EP1116839A2 - Vehicle door lock, vehicle door locking system and method of controlling a vehicle door lock - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrically controllable motor vehicle door lock, a motor vehicle door locking system with such a motor vehicle door lock and a method for controlling such a motor vehicle door lock are proposed. A simple, optimal adjustability of the functionality of the motor vehicle door lock is made possible by storing control parameters determining the functionality of the motor vehicle door lock in an electrical memory in the motor vehicle door lock. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock according to the Preamble of claim 1, a motor vehicle door locking system according to the The preamble of claim 5 and a method for controlling a motor vehicle door lock according to the preamble of claim 7.

Under motor vehicle door lock there is generally a side door lock, a rear door lock, a tailgate lock, a hood lock o. dg1. a motor vehicle to understand.

A motor vehicle door lock preferably has a high functionality on, d. H. it can perform a variety of different functions. Each if necessary, it is desirable to have some functions of a motor vehicle door lock to activate or deactivate. For example, from the Practice known a motor vehicle door lock for a rear motor vehicle door, which is a manually operated, mechanical switching device for Activation or deactivation of the child safety function - opening the Motor vehicle door lock only by means of an external operating lever.

The present invention relates to an electrically controlled motor vehicle door lock. From the starting point of the present invention US 5,113,182 A is known a motor vehicle door locking system, in which several motor vehicle door locks on a motor vehicle on-board electronics of the motor vehicle are connected. The on-board electronics has a central control module that opens and closes or unlock and lock the motor vehicle door locks by means of a suitable software depending on external control signals, such as a Actuating an external control switch or a remote control, controls. The functionality of the motor vehicle door locking system, i.e. whether, for example opening a motor vehicle door all other motor vehicle door locks unlocked, is by manually operated switch on the central Selectable control module.

The aforementioned motor vehicle door locking system with central activation or deactivation of functions of the motor vehicle door locks does not do justice to the high functionality of today's motor vehicle door locks. In addition is a different, if necessary, different definition of the functionality individual motor vehicle door locks not provided. Another The disadvantage is that the central control module with its switches is good must be arranged accessible to later change the initial To be able to make settings.

The present invention has for its object to be an electrically controllable Motor vehicle door lock, a motor vehicle door locking system with at least one such motor vehicle door lock and a method for Specify control of such a motor vehicle door lock, so that a simple adaptation or definition of the functionality of a motor vehicle door lock and in particular the use of largely unified Motor vehicle door locks or software and / or hardware components for motor vehicle door locks for different uses, such as for a driver's door, a passenger door or a rear door.

The above object is achieved by a motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1 or 2, a motor vehicle door locking system according to claim 5 or a method according to claim 7 solved. Advantageous further training are the subject of the subclaims.

An essential idea of the present invention is to meet needs adapted or changeable control parameters for each motor vehicle door lock to use individually, especially in a memory of the respective Motor vehicle door lock o. The like to put, so that the functionality of the motor vehicle door lock is determined by its control parameters. In other words, an electrical or electronic fixing takes place the functionality of the motor vehicle door lock, which is particularly decentralized in the respective motor vehicle door locks. this makes possible a largely universal applicability of the motor vehicle door lock, the functionality especially from the lock manufacturer and / or can be set or changed by the motor vehicle manufacturer so that the same type of motor vehicle door lock for different applications or at least the same software and / or hardware components of the Motor vehicle door lock can be used, which in particular Considerable cost savings in terms of mass production can be achieved.

Another essential idea of the present invention is that different control parameters or sets of control parameters for different ones Functional or closed states of the motor vehicle door lock are usable. So the conditions for the transition from one state to another state of the motor vehicle door lock regardless of what states or possible combinations can occur overall. So there is a simple optimal configuration and setting options for the motor vehicle door lock.

