EP3303742B1 - Method of driving a vehicle door lock - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for controlling a motor vehicle door lock according to the preamble of claim 1.

In today's motor vehicles, more and more functions are being used which make operation easier and increase comfort. For example, it is known to use locking systems on side doors and / or tailgates and / or sliding doors that independently close the flaps or doors. For this purpose, the flaps or doors are closed after the door has been closed into a first latching position, which is referred to below as the pre-latching position. From this pre-locking position, an electric drive then mostly acts on the locking system and moves the door into the final closed position, which is referred to below as the main locking position in relation to the motor vehicle door lock. Moving the door or flap into the main latching position is also referred to as closing. In addition to simply pulling from a preliminary catch into a main catch, it is also known to also use drive systems for opening and / or closing the side door. The doors are usually operated by a sensor and can be opened and closed completely.

With all of these locking systems, additional functions can be used which, for example, increase safety for occupants. A well-known child restraint system is child safety. A child lock includes the function that a child or person who is usually in a back seat cannot open the motor vehicle door, which means that even if the person in the motor vehicle tries to get out, the interior actuation lever is deactivated.

In addition to closing and a security device, locks can be equipped with systems for electrical opening. An electric opening describes the function in which the operator manually actuates the inner operating lever or outer door handle, in which the actual opening of the Castle is done by means of a mostly electric drive. In this case, for example, an external operating lever can only actuate a signal transmitter, such as a switch, so that an electrical signal is generated, as a result of which the drive can be activated by means of a control unit. Alternatively, the external operating lever can be mechanically connected to an operating lever in the motor vehicle door lock and, for example, can perform a pivoting movement. The actuating lever can in turn actuate a switching means or a signal transmitter, which in turn sends a signal to the control unit, so that the drive can in turn be activated. Electrical opening thus describes an opening triggered by a drive, that is to say unlocking the locking mechanism. The electric drive can be connected to a gear and a drive pulley, which then interacts with a release lever that mechanically unlocks the locking mechanism.

A motor vehicle door lock with a mechanism for electrical opening is from the DE 10 2012 003 743 A1 known. An electric drive, consisting of a motor, worm and driven pulley, can set a release lever in motion when it is actuated, the release lever acting directly on the pawl and unlocking the locking mechanism, consisting of a rotary latch and pawl. An actuating lever, which can be, for example, an inside actuating lever or an outside actuating lever, interacts with an alarm after actuation by means of the outside handle or the inside door handle, which in turn activates the electric drive via a control unit. The motor vehicle door lock is in the locked state, that is to say the motor vehicle door lock is opened electrically without there being a mechanical operative connection between the actuating lever and the release lever. The actuating lever and trigger lever are mechanically decoupled by means of the locking device. Only in the event that an emergency actuation is necessary, for example in the event of a power failure, does the electric drive move in a direction opposite to the opening direction and unlock the motor vehicle door lock. In this case, an operator then has the option of mechanically actuating the actuating lever and bringing the release lever into engagement with the locking mechanism, so that the flap, door or sliding door can be opened.

From the DE 20 2012 003 171 U1 Another electrically opening motor vehicle door lock is known. In addition to the electric opening drive, which also consists of a mechanism consisting of an electric motor worm and driven pulley, this motor vehicle door lock has a child lock. The motor vehicle door lock is usually in the locked state, and an actuating lever can be actuated by means of a handle, such as an inner door handle or an outer door handle. The actuating lever acts on an opening switch which initiates the electric drive via a control unit. The operating lever and release lever are decoupled. If a child lock is inserted, a child lock sensor is activated, and the control unit evaluates the signal of the child lock sensor when an interior door handle is activated. When the inner operating lever is actuated by the inner door handle, an opening switch is actuated. If the child safety sensor is also activated, the door cannot be opened. Mechanical and electrical opening of the motor vehicle door lock is thus prevented.

GB 2 320 943 A describes a method according to the preamble of claim 1. In this known method, the child safety device is deactivated by means of a drive 70 if the door is to be opened.

