Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B47/00—Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means
  • E05B47/06—Controlling mechanically-operated bolts by electro-magnetically-operated detents
  • E05B47/0607—Controlling mechanically-operated bolts by electro-magnetically-operated detents the detent moving pivotally or rotatively
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B83/00—Vehicle locks specially adapted for particular types of wing or vehicle
  • E05B83/16—Locks for luggage compartments, car boot lids or car bonnets
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B83/00—Vehicle locks specially adapted for particular types of wing or vehicle
  • E05B83/16—Locks for luggage compartments, car boot lids or car bonnets
  • E05B83/26—Emergency opening means for persons trapped in the luggage compartment
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B81/00—Power-actuated vehicle locks
  • E05B81/02—Power-actuated vehicle locks characterised by the type of actuators used
  • E05B81/04—Electrical
  • E05B81/08—Electrical using electromagnets or solenoids
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B81/00—Power-actuated vehicle locks
  • E05B81/54—Electrical circuits
  • E05B81/90—Manual override in case of power failure

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an emergency opening apparatus of automobile trunk lid, and more particularly to a trunk lid emergency opening apparatus of an automobile adapted to include a function of opening a trunk lid from inside a trunk and another function of automatically detecting a person confined therein, thereby enabling the person to request an emergency assistance and to make an emergency escape therefrom under any confined circumstances.
• a trunk of an automobile is usually equipped with, as illustrated in
• a trunk lid locking apparatus including a latch 2 fixed to a trunk lid
• trunk lid 1 is opened by use of a trunk lid opening manipulator (button or lever) provided at one side of a driver or an automobile key.
• a trunk lid opening manipulator button or lever
• the latch 2 is coupled to the striker 4 to maintain the closedness of the trunk lid 1.
• the present invention is disclosed to solve the aforementioned problems and it is an object of the present invention to provide a trunk lid emergency opening apparatus of an automobile by which a person locked in the truck of an automobile can open the trunk according to manipulation of the person confined therein, or the trunk lid can be automatically opened when the person is locked in.
• a trunk lid emergency opening apparatus of an automobile by which a latch fixed to a trunk lid and a striker fitted into a body of the automobile are coupled or decoupled to thereby open or close the trunk lid, the apparatus comprising: a mechanical trunk lid emergency opening button exposed into an interior of a trunk; and a latch assembly for separating a latch from a striker to emergently open a trunk lid when the mechanical trunk lid emergency opening button is pressed.
• a trunk lid emergency opening apparatus of an automobile by which a latch fixed to a trunk lid and a striker fitted into a body of an automobile are coupled or decoupled to thereby open or close the trunk lid
• the apparatus comprising: a mechanical trunk lid emergency opening button exposed into an interior of a trunk; an electronic trunk lid emergency opening button for generating a trunk lid emergency opening signal; a trunk lid openness detecting button for being pressed down to generate a trunk lid closedness signal when the trunk lid is closed; a human detecting unit for detecting a person locked in the trunk to generate a human detecting signal; a control unit for activating a solenoid to emergently open the trunk lid when the trunk lid emergency opening signal is input or when the trunk lid closedness signal is input and the human detecting signal is input at the same time; and a latch assembly for detecting a latch from a striker to emergently open the trunk lid when the mechanical trunk lid emergency opening button is pressed down or the solenoid is
• a trunk lid emergency opening apparatus of an automobile by which a latch fixed to a trunk lid and a striker fitted into a body of an automobile are coupled or decoupled to thereby open or close the trunk lid, the apparatus compresing: a trunk lid openness detecting button for being pressed down to generate a trunk lid closedness signal when the trunk lid is closed; a striker assembly for allowing the striker to rise upto and to fall down to a predetermined level; a striker ascending button for outputting an ascent signal to raise the striker; a striker descending button for outputting a descent signal to lower the striker; and a control unit for rotating a striker driving motor in the forward direction to raise the striker when the ascent signal is input in a state where the trunk lid closedness signal is received from the trunk lid openness detecting button, and for rotating the striker driving motor in the reverse direction to lower the striker when the descent signal is input.