Another aspect of the present invention is that the adjustment or determining the functionality of the motor vehicle door lock only by setting or changing the control parameters, in particular software, takes place. This is particularly with regard to a subsequent Change or adaptation of the functionality of the motor vehicle door lock at the motor vehicle manufacturer or later in a motor vehicle workshop advantageous because otherwise a large number of switches for each motor vehicle door lock made accessible and would have to be set manually. Due to the adjustability of the conditions for state transitions especially the advantage that by combining the different Parameters new functions can be specified (retrospectively) that otherwise in advance with considerable expense - for example by provision a corresponding manually operated switch - defined or fixed should be.

Fig. 1

eine schematische, perspektivische Darstellung eines Kraftfahrzeugs mit einem mehrere Kraftfahrzeug-Türschlösser aufweisenden Kraftfahrzeug-Türschließsystem;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung eines vorschlagsgemäßen Kraftfahrzeug-Türschlosses; und

Fig. 3

eine schematische Darstellung des Kraftfahrzeug-Türschließsystems mit vier Kraftfahrzeug-Türschlössern.

Further details, features, objectives and advantages of the present invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing of a preferred exemplary embodiment. It shows:

Fig. 1

a schematic, perspective view of a motor vehicle with a motor vehicle door locking system having a plurality of motor vehicle door locks;

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of a proposed motor vehicle door lock; and

Fig. 3

is a schematic representation of the motor vehicle door locking system with four motor vehicle door locks.

1 shows a motor vehicle 1 with motor vehicle doors 2. Motor vehicle door locks 3 are the motor vehicle doors 2 and a bonnet and one Assigned to the tailgate or a trunk lid of the motor vehicle 1, arrows 4 indicate the approximate installation positions in FIG. 1.

The motor vehicle door lock 3 is, at least as far as it is a motor vehicle door 2 is assigned as an electrically controllable lock, in particular as an electric lock, trained, which will be discussed in more detail later. In addition can the motor vehicle door lock 3, in particular like this in the case of Driver door is shown, assigned a lock cylinder 5 in the usual way be so that this motor vehicle door lock 3 by means of a suitable key 6 or dg1. is lockable and unlockable, for example. The same applies accordingly as required for the other motor vehicle door locks 3, in particular in the case of the hood lock and possibly also the rear lock, opening provided by means of a locking cylinder 5 and a suitable key 6 can be.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of the proposed motor vehicle door lock 3, the so-called electric lock in the example is trained. The motor vehicle door lock 3 thus has an electric motor Drive 7, as indicated in Fig. 2, on. The drive 7 acts to a conventional locking mechanism of the motor vehicle door lock 3, for example on a pawl 8, the securing of an associated rotary latch 9 of the motor vehicle door lock 3 or the like. It goes without saying that other types of locking mechanisms can be used here.

The drive 7 has in particular an electric motor. However, he can also by another, in particular electrically working or controllable Actuator or the like.

However, the motor vehicle door lock 3 cannot be used as an electric lock be trained. Rather, the drive 7 can also be pneumatic, for example or act hydraulically or be actuable. It is essential that a electrically or electronically operating control unit 10 is provided, which controls the drive 7.

In the preferred embodiment of the drive, as in the illustration example 7 as an electric motor or electrical actuator, the control unit 10 with the Drive 7 electrically connected.

The control unit 10 is integrated in the motor vehicle door lock 3 and in particular into a housing 11 of the motor vehicle door lock, which is only indicated by dashed lines in FIG 3 installed.

The motor vehicle door lock 3 has one indicated only schematically in FIG. 2 Connection device 12, such as a connector, not shown. Like. On, on which the motor vehicle door lock 3 or in particular the Control unit 10 electrically to central electronics or on-board electronics 13 of the motor vehicle 1, as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 3, can be connected or are. The on-board electronics 13 of the motor vehicle 1 and those connected to it Motor vehicle door locks 3, as shown in FIG. 3, form a motor vehicle door locking system 14, which will be discussed in more detail later.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 10 preferably has a microprocessor 15 or the like for controlling or executing a corresponding one Control program. A memory 16 is also provided, in particular is integrated in the control unit 10 and a storage of control parameters serves the functionality of the motor vehicle door lock 3rd determine and on which the microprocessor 15 or the control program of the Access control unit 10. The control parameters are therefore in the motor vehicle door lock 3 or stored in memory 16.

