EP1283934A1

EP1283934A1 - Motor-vehicle door locking system with quick unlocking

Info

Publication number: EP1283934A1
Application number: EP01931400A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bernd Weyerstall; Peter Bartel
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH; Brose Schliesssysteme GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Brose Schliesssysteme GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2000-05-15
Filing date: 2001-03-29
Publication date: 2003-02-19
Anticipated expiration: 2021-03-29
Also published as: DE10023311A1; EP1283934B1; DE50106525D1; DE10023311B4; AU5820301A; US6737758B2; US20020149262A1; WO2001088316A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor-vehicle door locking system comprising a motor vehicle lock (2) which can be locked and unlocked by means of a motor. Said lock comprises a locking element (10) which can be moved between a locked position and an unlocked position, and a central interlocking drive (12) having a slow driving element (13) for moving the locking element (10). Said door locking system also comprises a control electronic (3) with a passive input function, and a remote control module (5) held by a user. According to said invention, a coupler (14) which is particularly in the form of a centrifugal coupler and only engages from a minimum rotation speed is located between the central interlocking drive (12) and the driving element (13). Said coupler allows easy manual locking of the locking element (10) when the central interlocking drive (12) is stationary. In order to enable a quick unlocking of the inventive locking system, the central interlocking drive (12) comprises, on the coupler side (14), a quick unlocking element (15) which can be actuated upon start-up by the central interlocking drive (12). Upon actuation, the quick unlocking element (15) moves the locking element (10) or another element of the locking system, situated downstream from the locking element, from the locked position to the unlocked position; and, when the coupler (14) is engaged, the central interlocking drive (12) is moved slowly towards the unlocked position, or towards the next rest position, through the unlocked position.

Description

Motor vehicle door locking system with quick release

The invention relates to a motor vehicle door locking system with a motor vehicle lock that can be unlocked and locked, mechanically or by motor, and with control electronics with the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Conventional electromechanical motor vehicle door locking systems with radio remote control are known, but without a passive entry function. In these classic motor vehicle door locking systems, the operator presses a push button on the remote control module. This activates the control electronics and immediately goes through their reaction phase. Due to the distance of the operator when the button on the remote control module is pressed, the operator reaches the outer door handle on the motor vehicle door with such a great time delay that the reaction phase of the control electronics has been completed for a long time and the motor vehicle lock has been unlocked. The operator opens the motor vehicle door by pulling the outer door handle, the motor vehicle lock either opening mechanically, i.e. the pawl is lifted by the movement of the outer door handle, or opened electromechanically or pneumatically, a control signal being sent from the outer door handle to the ventilation drive to lift the Pawl is delivered.

Such a conventional electromechanical motor vehicle door locking system is known, for example, from US Pat. No. 5,240,296. The locking element is driven here by an electromotive central locking drive with an electric drive motor and worm gear. The worm gear of the worm gear is the drive element of the central locking drive, it runs comparatively slowly. The adjustment of the locking element from the locking position to the unlocking position by means of the central locking drive. takes at least 50 ms, usually longer.

Control electronics with a passive entry function, also known as an "electronic key", differ from the classic one explained above

Motor vehicle door locking system in that no manipulation, that is to say no key press, has to be carried out on the remote control module in order to unlock the motor vehicle lock when approaching the motor vehicle. Rather, all of this is done by itself simply when the operator approaches the motor vehicle.

A motor vehicle door locking system with a passive entry function requires a certain reaction phase for the control electronics, which results from a start-up interval in order to activate the system when the remote control module approaches, an authorization check interval to enable the operator to use the coding of the between the remote control module and Control electronics exchanged signals to check their authorization, and finally the actual action interval in which the action takes place, in particular the unlocking of the motor vehicle lock is carried out. (A corresponding reaction phase is also required when locking the motor vehicle door locking system. However, this is less critical because the operator hardly notices it.)

The duration of the reaction phase of approx. 150 ms is perceived as long in comparison with conventional motor vehicle door locking systems if the start-up interval is only started when the outside door handle is actuated. Pulling the outside door handle or the like can namely with a passive entry function and. U. already take place if the reaction phase of the control electronics has not yet been completed. The operator is then annoyed that he has to pull the door handle a second time because this is interpreted as a "malfunction".

