Door lock, in particular motor vehicle door lock

Abstract

This invention relates to a door lock, particularly a vehicle door lock, having a locking mechanism (1, 2) mainly comprising a rotating locking fork (1) and a locking pawl (2). The door lock also has an electrically operated opening drive (4) for the locking mechanism (1, 2) and at least one emergency power source (6) for supplying power to the opening drive (4) in the event of an emergency opening of the locking mechanism (1, 2). The emergency power source (6) is charged by means of a main power source (8) according to an instruction from a control unit (7). According to the invention, the emergency power source (6) is charged once the control unit (7) receives an unlocking signal for the locking mechanism (1, 2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a door lock, particularly a vehicle door lock, having a locking mechanism mainly comprising a rotating locking fork and a locking pawl, an electric opening drive for the locking mechanism, and at least one emergency power source for supplying power to the opening drive in case of emergency opening of the locking mechanism, wherein the emergency power source is charged by means of the main power source according to the instructions / commands of the control unit. Background Technology

[0002] For comfort reasons, so-called electric locks are increasingly used in vehicle door locks. These electric locks have an electrically operated opening actuator that opens the locking mechanism. In this case, the corresponding opening signal for the electrically operated opening actuator can typically be generated by a sensor or switch, for example, by mounting the sensor or switch in or on the exterior door handle. Handle-less loading of such sensors is also possible. The associated vehicle door locks can also be opened wirelessly. Such keyless vehicle systems include emergency power supplies, as described, for example, in DE 202016105 621U1.

[0003] In this prior art according to US10,138,656B2, the control unit monitors the state of charge of the emergency energy source and charges the emergency energy source using electrical power supplied by the main energy source. Here, overall, even in the event of an accident, trouble-free operation is considered first.

[0004] In an electronic lock with a power-off control circuit according to EP 2 659 075 B1, a supercapacitor charging device is implemented, which is connected to a microcontroller. During normal power operation, when the charge level of at least one supercapacitor falls below a desired level, the microcontroller activates the supercapacitor charging device. Conversely, when the charge level of the supercapacitor in question reaches the desired level, the supercapacitor charging device is deactivated.

[0005] US 6,914,346 B2 describes a vehicle door lock device in which the emergency power source is configured as a supercapacitor and mounted on an electronic circuit board. This allows the emergency power source to be integrated into the corresponding lock housing.

[0006] Finally, utility model DE 20 2016 106 542 U1 relates to a supercapacitor charging system. The charging system is equipped with an energy management controller for this purpose, by means of which at least one supercapacitor is charged and discharged. Furthermore, the energy management controller is capable of detecting and determining the amount of charge, thereby enabling the continuation or cessation of charging.

[0007] Existing technology has proven advantageous in principle to generally incorporate emergency energy into the function of door locks and to control vehicle states by means of emergency energy in which the main energy source is unable to supply the necessary electrical energy to the electric unlocking actuator due to, for example, low voltage or an accident, thus preventing the unlocking actuator from opening the locking mechanism as desired. Here, in addition to conventional rechargeable batteries, so-called supercapacitors are increasingly used as emergency energy sources. These are typically electrochemical capacitors, which have the advantage that their energy density is only about 10% of that of a battery of the same weight, while their power density is about 10 to 100 times greater. Therefore, supercapacitors can charge and discharge much faster than batteries. Furthermore, electrochemical capacitors have a long lifespan because supercapacitors are suitable for significantly more switching cycles than batteries of the same power.

[0008] Correspondingly, supercapacitors, as emergency power sources, can be housed, for example, on circuit boards and inside the lock housing. However, as with any energy source or emergency power source, supercapacitors suffer from the following problem: the electrical power supplied by the supercapacitor decreases significantly due to its own discharge after a prolonged period of inactivity in the vehicle, such as a long stop, rendering the electrically operated unlocking mechanism ineffective in an emergency. Similar problems arise when the electrical connection between the emergency power source and the main power source is broken or interrupted due to, for example, an accident or collision. Typically, the emergency power source is charged as soon as the vehicle begins to run, as sufficient electrical energy is then provided by a generator or, for example, an energy recovery unit to complete the charging process.

[0009] However, if an accident occurs immediately after driving begins or the connection between the main power and emergency power is interrupted, there is a danger that the emergency power supply may not have sufficient stored energy to open the locking mechanism during a subsequent emergency opening. Here, an electrically operated opening actuator is typically used to lift the locking pawl from its engagement with the rotating locking fork, thereby causing the rotating locking fork to open, for example, with spring support or due to the rubber force of the door, and release the previously engaged locking block. Only then can the corresponding door be opened. The present invention aims to provide a general remedy for this. Summary of the Invention

[0010] The technical problem to be solved by this invention is to further improve this door lock, especially the door lock of a motor vehicle, so that it can be opened directly in an emergency after the vehicle has started moving.