• a trunk lid emergency opening apparatus of an automobile comprising: a trunk lid openness detecting button for being pressed down when the trunk lid is closed to generate a trunk lid closedness signal; a human detecting unit for generating a human detecting signal for detecting a person confined within a trunk; a theft detecting unit for detecting whether or not an automobile is robbed; a shock detecting unit for detecting a shock resulted from an automobile crash or collision; a speed reduction unit for limiting a running speed of an automobile to less than a predetermined speed; an emergency alarming unit for generating an emergency warning; a radio transceiver for transmitting an occurrence of emergency to a predetermined radio terminal unit and for receiving an emergency warning signal; a control unit for controlling the radio transceiver to transmit an occurrence of accident to a predetermined terminal unit when a theft detection signal and a shock detection signal are received from the theft detecting unit and the shock detecting unit, or for activating a solenoid to
• Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a trunk of an automobile according to the prior art
• Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram for illustrating an emergency opening apparatus of a trunk lid in an automobile according to the present invention
• Figure 3 is a schematic diagram for illustrating a latch assembly assembled to a striker assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 4 is a schematic diagram for illustrating a latch assembly detached from a striker assembly to emergently open a trunk lid according to the first embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 5A is a schematic diagram for illustrating a latch lock holder of a latch assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 5B is a schematic diagram for illustrating a spring pin detached from the latch lock holder in Figure 5A
• Figure 5C is a schematic diagram for illustrating a latch lock detached from the latch lock holder in Figure 5A;
• FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a striker assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 7 is a plan for illustrating a striker raised from a striker assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 8 is a circuit diagram of a trunk lid emergency opening apparatus of an automobile according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 9 is a circuit diagram of a trunk lid emergency opening apparatus of an automobile according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 10 is a schematic diagram for illustrating a trunk lid being closed
• Figure 1 1 is a schematic diagram for illustrating a latch assembled to a striker
• Figure 12 is a schematic diagram for illustrating a trunk lid being opened
• Figure 13 is a schematic diagram for illustrating a latch detached from a striker; and Figure 14 is a schematic diagram for illustrating a trunk lid opened to a predetermined level.
• FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a trunk lid emergency opening apparatus of an automobile according to the present invention, wherein the apparatus includes a trunk lid openness detecting button 10, an electronic trunk lid emergency opening button 20, a striker manipulating button 30 having a striker ascending button 32 and a striker descending button 34, a mechanical trunk lid emergency opening button 35, a latch assembly 40, a striker assembly 50, a human detecting unit 60, a speed control unit 70, a theft detecting unit 75, an emergency alarming unit 80, a shock detecting unit 85, a display unit 90, a speaker control unit 100, a radio transceiver 1 10 and a control unit.
• the apparatus includes a trunk lid openness detecting button 10, an electronic trunk lid emergency opening button 20, a striker manipulating button 30 having a striker ascending button 32 and a striker descending button 34, a mechanical trunk lid emergency opening button 35, a latch assembly 40, a striker assembly 50, a human detecting unit 60, a speed control unit 70,
• the trunk lid openness detecting button 10 serves to detect whether a trunk lid is opened or closed and input same to the control unit 120, and, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the button 10 is pressed down when the trunk lid is closed.
• the electronic trunk lid emergency opening button 20 serves to input a trunk lid emergency openness signal to the control unit 120 when a person confined in a trunk presses it, and as illustrated in Figure 7, is so designed as to be exposed to the outside, such that the person detained in the trunk can press it when the striker 56 is raised.
• the striker ascending button 32 and the striker descending button 34 at the striker manipulating button 30 serve to input a striker ascending signal or a striker descending signal to the control unit 120 in order to raise or lower the striker 56 to a predetermined level, which, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, can be pressed by the person confined in the trunk as they are mounted on the front surface of the striker assembly 50.
• buttons 20, 32 and 34 are so embodied as to be operated when they are touched by a person, such that they are prevented from being operated by being pressed by articles stored in the trunk.
• the human detecting unit 60 serves to detect a person confined in a trunk of an automobile to generate a human detection signal to the control unit 120, which, as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, includes a first human detecting unit 61 and a second human detecting unit 66, where the first human detecting unit 61 is disposed with a main human detecting sensor 62, an auxiliary human detecting sensor 63, an amplifier 64 and a discriminator 65.