The memory 16 is preferably electrically writable and electrical overwritable or erasable, in particular it is a so-called EEPROM trained. Such a memory 16 is available at low cost and allows an "electronic" setting or change of the control parameters.

The motor vehicle door lock 3 can also have at least one sensor 17, such as indicated in Fig. 2, have, for example, the catch 9 for detection the current closed position of the rotary latch 9 is assigned. Alternatively or in addition, the sensor 17 can also have a current position of the drive 7 and / or detect other parts of the lock. The sensor 17 is with the Control unit 10 for providing sensor signals for controlling the Motor vehicle lock 3 and / or forwarding of the functional or Signals indicating the closed state to the on-board electronics 13, in particular a central locking system or the like, connected,

The motor vehicle door locks 3 of the motor vehicle door locking system 14 are preferably via a bus system 18, as indicated in Fig. 3, to the Central control or on-board electronics 13 of motor vehicle 1 are connected. In particular, the bus system 18 can be a conventional CAN (Controlled Area Network) or the like. The transmission facilities 12 of the motor vehicle door locks 3 are adapted accordingly.

Alternatively, the motor vehicle door locks 3 can also be used in another way, for example, each directly connected to the on-board electronics 13.

Control elements, not shown here, assigned to the motor vehicle locks 3, like an outside operation switch or lever, an inside operation switch or lever, a touch sensor, an actuation sensor and / or a central locking switch, can via the on-board electronics 13, the bus system 18 and / or directly to the motor vehicle door locks 3 be connected. The controls, a remote control, the on-board electronics 13 and / or another device deliver external control signals, accordingly an assigned or connected motor vehicle door lock 3 or more motor vehicle door locks 3 supplied become. The control unit 10 of the respective motor vehicle door lock 3 then controls the motor vehicle door lock 3 or in particular the drive 7 taking into account the control parameters stored in the memory 16, where the external control signals, in particular as explained in more detail later, in the respective motor vehicle door lock 3 or in the respective control unit 10 modified or further processed.

If the control unit 10 of a motor vehicle door lock 3 is an external one Control signal - for example to open the motor vehicle door lock 3 from an assigned interior control lever - receives, the control checks or the control program first, whether the control parameter or parameters an execution of the control signal - here, for example, the opening of the Motor vehicle door lock 3 - allow. For example, such Opening when operating an internal control lever should not be permitted.

Based on the above example of child safety, the following is preferably in the control unit 10 or the control program ongoing processing or evaluation of the external control signals explained in more detail.

A control parameter that activates the childproof lock is stored in the memory 16 or deactivated. For example, if childproof lock is deactivated a corresponding bit in the memory 16 is set to "0". When switched off Childproof lock, this control bit is then set to "1". The external Control signal "opening due to actuation of the internal locking lever" is considered logical "1", which is a logical link with subject to the control bit of the corresponding control parameter becomes. This link can be viewed as modification or filtering become. The result is a modified control signal. Depending on this modified control signal is then the motor vehicle door lock 3 by means of of the drive 7 opened (modified control signal = 1) or not (modified Control signal is = 0). An AND link is useful here.

With the linkage or modification or filtering explained above the control parameter can also be used as a mask for modifying the corresponding one external control signal can be viewed.

It goes without saying that due to the different possible combinations of functional and closed states of the motor vehicle door. lock 3 and external control signals that can meet, Several control parameters with one control signal and possibly also with other links and / or with different weightings or priorities, can be linked. Depending on the combination and presentation multi-dimensional and / or multiple logical links and / or vector-like or matrix-like connections or multiplication, taking into account the control parameters stored in the memory 16 from the control unit 10 or, in particular, its microprocessor 15 by means of a corresponding control program or a corresponding one Software run.