Since the resulting total time of the reaction phase cannot be shortened as much as possible, attempts have already been made to conceal the delay time (DE - A - 195 21 024). In this motor vehicle door locking system, the start-up interval and the authorization check interval of the control relocated electronics in a phase that lies before the actual operating phase that is noticeable by the operator. The operator can then only notice the remaining time, which corresponds to the reaction time of mechanical, conventional motor vehicle door locking systems.

Another approach is to not let the start-up interval of the control electronics start only when the outer door handle is actuated, but rather to use an operator's hand to approach the outer door handle to start the start-up interval. For this purpose, it is known to provide a proximity sensor on the outside door handle (DE-A-197 52 974; DE-A-196 17 038), by means of which an operator's hand approaches by about 100 to 150 ms before the outside door handle is touched the hand is gripped. The start-up interval of the control electronics, ie the “waking up” of the control electronics, takes place so far before the actual pulling of the outside door handle that the starting interval and usually also the authorization check interval have already been completed when the outside door handle is pulled by the hand the operator is actually moved.

The use of proximity sensors in motor vehicle door locking systems, men of the type in question brings with it various difficulties. On the one hand, the proximity sensors have a comparatively high quiescent current, on the other hand, it is difficult to set a stable, clear response threshold. External influences such as rain, snow, dust and dirt change the measured values very much, especially with capacitive proximity sensors. Finally, with proximity sensors, the problem of the electromagnetic interference radiation they emit cannot be overlooked. Therefore, despite the difficulties explained above, the motor vehicle door locking systems with a passive entry function, in which an actuation of the outside door handle by the hand of an operator starts the start-up interval of the control electronics, also have considerable advantages.

As can be seen from the above, there is the problem in motor vehicle door locking systems with a passive entry function in all the variants explained above that the reaction phase of the control electronics should be shortened as much as possible, at least with regard to the perception by the operator. In motor vehicle door locking systems, it is known per se to connect the central locking drive to the drive element for the locking element via a centrifugal clutch (EP 0 064 942 B1). This allows the locking element to be adjusted by hand without great resistance, provided the central locking drive is stationary. This is an alternative to the above-mentioned construction of a conventional electromechanical motor vehicle door locking system, in which this adjustment is carried out by hand without great resistance by appropriate design of the locking element. However, the construction there does not work in every position of the central locking drive, in particular not when the central locking drive remains in an unintended position. The use of a centrifugal clutch has clear advantages here.

In the case of a motor vehicle door locking system with a centrifugal clutch on the central locking drive, the problem of the response time also arises when no passive entry function is provided. The central locking drive must first reach the necessary speed before the centrifugal clutch engages and the power train closes to the lock mechanism.

The teaching is based on the problem of improving a motor vehicle door locking system of the type in question, in particular one with a passive entry function, with regard to the reaction of the control electronics, taking into account the fact that the central locking drive only engages with a speed that starts at a minimum speed Clutch, in particular in the form of a centrifugal clutch, is equipped.

The motor vehicle door locking system according to the invention solves the problem outlined above by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1. The motor vehicle door locking system is assigned to the central locking drive of each motor vehicle lock a clutch that only engages from a minimum speed, in particular a centrifugal clutch. An additional quick release is then implemented in a manner tailored to the special features of a centrifugal clutch. This is based on the knowledge that quick unlocking is achieved if the centrifugal clutch is practically bypassed for the unlocking process. In principle, all advantages of using a centrifugal clutch are achieved, however, the disadvantage of using such a clutch is eliminated, namely that it takes a certain amount of time until the central locking drive starts, especially after the end of the authorization test period with the passive entry function, and reached the minimum speed and only then moved the locking element via the centrifugal clutch.