• the main human detecting sensor 62 is a sensor for detecting an ultrared light emitted from a human detained in a trunk
• the auxiliary human detecting sensor 63 is a sensor for functioning as an auxiliary to the main human detecting sensor 62, and for being disposed as an auxiliary sensor in preparation for an emergency when the main human detecting sensor 62 is blocked by mistake or by articles stored in to trunk.
• the amplifier 64 is made to amplify signals output from the main human detecting sensor 62 and the auxiliary human detecting sensor 63 to input same to the discriminator 65, which in turn receives the signals amplified by the amplifier 64 to discriminate whether a person is confined in the trunk.
• the second human detecting unit 66 includes a high frequency oscillator 67 for oscillating a high frequency, by way of example, 1 MHZ, and a high frequency receiver 68 for receiving the high frequency oscillated by the high frequency oscillator 67, to thereby discriminate whether a person is detained in a trunk according to a principle that levels of the high frequency received from the high frequency receiver 68 is changed by approach of a human.
• the theft detecting unit 75 discriminates whether an automobile is stolen and can be embodied by an automobile theft detecting apparatus mounted on an automobile to prevent theft.
• the theft detecting unit 75 detects it to thereby prevent theft.
• the shock detecting unit 85 serves to detect a shock resulted from an automobile collision or accident fall, which can be embodied by a shock detecting sensor which activates an air bag mounted on an automobile for life saving.
• the latch assembly 40 serves to detach the latch 47 thereof from the striker 56 at the striker assembly 50 to emergently open a trunk lid when the mechanical trunk lid emergency opening button 35 is depressed or the solenoid 126 is activated by control of the control unit 120, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. Once the button 35 is depressed or the latch is detached from the striker 56 by the operation of the solenoid 126, the latch 47 is not designed to get coupled to the striker 56 again.
• a push lever 41 is detached from a trip latch lever 42, which in turn touches the trip lever 44 by way of elasticity of a spring 43 to rotate a lock pin 49.
• the latch lock 45 is then detached from the latch holder 46 to cause the latch 47 to be separated from the striker 56.
• the latch lock holder 46 is disposed therein with a spring pin 48, and when the latch lock 45 is detached from the latch lock holder 46, the latch lock 45 is not allowed to be inserted into the latch lock holder 46 again to thereby keep the trunk lid from being closed.
• the striker assembly 50 serves to vertically move the striker 56 to a predetermined level according to control of the control unit
• the assembly 50 includes a motor 52 for driving the striker 56, power transmission means 54 for converting a rotary movement of the motor 52 to a vertical movement to transmit same and the striker 56 for receiving a power from the power transmission means 54 to thereafter move vertically.
• the power transmission means 54 which is rotated by the striker- driving motor 52 includes a rotary axis (54-1) formed at a periphery thereof with a male screw, a feed rod (54-2) for vertically moving the striker 56, a guide plate (54-3) for guiding the feed rod (54-2) to vertically move and a guide rail (54-4).
• the speed control unit 70 controls an automobile not to accelerate the speed more than a predetermined speed according to control of the control means 120, the emergency alarming unit 80 generates an emergency alarm according to the control of the control unit 120.
• the display unit 90 displays positions of the three buttons 20, 32 and 34 according to the control of the control unit 120 and simultaneously lighten the interior of the trunk.
• the speaker control unit 100 controls a speaker not to operate, the radio transceiver 1 10 transmits the occurrence of an accident to a predetermined terminal unit (by way of example, cellular phone, beeper or the like) according to the control of the control unit 120 and receives an emergency alarm signal transmitted by a user to allow the control unit 120 to be input therewith.
• a predetermined terminal unit by way of example, cellular phone, beeper or the like
• the control unit 120 operates the display unit 90 for a predetermined period of time when a signal is input from the trunk lid openness detecting button 10 that the trunk lid is closed. Furthermore, the control unit 120 keeps operating the display unit 90 and controlling the speaker control unit 100 to thereby render a speaker 102 to be inoperative when a signal is input that the trunk lid is closed and simultaneously a human detecting signal is input, or the button 32 or 34 is depressed.