Starting from the known prior art, the object is to improve a known method for controlling a motor vehicle door lock. In particular, the task is to provide a method with which the structure can be simplified without reducing the scope of functions or without having to omit safety-relevant functions. In addition, there is the task of providing an inexpensive and structurally simple solution for actuating an electrically opening motor vehicle door lock.

According to the invention, the object is achieved by the features of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims. It is pointed out that the exemplary embodiments described in the following are not restrictive, rather there are any possible variations of the ones in the description and the subclaims as well as the features described possible.

• ein Gesperre,
• einen elektrischen Antrieb, wobei mittels des Antriebs das Gesperre entsperrt wird,
• eine Kindersicherungseinrichtung mit einem Kindersicherungssensor, wobei je nach Schaltstellung des Kindersicherungssensors der Antrieb aktiviert oder nicht aktiviert wird,
• einen Zuziehantrieb, mit dem das Gesperre von einer Vorrastposition in eine Hauptrastposition überführt wird,
  wobei
• dem Gesperre ein Gesperresensor zugeordnet ist;
• der Gesperresensor aktiviert wird, wenn das Gesperre vollkommen gesperrt ist;
• je nach Schaltstellung des Gesperresensors der Antrieb aktiviert oder nicht aktivierbar wird;
• ein Betätigungshebel vorgesehen ist;
• mittels des Betätigungshebels zumindest ein Öffnungsschalter betätigt wird;
• der Öffnungsschalter abgefragt wird;
• bei aktiviertem Öffnungsschalter der Kindersicherungssensor abgefragt wird;
• bei aktiviertem Kindersicherungssensor der Zuziehantrieb abgefragt wird;
• bei aktiviertem Zuziehantrieb der Gesperresensor abgefragt wird;
• bei deaktiviertem Gesperresenor die Tür geöffnet wird.

The invention proposes a method for controlling a motor vehicle door lock, the motor vehicle door lock having

• a ratchet,
• an electric drive, the locking mechanism being unlocked by means of the drive,
• a child safety device with a child safety sensor, the drive being activated or not activated depending on the switch position of the child safety sensor,
• a closing drive with which the locking mechanism is transferred from a pre-locking position to a main locking position,
  in which
• a locking sensor is assigned to the locking mechanism;
• the lock sensor is activated when the lock is completely locked;
• Depending on the switching position of the locking sensor, the drive is activated or cannot be activated;
• an operating lever is provided;
• at least one opening switch is actuated by means of the actuating lever;
• the opening switch is queried;
• if the opening switch is activated, the child lock sensor is queried;
• when the child lock sensor is activated, the closing drive is queried;
• the locking sensor is queried when the closing drive is activated;
• the door is opened when the lock sensor is deactivated.

The use of a locking sensor now makes it possible to provide a motor vehicle door lock in which the same functions are provided with a smaller number of components without sacrificing security features. The locking sensor can be used to make a direct statement as to whether the locking mechanism is in a closed position or an open position. Depending on the position of the locking mechanism, the locking sensor can be evaluated and provide a signal for a control unit with which the electrical drive can be activated or deactivated. In particular, by means of the locking sensor the closed position of the door, flap or sliding door can be determined so that the drive can be activated to open.

If one speaks in the context of the invention of a motor vehicle door lock, then such locking systems are common that keep flaps, doors and / or sliding doors, components of the motor vehicle in their closed position. Such motor vehicle door locks include a locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch and pawl.

The locking mechanism can also be equipped with two or more pawls or, for example, have a locking or blocking lever. Such locking mechanisms are known from the prior art. In addition, the motor vehicle door lock according to the invention has an electric drive with which the locking mechanism can be unlocked. The electric drive mostly acts indirectly, but can also act directly on a release lever, which then mechanically engages and unlocks the locking mechanism.