[0011] To address this technical problem, within the scope of this invention, this type of door lock, particularly a vehicle door lock, is characterized in that it charges an emergency power source once the control unit receives an unlocking signal for the locking mechanism.

[0012] Here, the present invention begins with the understanding that, as long as the vehicle door and, consequently, the vehicle door lock to which it belongs, are in a locked state, the unlocking signal for the locking mechanism is always, or must, precede, the starting of the vehicle by means of, for example, a starting device. In the unlocking process, and in the related unlocking signal for the locking mechanism, it typically occurs that, in mechanically operated vehicle door locks, for example, from the exterior door handle to the lever chain of the locking mechanism, the locking pawl can then be lifted from its locking engagement with the rotating locking fork by manually applying force to the exterior door handle.

[0013] Within the scope of this invention, mechanical lever chains are typically not implemented. Accordingly, the unlocking of a vehicle door lock immediately after receiving an unlock signal corresponds to: manipulating or effectively operating, for example, a sensor or switch associated with the exterior door handle, and the manipulation of the exterior door handle can be detected. Therefore, when the exterior door handle is manipulated in subsequent operations and subsequently the sensor or switch is manipulated, the corresponding subsequent signal is interpreted as an open signal, thereby subsequently powering the electric opening drive for normal opening of the locking mechanism.

[0014] Only then can the vehicle door be opened, allowing the intended user to enter the interior space. The user then typically must operate the starting device to move the vehicle away, and in the prior art, the main power source can charge the emergency power source. However, according to the present invention, this charging process begins in time before the unlocking signal from the locking mechanism is received. Because the control unit pre-defines, monitors, and controls the charging process of the emergency power source from the main power source, the situation where the control unit receives the unlocking signal according to the present invention is directly used to charge the emergency power source. All of these situations occur in time before the starting device (ignition lock) is operated or loaded, as explained. Thus, typically, during the period from receiving the unlocking signal until starting by means of the starting device, the emergency power source can usually be charged to such an extent that at least one opening process is then achieved by means of the electric opening drive. That is, the mentioned time period is mostly sufficient for the emergency power source to reach a minimum state of charge, which corresponds to at least one opening process as described above, which can be completed by the electric opening drive.

[0015] Therefore, the present invention firstly ensures that the emergency unlocking of the vehicle's door locks can be guaranteed even if an accident occurs at or immediately after the vehicle's departure. In other words, an accident immediately following the start of driving can be resolved in this way because the emergency energy source, even at its minimum state of charge, can still operate the electrically driven unlocking mechanism during emergency unlocking, reliably opening the locking mechanism. Consequently, the final effect is that no mechanical redundancy is required, resulting in significant advantages in terms of construction and cost.

[0016] According to an advantageous implementation, the unlock signal is transmitted wirelessly and / or wiredly to the control unit. In the case of a wireless unlock signal, it can, for example, operate in a way that enables keyless entry in the sense of "keyless entry," as exemplarily described in DE 20 2016 105 621 U1, which has been previously referenced. Conversely, if the unlock signal is transmitted wiredly to the control unit, it is typically done by querying and verifying the operator's authorization via the inserted key or manipulated sensors, thereby immediately generating the unlock signal and transmitting it wiredly to the control unit, whereby the control unit is directly and subsequently used, and may also be used, to recharge the emergency power supply via the main power source.

[0017] For this purpose, it is typically done in the following manner: upon receiving the unlock signal, the control unit bridges the previously described starting device and directly connects the main power source to the emergency power source. That is, contrary to existing technologies, the power supply from the main power source to the emergency power source initially operates without passing through and is independent of the starting device. More precisely, upon receiving the unlock signal, the control unit connects the main power source directly to the emergency power source to charge it. Here, it is irrelevant whether the starting device has been operated or loaded at that moment.

[0018] According to another advantageous design, an emergency energy source is applied at the start of the charging process with an increased initial current intensity. This increased initial current intensity is maintained primarily until a minimum state of charge is reached. As previously explained, the minimum state of charge of the emergency energy source corresponds to the ability to apply the drive mechanism at least once, thereby enabling the locking mechanism to be opened.

[0019] After reaching the minimum state of charge, the emergency power supply is typically applied with a reduced normal current intensity. This reduced normal current intensity largely reflects the maximum lifespan of the emergency power supply. That is, the reduced normal current intensity is determined and designed to ensure the emergency power supply reaches its maximum lifespan.