• the control unit 120 also controls the transceiver 110 to transmit an occurrence of accident to a predetermined terminal unit.
• the control unit 120 operates the solenoid 126 and detaches the latch 47 at the latch assembly 40 from the striker 56 of the striker assembly 50 to emergently open the trunk lid, when a signal is received from the trunk lid openness detecting button 10 that the trunk lid is closed and it is discriminated that a person is confined in that trunk for more than a predetermined period of time after receipt of a human detecting signal from the human detecting unit 60, or the button 32 or 34 is kept depressed for more than a predetermined period of time by the person detained in the trunk.
• control unit 120 respectively controls the speed control unit 70 and the emergency alarming unit 80 to limit the speed of an automobile to less than a predetermined reference speed and concurrently generates an emergency alarm when the latch 47 is detached from the striker
• the control unit 120 reversely rotates the motor 52 to raise the striker 56 to a predetermined height when the button 32 is depressed to allow the striker ascent signal to be input.
• the control unit 120 reversely rotates the motor 52 to descend the striker 56 when the button 34 is depressed to receive the striker descent signal.
• the control unit 120 controls the transceiver 110 to transmit an occurrence of an accident to a predetermined terminal unit when a theft detection signal and shock detection signal are received from the theft detecting unit 75 and the shock detecting unit 85, or a trunk lid closedness signal is input and simultaneously a human detection signal is input.
• control unit 120 sets the solenoid 126 in motion to open the trunk lid and operates the speed control unit 70 and the emergency alarming unit 80 to limit the running speed of an automobile to less than a predetermined speed and to generate an emergency alarm when the shock detection signal and emergency alarm signal are received or a trunk lid closedness signal is input and a human detection signal is input at the same time.
• FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of a trunk lid emergency opening apparatus of an automobile according to the first embodiment of the present invention, where S I is a trunk lid openness detecting switch for being turned off when the trunk lid is closed to depress the trunk lid openness detecting button 10, striker ascent/descent switches S2 and S3 are respectively rendered inoperative when the buttons 32 and 34 are depressed by a person confined in the trunk, a trunk lid emergency opening switch S4 is turned off when the button 20 is depressed by the person in the trunk, a lamp
• P I is a lamp for indicating whether a trunk lid is open or closed on an instrument panel at the driver's seat when the trunk lid is opened, and light emitting diodes LED 1 , LED2 and LED3 and a lamp P2 indicate positions of the buttons 20, 32 and 34 to light the interior of the trunk, and correspond to the display unit 90.
• the control unit 120 is disposed with a plurality of resistors Rl ⁇ R23, a plurality of capacitors C 1 — C13, a plurality of transistors TR1 — TR1 1 , a diode D l , a plurality of logic gates AND l ⁇ AND6, a plurality of logical sum gates OR1 ⁇ OR9, a relay RL 1 , an inverter INV 1 , a plurality of flip flops F I ⁇ F5, a voltage regulator 121 , a plurality of timer circuits 122 — 125, a solenoid 126 and an over-current detecting unit 127, and controls the human detecting unit 60, the theft detecting unit 75 the shock detecting unit 85, the trunk lid openness detecting switch S I , striker ascent/descent switches S2 and SS3, the latch assembly 40, the striker assembly 50, the speed control unit 70, the emergency alarming unit 80, the display unit 90, the speaker control unit 100 and the transcei
• FIG 9 is a circuit diagram of trunk lid emergency opening apparatus of an automobile according to the second embodiment of the present invention, which is almost same in construction as that of the first embodiment illustrated in Figure 8. Only difference is that flip flops F I , F2 and F3 and the over-current detecting unit 127 are used for driving of the striker-driving motor 52 in the first embodiment while a switch S5 is used in the second embodiment.
• the latch 47 at the latch assembly 40 is fixed to the striker 56 to maintain a closed state of the trunk lid 1 as illustrated in Figure 11.
• the striker 56 at the striker assembly 50 is detached from the latch 47 at the latch assembly 40 by way of the trunk lid opening manipulator disposed at one side of driver seat or an automobile key under a state the trunk lid 1 is closed, the trunk lid 1 is opened as illustrated in Figure 12.