The electric drive can comprise an electric motor, a worm and an output gear, the output gear acting directly on the release lever. According to the invention, a child safety device is also provided which comprises a child safety sensor. The child safety sensor can be equipped as a switching element or as a touch-sensitive sensor. Depending on the switch position of the child safety sensor, a signal is forwarded to a control unit, which in turn activates or does not activate the electric drive.

The motor vehicle door lock according to the invention also has a closing drive. A locking mechanism can be moved from a pre-locking position to a main locking position by means of a closing drive. A pre-locking position is the position of the door, flap or hood in which the door is already closed and is held in position and in particular in a locking position by means of the locking mechanism. The motor vehicle door is then transferred from the pre-locking position to the main locking position, in which the door is in the fully closed position, by means of a mostly electric drive.

If the child safety device is switched on or inserted, and the motor vehicle door lock is moved from the pre-latching position into the main latching position by means of the closing drive, the door should be able to be opened using the interior operating lever. To do this, the childproof lock must be deactivated. Deactivation can take place, for example, by means of an electric drive. According to the object of the invention, an electric drive for designing the child safety device can be dispensed with. By integrating the locking sensor, a further signal is available with which a statement about the closed position of the door is possible. By integrating the locking sensor, the control unit can be used to activate the electric drive to open the door when the interior operating lever is actuated. A mechanical design of the child lock is therefore not necessary.

In one embodiment of the invention, the locking device can detect the locking position in the pre-locking and main locking positions. If the immediate position of the locking mechanism in the pre-locking and main locking positions can be detected by means of the locking sensor, a control unit can bypass the child safety sensor signal and thus give an operator of the interior operating lever the possibility of opening the door or interrupting a closing process and interrupting a closing. By determining the position of the locking mechanism in a position between the first latch and the main latch, an operator of the interior operating handle located in the vehicle can be given the opportunity to open a side door which has not yet been completely closed, even when the child safety lock is inserted. This offers a high level of security and at the same time ensures that the child safety function is fully available when the door is closed.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the locking sensor can advantageously be arranged on a rotary latch of the locking mechanism. An immediate query of the position of the rotary latch contains a high degree of security. If the rotary latch is in its end position, that is to say in the position in which the door is completely closed, and if exactly this position is queried by means of the locking sensor, malfunctions can be prevented with the greatest possible safety.

According to the invention, an actuating lever is provided and at least one opening switch can be actuated by means of the actuating lever. An operating lever can be an inside operating lever as well as an outside operating lever. The actuating lever is actuated by means of an inner door handle or an outer door handle, with the actuating lever moving the release lever in the unlocked state, so that the locking mechanism can be unlocked. The actuating lever advantageously interacts with an opening switch. Preferably, the inside actuation lever as well as the outside actuation lever actuates a common opening switch. A further switch can be provided upstream of the opening switch, with which the actuating lever comes into contact before the opening switch is reached and which is used to activate the control unit. This further upstream switch can thus be referred to as a wake-up or wake-up switch. An inner operating lever and an outer operating lever are thus advantageously provided, and at least the opening switch can be operated with the inner operating lever and the outer operating lever.

A further advantageous embodiment results when a clutch lever is provided and when the actuating lever can be coupled to a release lever by means of the clutch lever. The provision of a clutch lever makes it possible through a movement of the clutch lever, which can be, for example, a sliding movement or a rotary movement or a pivoting movement, that the actuating lever can be coupled to the release lever. The clutch lever can preferably be actuated by an electric drive. Here, the clutch lever can have an actuating pin which engages, for example, in grooves of the release lever and the actuating lever and thus couples the levers which are mounted so as to be pivotable.