Of course, the control unit 10 also takes into account the sensor 17 or signals supplied in any other way, in particular the closed state and / or functional states - for example the functional state "unlocked" from a central locking device, not shown - communicate or map.

Another essential aspect of the present invention is that independent control parameters or sets of control parameters provided for different states of the motor vehicle door lock 3 are, so that the control parameters are only conditions for transitions from one state of the motor vehicle door lock to another Define or define the state of the motor vehicle door lock 3. On A transition to a different state only takes place if there is a corresponding one external control signal is present or has been received and the corresponding control parameters for this change of state based on the current state of the motor vehicle door lock 3 permitted or permitted in the new state, in particular thus forms a logical "1". This results in the greatest possible flexibility when determining the functionality of the motor vehicle door lock 3rd

The entry and / or change of the control parameters in the memory 16 of the proposed one Motor vehicle door lock 3 is preferably carried out by means of appropriate software or a corresponding program. In particular, it is provided that the control parameters by means of On-board electronics 13 via the connection device 12 and in particular via the bus system 18 or the like can be set or changed. Preferably the control parameters can be determined by means of the on-board electronics 13.

Alternatively or additionally, an adjusting device, not shown, is used for Setting the control parameters to the on-board electronics 13, in particular via a diagnostic connector 19 indicated in FIG. 3 or another connection device, and thus to the motor vehicle door locks 3 of the motor vehicle door locking system 14 connectable.

Claims (8)

Motor vehicle door lock (3) with in particular an electric drive (7), a control unit (10) controlling the drive (7) and a connection device (12) via which the motor vehicle door lock (3), in particular its control unit (10), can be electrically connected to on-board electronics (13) of an assigned motor vehicle (1),
characterized,
that the motor vehicle door lock (3) or the control unit (10) has an associated memory (16) for storing at least one control parameter, which can be read by the control unit (10) to determine the functionality of the motor vehicle door lock (3), the at least one control parameter being specifiable and changeable via the connection device (12). Motor vehicle door lock (3), in particular according to claim 1, with in particular an electric drive (7) and a control unit (10) controlling the drive (7),
characterized,
that the motor vehicle door lock (3) or the control unit (10) has an associated memory (16) for storing various or independent control parameters or sets of control parameters for different functional or closed states of the motor vehicle door lock (3), which can be read by the control unit (10) for determining the functionality of the motor vehicle door lock (3), so that the functionality of the motor vehicle door lock (3) can depend on its current functional or closed state. Motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that that the memory (16) is electrically writable and electrically rewritable or is designed to be erasable. Motor vehicle door lock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the connection device (12) for connection to a bus system (18) for several electrical devices, in particular several Motor vehicle door locks (3) is formed. Motor vehicle door locking system (14) with at least one motor vehicle door lock (3), which has in particular an electric drive (7) and a control unit (10) controlling the drive (7), and with on-board electronics (13) of an assigned motor vehicle (1 ), to which the motor vehicle door lock (3), in particular its control unit (10), is electrically connected,
characterized,
that the motor vehicle door lock (3) is designed according to one of the preceding claims. Motor vehicle door locking system according to claim 5, characterized in that the motor vehicle door locking system (14) is designed such that to the on-board electronics (13), in particular via a diagnostic connector (19) or another connection device, a setting device for input and / or changing the control parameters of several in particular or all motor vehicle door locks connected to the on-board electronics (13) (3) can be connected. Method for controlling a motor vehicle door lock with an in particular electric drive and an in particular program-controlled control unit, the control unit controlling the drive as a function of external control signals, in particular of control signals from an outside actuation switch, touch sensor, actuation sensor, inside actuation switch, central locking device and / or remote control ,
characterized,
that the external control signals are modified as a function of control parameters, which in turn depend on the respective functional or closed state of the motor vehicle door lock, and the drive is controlled as a function of the modified control signals. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that for modification the external control signals in the form of logic states of a logic Subject to linkage with corresponding control parameters become.

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