• the latch assembly 40 detaches the latch 47 from the striker 56 to emergently open the trunk lid 1.
• the push lever 41 is detached from the latch lever 42 and the trip latch lever 42 touches the trip lever 44 by way of elasticity of the spring 43.
• the trunk lid 1 when the trunk lid 1 is opened by the trunk lid opening manipulator or the automobile key, the trunk lid 1 is closed again, but when the person confined in the trunk presses the mechanical button 35 or the solenoid 126 is activated by the control of the control unit 120 to emergently open the trunk lid 1 , the trunk lid 1 is not closed again.
• the rotary axis 54-1 is also rotated in the forward direction to raise the feed rod 54-2 and to raise the striker 56 which integrally moves with the feed rod 54-2, such that the trunk lid 1 is raised to a predetermined height to allow the person confined in the trunk to peek out, as illustrated in Figure 14.
• a battery voltage (B+) (by way of example, 12V) applies an elastrostatic regulator 121 via capacitors C l and C2 which in turn converts the battery voltage (B+) to a predetermined voltage (Vcc) (by way of example, 9V) for operating the control unit 120 to supply same via capacitors C3 and C4.
• Vcc predetermined voltage
• the trunk lid openness detecting switch S I is rendered inoperative when the trunk lid 1 is closed, and the battery voltage (B+) is divided by resistors R2 and R3 to be input to a first logic gate AND l .
• a voltage signal of high level is output from the first logic gate AND l and is input to second, third and fourth logic gates AND 2, AND3 and AND4 and to again input to a first logic sum gate OR1 for a predetermined period of time (by way of example, 10 seconds) determined by charge/discharge constant of capacitor C5 and resistor R4.
• the first OR gate OR1 outputs the voltage signal of high level to a base terminal of first transistor TR1 to turn on the first transistor
• trunk lid 1 when trunk lid 1 is closed, the interior of the trunk is lighted for a predetermined time (by way of example, 10 seconds) to allow the person detained in the trunk to recognize positions of the buttons 20, 32 and 34.
• the striker ascent switch S2 is rendered inoperative, to input the voltage signal of high level to a second logic sum gate OR2 from which the voltage signal of high level is output.
• a voltage signal of high level is input to a set terminal S of first flip flop (F I ) for a predetermined time determined by charge/discharge constant of capacitor C9 and resistor R12, where the first flip flop (FI) continuously outputs the voltage signal of high level to fifth logic AND gate AND5 via a non-inversion output terminal Q.
• a logic multiplication is performed on the voltage signal of high level output from the non-inversion output terminal Q and the other voltage signal of high level output from the second AND2, and a voltage signal of high level is output to a second transistor T2 and a base terminal of a fourth transistor T4.
• a third transistor TR3 and a fifth transistor T5 are turned on to rotate the motor 52 in the forward direction and to raise the striker 56.
• striker ascent switch S2 when striker ascent switch S2 is turned off, a voltage signal of high level is generated from the fifth AND5, which in turn turns the second, third, fourth and fifth transistors T2, T3, T4 and T5. Then the motor 52 is applied with electrostatic voltage for ascending and descending the striker 56 to rotate the motor in the forward direction. The striker 56 is then raised.
• a voltage signal of high level is input to the set terminal S at the second flip flop (F2) for a predetermined time determined by charge/discharge constant of capacitor C I O and resistor R13 and a continuous voltage signal of high level is output to a sixth logic gate AND 6 from the non-inversion output terminal (Q) of the second flip flop (F2).
• a logical multiplication is performed at the sixth logic gate AND6 on the voltage signal output from the non-inversion output terminal (Q) and the voltage signal output from the third logic gate AND3 to thereafter be output to base terminals of sixth and eighth transistors T6 and T8.
• a voltage signal of high level is output from the sixth logic gate AND6, turning on the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth transistors T6 ⁇ T9.
• An invert voltage is applied to the motor 52 for raising and lowering the striker 56 to rotate the motor 52 in the reverse direction. The striker 56 is then lowered.