If a locking lever is provided and the coupling lever can be moved by means of the locking lever so that the actuating lever can be coupled, a further embodiment of the invention results. The actuating lever is designed as a pivotably mounted lever. The inner operating lever, the outer operating lever and the trigger lever are preferably mounted on a common axis. The clutch lever can slide the inner actuation lever and / or the outer actuation lever engage with the release lever depending on the position of the clutch lever. For this purpose, the clutch lever is moved by means of a locking lever which is also pivotably mounted. In a first position of the clutch lever, the inner actuation lever and the outer actuation lever are coupled to the release lever, that is to say mechanically engaged. In this position, the outer actuation lever can be moved by actuating an outer door handle, for example, and the locking mechanism can be unlocked mechanically and electrically and the motor vehicle door lock can thus be opened.

In a second position of the clutch lever, the external actuation lever is brought out of engagement with the release lever. In this position, the lock can be released by actuating the inner door handle and thus the inner operating lever, so that the clutch lever returns to its original position and the motor vehicle door lock can be opened again by means of the outer operating lever. In a further third position of the clutch lever, neither the external actuation lever nor the internal actuation lever is in engagement with the release lever, with the interior door handle also being released from engagement with the locking device. This means that the lock cannot be released even when the interior door handle is actuated. This position of the clutch lever is achieved by the child safety device. The operating lever is movable and operates the opening switch. Mechanical unlocking is not possible in this position of the clutch lever.

If the child safety device interacts with the clutch lever, so that the inner operating lever can be uncoupled by means of the child safety device, this results in a further advantageous embodiment of the invention. By engaging the child safety device in the clutch lever, a structurally favorable solution for achieving the child safety function is made possible. The child safety device preferably consists of a pivotably received child safety element which can preferably be actuated from the outside by the operator using a tool, such as a motor vehicle key or a screwdriver.

The child safety sensor interacts with the child safety element, which forwards a signal to the control unit, depending on the position of the child safety element, so that it can be detected whether the child safety device is activated or deactivated. The child safety device preferably consists of the child safety sensor, the child safety element pivotably mounted in the motor vehicle door lock and a driver which engages on the one hand with the child safety element and on the other hand with the clutch lever and / or locking lever.

In preferred embodiments, the inner actuation lever and the outer actuation lever are mounted with the same axis. In addition, the inner actuation lever and the outer actuation lever, that is to say the actuation levers, are likewise mounted in the same axis as the release lever.

In an alternative embodiment, a control unit is provided, the switch positions of the switches being able to be queried by means of the control unit, so that the drive can be activated or deactivated. The various settings on the motor vehicle door lock can be detected and the drives activated by means of the control unit. The switching position of the sensors and switches is queried by means of the control unit and corresponding control signals are sent to the drive or drives. If, for example, the outside operating lever is operated by means of the outside door handle, the outside operating lever swings and activates the wake-up switch and subsequently the opening switch. The control unit thus detects a signal with which the drive can be activated, so that the motor vehicle door lock can be unlocked and the door, flap or sliding door can be opened.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the attached drawings and flow charts using a preferred exemplary embodiment. However, the principle applies that the exemplary embodiment does not restrict the invention, but merely represents an advantageous embodiment. The features shown can be carried out individually or in combination with other features of the description as well as the patent claims individually or in combination, as defined in the claims.

FIG. 1

einen elektrisch betätigbaren Kraftfahrzeugtürverschluss gemäß dem Stand der Technik,

FIG. 2

die Draufsicht auf einen elektrisch betätigbaren Kraftfahrzeugseitentürverschluss gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung,

FIG. 3

ein Verfahren in Form eines Flussdiagramms zur Darstellung einer Betätigung eines Innenbetätigungshebels bei einem Kraftfahrzeugseitentürverschluss gemäß dem Stand der Technik,

FIG. 4

ein Verfahren in Form eines Flussdiagramms zum Öffnen einer Seitentür mittels eines Innenbetätigungshebels zum elektrischen Öffnen der Tür gemäß der Erfindung.

Show it:

FIG. 1

an electrically operated motor vehicle door lock according to the prior art,

FIG. 2

the top view of an electrically operated motor vehicle side door lock according to an embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 3

1 shows a method in the form of a flow chart for representing an actuation of an interior actuation lever in a motor vehicle side door lock according to the prior art,

FIG. 4

a method in the form of a flow chart for opening a side door by means of an inner operating lever for electrically opening the door according to the invention.