[0020] In this scenario, the control unit monitors the charging current intensity and / or charging voltage of the emergency power source, typically adjusting these parameters. Furthermore, different time-dependent current / voltage curves can be stored in the control unit. Here, the current / voltage curve is selectively used based on the emergency power source, the electric start-up actuator, and the main power source. That is, for example, the initial current intensity and its time curve are pre-defined based on the electrical energy demand of the electric start-up actuator in a specific individual situation, in order to achieve the necessary minimum state of charge. In this case, the appropriate emergency power source also plays a crucial role, such as whether a battery, one or more supercapacitors, or how these emergency power sources are utilized—that is, how quickly they can be charged.

[0021] Finally, this invention proposes using one or more supercapacitors as an emergency power source. These one or more supercapacitors can be housed on a necessary circuit board inside the lock housing. Of course, external mounting is also possible on the outside of the lock housing, and this is also included in this invention.

[0022] Therefore, a door lock, particularly a vehicle door lock, is provided that ensures that the emergency energy is charged or has a minimum state of charge immediately following the starting process of the vehicle, so as to enable emergency unlocking of the locking mechanism even in the event of an accident shortly after the vehicle has started moving. This greatly improves security and virtually eliminates mechanical redundancy. This is the main advantage of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0023] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate only one embodiment; in the drawings:

[0024] Figure 1 An overview diagram of a door lock in the form of a motor vehicle door lock according to the present invention is shown, and

[0025] Figure 2 This schematically illustrates a time-dependent signal of the charging current of an emergency energy source. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The accompanying drawings show a door lock, which in this example is a vehicle door lock. The basic construction of the door lock includes locking mechanisms 1 and 2, which mainly consist of a rotating locking fork 1 and a locking pawl 2. Locking mechanisms 1 and 2 interact with a lock stop or lock retainer 3, schematically shown on the vehicle, which is typically located inside the vehicle door (not shown in detail).

[0027] Locking mechanisms 1 and 2 are arranged together with the electrically operated opening drive 4 inside the housing 5. Furthermore, an emergency power source 6 and a control unit 7 are also located inside the housing 5. The emergency power source 6 provides power to the opening drive 4 in case of emergency opening of locking mechanisms 1 and 2. However, under normal conditions and during normal operation, the opening drive 4 is powered by the main power source 8.

[0028] It can be seen that not only the emergency power source 6 but also the main power source 8 are connected to the control unit 7 on one side and to the electric opening drive device 4 on the other. The same applies to the control unit 7, which is used in this way to operate the electric opening drive device 4 when opening under normal conditions or in an emergency.

[0029] The main power source 8 is located outside the lock housing 5, within the vehicle body (not shown in detail), and a vehicle door (also not shown) along with an internal vehicle lock abuts against the vehicle body. The vehicle or vehicle body also typically includes a starting device 9, which is also connected to the control unit 7.

[0030] This also applies to sensor 10, which is a switch 10 that detects manipulation of the exterior door handle 11. When the exterior door handle 11 is engaged to unlock the locking mechanisms 1, 2, the sensor or switch 10 sends a signal to the control unit 7. However, this assumes that the control unit 7 is primarily used for unlocking the vehicle door locks.

[0031] According to this embodiment, unlocking begins with an unlock signal, and the control unit 7 wirelessly receives the unlock signal, such as in... Figure 1 As shown in the diagram. In practice, according to this embodiment, the unlock signal is emitted from the transceiver unit 12, which can be a wireless remote key, remote control, etc. Typically, a magnetic card or similar device can also be used at this point, which queries the user's permissions via a question / answer dialogue when a user with intent to enter approaches. Therefore, in this embodiment, the approach of an authorized user with intent to enter triggers the wireless or wired transmission of the unlock signal to the control unit 7, as shown. The unlock signal causes the switch 10 to be adjusted to be "sensitive" and can be queried in order to open the locking mechanisms 1 and 2.

[0032] According to the present invention, the design now proceeds such that the emergency power supply 6 is charged once the control unit 7 receives an unlocking signal for the locking mechanisms 1 and 2. According to an embodiment, the unlocking signal originates from the transceiver unit 12, but is not limited thereto. However, as an alternative or supplement, the unlocking signal for the control unit 7 can also be provided by a controller, particularly a door controller, which is not shown in detail hereof.

[0033] Upon receiving the unlock signal, the control unit 7 bridging the starting device 9. In this way, the main power source 8 is directly connected to the emergency power source 6. That is, the unlock signal and its reception by the control unit 7 directly result in the main power source 8 being electrically connected to the emergency power source 6 and directly charging the emergency power source 6. In contrast, in the prior art, this charging process only occurs when the starting device 9 is operated. According to the present invention, this is not necessary because the control unit 7 bridging the starting device 9 and directly connecting the main power source 8 to the emergency power source 6 upon receiving the unlock signal.