According to the invention, the locking element is moved into the unlocking position immediately after the central locking drive has started, in the passive entry function immediately after the authorization checking period has ended and in the first part of the action interval. The same applies, of course, to an element that is arranged downstream of the locking element in the lock mechanism in the power transmission chain. It is essential that the quick-release element enables the unlocking position of the motor vehicle lock to be reached within a few milliseconds, in particular approximately 10 ms. The effort required for this is minimal, only a simple bypass construction for the coupling is required. One does not forego the advantages of using a clutch, especially in the form of a centrifugal clutch. Their disadvantages, namely a delay in the response of the central locking drive, are elegantly eliminated according to the invention.

It is essential that the central locking drive itself is of classic design with a slow-running drive element and that the time delay for the response, which is caused by the centrifugal clutch, is still present. The central locking drive is tracked with the unavoidable time delay and is then ready for the next function after a slightly longer period of time.

The teaching of the invention can be used particularly valuable if, as already explained above with regard to the prior art, the start-up interval is started by the fact that an operator's hand actually touches the outside door handle. does, especially touches. So far, the length of the reaction phase has been a particular problem with this form, which can dispense with a proximity sensor, because there is a lack of the lead time, which is an advantage for proximity sensors. However, the teaching of the invention naturally also has a time advantage in the case of a motor vehicle door locking system equipped with proximity sensors.

The teaching of the invention can be integrated in a particularly expedient manner even with existing classic electromechanical motor vehicle door locking systems without great additional effort, so that the passive entry function can also be used in existing constructions without disadvantages in terms of operating comfort.

The teaching of the present invention can also be used in particular when the motor vehicle door lock is designed as an electric lock that is actuated by sensors in the lock mechanism. In such a technique, force-effect chains from the outside door handle, from the inside door handle and possibly from the lock cylinder into the lock mechanism serve only to actuate corresponding switches or to influence corresponding sensors. Due to the existence of mechanical power chains, the lock mechanism can be used for the purpose of actuating the pawl etc. if necessary. This concept is the subject of the applicant's earlier patent application 19924 447.

Finally, the teaching of the present invention can also be used in a motor vehicle door locking system without a passive entry function, for example in particularly convenient motor vehicle door locking systems in connection with the actuation of the outer door handle.

Preferred refinements and developments of the teaching of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle lock as such, as can be used in an individual manner in accordance with the invention in a motor vehicle door locking system of the type in question. The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of a drawing which merely shows an exemplary embodiment. In the drawing shows

1 is a schematic and perspective view of a motor vehicle with a door locking system of the type in question,

2 shows an external door handle arrangement in a motor vehicle door locking system according to FIG. 1,

Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a motor vehicle lock with central locking drive and quick release element according to an embodiment of the invention.

The motor vehicle 1 shown schematically in FIG. 1 has a motor vehicle door locking system in which the various motor vehicle locks 2 for motor vehicle doors and motor vehicle flaps are indicated schematically with their installation positions. Each motor vehicle lock 2 is motorized, preferably electromotive, unlockable and lockable, just by means of a central locking drive. When configured as an electric lock, as shown here, the motor vehicle lock 2 additionally has the possibility of a motor-driven opening, that is to say the lifting of the pawl, by means of an opening drive. In this case, the unlocking and locking can only be done in terms of circuitry. Another variant is also to equip the motor vehicle locks 2 with an auxiliary locking drive which can be identical to or separate from the opening drive. To this end, reference may be made to the state of the art (DE - A - 196 29 709 etc.).

Indicated in the motor vehicle door locking system are control electronics 3, which are indicated here as central control electronics, but which can also be assigned decentrally to each of the motor vehicle locks 2. A hood lock 4 for the bonnet of the motor vehicle, which can be operated by means of a key, and a remote control module 5, which is designed as a passive entry chip card, are also provided. The control electronics 3 works overall with a passive entry function, ie with an "electronic key". In this respect, too, reference may be made to the aforementioned prior art become. It is essential that the teaching can also be used in principle in a motor vehicle door locking system with control electronics which are not equipped with a passive entry function.

On the motor vehicle body, an outer door handle 6 or the like can be seen on the respective motor vehicle door, and a lock cylinder 7 on the driver's door for actuation with a mechanical key 8, such actuation taking place in an emergency (emergency unlocking and possibly emergency opening).