In the FIG. 1 is a generic motor vehicle door lock shown in the prior art. A trigger lever 1 is pivotally received about an axis 2. The trigger lever 1 is driven by an electric motor 3 and a driven pulley 4 in the direction of the arrow, so that a locking mechanism can be unlocked. An actuating lever 5 is also pivotally mounted about the axis 2 axially with the trigger lever 1. The actuating lever 5 can be coupled to the locking lever 10 via the clutch lever 6. The clutch lever 6 also interacts with the child safety element 14.

If the motor vehicle door lock is now locked and the childproof lock is inserted, an occupant of the motor vehicle cannot unlock the motor vehicle door lock in the closed state and thus cannot open the door. In particular, in the case in which the motor vehicle door lock has a closing drive, the motor vehicle door should be able to be opened by means of the inner door handle or the inner operating lever even during the electrical closing. The child lock must be designed for this. Laying out, for example, by means of a FIG. 1 not shown and temporary acting directly on the child safety element electric motor.

In the FIG. 2 a motor vehicle door lock 21 according to the invention is shown in principle. The motor vehicle door lock 21 has a locking mechanism 22 consisting of pawl 23 and rotary latch 24. A locking sensor 25 interacts directly with the rotary latch 24. As can be seen, the position of the rotary latch 24 is queried or detected directly by means of the locking sensor 25. A release lever 28 can be actuated by means of an electric drive 26 and a drive disk 27. The release lever is able to unlock the locking mechanism 22. By means of a child safety device 29, the motor vehicle door lock 21 can be made inoperative in such a way that the locking mechanism cannot be unlocked by means of an inner door handle 30. The child safety sensor 31 can be used to determine whether the child safety device 29 is inserted or not, that is, whether it is activated or deactivated.

A closing drive, not shown, acts directly on the locking mechanism 22, in particular on the rotary latch 24, and is able to transfer the locking mechanism 22 from a pre-locking position to a main locking position. In the main locking position of the locking mechanism 22, the rotary latch 24 activates the locking sensor 25.

A wake-up switch 33 and an opening switch 34 can be actuated by means of an actuating lever 32. The actuating lever 32 can be coupled to the locking lever 36 via a coupling lever 35. A driver 37 acts between the child safety device 29 and on the locking device 36 and the clutch lever 35. The switching elements 25, 31, 33, 34, 38 and 39 contained in the motor vehicle door lock 21 are connected to a control unit 40, as indicated by the dashed lines. The interaction or the integration of the switching means 25, 31, 33, 34, 38 and 39 when the inner operating lever 30 is actuated when the door is closed in cooperation with the control unit 40 is reproduced in the following flow diagrams.

The FIG. 3 shows a flow chart for opening a side door and in particular a rear side door when the inner door handle 30 and thus the actuating lever 32 are actuated.

If the inner door handle 30 and thus the actuating lever 32 are moved, the opening switch 34 is actuated. If the opening switch 34 is actuated, it takes place a further query as to whether the child safety sensor 31 is activated or deactivated. If the child lock switch is activated and the child lock is thus inserted, a first query 41 is made as to whether the child lock device 29 has been temporarily switched off by means of a release switch. The vehicle driver can, for example, temporarily switch off the child safety sensor.

If the release switch has been actuated, the door can be opened, which can be seen in the flow diagram in the lower right box. If, after querying the child safety sensor 31, a closing process 42 takes place, the door should be able to be opened by means of the inner door handle 30. The child safety device 29 would therefore have to be designed mechanically. The mechanical design, for example with an electric drive, is shown in box 43 in the flow chart. The door can then be opened. As an example, it should be pointed out that according to the query 42 of closing, the door cannot be opened by means of the inner door handle 30 if the closing process is not activated. The FIG. 3 thus shows that a mechanical drive for the child safety device 29 is required to open the door by means of the inner door handle 30 while closing.