• overcurrent detecting unit 127 detects its fact and inputs a reset signal to reset terminal R at flip flops FI and F2 to reset the flip flops FI and F2. The power is then cut off to the motor 52 to stop the striker 56.
• human detecting main sensor 62 or human detecting auxiliary sensor 64 detects ultrared rays emitted from a person confined in the trunk to send same to amplifying unit 64, which amplifies a signal output from the sensor 62 or 64 to send same to a discriminating unit 65.
• the discriminating unit 65 receives the signal output from the amplifying unit 64 and if it discriminates that a person is detained in the trunk, it sends a voltage signal of high level to a fourth logic gate AND4.
• level of high frequency received by the high frequency receiver 68 varies according to approach of a human, detection is made as to whether a person is confined in the trunk by way of level variations of high frequency received at the high frequency receiver 68, and if it is discriminated that a person is confined in the trunk, the second human detecting unit 66 outputs a voltage signal of high level to the fourth logic gate AND4.
• the fourth logic gate AND4 When the voltage signal of high level is input from the human detecting unit 60 in a state where the trunk lid 1 is closed to receive a voltage signal of high level from the first logic gate AND l , the fourth logic gate AND4 outputs a voltage signal of high level to a first timer circuit 122.
• the first time circuit 122 in turn outputs a voltage signal of high level to fourth logic sum gate OR4 when a voltage signal of high level is input from the fourth logic gate AND4 beyond a predetermined time (by way of example, 2 seconds), and a logic sum is performed at third logic sum gate OR3 on the voltage signals input according to activation or deactivation of striker ascent switch S2 or striker descent switch S3 to output same to the fourth logic sum gate OR4.
• a predetermined time by way of example, 2 seconds
• a logic sum is performed at the fourth logic sum gate OR4 on the voltage signal of high level output from the first timer circuit 122 and the voltage signal output from the third logic sum gate OR3 to output same to the set terminal S at the third flip flop F3.
• the third flip flop F3 keeps inputting a voltage signal of high level to the first logic sum gate OR1 until a reset signal is input, to drive the display unit 90. Simultaneously the third flip flop F3 inputs the voltage signal of high level to speaker control unit 100 to stop operation of a speaker 102 and inputs same to the transceiver 110 via a ninth logic sum gate OR9 to thereby cause the transceiver 100 to send an occurrence of an accident to a predetermined terminal unit.
• the human detecting unit 60 detects that a person is confined in a trunk with its lid closed or when the person in the trunk presses the striker ascending button 32 or descending button 34, the interior of the trunk is lighted and at the same time positions of the buttons 20, 32 and 34 become known to the person confined in the trunk.
• Inoperation of the speaker 102 in the automobile enables to request an easy rescue call and the transceiver 1 10 is operated to let known the occurrence of an accident via a predetermined terminal unit.
• the ninth logic sum gate OR9 performs a logic sum on output signal of the third flip flop F3, output signal of theft detecting unit 75 and output signal of shock electing unit 85 and outputs the same.
• a voltage signal of high level is generated from the ninth logic sum gate OR9 to activate the transceiver 110 and to let know the occurrence of the accident via a predetermined terminal unit.
• the output signal of the third flip flop F3 is input to second timer circuit 123, which in turn outputs a voltage signal of high level to fifth logic sum gate OR5 when a voltage signal of high voltage is output from the third flip flop F3 beyond a predetermined time (by way of example, 3 minutes), where the second timer circuit 123 is reset when the voltage signal of high level is input from the third logic sum gate OR3.
• the third timer circuit 124 outputs a voltage signal of high level to the fifth logic sum gate OR5 when signal of high level is output from the third logic sum gate OR3 beyond a predetermined time (by way of example, 20-30 seconds), where a logic sum is performed at the fifth logic sum gate OR5 on the output signals from the second timer circuit 123 and the third timer circuit 123, which is output to a set terminal S of fourth flip flop F4.