As has already been explained for the prior art forming the starting point (DE - A - 195 21 024), it must be taken into account in this motor vehicle door locking system that the control electronics 3 have a reaction phase with a start-up interval, authorization check interval and action interval, in particular for Unlocking the motor vehicle lock 2, needed.

In the prior art it has already been realized that the start-up interval of the control electronics 3 is started by the hand of an operator touching the outer door handle 6. Fig. 2 shows a typical door handle arrangement of a motor vehicle door locking system of the type in question with the outside door handle 6 and the lock cylinder 7. Also indicated is a switching device 9 on the outside door handle 6, with which a switching signal is triggered when the outside door handle 6 is pulled to control an electric opening drive for lifting the pawl. This is a variant of an electric lock; in the case of a mechanically operated lock, the switching device 9 is replaced by a classic transmission mechanism.

3 shows that the motor vehicle lock 2 of this motor vehicle door locking system in the exemplary embodiment shown initially has a locking element 10 which is adjustable between a locking position and an unlocking position. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the locking element 10 is coupled to the rest of the lock mechanism 11, this lock mechanism 11 not having to be explained further below. In any case, the locking element 10 is moved from a locking position into an unlocking position and vice versa by means of an electrical central locking drive 12, preferably shown here, with a slow-running drive element 13 overturned. This is indicated by the letters VS and ES on the lock mechanism 11.

The motor vehicle lock 2 cannot be opened in the locking position; the motor vehicle lock 2 can be opened in the unlocking position of the locking element 10. How this opening takes place, whether mechanical or motorized, is not important in the present context. In this respect, the alternatives of the prior art are to be realized here.

The exemplary embodiment shown shows the electric central locking drive 12 with an electric drive motor and a worm gear, the worm wheel of which forms the slowly running drive element 13 for the locking element 10. Alternatives for ^'appropriate central locking actuators 12 are also linear drives with screw as slowly running drive element 13. Also pneumatic central locking actuators 12 are of course well known.

It is essential that the slowly running drive element 13 can move the locking element 10 back and forth between the locking position and the unlocking position, but that this happens relatively slowly.

In accordance with the invention, it is now provided that between the central locking drive 12 and the drive element 13 there is arranged a clutch 14 which only starts from a minimum speed, which ensures that an easy adjustment of the locking element 10 by hand is possible with the central locking drive 12 stationary. As a rule, such a clutch 14 is a centrifugal clutch in one form or another. For this purpose, reference may be made to the state of the art (EP 0 064 942 B1).

The fact that the clutch 14 engages only from a minimum speed of the central control drive 12 means that after the authorization check interval it takes a longer time until the unlocking position of the lock mechanism is reached from the locking position. This is now countered by assigning the quick release element 15 to the central locking drive 12 on this side of the clutch 14. The- ses-can be actuated by the central locking drive 12 immediately when starting. If the central locking drive 12 runs immediately after the control electronics 3 has completed the authorization check interval, the quick-release element 15 is also actuated immediately. This is now designed so that it immediately moves the locking element 10 or a subordinate element of the lock mechanism 11 from the locking position into the unlocking position.

The central locking drive 12 itself then runs correspondingly more slowly into the unlocking position or via the unlocking position into its next rest position when the clutch 14 is engaged. The advantage of circumventing the centrifugal clutch by means of the quick-release element 15 as required is advantageously realized even when the control electronics 3 are not equipped for a passive entry function, in particular when the outer door handle is actuated.

As has already been explained in the general part of the description, the duration of the reaction phase when unlocking the motor vehicle lock is more problematic than when locking the motor vehicle lock, because it is practically not noticeable to the operator there. The quick-release element 15 is therefore primarily used for the unlocking and thus for the displacement of the locking element 10 from the locking position into the unlocking position.

After the typical reaction time for the central locking drive 12, including the clutch 14, the lock mechanism 11 is completely synchronized again. The central locking drive 12 with its drive element 13 can then be used in a classic manner for locking the motor vehicle lock 2, that is to say for the control element 10 to return from the unlocked position to the locked position.