The FIG. 4 shows a method for controlling an opening of a motor vehicle door by means of an inner door handle 30 in a flowchart, in which the locking sensor 25 is integrated into the query for controlling the actuating lever 32 during the closing of the locking mechanism 22. After the inner door handle 30 and thus the actuating lever 32 have been actuated, the opening switch is activated first and the query is made as to whether the opening switch 34 has been actuated or not. If the opening switch 34 has been actuated, the control prompts whether the child safety sensor 31 has been activated or deactivated.

If the child lock is inserted, two alternative ways are possible. On the one hand, the release switch 41 may have been operated so that the door can be opened. On the other hand, a query 42 is made as to whether the closing process is ongoing or not activated. If the closing 42 is in progress, that is to say the locking mechanism 22 is mostly electrically actuated, another takes place Querying the locking sensor 25 as to whether the locking mechanism 22 is already completely locked, that is to say that it is in the main position. If the locking mechanism 22 is not yet in the main latching position, the closing 42 still continues and the door can be opened by means of the inner door handle 30 or the actuating lever 32. According to the invention, mechanical design of the child safety device 29 can thus be dispensed with. The electrical drive for the child safety device 29 can thus be omitted.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

sear

2

axis

3

electric motor

4

driven pulley

5

actuating lever

6

clutch lever

10

locking lever

14

Parental control element

21

Motor vehicle door lock

22

ratchet

23

pawl

24

catch

25

Gesperresensor

26

electric drive

27

sheave

28

sear

29

Child safety device

30

Inside door handle

31

Parental Control Sensor

32

actuating lever

33

Wake up switch

34

opening switch

35

clutch lever

36

locking lever

37

takeaway

38, 39

sensor

40

control unit

41

Query release switch

42

Query closing drive

43

electrical design of the child safety device

Claims (7)

1. Method for controlling a motor vehicle door lock (21), the motor vehicle door lock (21) comprising

   • a locking mechanism (22),

   • an electrical drive (26), the locking mechanism (22) being unlocked by means of the drive (26),

   • a child safety device (29) having a child safety sensor (31), the drive (26) being activated or not activated depending on the switch position of the child safety sensor (31);

   • a closure drive (42), by means of which the locking mechanism (22) is transferred from a pre-ratchet position to a main ratchet position,

   • a locking mechanism sensor (25) being associated with the locking mechanism (22);

   • the locking mechanism sensor (25) being activated when the locking mechanism (22) is completely locked;

   • the drive (26) being activated or not activated depending on the switch position of the locking mechanism sensor (25);

   • an operating lever (32) being provided;
   characterized in that

   • at least one opening switch (34) is operated by means of the operating lever (32);

   • the opening switch (34) is queried;

   • when the opening switch (34) is activated, the child safety sensor (31) is queried;

   • when the child safety sensor (31) is activated, the closure drive (42) is queried;

   • when the closure drive (42) is activated, the locking mechanism sensor (25) is queried;

   • when the locking mechanism sensor (25) is deactivated, the door is opened.
2. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the pre-ratchet and the main ratchet position of the locking mechanism (22) is detected by means of the locking mechanism sensor (25).
3. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking mechanism sensor (25) is operated by means of a catch of the locking mechanism (22).
4. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a coupling lever (35) is provided and in that the operating lever (32) is coupled to a triggering lever (28) by means of the coupling lever (35).
5. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the child safety device (29) cooperates with a coupling lever (35), an internal operating lever (32) being uncoupled by means of the child safety device (29).
6. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, if the query of the child safety sensor (31) shows that said sensor is not activated, the door is opened.
7. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control unit (40) is provided, and in which, after operation of the inner door handle (30), the switch positions of the switches (25, 31, 33, 34, 38, 39) are queried by means of the control unit, and in which the drive (26) is activated or deactivated depending on the switch position of the locking mechanism sensor.

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