• the fourth flip flop F4 outputs a voltage signal of high level to seventh logic sum gate OR7 via a non-inversion terminal Q when a voltage signal of high level is input from the fifth logic sum gate OR5, where, a logic sum is performed at the seventh logic sum gate OR7 on the signal output through the non-inversion terminal Q of the fourth flip flop F4, the voltage signal input ON/OFF state of the mechanical trunk lid emergency opening switch S4, the output signal of the shock detecting unit 85 and the output signal of the transceiver 1 10, which is then output to a base terminal of tenth transistor T 10.
• a predetermined time by way of example, 3 minutes
• a predetermined time by way of example, 3 minutes
• a predetermined time by way of example, 20-30 seconds
• a voltage signal of high level is generated from the seventh logic sum gate OR7, thereby turning on the tenth transistor T10.
• the solenoid 126 is activated to cause the latch 47 at the latch assembly 40 to be detached from the striker 56 of the striker assembly 50 and to open the trunk lid 1.
• the speed control unit 70 and the emergency alarming unit 80 are rendered operative, to limit the speed of an automobile to a predetermined speed (by way of example, speed at which the person confined in the trunk can easily escape therefrom) and to simultaneously perform an emergency alarming work.
• the tenth transistor T10 is turned on, even though a shock detecting signal of high level is output from the shock detecting unit 85 or an emergency alarming signal of high level is output from the transceiver 110.
• the solenoid 126 is rendered operative to cause the latch 47 to be separated from the striker 56 and to thereby cause the trunk lid 1 to be opened.
• the speed control unit 70 and the emergency alarming unit 80 are rendered operative to limit the speed of an automobile to a predetermined speed (by way of example, speed at which the person confined in the trunk can easily escape therefrom) and to concurrently perform an emergency alarming work.
• fourth timer circuit 125 outputs a voltage signal of high level to eighth logic sum gate OR8 when a voltage signal of high level is kept coming from the seventh logic sum gate OR7 beyond a predetermined time.
• a logic sum is performed at the eighth logic sum gate OR8 on the voltage signal of high level output from the fourth timer circuit 125 and the voltage signal of high level input through capacitor C 12 and resistor R22 when a battery is replaced and a reset signal is input to reset terminal R of the third and fourth flip flops F3 and F4, such that the solenoid 126, the speed control unit 70 and the emergency alarming unit 80 are not operated during a predetermined time after the trunk lid 1 is emergently opened or during a time the battery is replaced.
• F5 inputs a voltage signal of high level to sixth logic sum gate OR6 to automatically maintain the striker 56 in downward state during the battery replacement.
• the second, third, fourth and fifth transistors T2, T3, T4 and T5 are rendered operative, and an electrostatic voltage is applied to the motor 52 for raising and lowering the striker 56 to rotate the motor 52 in the forward direction.
• the striker 56 is then ascended.
• the switch S5 causes A terminal to connect to B terminal, thereby cutting off supply of current to the motor 52 by way of diode D3 to stop the motor 52.
• the button 34 is depressed by a person confined in the trunk to turn off the switch S3 in a state where the trunk lid 1 is closed to cause the first logic gate AND l to output a voltage signal of high level
• the voltage signal of high level is input to the third logic gate AND3, from which a voltage signal of high level is output.
• the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth transistors T6, T7, T8 and T9 are rentered operative and a reverse voltage is applied to the motor for ascending and descending the striker 56.
• the striker driving motor 52 is reversely rotated to lower the striker 56.
• an interior of the trunk is lighted by human detecting unit mounted therein and positions of various buttons are let known to the person confined therein, so that when a striker ascent button is depressed, a striker is ascended to raise the trunk lid up to 50 millimeters and to provide a gap to the person kept in the trunk through which he or she can peek out and call for assistance.
• a trunk lid emergency opening button is pressed to limit the speed of an automobile the person is confined in and an emergency alarming apparatus is rendered operative to thereby enable to advise people around that the automobile is a vehicle being involved or used for crime.

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Cited By (14)

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• 1998
  • 1998-07-14 JP JP50693799A patent/JP3194970B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-07-14 CN CN 98801357 patent/CN1239530A/zh active Pending
  • 1998-07-14 WO PCT/KR1998/000207 patent/WO1999004119A1/en active Application Filing
  • 1998-07-14 AU AU84638/98A patent/AU8463898A/en not_active Abandoned

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