[0034] Now by means of Figure 2 This shows how to charge Emergency Energy 6 over time. In fact, in... Figure 2 The figure shows the current or charging current I relative to time t. It can be seen that at the beginning of the charging process, the emergency energy 6 is loaded with an increased initial current intensity.

[0035] Here, the increased starting current intensity and the reasonably increased charging current I used to load emergency energy 6 are maintained until the target is reached. Figure 2 The minimum state of charge L of the emergency energy 6 is indicated in the diagram. The minimum state of charge L of the emergency energy 6 corresponds to the extent to which the emergency energy 6 is charged, such that, by means of this emergency energy, the electrically driven opening device 4 can open the locking mechanisms 1 and 2 at least once during the emergency opening process of the locking mechanisms 1 and 2.

[0036] In fact, according to Figure 2 The diagram shows that the minimum state of charge L of the emergency energy source 6 corresponds to the integral of the time-dependent current intensity or charging current intensity I(t) reaching a specific value associated with the electric opening drive device 4 for one opening. Once the emergency energy source 6 reaches the minimum state of charge:

[0037]

[0038] After reaching the minimum state of charge L, emergency energy 6 is applied with a relatively reduced normal current intensity, if the time-dependent curve of current intensity I can be combined with... Figure 2 As can be seen from the lowest state of charge L, which is shown by the shaded line.

[0039] Here, the reduced normal current intensity observed immediately following the lowest state of charge L reflects the maximum lifespan of the emergency energy source 6. This design ensures that the control unit 7 monitors the corresponding... Figure 2The diagram illustrates the charging current intensity I and / or the charging voltage at the emergency energy source 6. According to the invention, monitoring the charging current intensity I or the charging voltage by the control unit 7 means that the charging current intensity I and / or the charging voltage for the emergency energy source 6 are preset in a controlled and / or regulated manner by means of the control unit 7. Furthermore, the design is such that the control unit 7 stores different time-related current curves, such as those at... Figure 2 As shown in the figure. By means of these current curves or the corresponding voltage curves, the different characteristics of the emergency power source 6, the varying electric opening drive device 4, and the main power source 8 can be reflected, and the corresponding current / voltage curves can be matched with specific given conditions.

[0040] According to this embodiment, the emergency energy source 6 is one or more supercapacitors, which are arranged not only inside the lock housing 5 but also on a circuit board or printed circuit board that is not explicitly shown. The same applies to the control unit 7.

[0041] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram:

[0042] 1, 2 Locking mechanisms

[0043] 1. Rotate the locking fork

[0044] 2 Locking claws

[0045] 3. Locking block or locking retainer

[0046] 4. Turn on the drive unit

[0047] 5 Lock housing

[0048] 6. Emergency Energy

[0049] 7 Control Unit

[0050] 8. Main Energy Sources

[0051] 9. Starting device

[0052] 10 sensors

[0053] 11. Exterior door handle

[0054] 12 Transmitter / Receiver

[0055] t time

[0056] I Charging current

[0057] L Lowest state of charge

Claims

1. A door lock having a locking mechanism (1, 2), an electric opening drive (4) for the locking mechanism (1, 2) and at least one emergency energy source (6) for supplying the opening drive (4) in the event of an emergency opening of the locking mechanism (1, 2), which locking mechanism mainly comprises a rotary bolt (1) and a locking claw (2), wherein According to the instructions of the control unit (7), the emergency energy (6) is charged by means of the main energy (8). Its features are, Once the control unit (7) receives the unlocking signal for the locking mechanism (1, 2), it charges the emergency power (6).

2. The door latch of claim 1, wherein The unlock signal is transmitted wirelessly and / or wired to the control unit (7).

3. A door closer according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that, After receiving the unlock signal, the control unit (7) jumpers the starter (9) and connects the main power source (8) directly to the emergency power source (6).

4. The door lock according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, At the start of the charging process, emergency energy (6) is loaded with an increased initial current intensity.

5. The door lock according to claim 4, characterized in that, The increased starting current intensity is maintained until the minimum state of charge is reached.

6. The door lock according to claim 5, characterized in that, After reaching the minimum state of charge, the emergency energy source (6) is loaded with a reduced normal current intensity.

7. The door lock according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The reduced normal current intensity reflects the maximum service life of the emergency energy source (6).

8. The door lock according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The control unit (7) monitors the charging current intensity and / or charging voltage of the emergency energy source (6).

9. The door lock according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The control unit (7) stores time-dependent current / voltage curves that vary depending on the emergency power source (6), the electric opening drive (4), and the main power source (8) used.

10. The door lock according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, Emergency energy (6) is constructed as one or more supercapacitors.

11. The door lock according to claim 1, characterized in that, The door lock is a motor vehicle door lock.

12. The door lock according to claim 8, characterized in that, The control unit (7) adjusts the charging current intensity and / or charging voltage of the emergency energy (6).

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