to an open position, and of the type in which the device comprises means for receiving and recognize at least one main coded identification signal.

It is known for example from EP 0 257 212 of such devices in which the user has a means of transmitting a signal to the anti-theft control center identification code, for example using an infrared transmitter or radio frequency or using a transponder, the electronic control unit being able to receive and recognize this coded signal in order to trigger the unlocking or locking in particular of the access doors to the passenger compartment or the opening of the boot.

Thus, having recognized the coded signal, the control unit transmits to each of the actuators which controls the lock of each opening a supply current which causes unlocking or locking of the lock.

This arrangement has the disadvantage that it can be possible, by intervening on the electrical connection between the central lock and one of the actuators, to control the actuator so to cause the unlocking of the associated lock.

Furthermore, it is also known that the locking device comprises means for transmitting a second coded signal intended for authorize the locking or unlocking of the door lock the trunk of the vehicle, which allows the opening of the passenger compartment to be separated opening the trunk.

Indeed, the user does not necessarily need to open simultaneously both the passenger compartment and the trunk, and on the other hand this allows, in some cases, that the trunk forms a secure space independent of the passenger compartment. So a burglar who would have forced access the passenger compartment will not automatically have access to the trunk of the vehicle.

However, in devices in which all of the actuators of the different locks is controlled directly by the central burglar, it will be possible for the burglar to intervene on the electrical harness, between the central anti-theft system and the actuator of the trunk lock to unlock it.

The object of the invention is therefore to propose a new design of a locking device which makes it possible to make more secure the trunk of the vehicle.

To this end, the invention provides a locking device of the type described above, characterized in that the device has an auxiliary electronic module which is arranged nearby of the motorized actuator of the trunk lock, and in that a second coded signal is received by the device and is transmitted to the module which recognizes to control the motorized actuator for opening from the trunk.

• le signal codé secondaire est transmis au module par la centrale électronique ;
• le signal codé principal est aussi transmis au module électronique auxiliaire ;
• la serrure de coffre, l'actionneur motorisé et le module électronique auxiliaire sont agencés dans un même boítier ;
• le dispositif comporte un contacteur interne d'ouverture de l'ouvrant du coffre qui est agencé à l'intérieur de l'habitacle et qui n'est efficace que si le dispositif a préalablement reconnu le signal codé principal ;
• le dispositif comporte un contacteur externe d'ouverture de l'ouvrant du coffre qui est agencé à l'extérieur du véhicule et qui n'est efficace que si le dispositif a préalablement reconnu le signal codé principal ;
• le contacteur est susceptible d'être inhibé pour lui ôter toute efficacité ;
• le contacteur est relié au module électronique auxiliaire qui commande l'actionneur de la serrure de coffre.

According to other characteristics of the invention:

• the secondary coded signal is transmitted to the module by the electronic control unit;
• the main coded signal is also transmitted to the auxiliary electronic module;
• the trunk lock, the motorized actuator and the auxiliary electronic module are arranged in the same housing;
• the device comprises an internal contactor for opening the boot lid which is arranged inside the passenger compartment and which is only effective if the device has previously recognized the main coded signal;
• the device comprises an external contactor for opening the boot lid which is arranged outside the vehicle and which is only effective if the device has previously recognized the main coded signal;
• the contactor is likely to be inhibited to deprive it of all effectiveness;
• the contactor is connected to the auxiliary electronic module which controls the actuator of the boot lock.

• la figure 1 est un diagramme représentant l'organisation d'un premier mode de réalisation d'un dispositif de verrouillage selon l'invention ; et
• la figure 2 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 1 illustrant un second mode de réalisation de l'invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a diagram showing the organization of a first embodiment of a locking device according to the invention; and
• Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 illustrating a second embodiment of the invention.

The diagram in FIG. 1 illustrates a device 10 for lock for a motor vehicle which comprises in particular a electronic control unit 12 capable of controlling the locking and unlocking of at least some of the vehicle's windows.

In particular, a boot opening of this vehicle is retained in position closed by a trunk lock 14 when the latter is in a closed state. The lock 14 is capable of being brought into a opening state in which it authorizes the passage of the opening towards an open position.

The passage of the lock 14 between its opening and closing is controlled by a motorized actuator 16 which will be seen further how it is flown.

Furthermore, the locking device 10 comprises a receiver 18 which is capable of receiving at least one main coded signal identification C1. This signal C1 is preferably a signal which is emitted by the vehicle user using a radio frequency transmitter or infrared, or which can be returned by a transponder carried by the user.

The receiver 18 transmits this main coded signal C1 to the electronic control unit 12 which ensures recognition and identification. If the C1 code is valid, the control unit 12 can then command the unlocking of the vehicle sashes but also, for example, unlocking the fuel injection system of the vehicle engine or even the deactivation of an alarm. Generally, the control unit 12 directly controls the actuators of the opening locks by transmitting a current thereto supply capable of enabling them to control the lock corresponding.