For the rest, it can also be provided that the central locking drive 12 for the unlocking, that is to say for the displacement of the locking element 10 from the locking position into the unlocking position, in the motor vehicle locks 2 on a motor vehicle does not provide for that the operator has been actuated directly, for example on the passenger door and on the two rear side doors.

With regard to the design of the lock mechanism 11, it is recommended that the quick-release element 15 by the starting central locking drive 12 from its rest position to its operating position and by the locking element 10 returned from the unlocking position to the locking position or the element of the lock mechanism downstream of this from its operating position its rest position is adjustable.

Corresponding characteristics of the lock mechanism 11 can be realized by means of a lost motion connection, for which there are extensive models in the prior art. In the illustrated embodiment, a variant is provided for this purpose, which is characterized in that the locking element 10 is entrained positively on one side by the drive element 13 and in the opposite direction via a releasable detent. A positive locking element 13a on the drive element 13 can be seen in FIG. 3. However, the releasable latching is not shown in FIG. 3 for technical reasons.

The quick-release element 15 can be more or less positively connected to the lock mechanism 11 or the locking element 10. A particularly quick-reacting quick release results from the fact that the quick release element 15 is designed as a spring snap element, which is only released by the central locking drive 12 and then snaps into its actuation position under spring force. The quick-release element 15 is triggered in the manner of a catch only by the starting central locking drive 12, the further movement of the locking element 10 into the unlocking position is then carried out at lightning speed by the pre-tensioned spring.

The teaching of the invention is of particular importance if, for example, a proximity sensor does not offer the possibility of concealing part of the response time of the control electronics 3. This applies to a motor vehicle door locking system in which the start-up interval ^• is started by an operator's hand actuating the outer door handle 6, in particular merely touching it.

The invention relates not only to a motor vehicle door locking system as a whole, but also to a motor vehicle lock which is individualized according to the invention and which, in addition to the preferably electric central locking drive 12 with the slow-running drive element 13 associated with the locking element 10, also has the previously explained coupling 14 with the quick-release element 15.

Claims

claims:

10 1. Motor vehicle door locking system with a motor vehicle lock (2) that can be unlocked and locked mechanically or with a motor, with a locking element (10) that can be adjusted between a locking position and an unlocking position and a preferably electric central locking drive (12)

15 with a slow-running drive element (13) with which the locking element (10) can be adjusted, • with control electronics (3), preferably one with a passive entry function, and a remote control module (5) for an operator,

20, the control electronics (3) having a passive entry function implemented require a reaction phase with start-up interval, authorization check interval and action interval, in particular for unlocking the motor vehicle lock (2), and the start-up interval is started by the operator, preferably without being aware of this fact to be,

2.J characterized in that between the central locking drive (12) and the drive element (13) only a clutch (14) engaging above a minimum speed, in particular

30 of which is arranged in the form of a centrifugal clutch, which ensures that an easy adjustment of the locking element (10) by hand when the central locking drive (12) is stationary, that the central locking drive (12) on this side of the clutch (14) has a quick release element (15) assigned by the central locking

35 drive (12) can be actuated immediately upon start-up, that the quick-release element (15) adjusts the locking element (10) or a subordinate element of the lock mechanism when actuated immediately from the locking position into the unlocking position and that the central locking drive (12) runs correspondingly slower into the unlocking position or via the unlocking position into the next rest position when the clutch (14) is engaged.

2. Motor vehicle door locking system according to claim 1, characterized in that the quick release element (15) by the starting central locking drive (12) from its rest position to its actuation position and by the locking element (10), which is reset from the unlocking position to the locking position, or by the element arranged downstream thereof the lock mechanism is adjustable from its operating position back to its rest position.

3. Motor vehicle door locking system according to claim ^' 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking element (10) from the drive element (13) is entrained on one side positively and in the opposite direction via a releasable detent.

4. Motor vehicle door locking system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the quick release element (15) is designed as a spring snap element, which is only released by the central locking drive (12) and then snaps into its actuating position under spring force.

5. Motor vehicle door locking system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the action interval is started by the hand of an operator actuating an outside door handle (6).

6. Motor vehicle lock for a motor vehicle door locking system according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized by the features of the characterizing part of one or more of the preceding claims.