Furthermore, the device 10 is capable of receiving and recognize a second coded signal C2 whose purpose is to control the unlocking the boot lid.

An auxiliary electronic module 20, which manages the supply electric actuator 16, is arranged near the latter which itself is close to the lock 14 so that the entire module 20, actuator 16 and lock 14 can form a component single 26 of the device 10 capable of being arranged in a housing, of course near the opening of the trunk or on the opening itself.

According to another aspect of the invention, the electronic module auxiliary 20 is able to recognize the secondary coded signal C2 which controls the opening of the boot and the main coded signal C1 user identification.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the coded signals C1 and C2 are for example transmitted, in their coded form, to module 20 by the electronic central unit 12 which itself receives them from the receiver 18. Thanks to this arrangement, it is not possible to intervene on the line electric connecting the electronic control unit 12 to the module 20 for control the unlocking of the boot without knowing the coded signal C1 or C2.

According to another aspect of the invention, provision can be made for contactors 22, 24, which are arranged respectively inside and at outside the vehicle, and which transmit to the electronic module 20 uncoded signals S1 and S2, for example a simple step of voltage, in response to which the auxiliary electronic module 20 causes the opening of the safe provided that you have previously received and recognized the coded signals C1 and C2.

This arrangement eliminates any device manual actuation of lock 14. Indeed, in a device classic, the lock can be controlled between its opening states and closing by a linkage system comprising a handle on which the user acts to cause the opening of the opening. For lock the sash, it is therefore necessary to provide a lock which neutralizes the action of this linkage system.

In the device according to the invention, it is possible to get rid of this linkage system because the lock 14 is controlled by the motorized actuator 16. The linkage system is replaced here by the electrical connection between each of the contactors 22, 24 and the auxiliary module 20. Thus, it is no longer necessary to provide a lock to lock the lock 14.

In this first embodiment of the invention of the figure 1, the set of signals C1, C2, S1, S2 received by the auxiliary module 20 pass through the electronic central unit 12.

This is particularly advantageous since this the latter can then manage the possibilities of opening or closing the trunk based on other vehicle operating parameters which can be transmitted to the control unit 12. It is thus possible to provide to inhibit the switches 22, 24, that is to say to make them ineffective, as long as the vehicle is not stopped, even when the signals coded C1 and C2 would have been validly recognized beforehand.

However, one can choose to implement the invention according to other modalities.

There is thus shown in Figure 2 an alternative embodiment of the invention in which the auxiliary electronic module 20 receives the coded signals C1 and C2 directly from the receiver 18. It also receives directly the non-coded signals S1 and S2 of the internal contactors 22 and external 24, without these having first passed through the central electronic 12.

Of course, the coded signals C1, C2 and the signals not coded S1, S2 can be transmitted parallel to the central unit electronics 12, as shown for the coded signal main C1.

Claims (8)

1. Locking device (10) for a car of the type comprising an electronic unit (12) which controls the locking and unlocking of at least some of the vehicle doors and lids, including the boot lid, of the type in which the boot lid comprises a motorised actuator (16) and a latch (14) which is able to be controlled by the motorised actuator (16) between a closed state in which it keeps the lid in a closed position and an open state in which it allows the lid to pass to an open position, and the device (10) comprising means for receiving (18) and recognising (12) at least one main coded identification signal (C1),
   characterised in that the device (10) comprises an auxiliary electronic module (20) able to be arranged close to the motorised actuator (16) of the boot latch (14), and in that a second coded signal (C2) is received by the reception means (18) and is transmitted to the module (20), which recognises it in order to control the motorised actuator (16) with a view to the separate opening of the boot.
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the secondary coded signal (C2) is transmitted to the module by the electronic unit (12).
3. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the main coded signal (C1) is also transmitted to the auxiliary electronic module (20).
4. Combination of a boot latch (14), a motorised actuator (16) and a device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the boot latch (14), the motorised actuator (16) and the auxiliary electronic module (20) are arranged in the same box (26).
5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises an internal contactor (22) for opening the boot lid which is arranged inside the cabin and which is effective only if the device (10) has previously recognised the main coded signal (C1).
6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the device comprises an external contactor (24) for opening the boot lid which is arranged outside the vehicle and which is effective only if the device (10) has previously recognised the main coded signal (C1).
7. Device according to either one of Claims 5 or 6, characterised in that the contactor (22, 24) is able to be inhibited in order to remove all effectiveness from it.
8. Device according to any one of Claims 5 to 7, characterised in that the contactor (22, 24) is connected to the auxiliary electronic module (20) which controls the actuator (16) for the boot latch (14).

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